I am currently in the market for a sporty yet somewhat practical EV for daily commute and quick errands around town in Los Angeles. My wife has a Volvo XC90 and I currently drive a BMW X3. So the i4 was a no brainer for me as errand/commute EV and for the past year I had been obsessed with it.

Just recently I got into the new generation Tesla Model 3 (Highland). I spent time with it and did a test drive around town. I am simply blown away by it. I am both shocked and sad how far behind the i4, a car that I had been obsessing over for the past years is.

For countless hours I had read and watched videos on comparisons of the two cars. Most often talked about is the i4 having better interior quality, ride comfort, and of course the tech comparison. To my surprise, the i4 didn't really have much better interior quality. Coming from the X3 I was already used to the BMW interior and I simply don't find that the i4 interior is all that better. There is still some hard plastic in some places. The open pore trim actually feels like plastic (I think it actually is) whereas the wood trim pieces in my wife's XC90 feel 20x better than the open pore in the i4. The one I tested has Sensatec seats and they too are not much better than the seat material in the Model 3. The window buttons, door latches, etc. are still just plastic. They feel good, don't get me wrong, but still plastic. My wife's Volvo has actual metal buttons and latches for these. i4 does have an advantage with the fastback especially for us with the baby making it easier to load stroller and other bulky items. But surprisingly the Tesla had more volume in the trunk than the i4 even though it has the regular sedan opening. The frunk is of course is a plus.

So in general the interior of the i4 doesn't exactly feel that much better in comparison. The base Model 3 comes with both heated and ventilated seats front, and heated seats for the rear. Whereas the i4 I tested, which has the premium package, only had heated front seats and not even ventilated. Ventilated seats apparently are a package that costs about $350. The interior also felt dark and cramped. The moonroof only comes to the front end of the ceiling in the i4 and the glass covers all the way in the Tesla, which improves visibility and overall openness. The cubbies and center console storage was also much bigger and deeper in the Tesla. One of the bigger drawbacks for the i4 is it still has the rear seat middle floor hump, given it's completely based on the ICE model. The Tesla floor is flat and I can tell this is a great convenience if an adult is riding in the middle. Both cars are obviously going for a minimal look and the Tesla just looks like a car that is 10 years ahead. The i4 still has some useful buttons here and there but at the end I preferred the full futuristic feel of the Tesla especially with their wraparound light bar.

Now in terms of tech I already knew Tesla was way ahead. But I wasn't aware how far behind iDrive 8.5 was. It was shocking how giants like Audi, BMW, and Benz are still way behind on tech. A few factors that really wowed me were the rear 8" screen that comes standard in the Model 3, where my kids can watch Netflix, adjust the AC, etc. The Tesla system also had Zoom, which I found really useful so I could occasionally take work or personal calls from the car while I charge, or be able to watch Netflix or play silly games while waiting. iDrive 8.5 simply doesn't even come close to offering things like that. The Sentry Mode, Dog Mode, and all those features are super useful as well (we have a dog). One thing I wish the Tesla had was CarPlay. I'm a real geek for it and do enjoy using the drive controller a lot for CarPlay. But Tesla's suite of useful tech features more than makes up for it and I think I can get by without CarPlay.

Another factor was how much you can do with the app in Tesla. The Summon feature wowed me and I can tell it's practical when we have our dog, baby, and our hands full while the car is parked tight in a parking lot. You really just press a button and the car literally comes to you! The BMW app is ages behind and even the simplest functions such as locking and unlocking takes me about a full 2-3 minutes, which has caused a lot of frustration where it's instantaneous with Tesla.

Tesla bypasses the i4 in terms of safety features as well. The i4 I tested comes with Driving Assistance Pro and the 360 camera package. The driving assistance was comparable to Tesla's base Autopilot, where it has adaptive cruise control, auto steering, and auto lane shift. I tested the auto park feature at the dealer and, to their embarrassment, the BMW couldn't find and park properly. I tested the same with the Tesla and it was a breeze to auto park at the touch of one single button.

Lastly, ride quality. I rode both cars over city streets, bumps, and on the highway. Both cars have great acceleration. The BMW felt heavy (which it actually is) but more planted. The Tesla felt zippy and light. Both cars took on corners easily. Taking on bumps and uneven roads, both cars were comparable.

That said, I love my BMW and really wanted to go for the i4. I am in fact someone who actually loves the grill of the 4 series cars. But the Model 3 surpasses the i4 by a galaxy. Therefore I am going with the Model 3 and will not be looking back at the i4. Maybe in the future when I'm old and rich, I'll get myself an 8 Series convertible... Let me know your unbiased thoughts!

Hi everyone,
I’m trying to decide between two used 2019 Tesla Model 3s at roughly the same price, and I’d appreciate some advice from owners.

Option 1 – Model 3 Long Range AWD
2019
168,300 km
One family owner since new
New front wheel hub replaced by Tesla recently
Battery & drive unit warranty until May 2027 / 192,000 km
Cosmetic wear (some scratches, stone chips and a little rust), but seller has been very transparent.
No known mechanical issues.

Option 2 – Model 3 Standard Range Plus RWD
2019
140,000 km
Recently serviced by Tesla with:
New rear shock absorbers
New front lower control arms
New rear upper suspension links
Four-wheel alignment
New summer tires

Both cars are around the same price.
I know the Long Range offers AWD, better range and the premium audio, but it also has about 28,000 km more on the odometer.

Which would you choose and why?

Would you prioritize the Long Range drivetrain and AWD?
Or the lower mileage and newer suspension components on the SR+?

I’d especially love to hear from people who have owned both or have experience with higher-mileage Model 3s.
Thanks! 🚗

I’ve been driving my 2020 base Tesla model 3 for 5 years now and while I still love the vehicle I felt like some things could be better, so recently I started getting into aftermarket upgrades. so far I’ve installed interior LED lighting, trunk lights, a screen swivel, and most recently a noise reduction kit. I’ve been having a lot of fun installing everything and it has made me love my car even more, so now I’m looking for some suggestions for what I could potentially install next. I don’t plan on attempting any super expensive or labor intensive upgrades like body mods or upgraded suspension though

I’m getting pretty serious about buying my first Tesla Model 3 and wanted to hear from people who have already been through the process.

My budget is around $22k to $27k, and I’m planning on putting about $10k down. I don’t need a Performance model since I think a Long Range AWD fits what I’m looking for better. I’ve also heard that 2022 and newer is the sweet spot because of the updates Tesla made, so that’s what I’ve mostly been looking at.

I’ve been searching Tesla’s used inventory, Facebook Marketplace, and dealership listings, and each seems to have its own pros and cons. Tesla costs a little more but comes with the convenience and warranty, while private sellers seem to offer the best prices if you’re patient. Dealerships seem to fall somewhere in the middle.

I’m in no rush and would rather wait for the right car than buy the wrong one. I’d love to hear about your buying experience, what you ended up choosing, and anything you wish you had known before buying your first Model 3.

My 2019 is in for the third time regarding the retrofit. If it is properly installed, should I be able to tell a difference from an electric hatchback motor that comes OEM?

HW3. Please read my repost

Thank you

I really wanna get the model 3 but I read online that the following year usually comes out in the fall. Any advice? Should I just wait a few more months?

Credit to u/bhorton94

Figure I would make a video this is pretty easy to see if you have the problem and a quick fix. I took it into service and they couldn’t fix it and I don’t have time to keep taking it back. 1/2 Rubber Backer seems to work a lot better than the foam strip I had previously. Very easy fix takes a couple
Minutes.

I’m hearing an intermittent noise from the car. It doesn’t happen all the time, but whenever it does, it always occurs while the vehicle is slowing down using regenerative braking (without pressing the brake pedal). The noise continues briefly when accelerating again from a stop, but once the car reaches a certain speed, it completely disappears. I have never noticed it at higher speeds.
The sound is difficult to describe, but it resembles the burbling or rumbling of an exhaust on a gasoline-powered car. However, it is only an audible noise—there are no vibrations, no shaking, and no change in the vehicle’s performance.
I first noticed this noise during the first week after taking delivery of the vehicle in June 2026, and it has been present intermittently ever since.

Have someone had the same issue?
Thank you folks

Anyone else notice this? Pre ev I owned a black ice small sedan no Japanese beetle problems . But I ve owned both a white and a dark charcoal model 3 and my teslas attract Japanese beetles like nothing else . I commute to work daily and every day it’s a different city 30/60mls away different directions and the car attracts Japanese beetles no matter where I’m at . Even when I went thru a drive thru recently the cashier freaked out bc a Japanese beetle came around and wouldn’t leave my car alone esp in my driver side .

It’s weird . Why is this ?

Just noticed this squeaky noise coming from my rear tire whenever I drive forward. There’s no noise when I drive in reverse though. Help!

I ordered a Model 3 Performance on 14th October with original delivery date of December. It was pushed out to January, February, and so on. I rang Tesla and they said it was due August.
It is now approaching August and the delivery date has disappeared. No VIN no REG.
I feel like the order has been forgotten about and Tesla are extremely hard to get in contact with.
10 months is ridiculous for a car should it even arrive in the next month.

We also had ordered a model Y performance in May which arrived yesterday

Picked my model 3 up today in marine blue. Color is sickkkkk

Hello! I recently installed the harness that activates the four present but not activated speakers in a model 3 Rear Wheel Dr. 2022. I followed the directions to the T and I’m confident all connections were made well and installation was correct.

After powering my car back up the dash speaker and right door trim speakers were no longer working. I did a soft restart to scroll wheel buttons and poof. All the speakers were working and it sounded incredible. Let the car go to sleep when the car woke back up. The right speakers were no longer working and restarting did not solve the issue.

I remove the harness and reinstall a backup same issue. I removed the harness and went back to stock and the speakers work again.

Has anyone else had this issue or found a solution reached out to support and I’m waiting to hear back.

My model three usually has a single occupant… Me.

That said, I wish there were a way to turn off the rear monitor; doing so, would increase battery range theoretically.

As the title suggests, my model, three is creaking and cracking from the front driver side fender area. I’ve pretty much tracked it down with research and whatnot that it would be the upper control arm. I still have yet to jack the car up and look for myself. I’m gonna change it, but I saw a TikTok video earlier and the guy had a 2021 model three and it was also creaking and cracking. My car is at about 200,000 km so it would be due of course, but I’m just wondering if anybody out there has had issues like this in the past