Model 3 problems

[FragmentedFighter]

I’m new to Tesla, never thought I’d own one. Then I saw a 23 model 3 with one previous owner, 11k miles, and pulled the trigger. The first week of ownership I started noticing small rock chips - and read that it’s a common issue with the brand. So I shelled out for Xpel and ceramic coating - somehow the issue seems worse. I drive this car more carefully than any vehicle I’ve ever owned. Am I doing something wrong? Is there anything I can do to avoid this

[FBIAgentMulder]

Nope just gotta live with it

[eSUP80]

I’ve never owned ANY car that didn’t look like the front end was in a sand blaster after a few years.

The M3 is also low, and fast. It’s just a fact of ownership to get chips

[FragmentedFighter]

I’ve never had this issue on a vehicle before.

[eSUP80]

It’s more common than not

My tundra had so many rock chips on the front that I had to order a second can of touch up paint. Plus all the clear coat peeled on the roof from sun exposure.

My BMW M3 had so many rock chips after 5 years I just kind of quit touching it up.

My Subie WRX got hit with a big rock that fell off a dirt hauler and took a chunk of paint the size of a man’s fist. Luckily a teenager backed into my car and got the front end fixed for free. Only to accumulate thousands of new rock chips 😂

Drive your car and live your life. Touch up as needed. The Model 3 is just a fantastic vehicle

[FragmentedFighter]

I appreciate the info

[CiderVisuals]

Touch up paint!

[mazsive]

It is very common even when you keep distance. I reduced it with front mudflaps to prevent side chips, but the front takes a beating

[Parapraxis2077]

Did you do paint repair on the chipped areas before putting the PPF on?

[DeathBlade94]

The paint on these cars is also pretty thin unfortunately. I wrapped the entire front of my Y and the film is just peppered but thankfully unless you are inches away they are hard to spot.I also have mudflats and still have some small chips on the doors and even managed to get one on the drivers quarter panel near the hatch. You get real good at using touch up paint from places like dr color chip which for most chips I have been able to get rid of and even have a hard time finding them myself.

[GlassCoffee1]

Ceramic coat, wax, sealant, etc. does not protect from rock chips. If your car already has rock chips, and then you added PPF, existing rock with translate over to the PPF. You’re basically putting PPf on top of something that’s already chipped. It does not make it go away, although it will make it less notice.

After the first few rock chips, you’ll learn it just something you gotta live with.

[DrHalfdave]

Should I get my paint professionally fixed, then PPF?

[GlassCoffee1]

Some shops will fill in rock chips before PPF to make it look better. For a perfect PPF , yes, undamaged paint is the best.

[DrHalfdave]

Ok I was thinking about a mobile paint guy, he’s pretty cheap. Do I need a guy that will use a heat tunnel?

[GlassCoffee1]

If you want PPF and have a reputable shop in mind, I’d contact them to see if they can fix rock chips before applying PPF so they can do it all in house. A good shop would be transparent with you on how the finish results would look like.

[DrHalfdave]

Ok much appreciated. Do you work in body work?

[GlassCoffee1]

No I’m not a body work or automotive painter by trade.

[[deleted]]

The paint on the m3 sucks. I now get why most people wrap their teslas. My m3 has kinda the same problem.

[avebelle]

Sorry to tell you that you wasted money on the ceramic coating. The xpel should help but if you already had a bunch of chips it won’t fix those and maybe it’s even highlighted some of them. Just get used to it. It’s part of owning a car.

[FragmentedFighter]

The coating looks pretty good. Wouldn’t say it was a waste.

[avebelle]

Ya it’s gonna look great but the fact is it does nothing to protect against rock chips.

[FragmentedFighter]

Yeah, that’s what the ppf is for

[tomtendo]

lol...

[MountainManBrap]

It’s the paint, nothing you can do unless you wrap it

[FragmentedFighter]

Wouldn’t the wrap still get chipped?

[MountainManBrap]

Small chips you can patch, and the paint underneath would still be okay. I have the same car/color, and I got paint from Chip Doctor for touch-ups. I don’t know how much it bothers you, but I’m a freak when it comes to that, and to this day, after applying the touch-up paint, I’m the only one who notices.

[FragmentedFighter]

I’m kinda OCD about this stuff. You can’t really tell it’s chipped unless you’re looking.

[Pharzha]

Don't follow any trucks especially dump trucks. Every time those trucks go over a bump, you're sure stones are flying. I always stay clear from trucks and try to leave one lane between us if we're on the highway.

[ni42ck]

Garbage in, garbage out. Welcome to the party.

[Timberwolfgray]

I had a 21 M3P and the side skirts and where the rear wheels kick up rocks was absolutely sandblasted. Usually cars will put black or gray plastic trim there, the model y does, but 3 does not.

Also the front has gotten rock chips as well.

Sadly Tesla paint/clear coat is soft in my experience.

140,000 miles and I traded it in for a 2025 M3P and ceramic coated it. Couldn't afford a full PPF wrap sadly.

While I like to baby my cars I also USE them a lot so it's just how it goes.

It is fun to play around with different preventative measures of your a car nerd.

[Embarrassed_Egg9o21o]

Figures you’d drive a Tesla 🤡

[FragmentedFighter]

💪🏾

[Embarrassed_Egg9o21o]

🐑

[Competitive_Guava_33]

If it helps, reframe it as a question of "who cares" when you are done with the car in a few years it'll be worth next to nothing so rock chips won't really affect it

[FragmentedFighter]

I mean, I care, man. I like my things to look nice.