Chore: Replace Tesla Model 3 Air Filter

[nelsonic]

⚠️Warning: Contains First World Problems! ⚠️

Context

We wanted an electric car to pair with our solar panels dwyl/home#20 and there wasn’t much choice in terms of range/quality when we were looking in 2020 … you have to remember, this was peak COVID supply chain shortage and Volvo hadn’t released any of their Electric Models …
We ended up buying a used Tesla Model 3 RWD LFP from Germany 🇩🇪 for muuuch (37%!) cheaper than the sticker price in PT and paid a local company to import & legalise it for us. We eventually received it in Feb 2021. ⏳

3 years Later

the time has passed, we’ve driven it 37 thousand Kms in that time and the cabin air filter is spent!

Sadly, the cabin air filter being saturated with dirt means that being in a traffic jam with stinky diesel ⛽️ cars, the fumes enter the cabin and we are forced to turn off the aircon completely! #FirstWorldProblems 🙃

Todo

• follow instructions to replace filter: https://youtu.be/PJ9-SODKk14

We’ve had the replacement filter for a few weeks, but I’ve procrastinated on this cause I don’t drive the car very often… but @iteles drives it every day to take our son to school. 🌳 so they are both affected by the fumes. 😢
Going to see if I can get this done now. ⏳🤞🏼🧑‍🔧

[nelsonic]

This was a total nightmare.
Having to remove two trim panels is insane!

I ended up watching 5 instructional videoed but the videos on YT were all for the more recent 2022< model 3 or the older <2020 (pre heat pump) Model 3 so the screw was in a different place from the videos. 🤦‍♂️

The torx screw was in such an awkward place that ended up needing to use a right angle screwdriver bit holder:

eventually liberating the old filters:

put the new ones in as per instructions, filter membrane forward and activated charcoal back:

replaced the trim panels:

overall a horrible experience. I definitely don’t look forward to doing again. 😢
Though, obviously second time round I’d do it muuuuuch faster. 🙃

[nelsonic]

@iteles please use the AirCon on your drive this morning and confirm everything is working as expected and you aren’t getting any stinky diesel fumes. 🙏🤞🏼

[iteles]

I have not felt any fumes , these seem to be working 👌🏻

[nelsonic]

The real test will be stuck in a traffic jam behind a diesel truck … 🛻

[nelsonic]

This was a truly horrible task that Tesla could have made much simpler if they wanted. ⏳
If the Tesla service centre price per hour (labor cost) wasn't so high, I'd get them to replace it next time. 💭
Hopefully won't have to do this again for another year. 🙃
Closing. ✅