Model 3 AWD LR 2026 in Norway

Is that PPF? The straight line makes it look like PPF.

Rocker panel on model 3 aren’t plastic. There is a ppf here over it.

It is an manufacturing defect that apparently Tesla refuses to fix. I have same problem with M3 (non highland) It has nothing to do with ppf as some claim. Spray tar remover before every wash during winter time, so it mostly goes away.

And rightfully so looking at the sides of my 19 m3

my 2025 modell has ppf on it. It also gets dirty much quicker

Same issue on my M3 2023. It comes with some plastic film from the factory and gets extremely dirty during the winter months here in Sweden.

Yeah, it's not PPF even though it looks like it. It's some protective mass on paint to protect from road debris, but it's some weird material that absorbs all the dirt and road salt. On white colour it will look yellowish in just couple days. After some point, it's permanent.

My red M3 had the same issue, in Tromsø. So before the carwash I used to go to the "manual" car wash and spend 2x40kr to get that strong remover and brush that area... But it was always dirty eitherway... Better than scratched by ice though no? 😁

Hi, I have the exact same issue with my M3. This is how I fix it: After finishing my hand wash, I use a petroleum-based degreaser like Prickbort or Turtle Wax Extreme Prewash T together with a soft interior detailing brush. I apply the degreaser, agitate it with the brush, pressure-wash it off, and then go over the area with some shampoo and a clean microfiber mitt. After drying the car, I apply a quick sealant like Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating. This makes the result last for a little longer. I live in Norway as well, by the way. And i drive about 30k km’s a year.

I have the same issue with my 2024 M3 Highland, also Norway. It sucks in winter, but fine during the rest of the year usually..

Does this mean you basically handwash your car every time you wash it in the winter months? 😅

Bro once you wrap it, it doesn't happen anymore

is that supposed to be removed? my tesla 25 m3 doesn't have that strip

Impossible to remove afaik, feels like a sticky layer of thick paint

Just chill , drive dirty :D after winter gone just pressure wash + rust remover or degreaser and wipe all good. Or just sometimes pressure wash it from closer distance it will go some dirt.

Not the person you replied to, but uhh do you not wash your car in winter months in Norway?

Does this happen anywhere else in the world? Or is it unique to the shit on Norwegian roadways?

In Finland Tesla have repainted those atleast for some people under warranty.

Yes that’s common, Tesla have repainted those for some people under warranty. You can try cleaning with PrickBort tar remover and then apply something like Autoglym Super resin polish on top to prevent that

This isn’t a manufacturing issue, it’s a layer of textured coating to keep rock chips from the paint which can then create a much larger issue. It’s similar to some undercoating they would put under the vehicles to protect it. Believe it or not, it does more good than harm in the long run.

Can confirm this does not happen in Southern California.

Of course, but mostly touchless (which doesn't remove this side skirt grime). Sometimes I go to handwash it in a heated garage but no more than every other month.

I’m with this guy, who has time for that? Lol

Nice

Everywhere where they use road salt. Obviously they don’t use that in SoCal where is summer'ish all year round. Salt is real poison to the car paint and vehicle frame. Not sure if they use different kind of salt mixture, but Nordic countries like Finland/Norway/Sweden uses that same sh't which causes discoloration to the paint and car starts to rust over the years.

Virtually enslaved by his own car

I hand-wash my car every other week — sometimes touchless, but usually a full hand wash. It has never been through a machine wash. I don’t really see the problem; I just spend less time doom-scrolling and more time doing things I enjoy. And yes, I wash my car in the winter. I park in a heated garage that stays at about 15 °C (around 59 °F) with ventilation, so it doesn’t get too humid or cause rusting. 😊

I think Norwegian roads are particularly shit, not only because of the road salt but also there's something with the road surface here being maybe too coarse. The amount of grime and asphalt a car collects after driving at low speeds in city roads is absurd. Regularly needing strong degreasers and other stuff when cleaning a car is not the norm.

It's called anti-chip coating. It's a soft polymer paste that is applied below the paint and makes the surface more bouncy for rocks and debris... In theory. I've had other cars that had it but neither had the soft finish that Tesla leaves on it. Tesla's issues with it apparently have something to do with either this coating not curing properly or just paint being impossible to match due to the different material.

They did mine under warranty. It's very hard to notice but it's still not perfect and you can see a weird hue under some tones of light. I challenged the guy from the body shop and he assured me that's as good as it gets because the paint is impossible to match in that part anyway. Should be said that most people don't have an actual defect, they just don't know how to wash a car.

They don't use road salt in the parts of SoCal where it does snow either.

I would assume you could clean this really good one time and then put some ceramic coating on it. You can buy it on Amazon and it shouldn't be too hard to apply in this location. Should make a pretty big difference (prevents dirt from sticking to that part.)

I have this exact issue and put in a service request yesterday, and they wanted me to book a service appointment. I’m not sure what they will do, but I will update this post after the 15th.

Prickbort fra Rusta skal hjelpe med å fjerne det der.

Keep me updated 🤙🏻

Takk, prøvd det i dag før vask, hjulpet mye

https://preview.redd.it/iejt939ya4bg1.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=6e6ea19f462ce8e5dfcb35e99364d2dbb9f8c64b 🥲