I have found with the pearl white that even a light drizzle or dusting of debris will cause the car to look extremely dirty. Then it hit me, how do I wash a brand new Tesla?

After driving my Honda for over 10 years, I was accustomed to finding a local, low cost, car wash and driving through. It was quick, cheap, and got the job done. But what would be best for my new Tesla?

Tesla discourages driving your new Model 3 through car washes. After doing some research, I learned that the Model 3 paint easily scratches, especially the pearl white. It quickly became clear that after 10 years of driving through a carwash, it was time to get the hose out and properly wash my Model 3 with the love and care it deserves.

Here’s the best process for washing your Tesla that I have found. It should take less than 45 minutes. I find it strikes a balance of getting a great looking finish while avoiding dreaded swirl marks. The products used are affordable and this process does not require an excessive amount of time and work.

1. When you wash your car make sure that the sun is not shining directly on to the car and that the body of the car is cool to the touch. Washing a hot car causes premature evaporation and water spots.
2. Remove all jewelry from your hands. Rings and watches have a tendency to rub against the car when you least expect it. Avoid wearing any clothing with metal buckles or zippers. They also like to rub and scratch cars when you are not paying attention.
3. Thoroughly wash two 5 gallon buckets and fill both buckets with water.
4. In one bucket insert a grit guard and add the car wash product to the bucket. This bucket will be your wash bucket.
5. Soak a wash mitt in the wash bucket.
6. In the other bucket with just water and no car wash product, insert the grit guard and washboard. This will be your rinse bucket.
7. Thoroughly rinse your car using a hose. Its best to use a stronger blast of water to loosen up some of the dirt. If you use an electric pressure washer, be careful not to use too much pressure.
8. Spray your tires and wheels with the cleaner. After the specified time (see packaging), use a wheel brush to gently scrub the tires and wheels.
9. Hose off the tires and wheels.
10. Soak your car again with the hose.
11. Use the soaked mitt and start washing from the top of the car. Wash the top of the car first as the dirtiest part of your car will be the bottom, and its ideal to not introduce dirt from the bottom of the car to the top.
12. Wash in horizontal lines and do it panel by panel. Remember to avoid circular motions, which cause swirls in the paint that are much easier to see at all angles as opposed to straight streaks that can usually only be seen at one specific angle making them much less noticeable.
13. When finishing one or two panels, place the wash mitt in the rinse bucket.
14. Never let the soapy water dry on the car. After washing a panel or two, hose off the soap.
15. When rinsing the mitt in the rinse bucket take the wash mitt and scrub it against the washboard to remove any trapped dirt. After rinsing, squeeze out the excess water from the mitt and reinsert the mitt in to the wash bucket.
16. Wash 1-2 panels and then rinse and repeat until the car is finished washing.
17. Using the drying chamois lightly pull the chamois over the surface of the car, from top to bottom to dry. Squeeze the water out of the chamois when it begins to get weighed down. Continue this process throughout the car body.
18. Use a separate microfiber towel to dry off the wheels and tires to prevent spotting. Use tire shine spray to get your tires looking new.
19. Scrub and rinse off your wash mitt and empty the buckets.
20. Enjoy your showroom shine!

The Recommended Car Wash Products That We Love

These products come recommended after hours of research and experimentation. While there may be better products on the market, the ones listed below are both affordable and effective for long term care of your car. Click on the links to get more information and pricing.

A 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot or Lowes. You will need a total of 2 buckets but car wash kit recommended below also comes with one bucket. If you don’t live by a Lowes or Home Depot, you can get these buckets on Amazon.

IMPORTANT! For the actual washing product kit get one of the following:

1. For any color car other than white and black cars get the Chemical Guys HOL132 Best Car Wash Bucket Kit with Dirt Trap, 16 fl. oz (11 Items): This works great on cars like James’ silver Model 3. It also comes with a bucket and grit guard so you won’t need to get the grit guard below.
2. If you drive a white car, get the Chemical Guys HOL204 White Car Care Kit (9 Items), 64 fl. oz: this is amazing on the pearl white paint on my Model 3. It does not come with a bucket or grit guard, so make sure to get 2 buckets and the grit guards listed below.
3. If you drive a black car, get the Chemical Guys HOL203 Black Car Care Kit (9 Items) which works wonders on Tim’s black obsidian Model 3. This kit does not come with a bucket or grit guard, so make sure to get 2 buckets and the grit guards listed below.

Chemical Guys GG-1010B Grit Guard Insert, Blue: insert this into the 5 gallon bucket that will be your wash bucket. This grit guard allows dirt to fall to the bottom of the bucket, keeping your wash mitts dirt and rock free.

Grit Guard The Insert with Washboard Combo Pack: This is the 2nd grit guard for your 2nd bucket, the rinse bucket; it has an angled piece that lets you rub the wash mitt to get the dirt off your mitt to prevent reapplying dirt on to your car and causing scratches.

Relentless Drive Ultimate Car Wash Mitt – 2 pack Extra Large Size – Premium Chenille Microfiber Wash Mitt: The perfect mitt for babying your car when you wash. Get the extra large size for more surface area to pull dust and dirt away and off of the surface of your car.

Mothers Wheel Brush: Use this to lightly brush your tires and wheels when cleaning them.

Best Wheel and Tire Cleaner on Amazon! – Safe for all Wheels and Rims – Works on Alloy Chrome Aluminum Clear-Coated Painted Polished and Plasti-Dipped Rim – Wheel Cleaner by CarGuys: Use this to spray on and clean your tires and wheels.

Tire Shine Spray – Best Tire Dressing Car Care Kit for Car Tires after a Car Wash – Car Detailing Kit for Wheels and Tires with included Tire Shine Applicator: Use this after you clean your tires to keep those tires looking sharp and shiny!

CleanTools 51149 The Absorber Synthetic Drying Chamois, 27″ x 17″: Instead of a drying towel, chamois works great. It’s been around for a long time and it is a tried and true method to dry your car. It leaves no lint and is very light on the car so there is far less of a chance of leaving scratches.

Why does Tesla paint seem to scratch so easily?

There has been much discussion on multiple online forums regarding Tesla paint quality and hardness and not just for the Model 3 but for many Teslas. Do a quick search and you will see that the Model S suffers from the same ailment.

When referring to paint in the article, I am referring to both the paint and clear coat that the manufacturer puts on your car. While I am no auto paint expert, I do work with paint for a lot of my other hobbies. From my experience and my research I know that paint takes time to properly cure. No matter what type of paint is used, the paint must be given time to cure or “dry” so that it can form a hard protective coating.

How long does it take for paint to cure? I’m not sure. But I do know that the paint on my Honda had a lot more time to cure than the paint on my Tesla.

If my Honda was imported, it had to leave the factory paint shop, go to a staging area to wait to get loaded onto a ship. From there my car was shipped across the ocean and then offloaded and sent to another staging area. Then who knows how long before that car gets transported to a dealership where it sat in a dealership lot for a time before it found its owner.

How does it work with Tesla? With all the Model 3 vehicles basically made to order, as soon as the car rolls off the factory floor (or tent floor), those vehicles may sit in a lot for a very short time before getting swooped up and sent for delivery. The time for the paint to cure for the Model 3 is measured in days rather than in months as was the case for my Honda.

Other proposed causes for the “bad” Tesla paint include government regulations, particularly California’s strict environmental laws and the theory that Tesla has just decided to use an inferior paint product. While none of these theories make a whole lot of sense to me, in the end it is probably going to be a multiple of factors.

But even if the problem with Teslas paint is something more than just cure time, we have to understand that no matter how hard and how thick the paint job, if you wash your car incorrectly and rub a cloth or sponge or fabric that had dirt and rocks in it, the dirt and rocks will beat the paint up almost every time.

When to wash a brand new Tesla Model 3

If you have ever had any paint and body work done to your car, you may remember being told not to wash the car for a month to allow the paint to fully cure. Assuming that your brand new Tesla Model 3 just rolled off the lot less than a week before you took delivery, I would recommend not washing your car for at least 3 to 4 weeks.

Even with proper technique you can end up scratching and swirling soft paint that has yet to fully cure with something as benign as a paper towel no matter what car it is.

How I wash my car

I consider myself a man who pays attention to the details, but I am not quite obsessive compulsive (OCD). For those OCD car care folks who are cringing at the fact that I washed my car before having it detailed and protected by some sort of coating like a ceramic coat, I will tell you that I am definitely researching different coating options.

In a future article I will cover the topics of different coatings, from clear bras to ceramic coatings. As of writing this article I am currently in the research stage with ceramic coating and I have found some great information and options to have this work done.

If you are like me and you want a clean and shiny car and you are not completely OCD about the finish, then I think the wash method outlined below is a great way to keep your car clean whether or not you get a ceramic coating.

After having had my Model 3 for about a month I was excited to get it back to a showroom shine and started researching the best way to wash my car. I quickly learned that the two bucket method of washing cars is a great balance of practicality and results.

Because I did not have hours each week to spend washing my car each week, I liked the two bucket method because it takes me about 45 minutes or less to get my car looking amazing and by using the recommended products with the two buckets you significantly decrease the chance of putting swirl marks and scratches into your new car.

Here is what I did. First, I purchased two orange 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot. Then after hours of research and speaking with other Tesla owners, I found that the car wash products that are listed above to be the best.

Once you have all your items together, you are ready to get started. Again, here’s the process in 20 steps that I listed above. It should take less than 45 minutes:

1. When you wash your car make sure that the sun is not shining directly on to the car and that the body of the car is cool to the touch. Washing a hot car causes premature evaporation and water spots.
2. Remove all jewelry from your hands. Rings and watches have a tendency to rub against the car when you least expect it. Avoid wearing any clothing with metal buckles or zippers. They also like to rub and scratch cars when you are not paying attention.
3. Thoroughly wash two 5 gallon buckets and fill both buckets with water.
4. In one bucket insert a grit guard and add the car wash product to the bucket. This bucket will be your wash bucket.
5. Soak a wash mitt in the wash bucket.
6. In the other bucket with just water and no car wash product, insert the grit guard and washboard. This will be your rinse bucket.
7. Thoroughly rinse your car using a hose. Its best to use a stronger blast of water to loosen up some of the dirt. If you use an electric pressure washer, be careful not to use too much pressure.
8. Spray your tires and wheels with the cleaner. After the specified time (see packaging), use a wheel brush to gently scrub the tires and wheels.
9. Hose off the tires and wheels.
10. Soak your car again with the hose.
11. Use the soaked mitt and start washing from the top of the car. Wash the top of the car first as the dirtiest part of your car will be the bottom, and its ideal to not introduce dirt from the bottom of the car to the top.
12. Wash in horizontal lines and do it panel by panel. Remember to avoid circular motions, which cause swirls in the paint that are much easier to see at all angles as opposed to straight streaks that can usually only be seen at one specific angle making them much less noticeable.
13. When finishing one or two panels, place the wash mitt in the rinse bucket.
14. Never let the soapy water dry on the car. After washing a panel or two, hose off the soap.
15. When rinsing the mitt in the rinse bucket take the wash mitt and scrub it against the washboard to remove any trapped dirt. After rinsing, squeeze out the excess water from the mitt and reinsert the mitt in to the wash bucket.
16. Wash 1-2 panels and then rinse and repeat until the car is finished washing.
17. Using the drying chamois lightly pull the chamois over the surface of the car, from top to bottom to dry. Squeeze the water out of the chamois when it begins to get weighed down. Continue this process throughout the car body.
18. Use a separate microfiber towel to dry off the wheels and tires to prevent spotting. Use tire shine spray to get your tires looking new.
19. Scrub and rinse off your wash mitt and empty the buckets.
20. Enjoy your showroom shine!

After spending an embarrassing amount of time researching floor mats I settled on the ToughPRO Tesla Model 3 Floor Mats Set because of its low cost, great reviews, and the coverage of the set of 6 mats which covers all floor areas and the frunk, trunk, and hidden trunk compartment. In my opinion, this is the best all weather mat available on the market right now. Check out Amazon for pricing.

The hexagon pattern of these mats match the sleek design of the Model 3 while offering protection from the elements and the ability to capture large amounts of debris and liquid that may be spilled or tracked into your vehicle. The mats have a durable feel and they come with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.

Compared to the Tesla branded mats, the set by ToughPRO is significantly less expensive. The ToughPRO offers great protection for your Model 3 carpet. They grip to the floor of the car very well and they are easily removed for cleaning.

Life can get messy especially when you have kids. In our case, we have kids and we specifically waited for the all wheel drive Model 3 so we could make frequent trips to the mountains for hiking and skiing. Needless to say, the combination of kids and the outdoors will result in inevitable messes in our Model 3. For all those reasons, we decided to get this mat set for complete protection.

Make sure to get mats to protect the carpets in your Model 3. Learn more about the ToughPRO set at Amazon.

When it comes to protecting the center console, our experience and research led us to us the Kenriko Tesla Model 3 Matte Black Console Wrap Kit. This highly reviewed and rated wrap looks beautiful and is easy to install. It also comes in a brushed metal finish that looks great. Check out Amazon for pricing.

The Kenriko kit is made from vinyl and cut to fit the Model 3 center console. While installation is not difficult, you can ensure a professional looking finish by making sure to follow the directions and watching the youtube Kenriko kit installation video. The best thing you can do is to take your time.

Allow for about an hour installation time. There are 3 pieces that will need to be installed. The material is forgiving and will allow “redos” if you find that you are not quite lined up. Again, make sure you find and watch the installation video on Youtube.

Don’t risk scratching the most vulnerable interior part of your Tesla Model 3. Get this wrap before you pick up your car so you can have it ready for install when you get home.

Once the vinyl force shield is installed, you won’t have to worry about things like cups, phones, or purses scratching up your center console. In addition, the matte finish and brush metal finish both eliminate annoying glare that can shine off the stock  center console piano finish.

There are many options available, from DIY kits you can buy online to professionally installed wraps. We like the Kenriko Kit the best and recommend it to you. Check out the matte finish on Amazon and make sure to look up the brushed metal finish also by Kenriko.

Why do I need a checklist?

A checklist will give you a systematic way to evaluate your new car so that you don’t get completely overwhelmed and distracted by the lights and shimmering glamour of the Tesla Center. Stay focused and make sure you are getting the flawless piece of technology that you have waited so long and paid so much for.

Without a game plan, it is too easy to miss glaring flaws in your new vehicle. These vehicles have amazing technology but they are also produced by a relatively new company at a fast rate possibly in a tent. You need to check down to the fine details and don’t be embarrassed about it. Take your time.

There are a lot of different checklists available out there. After hours of research, we found the following checklist from Model 3 Owner’s Club by Brokedoc to be most thorough and helpful. It is adapted from Nick Howe’s Model S Checklist and it is what we used when we picked up our cars.

So here is the checklist:

Tesla Model 3 Delivery Checklist

Before delivery day:

❏ Make Sure Charging Arrangements are done. Level 2 is best (Tesla Wall Connector or 220v NEMA14-50 for UMC). A nearby 110v wall plug can work but is painfully slow @ 4-5 mph and no extension cords.
❏ Finish all the steps on the MyTesla Page for documentation, license, insurance, payments, etc. The Tesla Specialist that set up your delivery appointment should have made sure all of the paperwork was done. Double check that the registration name on the Tesla account is the same as the name the DMV papers will be registered to.
❏ Download the Tesla app on your phone so it can be paired on delivery day.
❏ Check for State and Federal incentives and how to sign up for local HOV permits. A
good place to start is https://pluginamerica.org/why-go-plug-in/state-federal-incentives/
❏ Consider signing up for or downloading useful charging programs/apps like Chargepoint
and Plugshare

Delivery day things you will want to have handy:

❏ Your phone (to pair with the car, set up phone key and take lots of pictures/videos)
❏ A friend to take photos/videos – you’ll be too busy!
❏ A USB stick with some music (to test and make sure the USB fits OK and to listen to
your Maiden Voyage Song!)
❏ Paperwork JUST IN CASE: Driver’s License, Checkbook, Proof of Insurance (if required
in your state to take delivery), spouse if loan/paperwork needs cosigning.
❏ If you have a trade-in, bring the title and two keys/keyfobs. Make sure to take the license plate home if it won’t be transferred or if Tesla won’t surrender it for you in your state. If you cannot find the title or will not get it in time for the delivery, don’t stress too much as Tesla will have you sign a document allowing Tesla to payoff any lien on your behalf and handle everything.

When the car arrives, make sure you have everything you ordered, and there are no marks/dings/scratches on the car:

❏ • Is it your car? (yes, believe it or not, someone had the wrong car delivered)
❏ • Make sure VIN matches paperwork
❏ • Correct battery size
❏ • Correct paint color?
❏ • Correct interior color?
❏ • Correct Trim/Options when available
❏ • Correct Wheels? (make sure get what you paid for if you order 19” or 20” option)
❏ • Two key cards
❏ • Temporary registration (if needed in your state)
❏ • Tire Inflation Kit (MD and RI only, optional extra everywhere else)
❏ • Front and rear floor mats
❏ • Chrome ‘Tesla’ or ‘Model 3’ license plate frame (check the Trunk/frunk if you can’t
find it)
❏ • Front license plate mount – should be mounted for you in the states that require it (check
the frunk if you can’t find it; see the ‘other things to do’ section below for alternate mounting solutions)
❏ • Universal Mobile Connector Gen 2 (UMC) cable with standard adapters and carry bag ❏ NEMA 5-15 110V adapter, NEMA 14-50 240V adapter, J1772 public charging adapter ❏ Tow Hook
❏ Two USB cables for docking (one Lightning, one MicroUSB) ❏ Diecast Model 3 for Line Waiting reservationists

Now make sure all the bits and pieces work properly:

Things that might be problematic – make sure they work
❏ a. UMC latches and unlatches without problems. Make sure you push the cable in. Takes
a bit of getting used to. Can feel like it is in when it has stopped part way. ❏ b. Charge Port Cover opens consistently with manual press or by screen/app ❏ c. Check mobile charger, make sure it works (bad chargers / cables have been
reported)
❏ d. Smart Phone syncing – (most people have been able to get most phones to work,
even clamshell phones. If you are unable to pair, it could be a Bluetooth problem. Let Tesla Service know.) i. contacts ii. Bluetooth music streaming
❏ e. Windshield jets pointing too low or not functioning i. Can be adjusted using a pin in
the jet ii. One owner reported no windshield fluid at delivery
❏ f. Windshield distortion or cracks (especially near leading edge of roof glass)
❏ g. Tire Pressures too high (this is a common one) – should be 45psi; check the label on
the driver B pillar to get the right pressure for your car.
❏ h. Doors/windows open properly. Windows don’t auto close the last inch when closing
the door. Try lowering the window all the way down, then all the way up; may reset the sensor. Check for door alignment also.
❏ i. Verify proper functioning of sensors in all seats. Passengers in the seats without
seatbelts buckled should trigger sensor alert on the screen.
❏ j. Trunk and frunk close easily without excessive effort
❏ k. Protective plastic film was removed from the touchscreen during predelivery prep or
else phantom touches can occur

Potential delivery problems reported on forums:

a. Dirt or unpainted spots under clear coat
b. Scratches/cracks in paint – cracking or defects reported seen especially on the rear trunk between the tail lights and the license plate light in the angle made by the overhang
c. Frayed headliner/bulging trim along the A pillar
d. Underside damage from loading/unloading
e. Wheel/Tire scrapes (sidewall or rims damaged)
f. Be extra alert for interior scrapes/scratches especially for black colored interiors. Some deliveries can happen in poorly lit locations or during extended hours. Interior and exterior cosmetic issues are MUCH easier to get fixed for free if you document that it was there at delivery
g. Misaligned hood or trunk lid. Service can usually adjust this without issues.
h. Dirt/smudges on headliner/seats/trim from delivery driver.
i. General Body Dings,
j. Cracks along the leading edge of the roof glass (panel above the driver),
k. triangular exterior door trim between window and side mirror sits flush
l. Condensation in the rear lights/reflectors
m. Excessive distortion in the rear glass more pronounced along the lower edge and around the defroster lines
n. Glove box door alignment/doesn’t close properly. Open and close the glove box a few times to check that it stays closed.
o. Check that sunshade vanity lights are functioning.

Delivery Questions/Things the Delivery Specialist should demo for you because it may not be apparent to a Tesla or Model 3 newbie:

❏ 1. How does charging work? What do the colors on the charge port logo mean?
a. Pulsing White – ready b. Pulsing Yellow – UMC not fully inserted c. Solid Blue – connected and communicating but not charging d. Pulsing Green – charging (can take a minute or two to start) e. Solid Green – charged up f. Red – Failure (possibly hardware)
❏ 2. How to operate windshield wipers
❏ 3. Connect the Model 3 to your smartphone via Bluetooth. a. Are individual contacts lists downloadable. b. Please provide a brief tutorial on the phone system. c. Set up Phone Key
❏ 4. Need demo of all functionality in steering wheel thumb switches
a. Phone controls b. Audio/music controls
❏ 5. How to adjust seats, mirrors, and save driver profile(s)
a. Include setup for side mirrors in backup mode – not intuitive how to do this – to set
❏ the mirrors for reversing you have to put the car in reverse, set the mirrors, then save.
❏ 6. What displays/status information is provided and where can I display it?
❏ 7. How is vehicle status information displayed (e.g., tire pressure warning)?
❏ 8. Demo of voice commands/Navigation.
❏ 9. Walk through all screen displays
❏ 10. Demo iPhone/Android app
❏ 11. How to perform computer reboot.
❏ 12. Pre-install USB cable into dock for your specific smartphone
❏ 13. Demo Valet mode

ABBREVIATED Delivery Inspection List:

This abbreviated list is for those that are sick of waiting any longer to get in your Tesla and just DRIVE! You have the complete delivery checklist but don’t want to ruin your unique, streamlined Tesla delivery experience. This abbreviated Delivery Inspection List is designed with the faith in Tesla that if/when something is discovered, Tesla will do the right thing to fix it. Obvious defects like paint defects under the clear coat and broken/misassembled items will be easy to get fixed at the Service Center or by a Mobile Ranger later. What this list will focus on will be safety/usability things that MUST be checked before driving and superficial damage that should be documented before delivery to show that the damage was pre-existing. If the buyer reads through the full checklist and still wants to pay attention to a detail that isn’t on this abbreviated list, write it on the back of the sheet and you should be able get done with this list within 10-15 minutes and go through everything else when you get home.

1 – Walk around your new, gorgeous Tesla Model 3.

Often times, you will be able to identify your car waiting for you while the Delivery Specialist is busy with another customer so you can have extra time to look at the exterior and walk around a few times and take pics and selfies. You don’t need a magnifier but make a quick note of any external body damage paying special attention to common ding spots where the car may get dinged in any parking lot. Once you unlock the car, quickly look in the Frunk and trunk to make sure they can be opened/closed easily. Check for signs of water leakage into the Frunk/Trunk and make sure you have the mobile charger, tow hook, and charger adapters. You should also check the rims/wheels and underside to make sure there was no excessive damage during transport.

2 – Get the mini-orientation from the Delivery Specialist when you are sitting in the front seat.

Make sure the screen is responsive to your touches and that touches in the various parts of the screen activate the icon that you meant to activate (i.e. – no phantom touches and screen inputs are accurate and functioning properly) While playing with the screen, press on the Tesla “T” logo to pull up your vehicle specs. Make sure the mileage is appropriate (generally less than 50 miles for new cars) and that the VIN matches the car you are buying. Set the mirrors, steering column, and seats to your preference and save them in your driver profile. This makes sure the power mirrors and seats and scroll wheels at least function safely enough to drive. Put the car in reverse to check that the Backup Cam is working properly. Make sure you get the USB phone cables if the DS didn’t install them for you already. Check that all seatbelts click in securely.

3 – Look through the interior for signs of tears or damage to the surfaces.

This will be easier to get fixed if noted on the due bill. Look for your “MiniMe” Tesla (not in Canada yet).

4 – Make sure you have your wallet and driver license and all of the things that you took out to sign your papers then DRIVE LIKE YOU OWN IT!!!!

Because you do now! Congrats and welcome to the Tesla family. Just don’t drive too fast because the person who drove you to pick up your Tesla is following in an ICE and can’t keep up.

Things to do when you get home:

❏ a. Make sure your charging arrangement works as soon as you get home so you will still
have time to get it fixed before you NEED to charge
❏ b. Set up HomeLink for garage door(s)
Some people have found this to be difficult. If you are having problems during “learning”, aim the remote to the front passenger headlight. Others have had to hold the remote inside the middle of the frunk or against the front lip of the frunk and on the frunk floor. The code learning is done close to the garage as you may need to press the red button on the garage door unit to finish the learning process. Afterwards, drive your car into your driveway to update your geofence settings so your garage door can automatically open when you reach the preset location.
❏ c. Set up Home Address/Work Address in Navigation.
❏ d. Set up Valet Passcode if not done at delivery

So what happens if I find something wrong (hopefully not!)

Tell the Delivery Specialist. Depending on the nature of the problem, either get it noted on the due bill, or in extremis refuse to accept the car. If a problem is documented in the due bill, it is proven to have been present when you took ownership of the car.
You will be excited to get your new car. Tesla DS are delivering MANY cars daily now and may not be able to stay with you while you inspect the car but you can take your time in the parking lot to make sure that you’ve been over the car with a fine tooth comb and you are completely satisfied. Make sure you take a copy of the due bill if you can. These guys are generally very good, so even if there are issues they’ll make sure everything gets fixed ASAP.

If you spot anything after (s)he leaves, contact the DS and let them know, and make sure you email them so there is a written record, and follow up with a phone call. You want your new car to be perfect.

IF you need to bring your car back to Tesla to address issues on the Due Bill, try make sure they have a Tesla loaner for you. A Tesla loaner is NOT guaranteed unless you specify when you make your appointment.

Many thanks to Nick Howe. Adapted from his Model S Checklist.

Enjoy your new and perfect Tesla Model 3!