A 2021 Tesla Model 3 with a quietly degraded battery
Battery SoH testing saved a Balmain buyer from a $19,400 pack replacement
2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range — 78,400km
What the buyer told us at booking
First-time EV buyer, family of four, planning a Sydney–Canberra commute twice a month. The listing promised 'as new battery, genuine 480km range'. The price was sharp for a Long Range — $4,000 below comparable cars in the same week.
What our EV inspector found
- AVILOO flash SoH test: 71.8% — well below the 91% expected for the build year and odometer.
- Tesla in-car estimated range read 462km. Actual battery capacity supported 312km of real-world range at 23°C.
- BMS log showed two thermal events in the first 18 months of ownership (likely supercharging in hot weather without conditioning).
- Module imbalance: 18mV spread across the pack — above the 12mV threshold that predicts module failure within 24 months.
- Body and chassis: clean. Panel paint depth all factory. No accident repair.
What the buyer did
The buyer offered the seller $24,500 — the asking price minus the replacement-pack cost. The seller declined. The buyer walked. Three weeks later the same listing reappeared at $36,500 — still not low enough.
"I would have signed for $42,990 the next day. Your report was the most useful $349 I've ever spent."
What it cost vs what it would have cost
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| EV pre-purchase inspection | $349 |
| Avoided pack-replacement cost | $19,400 |
| Avoided depreciation hit on resale | ~$8,000 |
| Net protection | $27,051 |
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