Tesla Model 3 Door Handle Removal Guide

After both Plasti-dipping and wrapping my Model 3 to chrome delete it, I finally decided to just paint all the chrome instead. I could not find any information on how to remove the door handle to do this, so I figured it out myself and decided to make a video to share with everyone.
The tools I used in the video:
Driver set: amzn.to/3jQrfwh
Clip poppers: amzn.to/3vsIjxN
Video 2 on how to reassemble:
kzbin.info...

[@relativeus]

You seem to have quite a bit of experience in this type of thing. I couldn't imagine deconstructing to this extent and then having to put it back together correctly! Cheers

[@alexkissel]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is exactly what I needed and no one else is posting about this

[@jaysnoble]

Awesome video! Thanks for showing how it's done! I found that I could skip the steps for popping out the wiring on the door trim and only needed to pop it off the panel in the door frame in order to pull the panel out and just laid it against the trim piece. Skipped all of the steps 5:30-8:00. Getting the window back in just right was a little tricky. I kept the bolts a little loose so I could raise and lower it and adjust easily till it didn't squeak.

[@isco5232]

I made it half way through, props to you. Little too much for me lol

[@The_DuMont_Network]

Thanks for the info. I am doing the exact opposite when my new M3LRAWD arrives within the next two weeks. The current black trim looks like crap on a red or blue Tesla, so I am going to powder coat the handles in silver or chrome. I can do it in stages - rear handles first, drive a couple of days with no rear handles, swap the front handles, powder coat the rear ones and reinstall. Some plastics can be powder coated with UV curing. Then all I have to do is work on the window trim. Thanks! --- SUBSCRIBED ---

[@redy2kl]

You wouldn't happen to be in Colorado?? I'd trade you all my chime parts for your black parts

[@billnipp2309]

I wrapped mine and they look great. this seems like an awful lot of unnecessary work... imo

[@antech555]

They sell black or body color matched door handle wraps now. Got a kit for my 2023 model 3 in pearl white from Tesbros. Amazon has similar for $21

[@pauliewalnuts240]

The future of car modification. When one of the only things you can modify is your door handles, youve been got.

[@gvyyuy]

Thanks for the video. Now I know that I will never even think about doing that

[@cpzd83]

Lmao yup, I came here thinking "oh it can't be that much work. And now I realize I don't want chrome delete all that much

[@TeslaRoger]

I was thinking about ordering the new door handles (mine is chrome) and just replacing it so I can have chrome deleted handles. This seems like a lot of work just for that though. Not sure if it's worth it.

[@briandentguy3403]

Very helpful as I do pdr for a living. Thanks

[@marriedwithteslas]

You're welcome! Glad to hear it was helpful.

[@Ianmundo]

alternative video title: “why you should NOT attempt to remove model 3 door handles”

[@gvyyuy]

Ahahah that’s so true lol

[@FeartheBoxes]

I know your video is quite old and you might not see this, but I changed my handles, not the whole thing, only the little handle part and used your video to help myself. When I put the new one in, it doesn't work. It doesn't open, it feels like the magnet isn't strong enough. any tips?

[@marriedwithteslas]

Is the new handle a Tesla part or an aftermarket handle? I assume the spring and pin and everything went in correctly and the handle actuates normally, excluding not triggering the door release?

[@MaDeOfVieT]

Chrome delete my handles with wrap and a year later the chrome behind the handle cracked and peeling off i booked for service they said i wrapped the handle so they void my warranty on the handle such bs.

[@PatLaprise]

You did a really nice paint job. What is the paint process you used for a great looking finish like that? Did you sanded down all the chrome or you just put a plastic primer over the chrome? How many coats of paint did you put and did you finish with a clear coat? It look satin, is it ok and doesn't leave any finger marks on the handle when you touch it?

[@lboogie1207]

Can I just go to a shop and have them do it. Man I should have thought about this before I bought new ones. 😢

[@MrK133n]

Well done, and thanks for sharing! I have 2 questions: 1 Is the handle itself made of metal or is coated plastic? If it’s metal I would think it wouldn’t be difficult to have them powder coated after going to all this trouble. 2 Do you think it would be worth it to do some additional sound deadening while the door is disassembled? Looks like Tesla did a good job covering the openings to make a good surface for some closed cell foam deadened.

[@marriedwithteslas]

It definitely feels like plastic to me. As far as I can tell, the only metal chrome on the car are the straight door trim pieces. There are probably a few spots where you could add extra padding, but the clips only allow for so much spacing so you may be limited in what you could put in there. That's definitely the easiest part, so it may be worth trying!

[@keyurshah1116]

The handle is plastic.. Some idiot pulled the handle on my car parked in an indoor garage and broke it. You can clearly see the plastic composition.

[@MrK133n]

Keyur Shah that sucks! Thank you for sharing though.

[@schlauchkajaker6915]

I added sound deadening to the doors and many other places of my Tesla Model 3. It's definitely worth it. Especially the stereo sounds so much better now. I used the following products noico.info/products/noico-black-80-mil-36-sq-ft-car-sound-deadening/ noico.info/products/noico-red-315-mil-20-sqft-noico-liner-heat-and-sound-insulation/ Only for the dry area of the doors reckhorn.com/schallisolierung/dv-10i-selbstklebendes-daemmvlies?c=95

[@schlauchkajaker6915]

@@marriedwithteslas It's plastic. My door handles have not been properly aligned by Tesla. Now the chrome is already coming off and white plastic is now visible.

[@akide]

Thank you for the video!

[@458italiagtr]

For readjusting the door handle, would the glass still need to come out? Just trying to get it to flush

[@peteroffpist1621]

Great video thanks, but so much work for some delete chrome. You have to be a real car enthusiast. I am more for the repair of things.

[@AshleyMosuro]

Is it possible to adjust the alignment of the handle to the door panel (to fix cases where the handle might be inset too much/too little)? If so, at what stage can you actually do this, on the handle unit itself?

[@marriedwithteslas]

There is a small amount of adjustability because the holes that attach the handle assembly to the door panel are slightly larger than the screws. You would have to get all the way to the stage where you remove the handles, but instead of removing them just loosen them a small amount. You should then be able to shift them slightly until the alignment is better and tighten them back down. If the handle is not flush with the door panel, I found this was the case when the handle assembly was not installed properly. If I remember correctly, the handle assembly sits on a set of spacers built into the door panel. It is fairly easy to place it on those spacers and have it be crooked but still tighten down, and that ends up making it be inset. When I reinstalled my handles I had to shift and adjust each one a few times until they were perfect.

[@Adz.M]

Thanks!

[@MarkMeszarosYNG]

You really have to hate that chrome to go through all that two maybe four times

[@The_DuMont_Network]

I guess he hates the chrome as much as I hate the black.