Front passenger seat hinge cover

[Katie Chau]

Hello, I rented a BMW i3 from Turo and the owner never gave me a manual, so I never even knew the back doors open - I thought it was a 2 door and never used the backseats. After I returned the car, he accused me of damages that I didn't cause, that were only visible from the backseats. Do any of you ever have this damage to your car and how would it have been caused? Please help and Turo ONLY relies on photographic evidence and since I was first time (and last time) renter, I did not have the photo to prove my innocence as the owner had taken dozens of his own car before and after I used it (with the utmost care) for a week and returned it in good condition. He could have caused the damage after I returned it, I have no control over the situation anymore.
Katie

 

[mojo]

I'm not sure how anyone here could help you. If we all said that our cars had failed in this way and a part had dropped off, or if none of us said that our cars had failed in that way and the part has never dropped off - how would it help you?

We could offer you sympathy about an apparently dishonest renter - or possibly an honest renter who failed to identify the person who damaged his car correctly - but I guess that's probably about as far as it could go here?

 

[Katie Chau]

I'm not sure how anyone here could help you. If we all said that our cars had failed in this way and a part had dropped off, or if none of us said that our cars had failed in that way and the part has never dropped off - how would it help you?

We could offer you sympathy about an apparently dishonest renter - or possibly an honest renter who failed to identify the person who damaged his car correctly - but I guess that's probably about as far as it could go here?

It's not "all or none" - I'm asking to know if anyone ever had this problem and how that part could have come loose during normal usage. They claimed I "ripped it out" - I certainly never did anything like that, why would I? How could I, without even getting into the backseats? But any info regarding that particular loose part would help - maybe it has a tendency to break off easily? I don't have that car myself, that's why I'm asking this group of BMW i3 owners for help. If you can't help, please reserve judgement to yourself. Thank you,
Katie

 

[mojo]

No, it's not easy to break. I've had passengers in the back of my car, and none have ever broken that part. Does that help at all?

I can write that it's easy to break though, if you think that will help!

Ok - it's easy to break - they break all the time. Does that help?

The point is that there is nothing BMW i3 specific that will make any difference to this situation. The renter says that you broke it and you know that you didn't.

If it helps, I recommend that you do the following:

1. Find out Turo's dispute procedure - read up on it and be prepared to use it.
2. Find out the legal situation in your part of the world, and what (if any) legal protections you have as a consumer.
3. If he insists on charging for a replacement part, require evidence from the renter that he has actually paid for the relevant part.
4. If he insists on you paying, make sure that you provide feedback for him that others can see - that may be a disincentive to repeat offences.

If the damage were more serious I would suggest that you check whether you hold any insurance policies that would cover the (alleged) damage - but in this case I would expect that your policy excess would make that futile, even if you have cover.

 

[Mondomensch]

Zooming in on the pre/post photos you uploaded, it looks like that plastic part was already loose/out of place/damaged on the before photos. I would think that reclining or moving the passenger seat forward or back could have easily knocked it loose. The “pre” photos unhelpfully have the key area in deep shadow.

 

[Mondomensch]

FWIW, here is what my i3’s unbroken seat looks like.
Seems to me that besides moving the seat, stashing something behind the seat that catches on the plastic part might pull it loose especially if it were already damaged.