Rear Hatch Repair ($$!!)

[brucedwilson]

This may be counted as a "fail". I have a 2 inch trailer hitch on my i3. It is mainly and only for a bike rack. I was accustomed to using a cheap rack from Princess Auto, which when tasked with carrying my new e-bike (85 lbs) was a fail. The bike, not suitably attached as would be a regular bike, came off and in the process smacked the back of the car.

Now who knew the exterior panel that covers the brake/turn lights was glass? It shattered like you have seen with front windscreens. And by the time the insurance coverage was drawn on, the body work totalled $7,000 Canadian.

So, a word to others who suspect the back of their car is under-protected. It is.

Bruce

 

[mojo]

The one positive thing about the glass cover is that it won't UV degrade, unlike any other plastic-based solution, and it won't get scratched when you clean it (unless you are really careless). I think the generally accepted route that most people take (where i3's are relatively common) is to buy a secondhand tailgate and have it tidied up and fitted.