I bought and installed a Wokeby Trunk Extension ("WTE") for my i3 BEV. I've been using it for three months and have some thoughts to share. For the record, I paid retail price for this product and have not been asked to write this review.
I've corresponded with Wolfgang Kern, the man behind Wokeby and this design. I didn't seek out any information specifically with this post in mind, but gather that he's a low-volume one-man operation who had a vision, the engineering chops to bring the WTE into the physical world, and the resourcefulness to evolve it into its current form and material choice.
The Trunk Extension is compatible with all BEV models of the i3 and i3s. It takes advantage of the space that would otherwise be occupied by the REX, over the rear axle. Although it features the original version, the video Wokeby produced demonstrates installation perfectly and doesn't need additional clarification.
The WTE adds 1.25 cubic feet of storage to the i3's 15.1 cu.ft. trunk, roughly an 8% increase in storage capacity. It is somewhat comparable in volume to the i3's frunk, which has a capacity of about 1.1 ft³, except that the Trunk Extension creates a dedicated space for the i3's flat tire kit. This results in the remaining space being less encumbered.
For me, this added space is quite useful. For starters, unlike the frunk, the WTE is weathertight. If break-ins or thefts are of concern, it provides a hiding space where a camera or laptop might be stashed. In my case, I use it for a handful of occasional use items that would otherwise be clutter in my main cargo area, and have a small amount of room left over. The photos below cover this.
The WTE is on its second design (the original version was constructed of stainless steel), and the Glass Reinforced Plastic version I received is the second iteration with this material. What is GRP? It's 3mm thick fiberglass, with a claimed weight of under 8 1/2 lbs. It is finished in a shiny piano black on the showy side. It falls right in line with BMW's CFRP material choice for this car.
I haven't seen a weight limit for the Trunk Extension, however I don't know what could be stuffed in this relatively compact space that might challenge the material's integrity. The bottom of the WTE rests on a chassis crossmember, so whatever the load, it's supported from below.
The "big picture" durability of the Trunk Extension deserves a more nuanced answer. But as a TL;DR -- treat it with respect. As you'll see in the photos below, the GRP is breakable. It's not designed to bear weight directly -- in other words, it's not intended to be used in lieu of the load floor; the load floor needs to be left on top of it. The i3's load floor is a good half-inch thick, but not entirely rigid, meaning heavy items being transported in the main cargo area will press down on the center of the WTE. I've loaded mounted car tires in the 50 pound range on top of it with no ill effects. Planning to carry stacked sacks upon sacks of dry concrete mix? I'm not so sure that's prudent.
Additionally, there's no way I'd willingly turn this car in to BMW service with the WTE installed if I thought they'd need access to the motor bay. A heavy handed yank of the flat top while removing could lead to a break, right down the center, and an unprotected Trunk Extension sitting on the floor of the service bay, waiting to be tripped over, doesn't bode well with me. Thankfully, it lifts out easily with the removal of 9 screws, and the original motor cover can be swapped back in.
Lastly, with respect to durability, the beautiful glossy finish is prone to cosmetic damage, as you'll see in some of the photos below. I've chosen to line the compartment with useful items to keep scratches at bay. I'd like to see Wokeby use better protection during shipping, and I recommend replacing the stock BMW engine cover screws & washers with something more forgiving (I chose M5 x 16mm EPDM washers).
One final aspect deserving mention is the acquisition of the WTE. Wokeby accepts bank transfers for payment -- no PayPal or credit cards. This sort of international purchase may cause pause for some. Although my banks and credit unions all offer international bank transfers and currency conversion, the best deal for me was using Xoom, a PayPal service, with a $5 transaction fee. Obviously, you'll need to factor in the current exchange rate to figure out your actual cost.
Shipping -- or shall I say patience - is another matter. My experience may have been atypical, as it was shipped leading into the holiday rush. It initiated with DHL, who handed it off to USPS. The fist shipment took 25 days. The second, 53 days. There appears to be a hang up upon reaching the US, where it passes through customs. The box is so large you may not be able to fit it in your i3 if you're picking it up from the Post Office.
Considering that the Wokeby Trunk Extension represents the equivalent of an additional car payment (give or take), it's difficult to make a blanket case for installing it without knowing that the modest amount of added space is going to be put to good use. But I can say with certainly that this part is thoughtfully designed, well made, pleasing to look at, and matches the overall design ideals of the i3. And it's portable -- either to your next i3, or to eBay, should you be finished with it.
I've corresponded with Wolfgang Kern, the man behind Wokeby and this design. I didn't seek out any information specifically with this post in mind, but gather that he's a low-volume one-man operation who had a vision, the engineering chops to bring the WTE into the physical world, and the resourcefulness to evolve it into its current form and material choice.
The Trunk Extension is compatible with all BEV models of the i3 and i3s. It takes advantage of the space that would otherwise be occupied by the REX, over the rear axle. Although it features the original version, the video Wokeby produced demonstrates installation perfectly and doesn't need additional clarification.
The WTE adds 1.25 cubic feet of storage to the i3's 15.1 cu.ft. trunk, roughly an 8% increase in storage capacity. It is somewhat comparable in volume to the i3's frunk, which has a capacity of about 1.1 ft³, except that the Trunk Extension creates a dedicated space for the i3's flat tire kit. This results in the remaining space being less encumbered.
For me, this added space is quite useful. For starters, unlike the frunk, the WTE is weathertight. If break-ins or thefts are of concern, it provides a hiding space where a camera or laptop might be stashed. In my case, I use it for a handful of occasional use items that would otherwise be clutter in my main cargo area, and have a small amount of room left over. The photos below cover this.
The WTE is on its second design (the original version was constructed of stainless steel), and the Glass Reinforced Plastic version I received is the second iteration with this material. What is GRP? It's 3mm thick fiberglass, with a claimed weight of under 8 1/2 lbs. It is finished in a shiny piano black on the showy side. It falls right in line with BMW's CFRP material choice for this car.
I haven't seen a weight limit for the Trunk Extension, however I don't know what could be stuffed in this relatively compact space that might challenge the material's integrity. The bottom of the WTE rests on a chassis crossmember, so whatever the load, it's supported from below.
The "big picture" durability of the Trunk Extension deserves a more nuanced answer. But as a TL;DR -- treat it with respect. As you'll see in the photos below, the GRP is breakable. It's not designed to bear weight directly -- in other words, it's not intended to be used in lieu of the load floor; the load floor needs to be left on top of it. The i3's load floor is a good half-inch thick, but not entirely rigid, meaning heavy items being transported in the main cargo area will press down on the center of the WTE. I've loaded mounted car tires in the 50 pound range on top of it with no ill effects. Planning to carry stacked sacks upon sacks of dry concrete mix? I'm not so sure that's prudent.
Additionally, there's no way I'd willingly turn this car in to BMW service with the WTE installed if I thought they'd need access to the motor bay. A heavy handed yank of the flat top while removing could lead to a break, right down the center, and an unprotected Trunk Extension sitting on the floor of the service bay, waiting to be tripped over, doesn't bode well with me. Thankfully, it lifts out easily with the removal of 9 screws, and the original motor cover can be swapped back in.
Lastly, with respect to durability, the beautiful glossy finish is prone to cosmetic damage, as you'll see in some of the photos below. I've chosen to line the compartment with useful items to keep scratches at bay. I'd like to see Wokeby use better protection during shipping, and I recommend replacing the stock BMW engine cover screws & washers with something more forgiving (I chose M5 x 16mm EPDM washers).
One final aspect deserving mention is the acquisition of the WTE. Wokeby accepts bank transfers for payment -- no PayPal or credit cards. This sort of international purchase may cause pause for some. Although my banks and credit unions all offer international bank transfers and currency conversion, the best deal for me was using Xoom, a PayPal service, with a $5 transaction fee. Obviously, you'll need to factor in the current exchange rate to figure out your actual cost.
Shipping -- or shall I say patience - is another matter. My experience may have been atypical, as it was shipped leading into the holiday rush. It initiated with DHL, who handed it off to USPS. The fist shipment took 25 days. The second, 53 days. There appears to be a hang up upon reaching the US, where it passes through customs. The box is so large you may not be able to fit it in your i3 if you're picking it up from the Post Office.
Considering that the Wokeby Trunk Extension represents the equivalent of an additional car payment (give or take), it's difficult to make a blanket case for installing it without knowing that the modest amount of added space is going to be put to good use. But I can say with certainly that this part is thoughtfully designed, well made, pleasing to look at, and matches the overall design ideals of the i3. And it's portable -- either to your next i3, or to eBay, should you be finished with it.
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