Mine broke last night. To make it more fun, it happened during a road trip with one of my kids for a tournament. 4 hours away from home, went to charge last night for the drive home today and charging flap wouldn't open. Called roadside "assistance," they told me to look for a release string inside the trunk, as "some i3 models have a release" when I tell him there's no string and remind him this is an i4, not an i3, he says "well, they're both EVs." He puts me on hold and talks to someone else who is "very familiar" with their EVs (as no techs are available since it's after hours on a Sat) and they have advised there is nothing to do but tow it to the nearest BMW dealer, which is closed until Monday.
I explain my situation, about 300 miles from home in far western Colorado, that I have to get home tomorrow and how will they help me get there if the car is towed to a local dealer? And then do I have to drive an 8-hour round trip to pick up the car when it's fixed?!? He says sorry, all he can do is have the car towed and then I have work with the dealer when they open on Monday to figure out logistics. Oh, he can get me an Uber up to 90 miles. Cool, so you're gonna drop me and my kid off on the side of I-70 in the middle of the mountains once we've hit 90 miles? Thanks BMW. I understand they may be limited in what they can do, but this felt like an extenuating circumstance. If it happened at home in the Denver area, it would be no big deal. Tow the car, uber to home/work, phone a friend, etc.
I amazingly found an auto part store still open at 8pm that had one bladder in stock, bought it, now the flap is really, really broken, but I was able to charge and made it back home tonight. If the dealer gives me crap tomorrow about breaking it open myself when roadside assistance said to have it towed, I will lose it. I cannot believe this is an actual known problem and they haven't done a recall. This car is less than 5 months old and I have lost all faith in taking it anywhere outside the metro area, which is a shame since it was really freaking fun to drive through the mountains.