Gap between rear seats and parcel shelf

[Cyruskint]

My (UK) model with leather seats has a gap, size dependent on chosen recline(?) so I am sure it is correct. A lot of vehicles have a gap at the rear (ie below the rear window) created by having over-large rubber buffers.

IMHO this is only an issue if the manufacturer has been stingy/incompetent with insulating the boot/trunk cavity. In the X1 & E91 they have done a pretty good job, so the increase in background noise when driving is minimal without the parcel shelf.
To avoid creating a down-market impression for rear seat passengers I forbid them to sit facing the rear

[X1_AJG]

Ok, so I think I have found the ultimate design solution in this situation for our X1's. I was going on a day trip today and was going to put the largest of the two shelves in my garage. I got lazy and was going to just lay it flat in the hatch area instead. I didn't want for it to take up the floor space and I decided to lean it against the back seat. As I was fumbling to get it in place, it magically slipped into its, do I say, designed space. And guess what, I pulled it straight out and slipped it back in through that gap. Design and function for the win!

[X1_AJG]

Originally Posted by X1_AJG

Ok, so I think I have found the ultimate design solution in this situation for our X1's. I was going on a day trip today and was going to put the largest of the two shelves in my garage. I got lazy and was going to just lay it flat in the hatch area instead. I didn't want for it to take up the floor space and I decided to lean it against the back seat. As I was fumbling to get it in place, it magically slipped into its, do I say, designed space. And guess what, I pulled it straight out and slipped it back in through that gap. Design and function for the win!

Another picture...