Update June 10, 2024: I’ve been told that in some countries it is illegal to have a rear license plate hatch that does not close by itself.
Old Tom, Sodo on the samba, decided he was sick of the springs on the license plate hatch at the rear. You know, coolant and oil checking hatch. Tired of propping it open. So he cut the springs.
His YouTube …
Being a Tom fanboy , I decided to do same. I didn’t have trouble removing screws as I lead a pure life , unlike Tom .
I bent the spring pigtail with the pliers, and it broke off. No need to grab angle grinder .
I gave the clip a bit of a push to the rear, left in pic. Didn’t seem to move, but it did clip better.
Antisieze on the screws back in, and a dab of grease on the clip.
Now I have a floppy hatch like the old Tom .
shooftie 
#1 by Tom on May 21, 2025 - 8:27 am
…told that in some countries it is illegal to have a rear license plate hatch that does not close by itself.
Risking that your vehicle may be disallowed for importation into said countries. Be careful out there folks!