The dreaded top tailgate bottom edge cancer is now bubbling along again on one side. I did have a go last year when I stripped off the old panel sealant along the join, rust treated it, painted it in red oxide, applied new seam sealer, primed and painted. For good measure I blew copious amounts of waxoyl stuff inside as well.

Paint specilaist today was brutally honest. If he does it, there's now guarantee it wont be back in months. New tailgate is approx £1,480 ! Looked at loads of used ones on ebay but either have early stages, or worse than mine or some clown has simply cut the wiring at the top with a pair of scissors and left a dozen to be joined and re-soldered . Worse thing is, a friends black 2004 model has a tailgate that looks as if it left the factory yesterday. Totally original and not a mm of the seam affected or damaged.

What is every one else doing ?

Maybe ask how Gloria is looking round the back.

It could well be that the BMW era cars are holding up better than the later models.....

Get the best early tailgate you can, the metal bits are the same.

Strip everything off

Re-thread your wiring into it and refit your trim.

Jobs a good Un. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

Alistair wrote:

Maybe ask how Gloria is looking round the back.

It could well be that the BMW era cars are holding up better than the later models.....

Hold on now! I have already asked about Gloria's top tailgate. 2010 Range Rover TDV8 Baltic Blue Autobiography (2011 MY) - SOLD
1960 Land Rover SII SWB SW
2020 BMW R1250 RT LE
2021 Triton ST-125 (Monkey Bike)

As above, look for a decent one from an earlier car.... BMW best metal.... then the Ford era. Think they had more recycled steel as the years went on. Trouble now is, the earlier cars are, by definition, getting on a bit now, so could be a trade off.

I replaced mine on my TD6 with one from a car 4 years newer.... £55 to swap glass over.... as I didn’t have privacy, and the one I bought did..... then I got body shop to swap.

That was about 8 years ago though.....

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

TJRL wrote:

Hold on now! I have already asked about Gloria's top tailgate.

Oops - sorry

I remembered the tread but didn’t re-read it

northernmonkeyjones wrote:

Get the best early tailgate you can, the metal bits are the same.

Strip everything off

Re-thread your wiring into it and refit your trim.

Jobs a good Un.

There was a recent thread or two about the loom. Cam Tech Craig posted some info.

I recon it’s easier to keep your existing loom, rather than bodge a join.... 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic56245.html

https://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic56228.html 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

As above, all you want is the metal and possibly the glass.

The loom is immaterial. you have a good one which can be swapped. Fiddly but as MJD says it’s been done recently and wasn’t an issue. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

Waiting to see some pics from a breaker who reckons they have a few top tailgates with no rust. I have a first rate painter so thats no problem. Still daunted by the stripping down and transfering of parts of the old one though but a lot of you seem to think its with in the reach of the the home dabbler !

Can’t your painter swap them over before he paints? Or is the clue in the name.... “painter”.... not fitter.... 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Made a 380 mile round trip today to St Albans to collect a used upper tailgate from prestige-vehicle-parts who list parts under this name on ebay. What an absolute bargain at £72. Completely as described. Now for the painting and transfer of bits from my old one.

Nice one. Moving in the right direction.

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport