W169 A Class Tailgates

[MickyP64]

Can anyone tell me if there are deference’s between the tailgate features of an earlier A Class W169 and the later facelift version and whether the facelift tailgate will fit the earlier model. To me they look the same in every way but I’m told they have a different part number. The obvious thing to me is that the later has the newer type seam seal and hopefully is therefore less prone to rusting.

 

[DenniZ]

I'm pretty sure they are the same. Only bumpers changed on the rear if I recall correctly. Plus that seem issue.

The front had new wings, headlights, bumpers and grill. Otherwise I think they are the same.

 

[MickyP64]

Cheers DenniZ

That's was my conclusion too...I think that they've made a slight change to the chrome door handle/number plate light - more ergonomic apparently but otherwise the same.

Since the seam seal on the tailgate of my car has at last decided to part company with the bodywork I thought I’d scour the country’s car salvage yards for a replacement. I have one reserved for me at a yard not so far away and I’ve been to inspect…same paint code as mine and it’s still attached to a 2011 facelift A Class with serious front end damage…

I was quite surprised to see that even a later version of this car appears to have the rippled type seam seal, well on the tailgate at least…the doors have the smooth stuff…It doesn’t have any sign of rust (well it is only two years old) and I suppose it doesn’t necessarily follow that it’ll start rusting away as soon as I put it on my car…I was just a little un-nerved to see this stuff is still around…maybe MB had a backlog of tailgates sitting around in the factory when they released the facelift!..2009?

That chrome trim bit has already been removed by the way...apparently MB don't supply that bit even if you were to buy the tailgate new!

I can just hear the conversation in the MB office...

Willie: ' Helmut, how can we make a bit more money out of the A Class'

Helmut: 'I know let's release a slightly modified facelift version and change the part numbers so we can charge more for bodywork spares'

Willie: ' Great idea...but what about all those tailgates we've got left over?'

Helmut: '...Maybe we just change the handle/number plate light and give everything a new part number too, then we charge twice as much for that bit too...but here's the really good bit...we sell it without the handle anyway!...genius...no one will ever suspect!'

Hmmmm...

 

[Koolvin]

Later tailgate will fit. The later ones are less prone to rusting as they didn't use the water based sealant - The glass is bonded on to the tailgate.