Has anyone retrofitted the soft close tailgate? Or for anyone who received theirs OEM prior to the chip shortage... is it worth it?

The kits are about $600 USD. If you source the parts direct you can save a bit. But I'm wondering if it really makes much of a difference.

 

I have it and it is definitely nice to have, but not something I'd miss if I didn't have it.

 

Ours has it, I wouldn't pay extra for it. You still have to close the door enough for the soft close to engage, so at most it just insures your rear door is shut well.

 

I've thought about it, but the reality is that the back door isn't hard to close, so what value is it really? I can lean on mine and it will click close. Usually soft close is for a big heavy door that takes some effort to close. My Mercedes S550 had soft close doors. Those were heavy doors and if you didn't get some momentum they needed the assistance. It's much different than the perfectly balanced rear Defender door.
Now if I could retrofit all 5 doors for under a $1,000 in parts and a Saturday's worth of effort, I'd do it. For $600 for 1 door... not for me.

 

I liked it and would rather have it than not but also not worth $600 to add on IMO. Honestly just one more thing to break (potentially) and a lot of people forget about it anyway and slam it which probably only increases the wear on it. My first Defender test drive was that first edition thing and I remember the sales guy showing me the cargo space and then slamming it. I cringed and said check this out, opened it and soft closed it. He said you know more about these things than I do already. I had watched a boatload of reviews before I had gotten the bee in my bonnet for one of these things. Fun times, custom ordered a 90 and that was my first and maybe my last LR vehicle. Especially with Jag going electric and I'm not into getting another Defender really, so I guess it would have to be an Evoque next, are they planning to make all of the 'Ranges EVs too?

 

Exactly how I would have said it.

It's good when I'm walking away from the door with my dog and some groceries and I don't shove it closed hard enough.

 

It is fluff. I have it and really wish I didn't (ask the guy that it nearly cut his finger off). It is one more thing that will fail exactly one day after your warranty expires. Save the money and buy the enhanced version of the Puddle Lights if you want to waste some cash. The door closes easily.

 

Our 2021 has it and I bet it took me a year to notice it was missing on our 2023. I use the same amount of force to close either tailgate just out of habit. Certainly not worth $600 to me.

 

I have it on my 2020 Defender X and honestly the only time I use it is when I'm camping and don't want to disturb others when it's late in the night. If I didn't have it I wouldn't miss it. Spend that $$ on something else.

 

I didn't get it on my 2024 HSE due to shortage. Bought the parts from Hunters UK and installed. I would not want to be without it. Much prefer just pushing it gently to be sucked in then having to apply any force. Also when parked on a slope it helps. Comes down to personal preference. I would very much prefer it if the Defender also had soft close doors but I doubt we will see that.
My MY25 130 came with soft close tailgate from factory.