That's the image!....and that's EXACTLY where my issue has recurred. 2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

I was determined to find it

I will have a better look at mine tomorrow, my last car, an MY11 had not a mark at all on either side, it was one of the first MY11 cars and covered 80k miles, some at speeds that would cause it too flex

I suspect a handling issue ( poor design, not user), possibly as the handle is depressed in the middle to close the tailgate, the ends flex outwards, it's curved after all, this pushes down and sideways on the paint, just my thoughts.

Thanks. I'd be interested to know whether yours actually flexes enough to make contact with the paint if you do push down on it as a handle - though, as I said, I have deliberately been avoiding doing it since the first repair.
Perhaps some form of gasket around the edge or a spacer behind it where it's mounted to make it stand off further would be the solution? 2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

I fitted a 3m homemade gasket to my old my11, the boot was repainted 4 or five times, (to many to remember). The gasket stopped the problem coming back. When I sold this car the gasket was beginning to come off. The material of the boot strip is very thin where it rubs the paint off, it is hard to get the gasket to stay in place at this point.

My new my14 paint started to rub off within months of purchase, this is about to go in for its second repaint next week. I refused to let land rover have the car back until they gave me an explanation as to why this happens. They said that they are aware of this issue and the spacers between the boot and strip (think there foam), have to be adjusted, the strip needs to be checked as some are not finished properly on the edges, and the boot may need replacing as some have high points where they meet the strip. So a combination of things possibly cause this.

Just had a much closer look at mine in the dry and daylight, the end where it's wearing seems much closer to the paintwork than the other end....so maybe not mounted correctly after previous repair? Or, as said, maybe part not finished properly - who knows? Annoying though! 2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

Both ends of mine.

Thanks for taking the trouble to post those. Very interesting as they're both much further away than either end of mine. That suggests it's possible to 'space' the fitting to make the part stand off further.
Many thanks - that'll give me something to talk to the dealer about!
Lovely colour by the way! 2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

Picture of mine as it is at the moment...






Been experimenting - if I do use it as a handle to close the tailgate, there is NO flex at the end (all the force seems to be taken by the central mounting points) so I don't think it's from usage. Must be down to vibration initiated by mechanical or aero input when moving I think - I can flex the end to contact the paint if I push on the end so the movement is possible. Hope that makes sense and that it maybe helps someone else? 2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

Just looked at mine and the ends are clear of the paintwork. I was thinking that if they flex due to vibration/airflow etc, it might be worth putting a squirt of clear silicon mastic in the gap to stop any possible damage. What do others think? Is it worth doing? FL2 Metropolis, Loire Blue, ebony/ivory

Might not be a bad idea, thanks. May try that once it's fixed, again. 2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

I have this issue on my prefacelift as well! Never new corrosion gtee was 6yrs. So its a trip to landrover on wednesday to see if theyll approve it. Should make my Dad happy if they do, little less time in his paint booth 😂

Is yours the short tailgate handle or the long chrome one?

Mines the short matt grey one

Well my 1 year old MY14 is going in tomorrow to get the boot repainted for a second time. I noticed today how much the boot strip expands in the sun. At one point you can see the rubbed off paint, then when the sun comes out it gets covered over. About 6mm of movement on the right hand side.

Very poor design. Also noticed that when warm the strip is stood off from the boot but when cooler it sits tight against the paint.


Not sunny.


Sunny.

Been watching this topic quite closely and it seems LR have listened to this aswell as other issues and made changes, great to see. MY15 clear spacing evident and rock solid. I'm
In Australia so 0 to 45 degree possible so time will tell on expansion/shrinkage but it clear of the paintwork atm.