Yes, a tailgate from a later model will work fine. Last month I put a '93 tailgate on my '87 245DL for all the reasons you mentioned and because someone had kindly broken my rear window one night. It takes some real time, especially if you have to paint, but very doable. Yes, lock cylinder will transfer easily. The trickest part was the reatachment of the new tailgate, it's heavyish and unwieldly. I had the luxury of a forklift to lift it into place, otherwise a helper or two are definately needed. Check out archives regarding rewiring; rerouting the wires externally will avert future repair work.

I got my new tailgate, as well as four or five other small small parts, for $32 at local U-pull.

I still haven't gotten the latch properly aligned. It closes, but needs a good SLAM (ouch). Can't seem to quite get it right yet.

Good luck. 1987 245DL 228k

I was getting water out of my tailgate when I raised it. Searched for the leak all winter. Finally I found that water was getting under the rubber seal somewhere (probably need a new seal), running down to the bottom of the seal and then in through those small drain holes on the bottom edge and into the tailgate. Sort of a reverse drainage. Some of this water remaines in the tailgate and then runs out when the tailgate is raised. I covered those drain holes with plastic electrical tape to see if that was where the water got in. Sure enough, the tape stopped water from getting into the tailgate. Some water accumulates in the rubber seal at the bottom but that drains out as I start to raise the tailgate. The inside of the tailgate remains dry.

If I can't replace the rubber seal, I may try taping something on the lower edge of the tailgate opening to hold the rubber seal open slightly so the water can drain out.

Not a bad question....

I have a '91 tailgate (flush glass) to go onto my '86. The biggist problem I see so far is that the washer nozzle is top dead center on the newer t-gate, but aside the gate on the older car. That measn that (a) I must drill a hole and install a grommet for the squirter hose to go from up near the right hinge over to the t-gate, and (b) I'll have the original squirter just sitting there. (Maybe I can plumb them both in for a double douche.)

I am assuming that the key lock barrel and assembly will transfer from my '86 t-gate to the '91 gate.

You can solve the rust problem by opening the crimped-over sheet metal along the bottom (and also of the regular doors, too), scraping out the rust 'n crud, painting with anti-rust paint (I like Corroless), folding the crimp back while the paint is wet, painting again. Let it dry several days and paint with body color (or black).

The dripping water you see might be caught up in the weather seal, not inside the door. Shouldn't be getting in the door, anyway.
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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)