Should you slam or soft close the liftgate?
 

I've owned the X for about 2 months and have a question. When you close the tailgate and liftgate how do you do it? By this, I mean I know you close the bottom part (tailgate) firmly and it latches. When you close the top half (liftgate), do you slam it shut or soft close it and let the electronics do their work and latch it closed electronically? Which method is better?

I'd say neither..Don't slam anything..especially the doors. use just enough force to shut the top half. (shutting it too softly can somtimes not do the trick). But definitely don't slam it..Back windows have shattered to pieces using that method.

I didn't mean slam. I meant close firmly. When you shut it softly, the electronic lock will engage and lock the tailgate down. So, you always close it hard?

I gently set the lift gate down, then push the middle of the hatch like a button till I hear it automatically latch. I dont let people open and close the lift gate because I know they are going to slam it.

I agree with the Godfather (who wouldn't?). Nice 'n' easy, let the electronic latch do its job. I always feel if I close the lid too hard, eventually it'll cause wear on something:-) Besides, when I hear that little motor whirring, I know for certain the latch is CLOSED.

if mine has an automatic latch than I'm a monkeys ass. Im going to check it tomorrow. 2001 4.4

I think it only came on the facelifted models, but I have to beg people not to slam it. SOFTLY I say and then I hear a huge BANG! makes me want to :spank:

Ditto. Those who don't know will always inviarably slam the gate down.

+1. These tailgates and doors aren't designed to be slammed on a constant basis. I don't have the soft-close on my X3, but whenever I'm at the dealer or with a friend who has the mechanism, I push it down firmly (think *boof*) and let it suck shut.

It's so annoying how people slam doors and the tailgate on my X3. When I drop someone off at their apartment, it always goes like this from the cargo area:

"Hey thanks for the ride, see ya soon"
"Yeah, sure, no problem. Bye"
BANG
*shudder*

I had the exact same question. I have always closed it softly and same as godfather I don't let other people close it. I think I checked the manual and it says to close it lightly as well.