Tail light swap question

JON-E25WRX · 04-01-2010, 09:57 PM

so yes i've used the search feature, but haven't really gotten a clear answer.

i plan on doing a tail light swap on my 03 wrx sedan, with 04-05 tails.
i heard you had to "TRIM" them to fit correctly.
now is it the bumper or tail lights i have to trim?

has anyone done this? any help would be appreciated.
or pics to go a long would be sweet too.

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PCrowlz · 04-01-2010, 10:02 PM

Its the bumper. If you look at the 04-05 lights there is a little circle part that hangs down.

sc00by4life · 04-02-2010, 12:57 AM

You actually dont need to trim them to fit our bumpers. If you get 04-05 (not sure if this is true with later years) tails, theres a small rubber peice of trim that you can pull off and itll fit the bumper without modification.

JON-E25WRX · 04-02-2010, 03:35 AM

alright sweet i guess i'll just pull those rubber tabs off. and see how it goes.
i'll take pics of it too i guess to show how it goes.

JON-E25WRX · 04-05-2010, 10:40 PM

well just did my taillight swap today, and during the installation decided to do the JDM mod.

codesoccer · 04-12-2010, 09:46 AM

Those tail lights completely transform the car! So did it end up fitting with no problem?

JON-E25WRX · 04-12-2010, 10:08 AM

^thanks man, yeah i love the new look.
yeah it fit no problem.
i'll have to post some better pics soon.

JON-E25WRX · 04-12-2010, 05:23 PM

here are a few,

Tomster · 05-11-2010, 04:42 PM

looks great man! what did you end up paying for those if you dont mind me asking. Im looking to do the same to my 02.

JON-E25WRX · 05-11-2010, 05:57 PM

^i got mine for a little cheaper than most($170), but i see most of the taillights going for like 200-250. and yeah i recommend going with the 04-05 tails, they just look so much better with the clear red crystal color compared to the 02-03's

here are some better pics of the tails:

jlugo05 · 05-11-2010, 06:06 PM

no cutting necessary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! direct bolt on it you want it perfect pick up a 04+ bumper

Tomster · 05-12-2010, 06:22 PM

awesome man. thanks a bunch. cant wait to do this mod. what was JDM mod you spoke about earlier in the thread? oh and for the install do the 02 wires hook up with the 04-05 tails? Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by JON-E25WRX

^i got mine for a little cheaper than most($170), but i see most of the taillights going for like 200-250. and yeah i recommend going with the 04-05 tails, they just look so much better with the clear red crystal color compared to the 02-03's

here are some better pics of the tails:

spulbi · 05-12-2010, 06:35 PM

Looks really good! I want to do this to my car eventually also.

Tomster · 05-12-2010, 06:46 PM

would i need the harness that comes with the 04 tails or would my 02 harness/bulbs work? thanks

Coconut24 · 05-12-2010, 07:04 PM

Here are mine. Just installed them a few days ago. I just did the JDM tails mod like 2 minutes ago.

Also, on mine I didn't cut or shave or modify anything. Just bolted them right in. They stick out a little bit at the bottom but it is not noticeable at all. Even when I tell people that they stick out they still cant figure out where.

Tomster · 05-12-2010, 07:31 PM

side view helped a bunch!

Coconut24 · 05-12-2010, 09:28 PM

^^^

black_subie730 · 12-03-2012, 07:55 PM

what about for wagons?

07wrxstage2 · 12-03-2012, 08:14 PM

Sedan tails won't fit the wagons unfortunately.

black_subie730 · 12-03-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 07wrxstage2

Sedan tails won't fit the wagons unfortunately.

i know that, i guess i just need to be more specific..what i was trying to say was has anyone done it on a wagon.. pics and what was done to made it fit..also are the sockets the same from an 02-03 to 04+..thanks

SammyJankis · 12-03-2012, 11:28 PM

very nice. def looking to do this to my car

Bluefoton · 12-04-2012, 07:33 PM

I put 04 tails on my 03 wagon. Worked the same way as it's shown here with sedans. Slight protrusion, and you're the only one that notices it.

04-01-2010, 09:57 PM	#1
JON-E25WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 225389 Join Date: Sep 2009 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Sandy, UT Vehicle: 03 wrx, MBP 08V rotated 35r bugeye	Tail light swap question so yes i've used the search feature, but haven't really gotten a clear answer. i plan on doing a tail light swap on my 03 wrx sedan, with 04-05 tails. i heard you had to "TRIM" them to fit correctly. now is it the bumper or tail lights i have to trim? has anyone done this? any help would be appreciated. or pics to go a long would be sweet too. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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04-01-2010, 10:02 PM	#2
PCrowlz Scooby Specialist Member#: 215260 Join Date: Jun 2009 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Woodinville, WA Vehicle: 04 WRX PSM	Its the bumper. If you look at the 04-05 lights there is a little circle part that hangs down.

04-02-2010, 12:57 AM	#3
sc00by4life Scooby Guru Member#: 97135 Join Date: Sep 2005 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Bothell	You actually dont need to trim them to fit our bumpers. If you get 04-05 (not sure if this is true with later years) tails, theres a small rubber peice of trim that you can pull off and itll fit the bumper without modification.

04-02-2010, 03:35 AM	#4
JON-E25WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 225389 Join Date: Sep 2009 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Sandy, UT Vehicle: 03 wrx, MBP 08V rotated 35r bugeye	alright sweet i guess i'll just pull those rubber tabs off. and see how it goes. i'll take pics of it too i guess to show how it goes.

04-05-2010, 10:40 PM	#5
JON-E25WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 225389 Join Date: Sep 2009 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Sandy, UT Vehicle: 03 wrx, MBP 08V rotated 35r bugeye	well just did my taillight swap today, and during the installation decided to do the JDM mod.

04-12-2010, 09:46 AM	#6
codesoccer Scooby Specialist Member#: 179573 Join Date: May 2008 Chapter/Region: South East Location: South Florida Vehicle: 2002 MBP Bugeye Flip Flop Tuned on corn	Those tail lights completely transform the car! So did it end up fitting with no problem?

04-12-2010, 10:08 AM	#7
JON-E25WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 225389 Join Date: Sep 2009 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Sandy, UT Vehicle: 03 wrx, MBP 08V rotated 35r bugeye	^thanks man, yeah i love the new look. yeah it fit no problem. i'll have to post some better pics soon.

04-12-2010, 05:23 PM	#8
JON-E25WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 225389 Join Date: Sep 2009 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Sandy, UT Vehicle: 03 wrx, MBP 08V rotated 35r bugeye	here are a few,

05-11-2010, 04:42 PM	#9
Tomster Scooby Newbie Member#: 131729 Join Date: Nov 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: SoCal Vehicle: 2002 WRX PSM	looks great man! what did you end up paying for those if you dont mind me asking. Im looking to do the same to my 02.

05-11-2010, 05:57 PM	#10
JON-E25WRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 225389 Join Date: Sep 2009 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Sandy, UT Vehicle: 03 wrx, MBP 08V rotated 35r bugeye	^i got mine for a little cheaper than most($170), but i see most of the taillights going for like 200-250. and yeah i recommend going with the 04-05 tails, they just look so much better with the clear red crystal color compared to the 02-03's here are some better pics of the tails:

05-11-2010, 06:06 PM	#11
jlugo05 Scooby Specialist Member#: 123891 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Socal Vehicle: 2002 wrx psm hawkeye 02 wrx AWsecret project	no cutting necessary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! direct bolt on it you want it perfect pick up a 04+ bumper

05-12-2010, 06:35 PM	#13
spulbi Scooby Specialist Member#: 190378 Join Date: Sep 2008 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Vancouver/Portland/SCIC/OC Vehicle: 2002 WRX stg2 w/ 2005 STI front conver	Looks really good! I want to do this to my car eventually also.

05-12-2010, 06:46 PM	#14
Tomster Scooby Newbie Member#: 131729 Join Date: Nov 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: SoCal Vehicle: 2002 WRX PSM	would i need the harness that comes with the 04 tails or would my 02 harness/bulbs work? thanks

05-12-2010, 07:04 PM	#15
Coconut24 Scooby Newbie Member#: 243723 Join Date: Apr 2010 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Kentucky Vehicle: 2002 WRX Sedan World Rally Blue	Here are mine. Just installed them a few days ago. I just did the JDM tails mod like 2 minutes ago. Also, on mine I didn't cut or shave or modify anything. Just bolted them right in. They stick out a little bit at the bottom but it is not noticeable at all. Even when I tell people that they stick out they still cant figure out where.

05-12-2010, 07:31 PM	#16
Tomster Scooby Newbie Member#: 131729 Join Date: Nov 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: SoCal Vehicle: 2002 WRX PSM	side view helped a bunch!

05-12-2010, 09:28 PM	#17
Coconut24 Scooby Newbie Member#: 243723 Join Date: Apr 2010 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Kentucky Vehicle: 2002 WRX Sedan World Rally Blue	^^^

12-03-2012, 07:55 PM	#18
black_subie730 Scooby Newbie Member#: 193074 Join Date: Oct 2008 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Socal Vehicle: 2002 WRX SW PSM	what about for wagons?

12-03-2012, 08:14 PM	#19
07wrxstage2 NASIOC Supporter Member#: 262366 Join Date: Oct 2010 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: MD Vehicle: 2006 OBP STI 2000 BRP IMPREZA 2.5RS	Sedan tails won't fit the wagons unfortunately.

12-03-2012, 11:28 PM	#21
SammyJankis Scooby Newbie Member#: 339035 Join Date: Nov 2012	very nice. def looking to do this to my car

12-04-2012, 07:33 PM	#22
Bluefoton Scooby Specialist Member#: 141373 Join Date: Feb 2007 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: Quebec, QC Vehicle: 2008 2.5i-hatch - now with a HID retrofit	I put 04 tails on my 03 wagon. Worked the same way as it's shown here with sedans. Slight protrusion, and you're the only one that notices it.