While taking apart a part of 2003 Evo 8 tails I compared them to a set of 2005 8 tails and I saw this (the black rim is the 2005 8 tail):







No matter how I tried to position it the 2003 8 light was definitely longer. I originally noticed this when I tried to put the 2003 lens on the 2005 light and it wouldn't fit right.

They both have the same numbers stamped to the front of them. They are just definitely a different size.

Am I the only one who didn't know this??

 

good find. wat'bout the 7 & 9? any info?

 

Don't have 7 or 9 tails to compare to. When I do I will definitely report my findings.


This begs to question though....which taillight fits the back end of the car better? It would seem like a size difference like that would be noticeable. I wonder if none has noticed because no one has thought (or known) to look?

 

we need more people like you around.

thanks for the info I dont think I have seen this anywhere else!

 

Nice finding.

 

I'm interested to hear about the 7 & 9. Thinking about putting 7 tails on my 9 MR but wasn't sure if it's an exact fit.

 

I'm not sure exactly what you're comparing in the pictures, but if the part numbers are the same, they should be the same?

I replaced my '05 tails, with "7" tails and they looked exactly the same to me, and I'm one of those people who notices details that the average person would never see or care to see.

 

I pointed out what I'm talking about in the picture. You can clearly see that the lens is about a 1/4 of an inch or so longer. I'm not too sure if this changes anything when they are assembled and put on the car, but the pictures don't lie.

I'm not saying it makes ANY difference on the car. I just would have never guessed that they were different sizes. It seems like something you can only accurately measure when the lens is pulled off. They are most certainly stamped with the same numbers/letters. But the lens is definitely NOT interchangeable between the two.

 

my 05 tails were ruined when i painted them red, i bought a mint 03 set from a board member and their exactly the same in fit.

 

I think you need to post better pictures, because the ones you have do not show the difference well, just lay the two lenses flat on the ground with a tape measure or something, then we can see that one lens in bigger that the other.

 

nice find

 

good find!

 

Uhhh.... are taking into account the lenses are laying staggered? maybe the picture is just not clear enough.....

 

That was my thought. The lower lens is inside the upper one, so of course it's going to be longer. It's longer by the thickness of the upper one.

 

This...lol but its possible it could be bigger if you say it won't fit.