Tail Light differences between facelift sedans and prefacelift sedans?! (pics)

[delmarco]

Someone told me the main reason facelift E46 tail lights don't work on pre-face lift E46 sedans is because the plastic outer shell is shaped differently. Is this true?
In the pictures below facelift and pre-faceift seem to have identical shape.
Did BMW really make the shapes different?

I really want to try and upgrade my tails to facelift OEM style since I'm not yet sure about putting Depo R/C/R clears on as yet.

Thanks.

Hopefully the pictures below will help add some fact to the myth.

[RSF5]

You'll need 2 new light bulb assemblies as well since those are different, but I don't know if the facelift tails would even fit on the prelift body. Unless you find some tails made specifically to fit you could see if you could try swapping with someone you know with a facelift e46 just to see if they fit.

[leeella]

I had to change my bootlid because off damage my car is a 1999 and the bootlid was from a 2004 the 99 lamps fitted without any problems