My recent 2003 SE purchase included a bumper cover to replace the badly cracked original. Based on the tail lights in the replacement, they are from a 99-02. According to Rave, there is a difference between the early and late covers. Since I'm 2000 miles from my garage and real tools, and only have a snowy wet parking lot to work in, I'm hoping that someone can give me a definitive answer on compatibility between the early and late covers. If I were home, I'd just pull it and see, but I'd like to avoid fruitless work if possible.

 

If it helps, I pulled a steel bumper off a 2000 and it was a direct fit to a 2003.

 

You're in luck.

The black bumper cover is compatible for all DIIs, '99-'04.

Take a look at the bumper-mounted lights in the '99-'02 bumper (from the backside of the bumper). They're held in place by spring clips only; no tools required.

You can remove the lights from both bumpers and snap the lights from your '03 into the replacement cover. Easy peasey. Plug and play.

 

Yep, I know about the ease of swapping the lights. I wasn't worried about that. I only mentioned it as ID-ing it as an early cover. You gave me the real answer I was looking for. Thanks!!!

 

As I thought more about it, I realized why there might be a second part number

In the facelift trucks, there was a parking distance monitor option available. That required sensors mounted in the bumper cover. But if your '03 doesn't have that feature it's irrelevant.

 

I did the swap yesterday and it went as smoothly as you could hope. With a little care, the plastic rivets are reusable, and for the ones that were already broken, NAPA's wall-o'-scrivets got me a worthy replacement.

Thanks for all of the input.