The CX-5 LED Lighting Thread

[vroom]

I mean that LEDs don't emit light at the same location as a filament, so your headlights will project their light in all the wrong places, not necessarily where you need it. LEDs are OK when the light projected on the road is not important, like DRLs (on the grand Touring or tech package where the DRLs are stand alone), in fog lights (which are mostly decorative), in break lights or for interior lighting.

Sadly, on the Touring, there is nothing you can do with the DRLs regarding LEDs as far as I know. What I did was disable them completely and put these in instead:

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123831285-CX-5-Ebay-Fog-Assembly-DRLs

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

What do you mean by ?
Also, so what am I suppose to buy then?

thanks

The LED replacements are most likely not putting out the same amount of light as your oem bulb in high beam mode.

 

[Ar6entino]

I mean that LEDs don't emit light at the same location as a filament, so your headlights will project their light in all the wrong places, not necessarily where you need it. LEDs are OK when the light projected on the road is not important, like DRLs (on the grand Touring or tech package where the DRLs are stand alone), in fog lights (which are mostly decorative), in break lights or for interior lighting.
Sadly, on the Touring, there is nothing you can do with the DRLs regarding LEDs as far as I know. What I did was disable them completely and put these in instead:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123831285-CX-5-Ebay-Fog-Assembly-DRLs

Thanks I will have to see if these can be returned now
I did see the fog light thingy but idk if that's something I like, will have to think about it.

 

[vroom]

The LED replacements are most likely not putting out the same amount of light as your oem bulb in high beam mode.

Yeah, there is also that, though LED light output is becoming a lesser problem with new chip technologies that easily reach the 2000 lm range.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Yeah, there is also that, though LED light output is becoming a lesser problem with new chip technologies that easily reach the 2000 lm range.

True, but most of the "affordable" led lights being used here are not that capable. ATM I am only using LEDS on the front side markers (switchbacks), reverse, and side markers. With those smaller lights the LED is at least, if not brighter. The LED on my fog light also outputs more because the LED on the side as well as the front.

 

[Flyersguy172]

Are there any guides or instructions on removing the license plate light bulbs? I just received (2) LED bulbs I'd like to install, but I'm not sure how to get at the bulbs already in there. Does the hatch have to be open to access these, or do you just remove the plastic cover over the bulbs?

Thanks!

 

[minnesotaart]

Just remove the plastic covers.

 

[joe427]

Bulbs are tough to pull out.I used double sided tape to pull them out.A tip I got from someone here and it works well.
Check your manual on how to take the plastic covers off and on.Not a difficult mod to do.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

I emailed and asked about this LED's brightness.
I received this reply.

"Philips didn't design these bulbs to be the brightest options; rather ones that provide a road-legal beam pattern. You also get the benefit of instant on/off which stock incandescent bulbs cannot do."

Good enough for me.I ordered a pair for $37.38 shipped.I like using LEDs.

So how are they?

 

[joe427]

So how are they?

I wound up not even opening the package and returned them.

 

[First MZ]

Unboxed this today, since they are not original nor OEM, never expect they have fine details. Things like one of the light bars inside is not perfectly aligned with the led, a small little dented spot on the reflective material underneath the red lens, I think the dented mark will be more prominent with the clear color lens ( they are red, clear, clear with red stripes in their line up).
Will install them tomorrow and hope to get adequate light output, especially the stop light. And also hope the lights will fit snugly into the car, not exactly sure they gonna work fine until they are installed and light up.

 

[First MZ]

Just have installed the tail lights. Here are a few shots of them.

The lights on the tailgate are not fit seamlessly, gap can be seen if get close to the car.
The overall built quality isn't look strong and sturdy, have to install carefully to avoid breakage.

The rear light works fine, bright! But the light bars don't have the clean and clear cut light pattern, you won't have 2 sharp fiber like glow in the dark.

The stop light came with 2 rows of LEDs, the top one with a reflector, the bottom one hidden behind a len. You won't see individual led from either one of them, I will say it's a plus!

The turn signal works the best, beautiful light pattern, bright and sharp. No hyper flash, thumb up for this.
Time will tell how long this LED lights could last, and also will check for any water leaks during the rain season.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Not too bad, I'm more interested in the crystal eye design. Even if you look at the OEM lights, they are not flush, but actually have a bit of gap. Was the case on my 2013 and still the 2015.

 

[cjas22]

I just had my crystal eyes come today. I'm going to try to put them on sometime next week

 

[cjas22]

Just installed one the cyrstal eyes but ran out of daylight for the other one. Everything is working besides for the reverse light. There is an extra set of wires on the trunk light and it is very long. the instructions (which are in Japanese show these long red/black wires going up into the top of the car. Could possibly be related. Any tips on what it might be?

Car with crystal eyes:
http://imgur.com/Q9ju1va,YId5Vqp,bBrfHwM#2

Trunk tail light red/black wires?:
http://imgur.com/Q9ju1va,YId5Vqp,bBrfHwM#0

Japanese instructions?:
http://imgur.com/Q9ju1va,YId5Vqp,bBrfHwM#1

 

[RedBaron]

Just have installed the tail lights. Here are a few shots of them.

The lights on the tailgate are not fit seamlessly, gap can be seen if get close to the car.
The overall built quality isn't look strong and sturdy, have to install carefully to avoid breakage.

The rear light works fine, bright! But the light bars don't have the clean and clear cut light pattern, you won't have 2 sharp fiber like glow in the dark.

The stop light came with 2 rows of LEDs, the top one with a reflector, the bottom one hidden behind a len. You won't see individual led from either one of them, I will say it's a plus!

The turn signal works the best, beautiful light pattern, bright and sharp. No hyper flash, thumb up for this.
Time will tell how long this LED lights could last, and also will check for any water leaks during the rain season.

They look very nice from the photos. Where did you get them, and how much?

 

[First MZ]

They look very nice from the photos. Where did you get them, and how much?

Went to Guangzhou, China recently, cash & carry, I've paid about USD190.

 

[First MZ]

Just installed one the cyrstal eyes but ran out of daylight for the other one. Everything is working besides for the reverse light. There is an extra set of wires on the trunk light and it is very long. the instructions (which are in Japanese show these long red/black wires going up into the top of the car. Could possibly be related. Any tips on what it might be?

Car with crystal eyes:
http://imgur.com/Q9ju1va,YId5Vqp,bBrfHwM#2

Trunk tail light red/black wires?:
http://imgur.com/Q9ju1va,YId5Vqp,bBrfHwM#0

Japanese instructions?:
http://imgur.com/Q9ju1va,YId5Vqp,bBrfHwM#1

The Japanese written in the instruction says: 'High Mount Lamp', connect the long red/black wires to this high mount stop light to get power source, it light up your tailgate piece running light when the brake is applied, the Crystal Eyes is designed in that way,when braking, it lights up everything, brake and the marsmellow like running light. If you didnt connect this red/black wires, when you brake, only the outer pieces will light up, the tailgate pieces not.
And I think this red/black wires got nothing to do with the reverse light, you may check the reverse light wire connection again, good luck.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I'm still waiting to get mine. I went ahead and modified my auto exe brackets, ordered a JBR camber arm (to be modified) and the light is the next thing.

 

[cjas22]

Okay thanks for the help! It's appreciated. I'm going to try again with the reverse lights this week, I really didn't have too much time other than quickly putting the lights on. Over quality is meh. Hyper flash on the left TL and not the right. Slightly bigger gap between tailgate light and main light on the right side and some moisture got into the very top part of the taillight (It was raining like crazy and it has dried up since). While I wasn't expecting perfection I figured $500 tails would be a little higher quality. I will post more pictures this weekend though. IMO they look pretty good

Some more Pics:

http://imgur.com/AZ0Ptvk

http://imgur.com/WFwlnwH