My $10 Mazda5 Foglights

[jetstreamblue]

When I got my GS, I knew I had to do something about the (lack of) foglights. I didn't really want foglights, but the plastic covers where the foglights should be were really bugging me. You know, it just reminds you that there should be something there but instead you have plastic.
Anyway, so I didn't want to spend hundreds on this, and I ended up getting a pair of $10 LED foglights from eBay. Just installed them, and I have to say, I couldn't be more pleased! I mounted them using the original plastic covers, cutting holes in them just big enough to slip in the LED lights. It's a perfect fit, almost factory look.
Obviously these are completely useless to actually help you see, but does really well for esthetics.

 

[Dinoco]

Nice job!

 

[jetstreamblue]

Nice job!

Thanks! Just ordered another set to keep for spares, in case one of them breaks or burns out. At $10 a set, it's cheaper than changing bulbs on a normal light

 

[eyeballs]

Well done! I love the idea, but for some reason wires always make me nervous.

 

[Nurburgringer]

I like it!
Got a link to the ones you bought, there are many to chose from....

Agree that foglights are almost never used correctly, and most cars that have them don't even have them adjusted properly, but for $10 it will dress up the front of my Sport model also.
thanks!

 

[jetstreamblue]

I like it!
Got a link to the ones you bought, there are many to chose from....

Agree that foglights are almost never used correctly, and most cars that have them don't even have them adjusted properly, but for $10 it will dress up the front of my Sport model also.
thanks!

No problem! They seem to range in price from $10-20 on eBay. The other model that is the right size (~70mm diameter is what you need) is the one with 9 LED's.

OT: Is your avater pic really your other ride? We would have identical garages if it were. My wife has a 2005 beetle convertible

 

[Nurburgringer]

cool thanks will take a look.

The beetle was a rental car I had for a few weeks in Germany while I was living there from 2002-2006. I usually had "sportier" long-term rentals (Z3, Alfa Spider, Smart Roadster, SLK etc) but on that weekend (same weekend Top Gear was filming Jeremy Clarkson's sub-10 minute lap challenge if you watch that show) all they had was the beetle (diesel, winter tires!) or some kind of little SUV. Turned out to be some of the funniest laps I ever drove on the Nurburgring, taking friends around and laughing our butts off when we'd pass much more powerful cars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVAK6-275XA

 

[hodgkins]

Looks great.


By any chance do you have an eBay link? Also I have never installed fog lights before. Do you have any install pics or instructions?

 

[jeffismrmom]

My former BIL is an engineer who worked on the Smart Roadster project. He actually drove a licensed prototype to my inlaw's house while we were there on vacation (must have been early 00's); the exterior looked finished, but the interior was gutted, sans seats, dash/cluster, pedals and steering wheel. Anyway, I thought it was an interesting car as there wasn't anything in the US at that time (except for the Miata and little later, the Saturn/Pontiac roadsters). Unfortunately, like most "interesting" cars, it had a short run...and now former BIL is doing design work for Daimler trucks in Wrth.

BTW: I'll be in Germany on Thursday for a couple of weeks. Most likely my ride will be a bloated Mondeo w/AT...

Jeff

 

[jetstreamblue]

Looks great.


By any chance do you have an eBay link? Also I have never installed fog lights before. Do you have any install pics or instructions?

Here's the ones I got: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2x-4-LED-Round-DRL-Daytime-Running-Driving-Auto-Car-Fog-Light-Lamps-Bulb-12V-4W?item=130742189222&cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D3393771629051569628

For instructions, in your owner's manual, it shows you how to change the OEM fog light bulbs. Just follow to get access to the area, the plastic cover for the fog light is held onto the bumper with three screws. Once you get the plastic cover off, you can modify it to mount the fog light. For wiring, I just hooked into one of the sidemarkers so that it comes on with them.

 

[killerkeith]

You sir, have save me $275. Excellent job!

 

[Nurburgringer]

I LOVE the Smart Roadster!!! Only 85 hp but so nicely balanced and light.
Would surely own one if they had ever sold them in the USA. Kind of like a modern day CRX (I have a '85 CRX Si now).

In Germany me and a few buddies rented them several times and tried to get the best lap time around the 'Ring.
My best was a respectable 9:40, one VLN racer took one around in 9:24 but that required taking Schwedenkreuz "flat" at about 120mph (the Smart's top speed), which he said he'd never do again....

Here's a video from a wet lap, not pushing it very hard but faster than a number of more powerful cars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=478Nuyv1aa8

Some pics of a black one and a silver one I had for several months, and a stripped, caged, chipped one that I got a ride in but didn't drive:
http://s180.beta.photobucket.com/us...erPflanzgartenNuerburgri.jpg.html?sort=3&o=38
http://s180.beta.photobucket.com/us...erparkinglotNuerburgring.jpg.html?sort=3&o=37
http://s180.beta.photobucket.com/us...rgring/SmartRoadster2004.jpg.html?sort=3&o=34
http://s180.beta.photobucket.com/us...erracecarNuerburgringKJE.jpg.html?sort=3&o=39

Mondeo's aren't that bad. Going to the Nurburgring?