Reverse light bulb upgrade?

[Jerome Istin]

Hello there,

Not sure in which forum (appearance? aftermarket?) I should post this question and I was not able to find any thread on this subject, so, let go generic...

I love my CX-7 in a lot of way but, one thing really bother me: reverse light bulbs. Friday night, I hit (luckily I was idle speed) another car moving backward because I cannot see the other car (especially since I slightly tinted my windows, very useful in FL).

My question: can I upgrade reverse lights bulbs with, like, extra bright leds bulbs? If yes, any shop I can find them? Any recommandation brand/models? Does anybody already done this mod?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Shaz]

...and thats where the reverse camera is useful.

 

[erhayes]

I too wish for more light when backing.

 

[GL-1970]

The taillight assembly isn't as bright as some other cars, the red lights too. Could be the white lens instead of clear plastic. I wonder if any LED lamps offer brighter light than the stock incandescent

 

[PixelPusher001]

i tried some 36 diode "super bright.. brightest available" LED bulbs and they were not as bright as stock

even with my reverse camera (aftermarket) the amount of light put out through the smoked area of the rear lenses where the reverse lights are just plain sucks.. my last car practically seems like it had floodlights in comparison.

 

[koala]

tech pkg. ftw.

I can definitely see why you'd want brighter reverse lights in this thing. I'm just happy I have the camera, it really does help.

 

[CX-7owner]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazd...012QQitemZ220074679604QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[singlemalt_18]

Wow! Can we possibly move this to the Irrelevent Mazda Minutia thread?

FWIW - and I may be giving away my age here - the whole concept of the "white" reverse light (and I know this may dismay some of you,) was NOT to provide a better view for the driver while backing up a car! Although headlamps are designed to illuminate your path at night, the white reverse lights are meant to communicate direction of movement to others. Commercial vehicles have the added beaping sound in reverse to enhance the important message that a vehicle is moving backwards.

The white reverse light was conceived long before back-up camera displays were even imaginary - that is because it was considered a rudimentary skill for a driver TO KNOW WHERE HIS VEHICLE IS !!!!!

I will not discount the rear camera safety benefits of seeing a small child that is low and out of view to the driver, but a 1000 candlepower dear-spotting lamp will not help with that either.

A skilled driver learns to know where his car is relative to the optical data his eyes can see. Many originally complained about the CX-7's front drop-off. It was a little uncomfortable at first until I learned where the front of my car was. Now I can get within an inch or two without brighter lights or additional camera images.

It all comes down to the loose nut behind the wheel!

 

[PixelPusher001]

uh yeah ok.. i never said i had a problem parking my car.. thanks for the holier than though "lesson" on the "original intent of reverse lamps" of which most of us are aware.

maybe we could move your post to the "I just feel like naysaying other peoples opinions and bleating about how i'm older and wiser than everyone" thread.

i'm glad you have the eyes of a cat and see like an eagle while your innate parking spidey-sense helps you out in pitch black parking situations... being healthy and old is a great thing.

my wife for one NEEDS the illumination so she doesn't scratch up MY car

hugs & kisses

 

[singlemalt_18]

uh yeah ok.. i never said i had a problem parking my car.. thanks for the holier than though "lesson" on the "original intent of reverse lamps" of which most of us are aware.

maybe we could move your post to the "I just feel like naysaying other peoples opinions and bleating about how i'm older and wiser than everyone" thread.

i'm glad you have the eyes of a cat and see like an eagle while your innate parking spidey-sense helps you out in pitch black parking situations... being healthy and old is a great thing.

my wife for one NEEDS the illumination so she doesn't scratch up MY car

hugs & kisses

Ooooh, sensitive issue? I didnt mean to back up & hit a nerve (hand)

but then again, I dont have the rear camera option either. Lighten up! I was just adding some color to an otherwise dim subject. The only time I've ever comtemplated reverse light bulbs was when one burned out & needed to be replaced; once done, I'd move on and not keep looking in my rear-view mirror.

All puns intended of course.

 

[jmhumr]

Ooooh, sensitive issue? I didn’t mean to back up & hit a nerve… (hand)

…but then again, I don’t have the rear camera option either. Lighten up! I was just adding some color to an otherwise dim subject.

A dim subject is more useful than a derailed subject...thank you.

 

[Jerome Istin]

So nothing ?... (

Hello there!

I don't think the problem is to hit a nerve or not, I just think it's counterproductive...

I'm living in Florida, I recently dark tinted my windows and even before that, I had hard time with these lights... No problems with my Blazer or our Oldsmobile (6 years old) but can't use it on a 2007 car!

Maybe, I'm loosing my sight, I don't know...

Now, explaining why reverse white lights were invented, well, elevate my cultural level for sure, but doesn't solve my problem...

 

[VirginMazdaOwne]

The only thing i miss off my POS grand am is the side back up lights. If you saw the driveway and cliff you can fall off of you would understand. Does the camera come with NV?

 

[CX-7owner]

Yeah in the US it's apart of the Tech Package.

 

[Juggernaut9]

I am starting to wonder if any of you have ever driven an SUV/crossover vehicle with tinted rear windows. I have and this is a common problem with all of them and there limited view behind. Tinting the front windows makes it worse by making your side windows/mirrors darker as well. This is why States have tint laws. Try lowering your side windows. (huh) As far as the LED's go, they need to be facing the reflector to work right in our taillights.

P.S. The camera works GREAT, tint or not. Parked by my other car, illumination is the same from the outside.

My two cents.....(hahaspit)