The CX-5 LED Lighting Thread

thanks! ill try that. from what i read, black is always negative and the brown/white stripe is parking so its not required, leaving yellow which should be positive.

My first post after getting my 2015 CX 5. I have been changing out the incandescent bulbs with LEDs. I did followed this post but I came to same issue with the front turn signals when I paired the resistor between the Black wire and the Yellow/Black wire, it resulted with the hyperflash. So I switched to pair the resistor between the Black wire and the Brown/White wire and that worked with no hyperflash. So it's the Brown/White wire that is used for turn signal and the Yellow/Black wire is for the parking light.
 
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Why I'm moving away from tungsten filament incandescent bulbs. Shown below is a pair of 12v 168/194 size bulbs used typically for automotive applications such as side marker and license plate lights. The one on the left is (fairly) new, the one on the right has been in service for several years.

Bits of the tungsten filament flake off and gradually coat the inside of the glass bulb until it has this blackened/silvery appearance. Both bulbs still work but the blackened one is very noticeably dimmer - something you don't want in a light bulb - especially one used on a car. All filament bulbs do this but it's most noticeable in the smaller bulbs. A halogen-filled tungsten bulb is supposed to recycle the flecks of tungsten back onto itself, slowing down the dimming process but they too, will eventually dim and fail.

I recently retrofitted ALL my bulbs on the CX-5 with equivalent LED units. Yes, they are quite a bit more expensive but I'll never have to replace them over the lifespan of the vehicle, they are brighter and draw much less amperage than a incandescent bulb. That lessens the load on the alternator and boosts fuel economy. And, don't you despise folks driving around with one or more burned out bulbs?

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Hi, can anyone tell me how I'm supposed to replace the OEM position lights properly? I yanked out the OEM halogen bulbs and replaced them with these W5W LEDs from ebay: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/130867230069?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

but they're either busted, or I don't know how to turn on the lights. I thought there were supposed to come on along with the headlights? I've tried all the various light options on the light stalk (auto, on, off etc) but those position lights won't turn on.

Help please!!
I just love how some advertisers claim "high power" but state nothing on how bright they are. VLEDS sells the 168/194 equivalent LED in 5K, 6K white or red. They spec the white LED out at 180 lumens which I guarantee is brighter than the eBay bulb. If installing an LED bulb behind a red lens you HAVE to use a red LED bulb. When I swapped out my rear side marker and tailgate bulbs with the red LEDs, I wound up with a brighter and deeper colored red light. Nice!
 
Which one is that @Pipemajor ? The red LED tailgat bulbs...is that W5W or T10 or BA ? do you have the stock-number ?
 
what do I have to get to replace my DRL halogen bulbs with LED's on my 2013 CX-5 Touring? I would like to keep the high beam functionality as well. is this possible/economical?

I'm going for the more modern LED look over the yellow halogen.

I guess my real question is, if I put in a DRL LED replacement, will the high beam still work, and work as well as the halogen?
 
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It's all in this thread. Nearly every other page has the same answer to the same question.
 
Interesting you posted above you have to use a red LED.I just ordered a pair but they seem to be on back order.
How does those LEDs match up when you hit the brakes with the brake lights?

You ALWAYS use a red LED behind a red lens. If you use a white LED, which has a lot of blue spectrum in it, the red lens filters that out and you wind up with a dimmer light. Kind of defeats the purpose of upgrading to an LED in the first place.

The stock tail/brake lights look a bit "muted" when the surrounding lights are retrofitted with red LEDs. Fixed that by installing RED VLEDS Triton 3 bulbs for the tail/brake fixture. Now everything matches and you get a very strong brake light.
 
You ALWAYS use a red LED behind a red lens. If you use a white LED, which has a lot of blue spectrum in it, the red lens filters that out and you wind up with a dimmer light. Kind of defeats the purpose of upgrading to an LED in the first place.

The stock tail/brake lights look a bit "muted" when the surrounding lights are retrofitted with red LEDs. Fixed that by installing RED VLEDS Triton 3 bulbs for the tail/brake fixture. Now everything matches and you get a very strong brake light.

I don't plan on doing the brake bulbs to LED so I won't install these red LEDs.Might cause the brake light not to be noticed at much causing an accident.

Thanks!
 
I don't plan on doing the brake bulbs to LED so I won't install these red LEDs.Might cause the brake light not to be noticed at much causing an accident.

Thanks!
The stock brake lamp *is* quite noticeable when applied - just that the color is not as saturated as you'd get from the LED retrofit. And, the center-mounted high brake light is an LED assembly from the factory.
 
The stock brake lamp *is* quite noticeable when applied - just that the color is not as saturated as you'd get from the LED retrofit. And, the center-mounted high brake light is an LED assembly from the factory.
I ordered a pair for the tails and will give them a shot.Thanks!
 
I purchased LED daytime lights from this website and I was able to remove them in my car, but unfortunately, I think the '15 models have maybe... changed it? I don't know how it is in '13-'14 models. I don't think I removed the wrong lights, but, can anyone please tell me if I did, or if I have to return these and wait for a newer edition?

Here are the LED daytime lights:

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And here are the stock daytime lights for my '15 CX-5:

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I purchased LED daytime lights from this website and I was able to remove them in my car, but unfortunately, I think the '15 models have maybe... changed it? I don't know how it is in '13-'14 models. I don't think I removed the wrong lights, but, can anyone please tell me if I did, or if I have to return these and wait for a newer edition?

Here are the LED daytime lights:


And here are the stock daytime lights for my '15 CX-5:

It's because you have the Touring model without the factory HID. CX-5 Touring uses high beam as DRL which is 9005. The LED bulb you have is the P13W
 
It's because you have the Touring model without the factory HID. CX-5 Touring uses high beam as DRL which is 9005. The LED bulb you have is the P13W

Ahhh... OK, I understand now. I looked up 9005 LED bulbs and those look like they'd fit perfectly. Thank you.
 
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