What have you done to your CX-5 today?

[sm1ke]

And you would do all that because...?

From what I recall, Comma.AI adds lane centering capability to vehicles that don't have it. The CX-5 only has lane keep assist otherwise.

I didn't know that it now adds the features above. I certainly would not trust it in any scenario but it's interesting that they offer it.

 

[ADS-B]

Installed gas struts for the engine bonnet. Redline Tuning Quicklift Elite with with black carbon sleeves.

 

[GFrosty]

Silicone

Installed gas struts for the engine bonnet. Redline Tuning Quicklift Elite with with black carbon sleeves.

Oh, if they only supported the 2016 CX-5 model.

Perhaps their 2017 version does. But I have yet to find anybody who has reported a successfull high-quality install on a 2013-2016.
But I can admire from afar.

 

[Lost Momentum]

Installed the Hugeek Door Sill Protectors. Nice black chrome with a slight brushed effect. Not sure on the effect but the sill will now be protected. They show your fingerprints too.

 

[BoomerZoomr]

I ordered a couple of those elusive tie down (tow?) hooks to store near the spare tire for a "just in case" situation.
The Mazda parts guy I spoke with on the phone initially told me Mazda didn’t want people buying those because of liability reasons. I told him I had a part number, and he said ok he'd order them. I ordered two of the rear short ones, one for each car.
I got the part number from a post here. This is the hook and a screenshot of the post, if anyone wants the part number.

 

[nickswhip24]

Took advantage of the warmer weather and washed the CX-5. The car was covered in fine road salt and grime; the dirtiest it's been in a while. Salt is very abrasive so it's best to use an acidic wash to remove as much as possible without touching it.

Steps:

• Thoroughly rinsed the underbody with my rolling pressure washer attachment
• Foamed the car with Carpro Descale, including wheels and wells
• Dwell 10 minutes (in warmer weather this is reduced by 1/2 due to drying)
• Pressure rinse
• Foamed the car with my degreasing wash (3D Super Soap + 1 oz Dawn Ultra), including wheels and wells
• Contact wash with 4 wash mitts and body brush
• Pressure rinse
• Dry

Drying this car takes forever after using the pressure washer. There is water coming out of the grille, front bumper, mirrors, tail lights, gas door, and every crevice you can imagine from the hatch. I do what I can to blow some of it out but it takes time + a drive to get all of it

i use a leaf blower to dry-works great

 

[N7turbo]

i use a leaf blower to dry-works great

Yeah I tend to blow out these areas with my Dewalt but there is always more coming from the hatch even hours later.

 

[nickswhip24]

I started opening doors and hatch when drying,wipe them down quick if needed....works good
if you have time check out esoteric detailing -lots of great videos and they have a storefront -been buying from them for a few years Google Search

 

[GFrosty]

Took advantage of the warmer weather and washed the CX-5. The car was covered in fine road salt and grime ... Drying this car takes forever after using the pressure washer. There is water coming out of the grille, front bumper, mirrors, tail lights, gas door, and every crevice you can imagine from the hatch. I do what I can to blow some of it out but it takes time + a drive to get all of it.

I live in a region where they put salt on the roads during winter, too. Doesn't it leave such a lovely film over everything? As you say, very gritty and harsh on the car's underside and paintwork.

What I use to "de-toxify" the salts on the car: a garden-sprayer (attachment for the hose), with the StarBrite Salt Off product. Diluted at ~1:15 or 1:20, it works rather well to neutralize and clean off the salt residues on a car.

For drying, I've got a few of something called The Big Blue Towel. Purchased them years ago and they no longer seem to be available, though AutoGeek does have their Cobra Guzzler Hybrid towel for drying that looks nearly the same. After a wash, I go over the paint surface and windows with a couple of these, and use another for daubing the little drips and whatnot that keep coming off the tailgate, bottom of the doors, off the grille, etc. (Funny how many drips keep coming out of those places, after a wash.) Soaks up a great deal of water, and they're soft enough for gentle use around the paintwork. Works even better, if the paintwork has a hydrophobic type coating and/or the soap used has a hydrophobic property.

 

[nickswhip24]

I live in a region where they put salt on the roads during winter, too. Doesn't it leave such a lovely film over everything? As you say, very gritty and harsh on the car's underside and paintwork.

What I use to "de-toxify" the salts on the car: a garden-sprayer (attachment for the hose), with the StarBrite Salt Off product. Diluted at ~1:15 or 1:20, it works rather well to neutralize and clean off the salt residues on a car.

For drying, I've got a few of something called The Big Blue Towel. Purchased them years ago and they no longer seem to be available, though AutoGeek does have their Cobra Guzzler Hybrid towel for drying that looks nearly the same. After a wash, I go over the paint surface and windows with a couple of these, and use another for daubing the little drips and whatnot that keep coming off the tailgate, bottom of the doors, off the grille, etc. (Funny how many drips keep coming out of those places, after a wash.) Soaks up a great deal of water, and they're soft enough for gentle use around the paintwork. Works even better, if the paintwork has a hydrophobic type coating and/or the soap used has a hydrophobic property.

gyeon wet coat works great for the hydrophobic end of it...the meguairs microfiber rags are ok-i have some really nice edgeless ones from the rag company that are better ...
have you ever tried the salt off product in the engine bay? I use salt away and have been spraying it on and not rinsing-amazing what the salt does to the aluminum

 

[GFrosty]

have you ever tried the salt off product in the engine bay? I use salt away and have been spraying it on and not rinsing-amazing what the salt does to the aluminum

Not on the parts in the engine bay, no. Perhaps I should, diluted (per the instructions). I do use a general degreasing product suitable for under-the-hood (tolerant of aluminum, steel, painted metals, plastic, rubber/synthetics), though not nearly frequently enough for my tastes.


As for the Gyeon hydrophobic window treatment, I've been mulling their Q2 View EVO. It's rather expensive, but it would go a long way toward keeping crud off the windows.

Gyeon also makes a hydrophobic ceramic treatment for the painted bodywork, Q2 Mohs EVO. Thinking about it. Though I have a couple of minor paint defects to get taken care of first. Perhaps this Spring/Summer.

On the undercarriage, I do have a full-underbody LineX coating applied. It has kept nearly all the crud and rust-making ugliness from going anywhere, on my car.