The CX-5 LED Lighting Thread

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Anyone know is there a bulb for this? (??? Lights). If got, is it can be replace with LED bulb?I need to confirm it. Thanks!
 
Hi, one more thing, is anyone know about the rear brake lights? Is there got 2 pcs of light which is tail/brake lights and back-up lights? May I know what type of LED bulb should I use for each? Thanks!

The Mazda owners manual list bulb types in the spec section.

The only issue I ran into changing them in the past was some 7440's on Ebay were too fat to go thru the hole and no you can't put K-Y on them to make them fit!
 
Thanks for the reply. Actually my new car still on the way to me. Just want to prepare all the LED bulbs in advance. May I know which bulb you mean is too fat to go in the housing? Do you know the dimension for the 7440 that can be fit in? Thanks~
 
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Anyone know is there a bulb for this? (??? Lights). If got, is it can be replace with LED bulb?I need to confirm it. Thanks!

194/T10 wedge style bulb. I can get a picture for you tomorrow night if you'd like pic of a comparo between a 20smd 194/T10 wedge versus the factory incandescent bulb.

Also take into consideration that the brake light bulb goes in at an angle that is not even close to being the center of the reflector housing.
 
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If you are replacing the rear turn signals, make sure you get the exact conversion because they bulb may be too fat to fit in the hole. These are what I got for my car and they fit/work fine (resistors needed for switchbacks (mine were purchased a while ago so I can't see the listing anymore for the eBay ones -

Turn signal 7440 https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned) - these will fit no problem, some of the other ones are too fat to fit through the opening, even though they are 7440 ( I had to mail a pair back) - will need a resistor 6ohm 50w. If you want one for with more LEDS, make sure u buy form somewhere with a decent return policy.

Compatible switchbacks - http://www.vleds.com/bulb/1157-led/...ck-60-turn-signal-bulbs-1157-2057-1-pair.html white, amber when flashing. Also available amber/white alternate when flashing (not recommended). Also these are cheaper than when I got them and they have brighter choices. However as I don't use my parklights as headlights they are bright enough (they actually put out good light at night despite a rating of "2"). They will also give you a bit more illumination to the sides. - You will need resistors ($5) 6ohm 50wat work fine, 1 for each bulb. Those vleds ones will fit for sure, I'm sure you can find alternatives on ebay
 
If you are replacing the rear turn signals, make sure you get the exact conversion because they bulb may be too fat to fit in the hole. These are what I got for my car and they fit/work fine (resistors needed for switchbacks (mine were purchased a while ago so I can't see the listing anymore for the eBay ones -

Turn signal 7440 https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned) - these will fit no problem, some of the other ones are too fat to fit through the opening, even though they are 7440 ( I had to mail a pair back) - will need a resistor 6ohm 50w. If you want one for with more LEDS, make sure u buy form somewhere with a decent return policy.

Compatible switchbacks - http://www.vleds.com/bulb/1157-led/...ck-60-turn-signal-bulbs-1157-2057-1-pair.html white, amber when flashing. Also available amber/white alternate when flashing (not recommended). Also these are cheaper than when I got them and they have brighter choices. However as I don't use my parklights as headlights they are bright enough (they actually put out good light at night despite a rating of "2"). They will also give you a bit more illumination to the sides. - You will need resistors ($5) 6ohm 50wat work fine, 1 for each bulb. Those vleds ones will fit for sure, I'm sure you can find alternatives on ebay

Hi, thanks for the comment. Do you think these Led can be fit in?

https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned)

https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned)

Is this resistor the correct one?

https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned)

And also, do you think this Led can fit into rear brake light housing?

https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned)

Thanks!
 
194/T10 wedge style bulb. I can get a picture for you tomorrow night if you'd like pic of a comparo between a 20smd 194/T10 wedge versus the factory incandescent bulb.

Also take into consideration that the brake light bulb goes in at an angle that is not even close to being the center of the reflector housing.

Ya, please show me the pictures if you ok with it. the 194/T10 led is same like using for license plate led? It that in white color? Thanks you so much, wait for your pictures. :)
 
The pictures are from my phone, so color and exposure is a little off. I used a 20 SMD white LED 194 in the left driver side and original incandescent 194 in the right passenger side. As you can tell, the difference is almost unnoticeable. The brighter white produces a slightly lighter color in combination with the red lens, so it looks a pinch more orange. The fill from the many differently angle diodes of the LED also fills the housing slightly better. The only real tell tale sign of it being a white LED replacement is the light bleed at the bottom of the housing on top of the reverse light. You can see that there is a bit of white light bleed. With the passenger side using an incandescent, the bleed is still there but it is less noticeable being that the light is slightly yellow. The LED replacement is brighter, though not apparent with the poor inconsistent camera settings.

I personally see no point in replacing the rear parking light with LED's. I actually prefer the incandescent light spread since it looks like it hot spots at the point of the bulb and gradually dies off near the tip. A nice accent in my opinion.

Yes my interior lights are all replaced by white LED's including the visor mirror lights. Other LED goodies include the rear license plate and front DRL's. I plan on getting dual color switch back for the front signals. The rest I couldn't care less about.
 

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The pictures are from my phone, so color and exposure is a little off. I used a 20 SMD white LED 194 in the left driver side and original incandescent 194 in the right passenger side. As you can tell, the difference is almost unnoticeable. The brighter white produces a slightly lighter color in combination with the red lens, so it looks a pinch more orange. The fill from the many differently angle diodes of the LED also fills the housing slightly better. The only real tell tale sign of it being a white LED replacement is the light bleed at the bottom of the housing on top of the reverse light. You can see that there is a bit of white light bleed. With the passenger side using an incandescent, the bleed is still there but it is less noticeable being that the light is slightly yellow. The LED replacement is brighter, though not apparent with the poor inconsistent camera settings.

I personally see no point in replacing the rear parking light with LED's. I actually prefer the incandescent light spread since it looks like it hot spots at the point of the bulb and gradually dies off near the tip. A nice accent in my opinion.

Yes my interior lights are all replaced by white LED's including the visor mirror lights. Other LED goodies include the rear license plate and front DRL's. I plan on getting dual color switch back for the front signals. The rest I couldn't care less about.

Hi! Thanks for the pictures. That lights beside the Brake light is call Parking light? So have to try to use LED on brake lights? I'm thinking to change the rear Brake lights to LED as well. For the Turn Signal light, think b4 to change it to LED too, but think of need to add resistor on it then just hold it on. Can share the picture after you use the LED on Signal Light? And also the installation?

Thanks!!!
 
This was just posted a few posts above yours...
http://www.vleds.com/bulb/1157-led/switchback.html

Hi! Thanks for the pictures. That lights beside the Brake light is call Parking light? So have to try to use LED on brake lights? I'm thinking to change the rear Brake lights to LED as well. For the Turn Signal light, think b4 to change it to LED too, but think of need to add resistor on it then just hold it on. Can share the picture after you use the LED on Signal Light? And also the installation?

Thanks!!!
I have yet to swap anything for the signals, but I do plan on doing so. As I've said in another post, the location of the bulb in the brake light will make it difficult to produce even lighting using an LED unit given the fact that the bulb comes down from the top at an angle as opposite to entering the housing at the center from the back. With an incandescent bulb, the filament is right at the center, so it looks even. Spacing for a long LED unit can be an issue too. The best way to get around this is to use a V3 Triton LED unit from v-led's.
 
The 1210 SMD's are adequate as DRL's even with 68 of them. Here is my feedback:

"Installed 68 surface mount LED (each) units. Good luminosity that is equal if not better than incandescent P13W bulb. Forward light distribution is better also as the high number of LED's lights fill the DRL housing better. A nice white light. Horrid cellphone pics is all I have for now. THe crappy camera sensor threw off the hue to make it more blue than it actually is."


Given the wide spread of LED's on the unit, the light coverage of the DRL housing is better filled in comparison with the single filament factory incandescent P13W. Though you might find at a specific angle, the output from the DRL might seem a pinch brighter than the 68 1210 SMD unit, once again due to the single filament hitting the reflector.


The 6W CREE P13W LED unit is currently the brightest choice of LED replacement for the DRL's. There is also a 15W HID option at a rather expensive price.
 
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P13W Follow-up

Installed 68 surface mount LED (each) units. Good luminosity that is equal if not better than incandescent P13W bulb. Forward light distribution is better also as the high number of LED's lights fill the DRL housing better. A nice white light. Horrid cellphone pics is all I have for now. THe crappy camera sensor threw off the hue to make it more blue than it actually is.


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This is a great thread, so I thought I would add my experiences with https://www.ebay.com (commissions earned). These have two in the front facing forward with a magnifying lens and then 4 on the body.

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When installed, these are quite bright, considering that the reflectors in the GT+Tech model are for high beams. When I pull into the garage, and I see the reflection on the beige wall, they are noticeably brighter than the P13Ws or at least so much whiter and contrastier on the beige wall than the low color temp of the P13W's. But honestly, I think they are brighter. Regardless, very cool looking.

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License Plate Light 194 Replacement LEDs

I figured I'd start a thread to collect all LED info since there are a few different threads with pages to dig through and not so thorough information.


I am going to use VLED's website as reference to what bulbs fit. Of course I have no association with them. Only using them as they have a very nice collection and very informative on their products.


Exterior:


DRL: P13W size bulbs. A somewhat rare bulb size. There are only a few different types of these LED's with different SMD (surface mount diode) arrangements and CREE's from VLED.
http://www.vleds.com/5k-white-6-led-drl-fog-light-bulbs-p13w-1-pair.html

Note, non-tech are 9005 as they are dual mode DRL and high beam.

Fog lights: H11. Though most would just go for HID's. There is a metal shield that limits allowable depth for HID's and long LED's. One can simply use a long nose plier and crimp the shields off.
http://www.vleds.com/6k-white-28-led-13w-fog-light-bulbs-h11-1-pair.html

Front turn signal : 1157NA. Quite a huge selection of this bulb type as it is quite common bulb size for turn signals.
http://www.vleds.com/amber-1157-21-led-blinker-turn-signal-bulbs-2057-1-pair.html

Rear turn signal: 7440
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/tail-brake-turn-signal/7443-7440-led/amber-led.html

license plate light: 194. Huge selection of these.
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-number/mi...-194-led-light-bulbs-158-168-2825-1-pair.html

Reverse light: 921
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-number/mi...bulbs-917-918-920-921-922-923-579-1-pair.html



Interior:


Front/rear map light and rear cargo light: 29-31mm festoon
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/festoon-dome-vanity/3022-29mm-led.html

Vanity uses VANITY festoons with flat end caps.
http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/festoon-dome-vanity/vanity-led.html

Big shout out to OP for starting this great thread. Here are my experience using the highest power 5K (less blue, less noticeable to the local constabulary) LEDs for license plates. This http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/mini...d-2w-high-power-bulbs-194-168-158-1-pair.htmlVLED 194 product[/URL] will become outdated as the product is replaced by newer better cheaper LEDs, but I give you the link anyway.

Here is the VLED with the license plate light covers removed. The covers are easy to remove with a little pressure on the side of the cover with a flat bladed screwdriver. You can see there is a rubber gasket that keeps the covers water tight. This gasket can fall off easily, so you have to be careful to reposition without crimping the seal.

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You should pay attention to the length of 194 LED you get. The specs are not listed, but they are longer than the standard T10 incandescent. I would not go any longer than this 4 led unit. Do not get the units with both front facing and additional LEDs on the side, they will be too long. Just a couple of mm more, and these LEDs would be touching the back of the covers. I am hoping that I do not melt or otherwise harm the white plastic license plate light covers (e.g., UV darkening and embrittlement)

This is a bad series of pictures, but you can see how short the OEM bulb is and now long the LED is.

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Finished product close up
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and far away, taken before dusk, but showing the light is quite white in color. Looks great at night, but very hard to photograph due to the great dynamic range of the white license plate, white LEDs and dark surrounds

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^ Thank you. If those are the single SMD high power 194 units from VLED, then I have a pair in my RX-8 front parking lights. Though the light spread is rather narrow, the single SMD produces substantially more light than an incandescent 194.

I can get the exact measurements of allowable length for the CX-5 license plate 194's. I'll post them later tonight perhaps. If VLED and SuperBrightLEDS don't show the dimensions of their units online, you can email them and they will gladly give you the dimension drawings.
 
^ Thank you. If those are the single SMD high power 194 units from VLED, then I have a pair in my RX-8 front parking lights. Though the light spread is rather narrow, the single SMD produces substantially more light than an incandescent 194.

I can get the exact measurements of allowable length for the CX-5 license plate 194's. I'll post them later tonight perhaps. If VLED and SuperBrightLEDS don't show the dimensions of their units online, you can email them and they will gladly give you the dimension drawings.

These were the 4 SMD high power LEDs

http://www.vleds.com/bulb-type/miniature-wedge-base/194-168-158-led/white-5k/5k-white-4-led-2w-high-power-bulbs-194-168-158-1-pair.html
 
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