Just a few pics of what I've done to my 5 so far...

[willwrk4chicken]

Hey folks. This is my first post... although, I've always been a frequent visitor to this forum ever since I bought my Mazda5 last August (proud veteran of last year's recall fiasco. (lol2) ). Big thanks to the people on this forum for keeping me informed on what was going on with that whole situation. Anyways, ever since I got my car back late last year, I began to see a few more Mazda5's on the roads here in Vegas. I think that's totally awesome... so I started adding little things here and there to add a bit of personality to my 5.

The first thing I did was change out the stock low-beam bulbs for a pair of PIAA Xtreme Force bulbs. I also went ahead and changed the front turn signal bulbs with hyper-whites. After that, I took the factory fog-light bulbs out and replaced them with a pair of PIAA Plasma Ion Yellow bulbs (kinda gives the car a "Lexus-ish" type look with the fog lights) I would love to change the whole thing out for a HID kit in the future, but we'll see.........

Other things I did to the 5 so far:
- 5% window tint all around (for the Las Vegas summer heat)
- H&R lowering springs (1.4" front / 1.3" rear)
- 17x7" FLIK wheels
- Hyper white LED bulbs (replaced the stock interior lighting)

Aftermarket parts for the Mazda5 are very few right now, especially for the USDM. I've been browsing at the parts they have in the JDM and European markets and it looks like they have more goodies for the 5... I guess all I can do is wait...

Here are a few pics:

Alright folks... Thanks for checking out my 5. I'll try and get better pics up as soon as I can. Please feel free to let me know what you think.

Oh yeah before I forget... Does anyone know off hand if the factory snowboard racks are available now or are they still in back order? I'm thinking about getting a universal fit Thule rack if the factory racks aren't available at the dealership yet. Thanks again.

 

[Wuster]

Nice...very nice. (thumb)

I like those wheels...

 

[Greenridge]

Nice. Very Very Nice.
I have the same look and same color as yours.
With the (1.4" front / 1.3" rear) drop, does the bottom of your car hit speedbum when you go over them?
Have you been looking into some performance exhaust? I really want to put one on. I really can't stand the thin exhaust pipe that we have.

 

[Kansei]

Oh my that looks awesome!

 

[Stargazer]

Very impressive!!

 

[03.5MSP]

I was never a big fan on minivans, but the 5 looks so sexy. Very nice pics, keep it up.

 

[Protege52003]

Rims look great!

 

[willwrk4chicken]

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate it!! I'll keep you folks updated if I do anything to the 5 sometime in the near future.

Hey Greenridge. No I haven't had any problems with speed bumps yet... even with a full load of groceries in my car. I've also been pretty lucky with the steep parking garage structures at the casinos over here. Those things are known to take some "chunks" from people's undercarriages... I've had these H&R springs on for about a month and I'm pretty happy with the spring rate and ride. Any lower would probably compromise the ride quality. What are your thoughts about the springs? Do you have problems with speed bumps where you live?

Also about the exhaust idea, it ran across my head a few times before. I'm pretty cool with the stock exhaust for now... Upgrading the exhaust was one of my first modifications on my last few cars, so it's kind of a nice departure from the the loud sound of those cars, and my passengers would agree, LOL!! I think I'll do it eventually... I'll probably wait so I can couple it with an aftermarket cold air-intake to optimize the flow. But yeah I agree with ya... The thin factory exhaust look wears on you after a while.

I'm also thinking about getting the red JDM taillights for a more simple, smoother look... I think the chrome "altezza" style are a little too much, don't ya think? Maybe I can smoke out the taillights...

 

[EFDisaster]

I'm also thinking about getting the red JDM taillights for a more simple, smoother look... I think the chrome "altezza" style are a little too much, don't ya think? Maybe I can smoke out the taillights...

maybe it's the window tint... cause one of the reasons I went white was that the altezzas wouldn't stand out so much.

 

[3+5]

Looks great! I can see where you'd wanna keep it more of a quiet car. More people would appreciate it. Let's face it, it isn't a kid's car and adults would find more sound to be wearing. What about just a wider tip, for the look? A thought I have had about the 5's taillights... well masked, painted body color around the light fixtures, a'la Nissan. A pinstripe around the light openings would finish it.

 

[mazdaFIVEmike]

Nice Job!!!

I'm also wanting to do the window tint - you say that is 5%? I'm new to the tinting idea - yours looks a little dark for me - any recommendations? And what was the cost if you don't mind sharing?

 

[CRZbrussian]

dang dude that's awesome!!

 

[Greenridge]

Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate it!! I'll keep you folks updated if I do anything to the 5 sometime in the near future.

Hey Greenridge. No I haven't had any problems with speed bumps yet... even with a full load of groceries in my car. I've also been pretty lucky with the steep parking garage structures at the casinos over here. Those things are known to take some "chunks" from people's undercarriages... I've had these H&R springs on for about a month and I'm pretty happy with the spring rate and ride. Any lower would probably compromise the ride quality. What are your thoughts about the springs? Do you have problems with speed bumps where you live?

Also about the exhaust idea, it ran across my head a few times before. I'm pretty cool with the stock exhaust for now... Upgrading the exhaust was one of my first modifications on my last few cars, so it's kind of a nice departure from the the loud sound of those cars, and my passengers would agree, LOL!! I think I'll do it eventually... I'll probably wait so I can couple it with an aftermarket cold air-intake to optimize the flow. But yeah I agree with ya... The thin factory exhaust look wears on you after a while.

I'm also thinking about getting the red JDM taillights for a more simple, smoother look... I think the chrome "altezza" style are a little too much, don't ya think? Maybe I can smoke out the taillights...

I like to lower my 5 too but I'm in construction... I drive onto very rough construction sites a lot, so I can't really drop my 5.
I will upgrade the exhaust just to get rid of the thin factory exhaust. But like you I don't like those loud exhaust. I will find something quiet.
Your "smokeout taillight idea" is cool. You have tinted windows and black rims on a white car, I think it will look cool if you keep the black and white theme going. So a pair of black taillights should look better than red. Check out my 5, it's a lot like yours. The snow are melting in Ottawa Ontario now so is very hard to keep mine clean.

 

[mazdaFIVEmike]

I like to lower my 5 too but I'm in construction... I drive onto very rough construction sites a lot, so I can't really drop my 5.
I will upgrade the exhaust just to get rid of the thin factory exhaust. But like you I don't like those loud exhaust. I will find something quiet.
Your "smokeout taillight idea" is cool. You have tinted windows and black rims on a white car, I think it will look cool if you keep the black and white theme going. So a pair of black taillights should look better than red. Check out my 5, it's a lot like yours. The snow are melting in Ottawa Ontario now so is very hard to keep mine clean.

Hey Greenridge,

Same question to you about tinting? What level of tint did you go with and what was the cost if you don't mind me asking? Also, as you are in Canada - who did it for you - maybe I have the same company here in Victoria?? Oh yeah and your 5 looks pretty sweet!! I just wish my wife would let me go to town with some nice custom rims & tires!! (2thumbs) (canada)
Too bad we gotta have that stupid front licence plate... all the US 5s look so good without it...

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

heya everyone your cars look hot but we need some phantom blue in here. All tint in canada is inversely proportional to the number here is an example:

35 % Lightest Tint
5 % BLACKED OUT

Inquire with your local police on tinting regulations. Would be sad to have to pay to install to have some local sheriff ask you to take it off. Rule of thumb here is if a cop cant see thru the window tint to see ya he will draw his gun.

 

[mazdaFIVEmike]

heya everyone your cars look hot but we need some phantom blue in here. All tint in canada is inversely proportional to the number here is an example:

35 % Lightest Tint
5 % BLACKED OUT

Inquire with your local police on tinting regulations. Would be sad to have to pay to install to have some local sheriff ask you to take it off. Rule of thumb here is if a cop cant see thru the window tint to see ya he will draw his gun.

Thanks for the tip!!

 

[the_saint]

Nice!
Can I talk you into taking pics of your 5 in the sun willwrk4chicken?
I'd like to get a better look at what it looks like with the wheels. There might be some chicken in the deal for you. (thumb)

 

[jflo]

that is sick. i'm loving the look. and definitely go for the red taillights. i'm not feelin' the stock ones, although they do kind of work with the car's styling. nice work !

 

[willwrk4chicken]

Hey folks... Thanks again for all your comments! That's so cool!! I'm all for the black and white theme on my car but I think it would be nice if I had some kind of reddish accent to compliment the theme... That's where the red JDM taillight idea came from... but that would be a pretty BIG accent because we got some BIG taillights on our 5s, hehehe. Maybe if I painted my brake calipers red, then that would probably add to the reddish accent I'm going for... but that would make my car look too much like a "ricer", don't ya think? AAAHHRRRGGGHHH so many ideas!! LOL!!

Sure thing the_saint!! The weather's kinda crappy here in Vegas right now, but it should start clearing up by this weekend... hopefully I can take some new pics then.

 

[the_saint]

Thanks man!

As for the red calipers...I wouldn't do it...too flashy IMO.
I have seen some gold (soft gold color, not 24k gold color) calipers and they looked nice. Nice and subtle.