What have you done to your CX-5 today?

[paris1]

Tell me that's not the original battery? Why do they even make batteries like that anymore?

Maintenance-free batteries are, in reality, low-maintenance.

 

[cbslc]

Today I installed a CIPA lens on the back windshield

I always wondered what those odd looking squares are on the back of RV windows - now I know.
I bought a used 2016 CX5 with no backup camera. We don't have kids, and rarely use the back seats, so the 2 side headrests were the first thing to come out. But I still did not like the backup blindspot. In my search for a Bluetooth backup camera, someone mentioned a CIPA lens. So I found one for $8 on amazon and stuck it on the rear window. It actually works pretty well. I put a bicycle pump behind the car. Totally invisible out the back window, but I could see its outline very clearly in the CIPA lens. Is it perfect, no. The slant of the rear window is just about too much for CIPA, so the bottom 1/10 of it is upside down. But the upper part is great. I can see at least 15degrees further to all sides/up/down... I bought an 8x10 version, probably could have gone a little smaller. It took a little getting used to, but now I use it along with mirrors...

 

[Moonlighter]

Tell me that's not the original battery? Why do they even make batteries like that anymore?

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You better go and check yours now, hey!

 

[7eregrine]

A maintenance-free vehicle battery is one that is not designed to be opened or refilled.*The liquid solution in conventional lead-acid batteries can evaporate, lowering the level in the battery and rendering it inoperable. Sealed batteries use materials to fix the electrolyte in place, removing this necessity.

*

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[Ziggity]

Tinted my rear windows further...

Before

During

After

 

[mazdadude]

A maintenance-free vehicle battery is one that is not designed to be opened or refilled.*The liquid solution in conventional lead-acid batteries can evaporate, lowering the level in the battery and rendering it inoperable. Sealed batteries use materials to fix the electrolyte in place, removing this necessity.

*

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You are confusing the SEALED and MAINTANANCE FREE batteries...

SEALED means there is NO way to open battery, and also most of the time this means that the battery can be mounted in ANY POSITION. These refer to absorbed Glass Mat Batteries that do not have a FLUID electrolyte such as OPTIMA, GELCELL, AGM, ODYSSEY.

MAINTENANCE FREE means that for the most part, it will not require periodic maintenance, however there is almost always a way to view the electrolyte level from the transparent side of the battery, and view the level of electrolyte in each cell compared to the LOW/HIGH Fluid lines on the side of the battery...

This applies also to the Factory MAZDA OEM Batteries. You do not have to maintain the battery if you do not want to. However you may be able to double the life of it if you do...

Maintenance FREE Batteries will still almost always have electrolyte ports that can be opened and fluid easily added to. Some of these might have a decal over the water ports, or even a separate plastic cover.

Here is a side view of the OEM Mazda Battery for a visual and to show the FLUID Electrolyte Lines. The 6 caps on top of the battery are removable with a coin or screwdriver.

 

[m8te]

It's Good Friday and got the day off so what better than to spend 3+ hours giving the CX-5 a wash, vacuum and clean inside out. Also applied shine and protectant on the black plastic bits on the car and tire shine of course. Might post a pic later.

 

[chiefmg]

Updated the navi. First time in a while so it took some time. I had to get my password reset, every time I tried doing this it didn't work so I had to involve TomTom's help people.

 

[ThePineappleNin]

plates came in this week. changed out the dealer license plate frame with plane black ones.
yesterday got a wash and got tints done (darken to 5% in the rears, 35% for front, none on windshield).
also got my real camera back so did some quick shots.
next up is plastidip rear emblems. also thinking about doing the chrome on the window trim, but not sure if there is a better solution for these pieces.

 

[Ziggity]

This is the first rear shot of the 2017 I've seen and that low plimsoll line makes it look like a commercial van.

Very nice rear light clusters though.

 

[dougal]

plates came in this week. changed out the dealer license plate frame with plane black ones.
yesterday got a wash and got tints done (darken to 5% in the rears, 35% for front, none on windshield).
also got my real camera back so did some quick shots.
next up is plastidip rear emblems. also thinking about doing the chrome on the window trim, but not sure if there is a better solution for these pieces.

Really nice! The white really works with those wheels and the chrome.

 

[paris1]

This is the first rear shot of the 2017 I've seen and that low plimsoll line makes it look like a commercial van.

My dictionary says a "plimsoll" is a white rubber soled canvas shoe, used especially for sports. Mind explaining wtf you're referring to?

 

[cmarcikic]

Finally got the roof racks delivered and put them on this weekend (cargo box is in my garage...will take a pic when I actually use it)

Yakima Core Bars

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/140152525@N07/34099480095/in/dateposted-public/" title="Roof"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3944/34099480095_867dd23d87_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Roof"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ziggity]

My dictionary says a "plimsoll" is a white rubber soled canvas shoe, used especially for sports. Mind explaining wtf you're referring to?

It's the maximum load line on ships, invented by Samuel Plimsoll in 1876. The plimsoll rubber shoe got the nickname from the plimsoll load line, which resembled the red line around the sole of the rubber shoe.

 

[tibimakai]

I have replaced the lock/unlock door switch LED, with an orange one and it is much closer to the original color, than the amber one. It is also, much brighter as well.

 

[iLabmAn]

- installed my summer tires with the OEM rims
- cleaned windshield from paint overspray (had stone chips that started to corrode on the roof!)
- cleaned interior plastics, repaired scratches
- clay barred the hood and roof

 

[Jon.NY]

New to posting on the forum, but gained a lot of info here before pulling the trigger. Thanks all.

Traded in the 2009 ML550 and brought the new girl home.

The new car is awesome but I'll miss the V8.


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[7eregrine]

Nice car, Jon. Welcome to the forum. I miss my i4 Turbo a bit but do love my CX-5.

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[Jon.NY]

Nice car, Jon. Welcome to the forum. I miss my i4 Turbo a bit but do love my CX-5.

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Thanks 7.

I'm really liking the CX-5. It just feels so well screwed together - very solid - and distinct in that respect from the CR-V I test drove. Not that the CR-V felt bad at all, just the Mazda feels that bit more upscale.

Loving the safety features, especially the radar cruise. Very neat, but initially requires a level of faith! Plus the HUD is better than I am at picking up posted speed limits first go on complicated road patterns around areas of NYC.

While the heated steering wheel is an indulgence, my wife mentioned she wanted that feature on any new car. Pretty much narrowed the selection of compact CUVs down to the Mazda CX-5 GT with premium package!

I'm sure the kids will wreck the parchment interior but once I saw it, there was no other choice. It helps gives the cabin a feeling of airiness.

The engine feels pretty peppy and very prompt to respond. Another 50 horses and it would be a real blast.


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[magikflight]

Installed these. Definitely looks better than the halogen. Need to get better picture in complete darkness.

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