Another little thing I noticed; most of the official Mazda UK pictures I've seen don't have the little moulded headlamp-washer blanking plate (for want of a better way of describing it!). But the review cars (Autoexpress pics on the forum somewhere) do. Some of the US cars have it, and some don't. I've yet to see a car with an actual headlamp washer unit... anyone know what's going on?

Personally I think the car looks alot neater without that extra lump of plastic.

The washers are a requirement for the Xenon headlights which come with the High Power version.

If you do a search there are a number of threads which have discussed this previously.

Chris

Originally posted by c170673
The washers are a requirement for the Xenon headlights which come with the High Power version.

Yep - legal requirement for HIDs. So I guess the low powers wont have, and some US car packages have HIDs too.

I believe you're correct Mr Dickinson although headlamp washers is not mentioned anywhere in the spec.

Cheers
Oilman

Ahh, so I guess what looks like a blanking plate must actually be a very 'slimline' washer unit. I had read the various other posts about it but couldn't determine whether it was a blanking panel or the real thing.

Originally posted by Evil Weevil
Ahh, so I guess what looks like a blanking plate must actually be a very 'slimline' washer unit.

Nope, it's the cover on a pop-up washer unit - when activated, it pops up an inch or so to spray the lights (similar to current Audi headlight washers).

No US car has headlight washers, period, regardless of option package or type of headlight. However, every Canadian car has headlight washers, regardless of package.

Regards,
Gordon

A pop up headlamp washer... cooool!

I do love a good gadget :)

Originally posted by hairyfrog
A pop up headlamp washer... cooool!

I do love a good gadget :)

Just in case any of you can't visualise how these units operate:

The whole rectangular panel under each light moves forward about 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) and then two diagonally angled washer jets poke out of the top of the hole and spray the lamp. Then they scurry back home. Apparently some owners of other cars call them 'The Aliens': you'll see why eventually.

'Aliens' was the name given by the TT Forum as the TTC has the same system which is watered powered. ie only works when the lights are on but then after a few seconds of normal front window spraying once the water pressure has built up sufficiently. Weird thing is seeing your aliens is something you can never do solo.

rael