Headlight Washers Video
 

the day i picked up my 8, i asked the sales-person to demonstrate the headlight washers! :)

RX-8 Headlight Washers Clip

Enjoy !!!!

What???
 

What Haedlight washers?
Is this another example of the US Market being left out along with the six CD Chanders, Automatic Air, etc???

I am sstaring to not like this at all...:mad:

Re: What???
 

Headlight washers are standard on all Canadian RX-8s (you can see the washer cover in my avatar picture), as is the 6CD in-dash changer. We don't get the automatic climate control. We also don't get the Tire Pressure Monitoring System that is standard in the US. There's only 2 packages, GS and GT - the GT is the US' Leather GT package except for the moonroof. We only have two real options on the GT, the moonroof and the Nav system (requires the roof). My GT is a moonroof-less car, very unique in the US during my trip!

Regards,
Gordon

Well before I watched the video I was going to scoff at the idea of having headlight washers... but that was pretty cool ;)

Re: What???
 

Who needs them? Ruins the nice smooth front end IMHO.

LOL that thing is hilarious ... im not sure what the point of having one is ... I keep my car clean and its not like im going to be taking my car mudding or anything. Glad US doesnt have them .... it would be cool if you could flip them around and could spray people with them though...:p

Re: Headlight Washers Video
 

Thank you. Very funny and interesting:eek:

In Japan, no cars have that kind of options including RX-8.

Great video! Personally I agree with TJRX8 and I'm glad the US cars don't have the washers. When looking at the front end the eye goes right to them...

Re: Re: What???
 

Yeah, and while we're at it, who needs windshield washers?

I suppose if everyone lived in Florida we wouldn't need headlight washers either. :rolleyes: It's a big world out there, and it doesn't end at the Florida state line. Maybe if you weren't so absolutely self-centred, you might realize that other parts of the world have different driving conditions than you experience. Snow and slush crud up the front of a car, and combined with the much shorter daylight hours in winter, can make visibility a challenge. Windshield wipers and washers take care of the windshield, but it's still difficult to see when your windshield is clear but the headlights are so coated with slush that there's very little light output hitting the road. Headlight washers are extremely useful in those conditions, which is why they are standard equipment on Canadian cars.

Regards,
Gordon

Re: Re: What???
 

I agree with you on this. But they are pretty cool when working. ;) But the rest of the time I think it takes away from that beautiful front end. :cool:

Thanks for the video!!

You don't even notice them on the car, actually some people looking at teh car for like 10minutes, goes OH what are these?

They aren't that noticeable.

I have yet to use them, heck I think I only used the windshield washer fluid 3 times. But in the winter i'm sure I will use them!

i love them! i wish i had them...i think they look really cool although i'd have to agree with most people in that i'd never use them...nor would i ever really see them in action since i'd be inside the car...

ok, i change my mind, i don't need them...i usually check the headlights and rear tailights during winter time for snow and slush and spraying washers on them would probably not make it any better

Hey you need them and like them so don't let what others think about them bother you!! They are VERY cool!! And I am sure there will be a few times I will wish that I had them when I get mine here in Colorado. But overall I don't feel that I need them. I am an artist, a visual kind of guy and I noticed them right away. I had no idea how they worked until you showed the video. Pretty slick if you ask me. I would like to have them. But for me I would want them to be a little less noticable. Enjoy!! :cool:

They put them on the Canadian model for a reason....... cuz WE NEED THEM HERE !!!! In the Winter time, it is not unusual to have your headlight gets covered by snow and slush from the road. In fact I have to made it a habit to clean my head lights every day(sometimes twice a day) just to be sure I can actually see anythinh at night.

It's not really the snow, it's the SALT!

Hidden/retractable to keep the nozzle from getting blocked/clogged, but how strong are the actuators? I'd hate for the washers to be rendered useless because the whole assembly was frozen shut.

Re: What???
 

Brian,

It IS a conspiracy. It's Japan's revenge on the USA for WWII (remember the city where the RX-8 is made). That's why only our oil filters are installed at 400 ft.-lbs., the CD changer is an option, no headlight washers, no climate control, no spare tire, lower horsepower, etc. :D

Dave

I used to live in Western New York and drove an Alfa 164S that had headlight washers. The washer was a very nice feature for winter driving. I also kept a coat of RainX on the headlights to keep them cleaner. It works.

Re: Re: Re: What???
 

Funny man you are. All I said was "who needs them?" And "They ruin the nice smooth lines" blah blah. And for some reason you decide to attack me personally without even knowing me. So I will use this opportunity to educate you just a little.

I have only lived in Florida for 5 years, being that I am 40 that would leave 35 years of not living in Florida. So here goes, are you sure you are ready? The places I have lived first then the places I have visited.

Places I have lived: (Not in any special order)
New York (snows)
Maryland (snows)
New Jersey (snows)
Texas
Illinois (snows)
Maine (snowed a lot) (about 10 miles from Canuck land)
New Hampshire (snows)
Germany (yeah the country, snows)
Japan (yeah the country, snows)
England (yeah the country, snows)
Florida (hell no it doesn't snow!)

Visited:
40 + States including Hawaii
Canada
Name most any Western European Country and I've been there once (except Liechtenstein)
Palau
Cayman Islands
Israel
Egypt
Turkey
Geece

So now post all of your World Travels please.

BTW I have owned 26 cars counting the RX8 or maybe it's 27 now. I have never had a car with headlight washers and maybe could have used them a dozen times. Personally I don't think the water squirter type would have helped much with the caked on slush. I hope they work for you enough to make up for the ugly bumps on your front end.

Peace Gord and don't be envious of where other people live, it makes for a miserable life. :cool:

Re: Re: Re: Re: What???
 

1. they're barely noticeable
2. they aren't necessary, but they definitely do make life easier as well as safer
3. its nice that you've lived/visited many places and owned many cars, it still doesnt change the fact that they're helpful in certain places
4. i dont think it was Gord96BRG's intent to attack you

who needs em? -we do

Re: Re: Re: Re: What???
 

I don't need to, but it's nice of you to decide for me that I don't need them.

Personally, in my own small world, I could have used them hundreds of times, and am very happy to have them on one of my other vehicles and now on the RX-8. I ski a lot (been on the Lake Louise ski patrol for 15 years), and the road between Calgary and Banff/Lake Louise gets the headlight-obscuring slush that I described frequently. On many occasions in the past, I've had to pull over to the side of the highway to rub snow on the headlights to clean them to be able to see the light output on the road. Headlight washers completely eliminate that problem, from my own experience.

You may have travelled the world, but it appears you can still use a little education of your own. Meanwhile, I'll continue to refrain from telling you what you need and don't need (as in "who needs them?"), and I'd appreciate it if you might do the same.

Regards,
Gordon

easy!!!!!!!!!

even if Gord was attacking you, you could've just said so and attempted to reply in a better manner! Cause now, it looks to me that the snowball rolling downhill will get bigger! Especially the 'please post your World Travels' liner, that's just asking for trouble!! Sounds like you're challenging him or somethin'!

Clearly, some people will like the washers and some would not! So both of you just chill and not worry too much 'bout it!! I don't wanna create any trouble from a thread which I started! Makes me feel uneasy, if that means anything to anyone!!!:eek:

Edit: DOH, Gord posted b4 me!!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What???
 

and as a fellow cowtowner (calgarian) i can vouch that the road conditions on highways are pretty bad. i wouldn't mind having some unobstructed light illuminating the roads. its not like anyones gonna be driving toward me on the opposite side of the road thinking those headlight washers are the ugliest things he's ever seen. he'd probably never notice them, and if he did he'd most likely wish he had em too.

I really dont care but its another button to play with while driving and i am sure someone could make it possible to use them as squirt guns...:D but what is this climate control we dont have in the US...i want it and how can i get it? i love buttons and LCD...hehe;)

Real Simple Solution
 

Hey mazda! Make it an option. That way if someone wants them they can get them. That's all.

That is the coolest thing that I have ever seen...

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What???
 

So I take it that in Canada this is a compliment:
And I guess in Canada that is a proper response to:
I realize that all parts ofthe world learn English slightlty different depending on where you live. But I figure something like your response...
would have sufficed.
I figure Gordy must really hate where he lives if he found it necessary to attack me and insult my opinion so dramatically. To bring up the fact that I live in Florida only screams of jealousy. Chill Gord, that should be easy as you are battling to keep the snow off your headlights. Hopefully the washers don't freeze shut or get stuck from the slush (really I hope they work great).

*edit*

Now girls let's not fight. ;)

For all of you Canadian jealous people......you can love your headlight washers but also how well is the rx-8 gonna handle in the snow....are you going to use it like a freaking SUV....i think not... i have a wrx and have watched the wrc many of times...IMHO i have never seen them use headlight washers and i would think these are the most extreme driving conditions...i have lived more places in the world than you have been in your life and never have i once wanted these things on the front facsia of my vehicle

Re: Real Simple Solution
 

Agree. Make it part of a winter package. Headlight washers, heated seats and side mirrors, ski liner in the trunk access panel, etc.

That should appease both groups here.

Cool Video.... I wish this was an option in the US version. Someone posted here that it was Japans' way of getting revenge on the USA because of WWII, that is not true. If you have to blame someone blame the US and their safety guidlines that automakers have to abide by. That is why the US version of the RX8 also comes with an extra crash bar in the front bumper and lower horsepower because of the 50 state legal SMOG emmisions and the deadly California Air Resources Board which is alot stricter than the federal 50 state legal SMOG guidline. Also when Japan exports things cars electronics they chose to wait until costs for exporting levels with production costs at Japanese factories. Everything we buy here is marked higher because of import, and I am guessing to save money for that reason they have to cut out some of the "cool" features, I just htink they should special order features and let us pay for what we want.

Well said.

Nice clip!

The washers are mandatory with xenon headlight in some countries (like probably Canada and definately Germany). In the summer they can be a little annoying if your car is clean because they spill water over your hood and fenders. In the winter, right now for example, they're very useful to clean your headlights of all the salt, dirt and snow that hits you in traffic. In this very moment my car is grey instead of black.

Incredibly well, even with DSC off.

I was surprised too, altough I invested more than 1000 € in winter tires (Bridgestone LM 25). But then it seems logical that a car with near perfect handling handles well in snow too. With DSC on you still have some drifting potential but this comes in handy if you can control it. Breaking is still superior and the feeling for the current degree of roadhold is too.

Is that good to use in the cold weather though? I mean, you shouldn't really open your moonroof or roll down your windows while it's really cold out, because you'll kill the motor...it will have extra force on it due to the possibility of freezing...AND these things have water that can freeze all over them....

Mike

First, you take stress from the engine if you open the window, because the heating exchanges heat with the engine cooling and so the engine gets better cooling if you turn the heat on - as far as I know.

Second, if you drive in countries with cold winters, you put a sufficient amount of antifreeze in your windshield washing water (otherwise you won't get far ...) and thereby you avoid freezing of the headlight washers as well.

The windsheild washer fluid here is usually good to -40 C!

My cooling fluid is -40 just in case, my windshield fluid is usually mixed to withstand -15 (which was quite near the edge this morning btw).

But -40 is brutally cold though ... do you drive your 8 at such temperatures? I wonder how it performs at such low temperature.

I bet that is really easy to modify.

I live in Canada, although a warm part (Vancouver!), and it didn't take me long to decide to disconnect the damn things because they spray fluid all over the car!!!

i'm cutting my mine off and adding the MS kit .

My friend here in SoCal has a '96 Audi A4...it came with the headlight washers. Coolest thing to watch, even though down here its kind of useless...didn't really detract from the bumbper either. Oh well.

I don't understand why Mazda have to design headlight washers that aren't flush with the bumper. I think it is an eye sore. Audi's headlight washers are flush and doesn't stand out as much, which I like.

it needs to have the little wippers added to them too:D i doin't understand the point of them w/o wippers because does it still really work?...but i don't have them on my car so i don't really care...but neat vid.

It still works without wipers because it has a bit of pressure coming out of the nozzles. I believe it works even better on the highway due to the force of the wind to blow off the fluid.

There is another use for those washers ...

http://www.mazda.co.uk/sycomax/uploa...ttleSquirt.wmv

:D

simple way around this...don't activate the wipers with the lights on...they only work when you have the headlights on....or....keep your washer fluid tank only half full. They only seem to work when there is lots of liud in the tank.

haha, that was tooo dang cute!!!! :D