best thing i found to use to remove the reflector is a pair of very thin pointed needlenose pliers or hemostats.

 

Ya, i got the first one out fine. the second one i accidentally broke the reflector free and lodged it up in the skinny part of the reflector; it didnt move, and after all the tugging, the glue and plastic finally cracked which sent a crack through the lense as well. there was no hope and being pissed off didnt help cause there was soon a hole through the lense...

 

i just got one. thanks for posting this thread.

 

I've noticed that most of you people are using stock bulbs or amber bulbs. Where's the stealth bulbs at?!

 

Try MazdaParts.com (SEARCH is your friend).

 

www.stealthauto.com to be more exact.................. http://www.stealthauto.com/Departmen...lth-Bulbs.aspx

 

hey fellas u can get the clear side marker's just for 45 USD plus 6 USD shipping at ebay, those come from japon

 

Very helpful stuff! Thanks Recant!

 

nice job...great thread

 

We actually went to just selling authentic corners for now...and will be providing an LED combo package with a choice of Amber or Hyper white. We are taking longer as we wanted to test the bulbs before offering them since we sell so many combos it should be a hassle free purchase.

 

I want yellow light when lit, but no yellow visible when unlit. Are LEDs from RX8Strakes.com the best option?

 

CORNERS
I got Mazda ones from Japan off eBay (took weeks to get here), and just pulled out the reflectors (got some small scratches if you look closely). I'm kind of wondering if I should have gotten aftermarket ones that don't bulge out...

LIGHTS
Rotary Rasp, who is a LED guru, just recommended some LEDs to me at v-leds.com and they came out to $13 plus tax & shipping. They will look white when off, and bright amber when lit, they shouldn't burn out very soon, and they won't heat up and melt plastic like stealth bulbs can. I can't see why anyone would order normal bulbs with these out there...

2 V-LEDS AMBER 11 SMT LIGHT BULBS 194 168 158 2821 W5W

Also, rx8strakes.com sells LEDs, but I don't know how good they are, there's not a lot of info on them.

 

I got those too. Also took the reflectors out. MUCH better without them. Good decision. And I wasn't crazy about the bulge either.... but quickly got used to it. Doesn't bother me at all now. Well worth the $40 or however much it was.

 

I thought I read a few people having LED problems in the side markers over shorter periods of time vs. the stealth bulbs.. maybe I just mis-read it. What have some of the other people here used? Stealth bulbs or LEDs?

Sorry I'm just trying to make absolutely sure I get the one that's best suited for me :P

 

Boy am I glad I found this DIY before I tried to get the clear corners in. So happy I took the reflector out but it was quite a struggle to get them out. A few scratches on the lenses but nothing noticeable. I kept the stock bulbs in, although not legal, and I'll probably get stealth bulbs or the LED kind. Props to msrecant for the great DIY! Install took me about 10-20 minutes for both, getting the reflectors out took me about 30 minutes for the first one and about 5 for the other one. Well worth the effort and time though, I love the look.

 

Thanks for this DIY! Just put my clear corners in using this...very easy to follow

 

took 10 mins on first tire, 2 mins on second tire,
my bottom plastic fastner wouldnt come out, stripped it with the screwdriver i think but i could do it with just the top one out.
all in all a great guide, thanks man!

 

I just finished installing my clear corners. Just wanna say if anyone is having any doubts about doing this themselves, just go for it. It took me a total of 20 minutes, including removing the reflectors, to install them.

BTW, I got the corners from rx8strakes.com, along with stealth bulbs- they sell them both there. I highly recommend them, they got here in less than 2 days.

 

Just one thing worth mentioning from my install.

Lights from rx8strakes came with the wire harness and the amber bulb already in. Getting the OEM harness unplugged was kinda a pain for me. Eventually I was able to get it by using a very small flat head screwdriver wedged in to pull it off. When you look at the new harness you will see the plastic clip that comes down off the plastic end piece. That is what holds the harness in. Using the flat head you want to wedge it in between the harness female and male part where that piece of plastic would be and then wedge apart the two pieces while pulling gently on the harness itself (using the plastic - not the wires).

I don't believe the harness was an option with OP posted the great DIYs. Also my fasteners seemed to be unable to turn because there was dirt in the upper fastner (grrr) so I ended up stripping both and just popping them out by wedging a flathead screwdriver between the fender and the plastic part held in place by the fasteners.

No big deal popping them out as they popped back in pretty easily.

BTW - I'd recommend rx8strakes right now. Price seems to beat MazdaParts once shipping is included and they consistently ship very fast (From SoCal to Ohio in 3 days).

 

Couldn't you just use the harness already there? when I ordered mine from Japanparts, it also came with a harness. I just unscrewed it from the clear corners and exchanged the bulbs...

 

I actually thought about it but try not to touch bulbs that I don't have to since a spot of grease/dirt/etc. can cause a bulb to burn out quicker. Besides I knew I should be able to get the harness undone and I don't like to go a path because it's a little easier. Better to take my time (when I have it to give) and understand the way the car is setup. Spending 30 minutes more on this will probably help me the next time I'm screwing around with something in my 8 with an electrical harness.

Besides my old harness was dirty and wasn't JDM. Clean JDM harness = +2 HP.

 

How wonderfully simple. I think it took me all of 4 minutes.

 

Thanks, I was wondering about the code in Indiana, but you saved me some time

also, when, and if, I do get my 8 clear corners are about the only mod I really WANT.

 

I'll admit I'm a dumbass and used a crappy phillipshead, should have used a tiny gentle screwdriver. But anyway, those plastic screw/clips lost their groove on the top after about 2 turns, so even if I got one loose I couldn't unscrew the other one. And I was kinda worried about getting them back in now so I just tightened them again and went here to see if anyone had the same problem. No idea how to replace these if I take it out by force :S Anyone?

 

Damn, I see that I have to order these clips from my dealer in that case.