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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 04:38 PM
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2009 LED question

Hello, I just got a 2009 GT in stormy black mica about a month ago and I am already itching to do a few minor modifications. I am wondering if anyone here has experience with using V-LEDs with the 09's. I don't really want to have to split the wires to install inline resistors for the LEDs so I was wondering if I am able to flip to an electronic flasher like:
http://www.v-leds.com/BlinkerWarning...89743-1-3.html

I would flip out the front parking/turn signal lights and the rear turn signals with LEDs if I go this route.

I have a few questions if I try and do this setup.

1) What about the little side marker lights, after looking around it appears they are non replaceable and come as a whole kit, will these still being a filament bulb pose a problem?

2) Am I even able to use that flasher module in our cars or would I have to go the resistor route.

3) Am I retarded for wanting to do this switch on a new 8 with less then 1500 miles on it

Thanks
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 04:49 PM
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I forgot to add I don't want crazy fast blinkers
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Old Aug 10, 2009 | 04:52 PM
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i can't imagine a side marker light would be a problem if you decided to replace the turn signals with LED's. I'm not sure though as I haven't seen how they're wired up

i dont think the resistor module will work with our cars, for some odd reason our module is slightly smaller than other mazdas, I don't know if they've since changed it for the '09 but i dunno. I bought one of those from v-leds for mine and it didnt work

and no you are not retarded for wanting to do mods right away, i put a new exhaust on my car within the first 250 miles
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Old Aug 11, 2009 | 02:18 AM
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Not crazy at all, the 09's have amber parking lights that double as turn signals, get the dual color LED bulbs that are white when parking light and then flash amber. I think the rear signals are the same bulb as the 04-08 which is 7440.
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Old Aug 11, 2009 | 06:50 AM
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The side markers on the '09 are self contained units you have to buy at Mazda....sucks. Thus, you can only get them in orange. Maybe someday I'll get around to trying to open one and change it, but for now...
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Old Aug 12, 2009 | 09:47 AM
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One more quick ?, which temp LED will match my HID headlights better 5k or 6k? Thanks
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Old Aug 12, 2009 | 12:05 PM
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5K for stock HIDs
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Old Aug 12, 2009 | 01:04 PM
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Thank you and thanks for posting I didn't know i could get a discount
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Old Aug 12, 2009 | 06:07 PM
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Old Aug 12, 2009 | 06:40 PM
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dam thats a whole piece huh ... how hard is it to get it off
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Old Aug 12, 2009 | 07:04 PM
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Interesting. I was planning on taking that off at some point. Glad to see it is doable. I kind of want to paint the chrome black or ditch it all together. Was there anything behind that plate? I imagine it is just for appearance as it doesn't seem functional when I clean it. Looking at it though the grill actually has holes so maybe it is functional.
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Old Aug 12, 2009 | 10:47 PM
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Thanks for all the help everyone, like ЯX-8 I took off my side bulbs to check even though the manual says they aren't replaceable and found the same thing, a whole kit. I am getting ready to make my order and just have a few more questions about which bulbs I should get. I am going to change the following bulbs this go round:
  1. Front Turn Signal/Parking Light: Sylvania's site lists this bulb as a 1157A and the manual says B1157MA. I am looking at the bulbs listed as 1157 - 7225 on V-LED and in particular These. I think these should do the trick and if anyone has experience with the bi-color ones that would be great as I think they will look pretty with the 09's front lights.
  2. Rear Turn Signals: Sylvania's site lists this bulb as a 992 (7440A) and the manual says WY21W. I am looking at the bulbs listed as 7443 - 7440 on V-LED and in particular These.
  3. Rear Back Up Lights: Sylvania's site lists this bulb as a 921 and the manual says W16W(#921). I am looking at the bulbs listed as 921 on V-LED and in particular These(Although the price and style kind of worry me so I'm also looking at These.
  4. Since I am looking at flipping both signal bulbs and I don't want my blinkers to go nuts I am going to also get a set of These.

Any input on these choices would be great and once I get them I'll try and grab some pics of them in action.

Thanks
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Old Aug 20, 2009 | 02:56 PM
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Any news on this? Did you get them installed? I have an 09 and am thinking of switching the fog/turn signals too.
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Old Aug 20, 2009 | 10:32 PM
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I am ordering them tonight and should have them installed in a few weeks when I get to my parent's where I have more room to do the work. I'll take some pics when I get them all installed. As well as possibly installation steps pics and part #'s.
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Old Aug 20, 2009 | 11:00 PM
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Those are going to look great! I'm very interested in seeing those dual color parking/signal bulbs in action. I may have to pick up a set for my girlfriend's 3.
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Old Aug 24, 2009 | 10:42 PM
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Ordered them and should be in thursday, I'll take pics of the bulbs before installing them, but won't be able to put them in till the next weekend(unless I get impatient). I ended up going with the 32 LED reverse lamps for brightness and so they look the same as the turns.
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 06:10 PM
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Some Quick Pics of the accuall bulbs themselves, they all look good with only one weird facet, the clear LEDs are yellow in color where as the amber are clear (You got me). Any way Here are some pics, I was going to install them this weekend but its been crappy out and I would rather have the nice garage and tools at my parents' place.

PS Sorry for the crappy pics, taken with my iPhone 3gS

First Pic:

Front Parking Light/Turn Signal - These are the bicolor ones that are white (5k to match stock HID) while on fulltime and flash amber when signaling.

Second:

Rear Amber Turn Signal - These

Third:

Rear Backup lights - These

Forth:

Resistors - These are alot bigger resistors then I expectd But shouldn't pose too much of a problem

Fifth:

Misc Mounting Plates and wire splicers - These are the plates, I got these just incase I needed.
Attached Thumbnails 2009 LED question-front-signals.jpg   2009 LED question-rear-signals.jpg   2009 LED question-rear-backup.jpg   2009 LED question-resistors.jpg   2009 LED question-misc.jpg  


Last edited by Wheeldog; Aug 29, 2009 at 06:22 PM.
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Wheeldog
Some Quick Pics of the accuall bulbs themselves, they all look good with only one weird facet, the clear LEDs are yellow in color where as the amber are clear (You got me).
That's normal, white LEDs are created by coating blue LEDs with phosphor which gives it a yellow color. More info can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Led#Phosphor_based_LEDs

Post pics when you get them installed.
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Old Aug 29, 2009 | 10:23 PM
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Definately will take installation pics as I put them in the after pics and a video of the dual colors in action. I'm also getting my tint Friday so should be a good weekend for the 8
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 03:53 PM
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Got all the bulbs installed and I have to say, I like the multi-color bulbs even they aren't a perfect match to my headlights. I have tons of installation pics to make a install guide, and will most likely put that in DIY tonight/this weekend. I'm trying to figure out how to get a good video of the bulbs in action since I'll have to figure out how to prop up my loliphone to grab the clip by myself, but I'll see what I can pull off.

edit: Just realized lol-iphone looked some candy form of a phone. Plan on doing the write up tomorrow when I get a few

Last edited by Wheeldog; Sep 11, 2009 at 02:00 PM.
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 01:57 PM
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Nice! Looking forward to the write up.
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Old Sep 13, 2009 | 11:46 PM
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Alright, big update. I plan on writing up a DIY install guide for these LED bulbs but thought I would put up some pics and videos here first. A couple notes before the pics. All the bulb #'s and links can be found in my post a few up. The Headlights are stock HID. The parking lights are the 5k bi-color LEDs. The rear turn is just an amber LED and the backup is the normal reverse LED. One thing I would change doing this again is getting the High Power Whites as the ones I got aren't much better then stock and with my new 20% tint are hard to see. All pictures and videos were taken with a iphone 3gS in an awesome custom stand(I'll include that pic too ) so sorry for the poor quality. Feel free to pm or post any questions and I can help as much as possible. I also have the 3Ohm 50W resistors installed to fix the super blinkies.

PS: I only gave the car a quick wash the day before, and then drove on some country roads and it rained a little while it was parked so its a little dirty.

Pics:

1) My Amazing iphone stand, the circled area are 2 refrigerator clips that I slipped the phone into the top of just kinda propped there.

2) The fronts from a few yards away. This was the #1 reason I did this to get rid of the ugly egg yolk look of the stocks so I'm happy with this change(now if I could only get the import headlighyts w/o the amber reflector cheap).

3) Front bulbs close up.

4) Rear from a funky angle and a few feet away.

5) Rear Close up.
Attached Thumbnails 2009 LED question-ghetto_iphone_rig.jpg   2009 LED question-dayime_front_far.jpg   2009 LED question-daytime_front_close.jpg   2009 LED question-daytime_rear_far.jpg   2009 LED question-daytime_rear_close.jpg  

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Old Sep 13, 2009 | 11:47 PM
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Now some nighttime shots, these were taken in my garage tonight so there is a little ambient light. The LEDs are bright but not as bright as they look as far as lighting up the road, but I like them. I can't get a pic of the backup lights because Its just me and its impossible for me to hold in reverse and take a pic .

Pics:

1) Just the new parking lights on.

2) Parking lights and Headlights, not 100% match but looks good.

3) Close up from a side with both parking and headlights.

4 & 5) Close up with just parking lights on and you can see the actual LEDs.
Attached Thumbnails 2009 LED question-far_parking_only.jpg   2009 LED question-far_parking_and_headlights.jpg   2009 LED question-close_parking_and_headlights.jpg   2009 LED question-close_parking_only1.jpg   2009 LED question-close_parking_only2.jpg  


Last edited by Wheeldog; Sep 13, 2009 at 11:59 PM.
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Old Sep 13, 2009 | 11:48 PM
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Time For some Videos!

Video 1: Just the Parking lights, I hit both signal individually.

[EMBED]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oisGMVkTYr0&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oisGMVkTYr0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/EMBED]

Video 2: Parking lights and headlights. I only hit the flashers here, but they behave the same.(Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..I mean car door)

[EMBED]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ibes2xvoQuI&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ibes2xvoQuI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/EMBED]

Video 3: Close up of just the Parking light, no Headlight

[EMBED]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2ryVHOwUL1s&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2ryVHOwUL1s&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/EMBED]

Last edited by Wheeldog; Sep 14, 2009 at 12:04 AM.
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Old Sep 13, 2009 | 11:48 PM
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Alright, after doing all this, I think it was really worth it, I'm extremely happy with the changes, and didn't notice how bright the bulbs really are untill I had to stare into them for a while . Any comments, questions will be appriciated and I hope to have the install guide up soon.

Last edited by Wheeldog; Sep 14, 2009 at 12:07 AM.
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