LED 3rd brake light

[Skarbro]

Well it was raining out so I couldn\\\'t work on building my deck. So I made my own LED 3rd brake light. I went for the traditional single line of LEDs. Total cost was about $25. I referred to Majic\'s post (http://torontomazda3.com/forum/read.php?TID=2841) for some of it. Other things I figured out myself.

Here are some pics...

http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_003_500.jpg
http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_002_372.jpg
http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_001_464.jpg
http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_006_126.jpg
http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_005_143.jpg

[Dave_Mazda3]

Looks good man!

[Chuckie]

*thumbs up*

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Love the stealth look on the logos as well

[Skarbro]

OK I took it to the next level. I didn\'t like the LEDs sticking out there bare. I wanted it to look a little more like it wasn\'t aftermarket. So I made a clear diffuser, which enhances the angle of the light without sacrificing hardly any light from directly behind. I think it looks better too. Pics...

http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_001_121.jpg

http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_002_690.jpg

http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_003_209.jpg

http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_005_560.jpg

http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_006_608.jpg

http://www.precizion.org/forums/files/picture_007_175.jpg

[3GFX]

Very nicely done! Looks great! One suggestion, get some silver finish bulbs to take the amber tinge out of your tail signals! It would look all clear when the bulbs are off, it would match the 3rd brake lamp! :D

[Skarbro]

Originally posted by 3GFX


Very nicely done! Looks great! One suggestion, get some silver finish bulbs to take the amber tinge out of your tail signals! It would look all clear when the bulbs are off, it would match the 3rd brake lamp! :D
Yeah, I\'m sort of on the fence on those. I had them in my old car, but took them out because they weren\'t that bright. I\'ve never seen them on the 3 though. Are they bright enough?

[bluntman]

Come by the next meet and I can show you.

[MAZDA Kitten]

I have chrome dipped amber turns signals that I bought from MYK\'s group buy a long time ago and they are so bright and the amber colour is very nice

[Xenon]

Where or how did you make the clear diffuser?

Great looking job!

[Skarbro]

Originally posted by Xenon


Where or how did you make the clear diffuser?

Great looking job!
Thanks. I used a piece of a lighting panel diffuser from Home Depot (which they gave me for free :) ). The trick was to make it not look like a piece of lighting panel. ;) I\'m in the process right now of upgrading it to look a little better.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Originally posted by Skarbro



Originally posted by 3GFX


Very nicely done! Looks great! One suggestion, get some silver finish bulbs to take the amber tinge out of your tail signals! It would look all clear when the bulbs are off, it would match the 3rd brake lamp! :D
Yeah, I\'m sort of on the fence on those. I had them in my old car, but took them out because they weren\'t that bright. I\'ve never seen them on the 3 though. Are they bright enough?

Myk on this board who arranges the group led buys has these:

http://www.cdnautoworks.com/led/prodpgs/img_lg/7440_ct_2.jpg

Says they are brighter.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Holy Sh!t that pic wasn\'t that big when I first looked at it.. but I think you get the idea.

[3GFX]

Those aren\'t that good because they don\'t allow any forward facing light to exit the bulb, they aren\'t as bright...no matter how big the blub is :hoho.

I\'ve installed a pair of full mirror coated bulbs and they are very bright. No less bright than stock.

[bluntman]

I have these...

http://www.autotoys.com/pics/thumbs/t_piaaorangemirrorbulb1156.jpg