06 White mz3 gt, with which tails?

[leems]

hey guys just a question which tail lights would you say would look better on a white mz3.

Currently the car has the GT tails, with orange indicator.

I'm wondering if the 07 LED tails would fit the car (plug and play)
or should i swap them out for the reg. red tails.

I currently have the red tails on the car that im selling but wondering if i should just swap them out.

let me know what you guys think.

thanks

Leems

[Thrizzl3]

LED FTW. im running those on my silver 05

[JSI]

LED FTW. im running those on my silver 05

Same with me, one of the first things I did when I got my car was get the OEM LED tails from Joe@MOT.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r4FF0W1-dCM/Sn7TEpEmFyI/AAAAAAAAHmw/3PlrCOTkbbM/s400/IMG00021.jpg

Very easy swap (Half way done in the pic)

[p-o-g-i]

OEM LED tails, and replace the amber bulbs with chrome dipped bulbs.....

[bunchi]

^^^ +1 best and cleanest looking :)

[leems]

how much did u pay with Joe?

[Thrizzl3]

for both sides your looking at around about $500

[zero2010]

for both sides your looking at around about $500

you can get these at any dealership right? anywhere u can get it for cheaper?

[Thrizzl3]

you can get these at any dealership right? anywhere u can get it for cheaper?

yes. you can get them cheaper at a scrapyard but i doubt they would have any. or if they are for sale here.

[FONZ]

OEM LED Tails may be the " cleanest " looking. But IMHO. It's starting to get way over played.

[Default User]

hmmmmm...I was just thinking how much I dis-like my tails.....

[leems]

im thinkng about the ones that ssg sells, the LED ones.

But instead of the silver reflectors, i was thinking the smoke, what do you guys think??!

I think 3GFX has the ones with the silver reflectors, and another member has the ones with the smoke.

What do u guys think on a white 06 gt?

http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/704/394/21/o_20080626102958.HW-05-014-S.jpg <- these are thes ones im thinking.

http://www.octanemotorsports.com/images/OGI-2CA018-704034.jpg <-- or these are the ones the 3gfx has ..

thanks for the input guys.
i really appreciate it !!

[stevenma188]

I thought the 06 GT came with OEM LED tails?

Edit: Maybe it's only the 06 Sport GT that came with the LEDs... I know my buddy's 06 GT Sport came with OEM LEDs.

[leems]

I don't think they did ...
i have the black tails with the orange and red.

I know the 07's did. I have the 06 gt gfx, w/ leather, heated seats etc ... so i dont know :S

[yearoftherat]

The hatches came with the LED tails, sedans came with non-LED ones.

[Thrizzl3]

OEM LED Tails may be the " cleanest " looking. But IMHO. It's starting to get way over played.

:S what are you talking about? how is OEM over played..it comes with the car..

[mazdabetty]

hahahhaha, same with hatches... wayyyy overplayed... :chuckle

:gone

[Iceman_F1]

OEM LED tails, and replace the amber bulbs with chrome dipped bulbs.....

+1, That is a great and clean look. Just I personally liked the aftermarket ones a bit more.


im thinkng about the ones that ssg sells, the LED ones.

But instead of the silver reflectors, i was thinking the smoke, what do you guys think??!

I think 3GFX has the ones with the silver reflectors, and another member has the ones with the smoke.

What do u guys think on a white 06 gt?

http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/704/394/21/o_20080626102958.HW-05-014-S.jpg <- these are thes ones im thinking.

http://www.octanemotorsports.com/images/OGI-2CA018-704034.jpg <-- or these are the ones the 3gfx has ..

thanks for the input guys.
i really appreciate it !!

If I had known about the smoked before, I might have gotten those. But I'm happy with the clear/silver look that I got as it matches with the rest of my car.

Pic of mine (hatch and back to Chrome turn signal)
http://sdamv.com/Gallery/d/2265-2/DSC_1507.jpg

IMO, the sedan version of those has too big a reverse light...at least that's the way it looked on S.F.W.'s car...and the hatch does look like a big light but to me wasn't as out of place.

[zero2010]

+1, That is a great and clean look. Just I personally liked the aftermarket ones a bit more.



If I had known about the smoked before, I might have gotten those. But I'm happy with the clear/silver look that I got as it matches with the rest of my car.

Pic of mine (hatch and back to Chrome turn signal)
http://sdamv.com/Gallery/d/2265-2/DSC_1507.jpg

IMO, the sedan version of those has too big a reverse light...at least that's the way it looked on S.F.W.'s car...and the hatch does look like a big light but to me wasn't as out of place.

how come your turn signal part of the light is yellow?

is it the same aftermarket led lights as these?
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/jonjon72/IMG_0970_edited-1.jpg

this above one is white though...

[Iceman_F1]

how come your turn signal part of the light is yellow?

is it the same aftermarket led lights as these?
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/jonjon72/IMG_0970_edited-1.jpg

this above one is white though...

That picture was taken in the short time I burned 1 set of chrome bulbs and before I bought the next set. Those were my stock amber bulbs. I'm back to chrome/clear look.

[Soyabean]

The OEM gives your the cleanest look around. Definitely not overplayed one bit. It is more expensive so maybe the aftermarket ones would be better.

As for the smoked vs black/chrome, its personal preference. If your emblems are all chrome and you are planning to keep it chrome, perhaps the black/chrome would better suit you.

[leems]

Thanks soy ... i'm plannning to black out the back emblems ... along with the third brake light ...

i hate this decision ... im starting to get back into the car scene, i finished doing up my celi two years ago and had to sell it ...
so onto another project lol

[Soyabean]

Oh I remember you. My buddy Duc from C7 told me a member bought a mz3 after selling his celica like last year or so

[leems]

prob. was me ... here's what the celi looked like before ...

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v76/6/50/48909003/n48909003_34932026_508.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v76/6/50/48909003/n48909003_34932027_793.jpg

the mazda won't be as done up ...

[Soyabean]

Very nice. Love the lambo doors

[FONZ]

:S what are you talking about? how is OEM over played..it comes with the car..

you're trying to tell me that every car from 04 - 09 came with them?

yours didn't come with the car. Last time I checked, u spent a pretty penny for them.

[chinsterr]

Buy my OEM LED Tails !

[redonblack]

I bought the smoked LED tailights you have up there...they are Option Racing brand but i got them from 'tictuning' on ebay. then i got the 3rd middle brake light (smoked led) from Partplaza since option racing or any other company that sells the LED tailights don't make 3rd middle brake lights too (at least in the smoked colour)... stupid.
They fit pretty good for aftermarket stuff... getting them in smoked colour instead of clear also makes the reverse light circle appear less obese. I would post pics but i'm a noob and don't have any place online to upload my pics to.... anyone want to tell me how to do this simply so i can post pics?

[Thrizzl3]

I bought the smoked LED tailights you have up there...they are Option Racing brand but i got them from 'tictuning' on ebay. then i got the 3rd middle brake light (smoked led) from Partplaza since option racing or any other company that sells the LED tailights don't make 3rd middle brake lights too (at least in the smoked colour)... stupid.
They fit pretty good for aftermarket stuff... getting them in smoked colour instead of clear also makes the reverse light circle appear less obese. I would post pics but i'm a noob and don't have any place online to upload my pics to.... anyone want to tell me how to do this simply so i can post pics?

www.photobucket.com.

[jova87]

i dont think ive ever seen anyone else with my tails...brake/signal/reverse are all LED!!

http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/jova1987/DSC01212.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/jova1987/IMG_0021.jpg
http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/jova1987/IMG_0018.jpg

heres a pic of how they look all lit up without tint
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-06-MAZDA-3-SEDAN-4DR-SMOKE-LED-TAIL-LIGHTS-MAZDA3-4D-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5188f938c0QQitemZ35019 0385344QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

i prefer these to the others...anyways, food for thought

[jova87]

The Actual seller that i bought mine from (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/03-08-MAZDA-3-MAZDA3-4DR-SEDAN-TAIL-LIGHTS-04-05-06-07-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1e5aac0c96QQitemZ13037 0243734QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries)

[redonblack]

thanks phil05gx.

here are some pics of the new LED smoked tails i put in (option racing brand) and 3rd middle smoked LED brake light (partplaza brand).

had an issue with bulbs though... my car came with stock white turn signal bulbs. the orange housing was what made them blink amber (i have an 04 M3 GT). i got 'xenon chrome' brand chrome dipper amber turn signals from Partsource. after 3 minutes they began melting! then i realized they were only 8W and the stock bulbs were 21W. I went to canadian tire over the weekend to see if i could just get plain amber bulbs for now until i find the right chrome dipped ones... but am told that the '7440' bulb which my car takes for a turn signal bulb doesn't come in amber (with the same base as the stocks - no plastic, just glass contact point). but that's just canadian tire's opinion... i will see what i can get at work tomorrow. for now i have illegal white rear turn signals... oops. anyone else with this problem?

also when you're changing the reverse tail housings, dont drop the white plastic pieces down into the trunk!!! i did and it took me 30min to get it out using a coat hanger and some tape to pull it up and through.

heres the pics... ill take some eventually at night...
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz129/redonblack/IMG00566-20100710-1658a.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz129/redonblack/IMG00569-20100710-1659a.jpg
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz129/redonblack/IMG00568-20100710-1659a.jpg

[jova87]

thanks phil05gx.



also when you're changing the reverse tail housings, dont drop the white plastic pieces down into the trunk!!! i did and it took me 30min to get it out using a coat hanger and some tape to pull it up and through.



fyi if you ever do it again IMO its easier to just take the lid off(4 or 6 nuts) and shake the peice out of there..

[leems]

thanks redonblack for the pics ... the tails look amazing the smoke led, if i get them i'm just gonna tint them with the vinyl tint and done deal !
Is the black chrome around the led's really noticeable?


i appreciate the pics ... makes the decision a lot easier

[leems]

i thought the turn signals can be either white, red, or orange ?

[leems]

found part of an answer ...
Why don't manufacturers all use amber lights for turn signals, as is found on many imports? Seems like a safer option to me.

A: Ontario Transportation Ministry spokesperson Bob Nichols replies:

Transport Canada allows for rear turn signals on vehicles to be either red or amber. The provincial Highway Traffic Act does not specify the colour of turn signal lamps and thereby makes allowance for compliance with the federal standards.

We are not aware of any intention by Transport Canada to dictate an amber-only requirement.

[redonblack]

leems - its not black chrome (my pics suck i took them with my phone) - it's actually pure silver-coloured chrome but the tinted plastic lenses give the illusion of a dark grey chrome on the inside. i think they're pretty well made for aftermarket stuff - when you open the trunk you see the sides of the main tailights as pure chrome colour (if you open your trunk now on your car if you have stock stuff you will see black plastic that is a part of the tail light housing... on the aftermarket ones i have it appears chrome, looks pretty cool actually... if you open your trunk alot.)
also, they fit perfect, almost like stock. had to do a bit of banging here and there to get them in snug but after you fasten it all up ive had no problems with water or anything loose.

as for turn signals... good point. in my 04 M3 GT the stock turn signal bulbs are white because the housing is amber. i reused those for a bit but i didn't really want white rear turn signals. i bought chrome-dipped amber ones - but then they melted due to their W rating being way lower than stocks. So then i put in amber LED turn signals which look AMAZING given the chrome-reflecting capacity of the new tail lights i just put in ... even through the smoked lens it is amazing. however....

PROBLEM WITH LED TURN SIGNALS...
they are too low of Wattage so the car thinks there's a bulb out. thus you get hyperflashing (fast paced turn signal flashing) and this is really annoying. BUT its so odd, when the four 4 flashers are on all 4 light blink at the regular place. does anyone have any idea how the hell that happens? splicing in a resistor would likely fix the hyperflashing of the turn signals, but then screw up the normal 4-ways and maybe make them hyperflash or something instead. i've read posts on this but it seems still no one has come to a simple conclusion - plus others have a whole bunch of other mods they are worries about - i have no mods to my DRLs or fogs or anything like that.

for now i drive with hyper-flashy but awesome looking amber LED 360deg turn signals (rear only... fronts are stock amber bulbs).

leems i will try and take some night time pics too. they look awesome.

[laksman91]

redonblack, the real issue hasn't been addressed. WHY do you have a mazdaspeed3 emblem on your car?!!?

[Thrizzl3]

redonblack, the real issue hasn't been addressed. WHY do you have a mazdaspeed3 emblem on your car?!!?

lol all the sedan owners wish there was a mazdaspeed3 sedan..hopefully mazda makes our wishes come true.

[leems]

Thanks redonblack for the write up .. I understand what your saying ... hmm I’ll look into that turn signal thing, if I come up with anything I will for sure let you know ...

Peter kept on telling it was silver inside, but I thought different lol ... oh well ... I guess if I get them I’ll tint the lenses outside with film to cut out the silvery look, might look good on the white make a bit of a contrast. Plus I think the LED tails will blend very well with the 3rd LED brake light.

But if you can get pic’s at night that would be amazing..

Thank you again man, the advice helped a lot!

[ZeroChalk]

redonblack, the real issue hasn't been addressed. WHY do you have a mazdaspeed3 emblem on your car?!!?

Because..... she has a Mazdaspeed 3 GT silly!

[Skip]

I say go with OEM led, I've got the aftermarket LED but the inners are huge so I kept my stock inners
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4495503970_dedcc4b53c_b.jpg

[mazdatrois]

Because..... she has a Mazdaspeed 3 GT silly!

Speaking of tag. Is the 2.3 tag only on the mazda 3 2004 models?

[redonblack]

haha you guys are funny.
i wish they made a 4 door sedan mazdaspeed...!! ya my dad owned a body shop so i just got a mazdaspeed emblem and got a toyota celica GT emblem for the other side. but that is accurate... i do have the GT. lol. actually i wish they made a 2 door (non hatchback) mazda speed, i would totally buy that.

anyways i took some night shots...
here are the new tails with the running lights on
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz129/redonblack/PA220691alt.jpg

and the third middle brake light when braking (bought from partplaza)
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz129/redonblack/PA220702alt.jpg

and now for the running light, brake and signal led bulbs in context...
http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz129/redonblack/PA220703copy.jpg

my camera sucks so you cannot really see a difference between running light and brake light. however the difference is HUGE which is great. the led's light up a whole lot more when braking. the only thing i still have an issue with is that after putting in the amber led's, i get hyperflashing when signaling. still have to source a resistor but i'd really rather not do that or i'm screwed if i want to go back to stock. let me know if you guys have any input! keeping the turn signals as stock 7440 filament bulbs was just way too ugly and doesn't give you the awesome circus-like-never-ending-lights-in-a-mirror effect the led bulbs give you given the reflectiveness of the inside of the new tails i just bought.

and yes i agree the reverse lights are obese.. but don't look that bad if you have the smoked lenses. and leems, i still think you may not even need to tint these if you get the same ones as i; they stand out more grey than black on my car because my car is black. on a white car i think they'd be perfect. i didnt want a full black out effect which is why i chose these ones. but still, you could always get them and then decide if you want to tint them after putting them on/holding them up to your car.

[Souls]

^^^ hey that turned out not bad eh? I wasn't sure when I saw them on page 1, but it looks good for you sedan owners

that totally sucks that only Sports got LED tails, I didn't know that