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View Full Version : Retrofit lenses vs Mazdaspeed OEM lenses


yearoftherat
06-07-2010, 08:54 PM
I recently bought a set of Mazda 3 Clear Lenses from The Retrofit Source GB and in the process of modding the extra set of headlights. The headlights I bought are from a Mazdaspeed and are a halogen setup. During the swapping of lenses, I had noticed that the OEM lenses are NOT frosted but clear!

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/Stuff%20for%20Sale/IMG_1126.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/Stuff%20for%20Sale/IMG_1125.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/Stuff%20for%20Sale/IMG_1124.jpg

As you can tell from the pictures, there is no noticeable difference between the OEM ones and the so called retrofit clear ones.
So my question is:
Did the Mazdaspeeds come with clear lenses and not frosted ones like the ones found on the regular mazda 3's?
If the Mazdaspeeds did come with clear lenses, is there any real benifit for me to mod the headlights with the ones from Retro Source?
yearoftherat
06-07-2010, 10:04 PM
Update:

I got some replies on Mazda3forums.com site and what member have told me is that Mazda3 2004 - 2005 came with frosted lenses.
The 06s and newer, the lenses are not frosted but "fresnel"/diffused which are very close to being a clear lens. The retrofit lenses will give a sharper cutoff and more light output.
Donutz
06-07-2010, 11:57 PM
You beat me to it. Yes, they are frosted.
Gizzmo_jr
06-08-2010, 12:03 AM
Good to see your hard at it :)

Mine were definitely frosted.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4297252832_0df4103c01_o.jpg
MistaChin
06-08-2010, 12:36 AM
Mine were frosted. Not too obvious but you really have to look at them under a light to see.
Noisy Crow
06-08-2010, 12:58 AM
My '08 has frosted ones as well. I had to shine a light on it just right, but with the right angle you can see right into the headlight, and the frosting is quite apparent. It might must be on the back (flat) surface of the the lenses. Maybe that is why you can see it in your pics.
kLuMzi
06-08-2010, 10:05 AM
can we use this thread to compare cut offs? mine doesn't look sharp at the centre =\
RedRaptor
06-08-2010, 10:46 AM
Put these new LED angel eyes in before you seal those puppies!

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=174012.0
Noisy Crow
06-08-2010, 10:52 AM
Put these new LED angel eyes in before you seal those puppies!

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=174012.0

Mine were shipped yesterday! :)
RedRaptor
06-08-2010, 10:57 AM
Congrats! Those are hella bright as seen in that video. Its going to look really clean and crisp with the LEDs.

TRS Clear Lenses
LED Angel Eyes
HID Kit

Win.
Gizzmo_jr
06-08-2010, 11:09 AM
nice stuff !
yearoftherat
06-08-2010, 11:09 AM
Put these new LED angel eyes in before you seal those puppies!

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=174012.0

I wish...


Mine were shipped yesterday! :)

BALLA !!!
Noisy Crow
06-08-2010, 11:21 AM
I wish...

BALLA !!!

:chuckle I have a nice set of CCFL angel eyes sitting BNIB that I will be putting up for sale....
yearoftherat
06-08-2010, 11:46 AM
My CCFLs are already installed...
Those LEDs are def' nice...maybe one day.
MistaChin
06-08-2010, 12:04 PM
How much for the LED angel eyes? This just might give me the excuse to wipe the fingerprints on my clear lenses lol
yearoftherat
06-08-2010, 12:14 PM
$149US
MistaChin
06-08-2010, 12:19 PM
$149US

Ok, not enough for an excuse.
Noisy Crow
06-08-2010, 12:53 PM
My CCFLs are already installed...
Those LEDs are def' nice...maybe one day.

Yeh. I figure that since I am going to have this car for quite a while, and I really don't want to have to take the headlights apart more than once, I may as well put the best halos in that I can find.

Did you have another look at your projector lenses? Are they really clear when looking through them front to back, or do they appear frosted?
yearoftherat
06-08-2010, 01:14 PM
They appear to be clear. According to the guys on the mazda3forums.com site they are fresnel: http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=174229.0
Noisy Crow
06-08-2010, 01:36 PM
They appear to be clear. According to the guys on the mazda3forums.com site they are fresnel: http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=174229.0

The weird thing is that one poster said that Mazda stopped using frosted lenses after '05.... yet my lenses are clearly (ha!) frosted, or something very similar, and my car is an '08. I wonder if OEM halogen/HID makes a difference? I have factory HIDs on my car.
WeatherB
06-08-2010, 02:53 PM
Put these new LED angel eyes in before you seal those puppies!

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=174012.0

Nice ,they finally came out with these. I wanted to get these two years ago and they said "No plans to release them for the Mazda 3 unless you can get 50 orders in".
Soyabean
07-06-2010, 10:47 PM
does anyone know what diameter the angel eyes are for our headlights? also are the high beams and low beams the same in diameter? I'm planning on putting in some angel eyes but i want to make sure the size of the ring
Gizzmo_jr
07-06-2010, 11:13 PM
does anyone know what diameter the angel eyes are for our headlights? also are the high beams and low beams the same in diameter? I'm planning on putting in some angel eyes but i want to make sure the size of the ring

Just buy a Mazda3 kit, done like dinner
Fobio
07-07-2010, 02:56 PM
fack...I want LED angel eyes now...lol...I still have a set BNIB of the older style...
RedRaptor
07-07-2010, 02:59 PM
fack...I want LED angel eyes now...lol...I still have a set BNIB of the older style...

You and me both! :)
Thrizzl3
07-07-2010, 03:23 PM
mmm LED angeleyes!
Noisy Crow
07-07-2010, 03:23 PM
You and me both! :)

Me three!
Soyabean
07-07-2010, 04:03 PM
Me three!

me 4. didn't you buy a set Rick? How much was it by the time it came to your door? I bought a set of headlights that I hope I can remove the scratches off of and then I'm going to order these led angel eyes. Perhaps a GB is needed
yearoftherat
07-07-2010, 06:47 PM
I priced it out thru Umnitza and it was close to $200CA ...149.99US + 29.99US (harness) + $16.45US (shipping) + $$ conversion. I doubt many members are willing to spend approx $200 and that does not include installation (Dan charged approx $200 on an angel eye GB sometime ago) ===> $400.
BMWWW
07-07-2010, 09:24 PM
YOTR, if you haven't installed them yet, could you place both on a piece of paper with say, an essay on it? (printed) That's generally how we tell clear, from freshnal lenses.

I was unaware of the semi-clear/fresnal/whathaveyou on some of the 3's. It could be the angle of the shot/focus of the shot, but that first picture seems to show a door with less defined/less definition.

Sorry! :(
Soyabean
07-07-2010, 09:26 PM
hmmm, that is quite expensive. I still need to see if i can fix the headlights before I decide on which angel eyes to get. But perhaps I will try to do them myself if i do get them
yearoftherat
07-07-2010, 09:43 PM
YOTR, if you haven't installed them yet, could you place both on a piece of paper with say, an essay on it? (printed) That's generally how we tell clear, from freshnal lenses.

I was unaware of the semi-clear/fresnal/whathaveyou on some of the 3's. It could be the angle of the shot/focus of the shot, but that first picture seems to show a door with less defined/less definition.

Sorry! :(

No need to apologize !! After much research, the retro lenses are def clear compared to the Stock ones that have the "fresnel" finish to them. I had posted up the same question on the Mazda3forums.com. Members there have said that the Retro lenses are def clear compared to the stock ones. BTW they are already installed and have I have noticed that they are a lot brighter than stock and have a nice cut-off with the washer mod :)