My Rear LED Tail Light got smashed...

[Jord81]

Well, the plastic cover (or the "lens" as they used to call it) on my Mazda3 GT hatchback got hit, and both Mazda and a body shop have told me that I need a whole new LED tail light assembly, despite the fact that it's just the cover that's broken (the light itself is unharmed, and works).

First a bit of a rant - Thanks Mazda! Design large "parts assemblies" that are not serviceable so that an entire $375 unit must be ordered to fix a $10 piece of plastic.. When a similar thing happened to my 1999 Honda Civic I got the replacement "lens" for under $100...

Does anyone know where I might be able to get a cheaper part? I'm happy to take one from a wreck. The body shop guy said the cheapest he could get one for was $320...

I have tried eBay but currently they don't have any LED tail lights, only regular Mazda3 tail lights. Will those work? Assuming I don't care if my lighting is equally brilliant on both sides.. Or is the electrical output somehow different, too?

Any other creative solutions?

Right now I have it taped - yes taped! Please help!~

Thanks

[Aitch]

My sympathies......... however, 1) most taillights you'll find today are sealed assemblies and you have to replace the whole thing, can't get just the lenses, and 2) even headlights, where the lenses are often removable (through heating and re-sealing, not simple screws) are also supposed to be replaced as entire units. It is very rare to have modern light assemblies that are built to be modular.

[cwp_sedan]

+1 to the above. Most, if not all tail lights for ALL manufacturers are sold as an assembly.

This is an old thread but try giving Nextmod a shout if you are looking for a semi-cheaper aftermarket alternative.
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?41064-LED-tail-lights-04-09-Mazda-3-Hatch-or-Sedan

[n00bMeiSter]

You can bake open the rear's can you not?
If he can, why not go find one at a wreckers for cheap and just bake both sets open and swap the lens...

[Thrizzl3]

You can bake open the rear's can you not?
If he can, why not go find one at a wreckers for cheap and just bake both sets open and swap the lens...

not that easy dave..plus you would melt the LED's

[n00bMeiSter]

not that easy dave..plus you would melt the LED's

No you wouldn't.

[Thrizzl3]

No you wouldn't.

well the solder's yes..

[Mike]

Same thing happened to me. Got one from the wreckers in mint condition for $100. That's my recommendation.

[Aitch]

You can bake open the rear's can you not?
If he can, why not go find one at a wreckers for cheap and just bake both sets open and swap the lens...

Can't bake open the rear, the lens and back are essentially fused together, there is no sealant as in the headlights. To get them hot enough you'd be melting ALL the plastic, so it would lose its original shape.

[Jord81]

Same thing happened to me. Got one from the wreckers in mint condition for $100. That's my recommendation.

Mind if I ask where?

[n00bMeiSter]

well the solder's yes..

Only if you crank the heat too high.
Besides, you don't have to use an oven to bake them open. You can use a heat gun....




Can't bake open the rear, the lens and back are essentially fused together, there is no sealant as in the headlights. To get them hot enough you'd be melting ALL the plastic, so it would lose its original shape.

Ugh, what a dumb design.

[Thrizzl3]

Only if you crank the heat too high.
Besides, you don't have to use an oven to bake them open. You can use a heat gun....

Ugh, what a dumb design.


you will be there for a while with the amount of heat your going to need to break that adhesive..go ahead try it on your headlights and see how long it takes.

[Jord81]

Well I'm not much of a DIY'er anyway... The kind of custom repair you're talking about is not the right way to go for someone with my limited ability.

I guess I'm really looking for a cheaper part.

[cwp_sedan]

Well I'm not much of a DIY'er anyway... The kind of custom repair you're talking about is not the right way to go for someone with my limited ability.

I guess I'm really looking for a cheaper part.

Cheaper = aftermarket
Cheapest = non-LED

[n00bMeiSter]

you will be there for a while with the amount of heat your going to need to break that adhesive..go ahead try it on your headlights and see how long it takes.

Better than spending $400 for one tail light.


But yeah, what CWP has it right if you're not very DIY.

[Jord81]

Can I use a non-LED unit without suffering anything beyond a mismatched appearance?

[n00bMeiSter]

Yup.

[Mike]

Mind if I ask where?
check this website to see what's available:
http://car-part.com/

Most places in Ontario will ship for fairly cheap.

[Jord81]

Thanks Mike that's very helpful ... just emailed about one I found on that site for $175...

[JaYson]

I did the same thing with my car last summer. your best bet is to go to somewehre like Standard Auto Wreckers and order it from them. i think i paid $275 for the one light, then just install it yourself (its one plug and 2 nuts)

LED tails too fyi, the non-LEDs are SOOOOOO much cheaper

[Hoodzy]

I believe I found 3 stores that carried aftermarket replicas for under 150 dollars. Spend 5 min on google they'll come up.

[Jord81]

I believe I found 3 stores that carried aftermarket replicas for under 150 dollars. Spend 5 min on google they'll come up.

Strangely, I tried before and I just tried again, and most of what I seem to find are people who want to mod their non-LED Mazda3 to have LED lights... and auto part shops that don't actually have any tail lights for 2010 Mazda 3..

Care to provide a link?

[Hoodzy]

Strangely, I tried before and I just tried again, and most of what I seem to find are people who want to mod their non-LED Mazda3 to have LED lights... and auto part shops that don't actually have any tail lights for 2010 Mazda 3..

Care to provide a link?

Oh my bad.. thought you were looking for 1st gen.

[nguy3nha]

i wanna change my non led's to the led ones.. dont like the aftermarket one cuz it's missing one red led on the side. Can i pick up two LED ones from an auto wrecker and plug and play in my 2011 hatcback? im willing to spend under 400 for both..

[Impressive]

You just missed a set however if you can find some at an auto wrecker they will be plug & play.

remember, sedan = sedan only and likewise with hatchbacks

[JaYson]

I've got a Rear Driverside LED tail light, housing is cracked but the LEDs are still good. not sure if that helps anyone...

[htc***]

I've got a Rear Driverside LED tail light, housing is cracked but the LEDs are still good. not sure if that helps anyone...

You can tint your tail light to prevent the water sip thru the crack and damage the LED component.

[JaYson]

You can tint your tail light to prevent the water sip thru the crack and damage the LED component.

Thanks for the tip. I already replaced it with a new-used one.

[sol_searchin]

For any future references go to Car-part.com.

[Nick]

this is sold in a set and guessing you only need the outer as well, you could inquire and find out. this is a former sponsor and had some bad reviews so proceed with caution if you decide to buy from him. i ordered these led tails from him just over a year ago, shipped from taiwan.

http://thexenonstore.com/ledtails.php