aux LED reverse lights or HIDs?

[trulankan]

so i've been thinking of different ways to upgrade my reverse lights to help see better thru my rearview at night. i've tried both LEDs and LED projectors (which i'm using now) and they are both not good enough because of the stupid gen 1 housing. theres the option to get the v-leds license plate which seems to be a very good option but I will loose my TM3 plate and my backup cam which is mounted onto it. so my other idea is to buy LED strips and use those as reverse lights by taping into the reverse light wiring. Is this possible?

i'm looking to get these 18W high power projector strips from eBay (which have the same specs as the v-leds): http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2-Pieces-High-Power-18-Watt-18-Projector-Lens-LEDs-Flexible-Strip-Fog-DRL-Lights-/180987207094?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a23ad9db6&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1#ht_5137wt_1111

i would use one strip and would mount it onto the bumper in the area between the trunk and license plate. what do u guys think?

i know the HID reverse lights are bright as hell but how are they on the gen 1 housing? anyone have them/got pics?

[Cab0oze]

to help see better thru my rearview at night

Do you have dark tints on the back window? Good luck lol, you'll need to make it as bright as day behind you to see a damn thing

[eSS]

Looking at your sig you've got 17% tints the in rear. Must be damn hard to see at night. Whats the view like from your back up cam? Just adding the strips alone might not help as much

[silverstarmazda]

if you got the money, just go hid's. best in the market. if your cheaping out like me. then leds will do

[trulankan]

Looking at your sig you've got 17% tints the in rear. Must be damn hard to see at night. Whats the view like from your back up cam? Just adding the strips alone might not help as much

the cam is not very good at night as my reverse lights arent very bright. i'm thinking that if I get something like this it will help out alot (thats my hope anyway)

[trulankan]

Looking at your sig you've got 17% tints the in rear. Must be damn hard to see at night. Whats the view like from your back up cam? Just adding the strips alone might not help as much

yeah its a pia. i didnt think about it at the time about it and should have prob just gone 23% all-around like my fronts.

[trulankan]

the cam is not very good at night as my reverse lights arent very bright. i'm thinking that if I get something like this it will help out alot (thats my hope anyway)

G16 had them for $60 so its not too much more than what these would cost me but im wondering if even that would be effective with the housing on the gen1 :/

[eSS]

At that rate HIDs may be the way to go

[Frankjenkins]

G16 had them for $60 so its not too much more than what these would cost me but im wondering if even that would be effective with the housing on the gen1 :/

It is too expensive. In general it should be close to $20

[Noisy Crow]

G16 had them for $60 so its not too much more than what these would cost me but im wondering if even that would be effective with the housing on the gen1 :/

That's pretty much the going rate for the reverse HIDs. Take a look at eBay etc. -- there are a number of kits out there. Some do a better job with the bulbs than others. Also, Garage 16 is using 35W ballasts.

[trulankan]

That's pretty much the going rate for the reverse HIDs. Take a look at eBay etc. -- there are a number of kits out there. Some do a better job with the bulbs than others. Also, Garage 16 is using 35W ballasts.

its actually more expensive on ebay lol: http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=7440+hid+reverse+kit&_sacat=0&_odkw=hid+reverse+kit&_sop=15&_osacat=0&_from=R40&LH_PrefLoc=3

[trulankan]

so has anyone tried the HID reverse lights on a gen 1??

[Noisy Crow]

so has anyone tried the HID reverse lights on a gen 1??

Search is your friend............

[trulankan]

Search is your friend............

lol ok, I see your post on the 2nd page of the search results (i guess its a good idea to be persistent). nice write-up, i'm definately gonna get the HIDs now.

[trulankan]

picked up the HID reverse lights from Rick today...now just to figure out how to install them lol

[silverstarmazda]

can u post up pictures of the bulb? i have 2 balasts here i can make a kit out of.

[Noisy Crow]

can u post up pictures of the bulb? i have 2 balasts here i can make a kit out of.

Read through this thread:
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?61578-Installing-Backup-HIDs-in-a-2004-2009-Sedan&highlight=backup+hid

[silverstarmazda]

Read through this thread:
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?61578-Installing-Backup-HIDs-in-a-2004-2009-Sedan&highlight=backup+hid

thanks!

[trulankan]

i'm going to be returning the HID kit I bought from G16 as I dont wanna go through the trouble of installing a relay. The 35W bulbs/ballasts wont get enough power from the stock wiring to run properly and may cause the housing to melt. Instead, i'm thinking of getting a 15W HID kit like this one:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Universal-15W-HID-Reverse-Backup-Kit-Xenon-White-6000K-T20-7440-W21W-Fog-Light-/130810492018?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e74e9b472&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1#ht_6520wt_1397

what do u guys think?

[leecheefoto]

i'm going to be returning the HID kit I bought from G16 as I dont wanna go through the trouble of installing a relay. The 35W bulbs/ballasts wont get enough power from the stock wiring to run properly and may cause the housing to melt. Instead, i'm thinking of getting a 15W HID kit like this one:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Universal-15W-HID-Reverse-Backup-Kit-Xenon-White-6000K-T20-7440-W21W-Fog-Light-/130810492018?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e74e9b472&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1#ht_6520wt_1397

what do u guys think?

You still could be running into problems such as flickering. Run the relay anyway its more safe. My hid are still in the trunk, I can run it but too lazy in winter so it's going back on and wired up in spring

[McGuyver_3]

It is too expensive. In general it should be close to $20

If you think 60$ is "too expensive" then you should not be modding a car. I am sorry but when I got my HID kit in 05 I payed 300$ for it and that was considered "cheap"

To OP just do HID. Not to sure why you are worried about flickering though. The reverse lights should provide enough power to the ballasts. I have installed 2 sets and no problems as of yet

[Noisy Crow]

To OP just do HID. Not to sure why you are worried about flickering though. The reverse lights should provide enough power to the ballasts. I have installed 2 sets and no problems as of yet

Tried it, doesn't work. Not enough juice to drive 2 35W ballasts. Bulbs don't light, or worse: madly buzzing ballast and flickering bulb. 2x15W will work no problem.

[silverstarmazda]

Tried it, doesn't work. Not enough juice to drive 2 35W ballasts. Bulbs don't light, or worse: madly buzzing ballast and flickering bulb. 2x15W will work no problem.

D: havnt some people run the 35W balasts with no problem?

[McGuyver_3]

Tried it, doesn't work. Not enough juice to drive 2 35W ballasts. Bulbs don't light, or worse: madly buzzing ballast and flickering bulb. 2x15W will work no problem.

According to the wiring diagram the PJB puts out 2 seperate wires for the reverse lights. They are connected by 1 10amp fuse though. 2 35W ballasts at full power would blow that fuse in seconds. Its all worked through the PJB. Maybe the ones I did were 15W ones. Running a relay in the trunk wouldn't be difficult but just tedious haha

[leecheefoto]

According to the wiring diagram the PJB puts out 2 seperate wires for the reverse lights. They are connected by 1 10amp fuse though. 2 35W ballasts at full power would blow that fuse in seconds. Its all worked through the PJB. Maybe the ones I did were 15W ones. Running a relay in the trunk wouldn't be difficult but just tedious haha

Wondering if I can hook the power towards the power feeding to my aftermarket amp?

[McGuyver_3]

the main power wire for the amp will be more then capable of handling what you want for the relay. Just make sure to put a fuse inline going towards the relay as the amp wire usually has a super high rated fuse in them.

[trulankan]

Tried it, doesn't work. Not enough juice to drive 2 35W ballasts. Bulbs don't light, or worse: madly buzzing ballast and flickering bulb. 2x15W will work no problem.

thats what i'm hoping for

[silverstarmazda]

noooo, i got 4 35w ballasts just lying around

[trulankan]

noooo, i got 4 35w ballasts just lying around

well if ur not gonna use em sell em, im sure someone would want it

[silverstarmazda]

well if ur not gonna use em sell em, im sure someone would want it

i was planning on using them for the reverse....ive wired one in before and it lit up no problem (car not ever running). i have yet to wire them both in and see what happens...

[ziegs2020]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2-Pieces-High-Power-18-Watt-18-Projector-Lens-LEDs-Flexible-Strip-Fog-DRL-Lights-/180987207094?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a23ad9db6&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1#ht_5137wt_1111

Don't buy these. I have these, and they are not 18 watts. They're the type of leds you put in your foot well.

Also here is the same thing I bought, but far cheaper; http://www.ebay.com/itm/170901888104

If you want something useful, but this; http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x3W-New-Dayline-Ultra-Thin-Larger-Lens-Daytime-Reverse-Eagle-Eye-LED-Light-Good-/261085333888?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cc9e60980&vxp=mtr

Then mount them into the rear of your bumper. In a few days I will post a comprehensive thread of led lights that can be used for reversing.

[silverstarmazda]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/2-Pieces-High-Power-18-Watt-18-Projector-Lens-LEDs-Flexible-Strip-Fog-DRL-Lights-/180987207094?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a23ad9db6&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1#ht_5137wt_1111

Don't buy these. I have these, and they are not 18 watts. They're the type of leds you put in your foot well.

Also here is the same thing I bought, but far cheaper; http://www.ebay.com/itm/170901888104

If you want something useful, but this; http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x3W-New-Dayline-Ultra-Thin-Larger-Lens-Daytime-Reverse-Eagle-Eye-LED-Light-Good-/261085333888?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cc9e60980&vxp=mtr

Then mount them into the rear of your bumper. In a few days I will post a comprehensive thread of led lights that can be used for reversing.

i was gonna do the same thing. but probably mount them under the car.... but i thought it might look a bit ghetto during the day....with leds comming out of no where....

[ziegs2020]

Yeah that's true, but these leds are designed to replace your bolts for the license plates. If you replace the top bolts, you would have to permanently make the mounting holes bigger. Or, if you chose to add 2 bolts to the bottom of the license plate, you could use a self tapping screw to create 2 new holes for the leds.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x3W-New-Dayline-Ultra-Thin-Larger-Lens-Daytime-Reverse-Eagle-Eye-LED-Light-Good-/261085333888?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cc9e60980&vxp=mtr

http://i.imgur.com/cOBC2.jpg

I added 4 larger bolts to my plate without any issues.

[trulankan]

Yeah that's true, but these leds are designed to replace your bolts for the license plates. If you replace the top bolts, you would have to permanently make the mounting holes bigger. Or, if you chose to add 2 bolts to the bottom of the license plate, you could use a self tapping screw to create 2 new holes for the leds.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x3W-New-Dayline-Ultra-Thin-Larger-Lens-Daytime-Reverse-Eagle-Eye-LED-Light-Good-/261085333888?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cc9e60980&vxp=mtr

http://i.imgur.com/cOBC2.jpg

I added 4 larger bolts to my plate without any issues.

how bright is it? got any night pics?

[ziegs2020]

I don't have any pictures, but it's very bright for it's size. 1 is almost as bright as 1 cree projector bulb.

[silverstarmazda]

Damn thats genius... Lol but i still dont like the whole chunky-ness of it tho..But hey, if they work amazing thats awsome. Post night pics!!

[trulankan]

Damn thats genius... Lol but i still dont like the whole chunky-ness of it tho..But hey, if they work amazing thats awsome. Post night pics!!

its not that large, comapred to the bolt on the right you can barely notice a difference. These would be good but I still dont think they are bright enough for me. keeping my fingers crossed that the 15w HIDs work once i get em

[silverstarmazda]

its not that large, comapred to the bolt on the right you can barely notice a difference. These would be good but I still dont think they are bright enough for me. keeping my fingers crossed that the 15w HIDs work once i get em

im sure theyll work, if you google around most hid reverse lights is 15w.