JamesWood

I am wondering if anyone has installed a set of halos in their stock headlights on a mazda3. I just want to know if the install is hard or not and what rings I should buy. Also has anyone painted the plastic engine covers? I am wanting to do it but I am not sure what kind of paint to use.

sube

Use Krylon fusion paint on the plastic engine covers. I have mine done now for two years and it looks look the first day I did it.

Pat.

icspots

Lots of people have installed halos, myself included. Generally speaking you have three different kinds you can install.

-the original slimline ones were just CCFL tubes and didn't show very well in addition to being really easy to break.

-the updated raptor or predator (depending on where you buy) are slimlines encased in plastic covers to protect and help diffuse the light.

-the newest ones are the orion version which are LED instead of CCFL. These are the most expensive but the absolute brightest and probably have a longer lifetime.

The install isn't particularly hard but will take you an afternoon easily if you take your time. You have to remove the front bumper cover and either use a heat gun to soften the adhesive holding the outer cover on or bake the light in an oven so you can take it apart.

Once apart you need to drill a hole in the back of the housing to pass your wires out of the housing (there's a flat spot behind where the city light is mounted in EU models that is easy to drill). You also need to cut notches in the side of the chrome rings for the wires to run to the interior of the light housing. Once you have the lights apart and you can hold the rings where they're going to go you can easily see where you need to makes cuts.

To mount the rings I suggest using RTV clear silicone. It goes on easily and dries relatively quickly, it doesn't yellow over time, and should you need to remove them later (selling car, dead ring, etc.) you can just peel it off. I initially used 2-part epoxy on mine and it was a PITA in addition to being near impossible to remove later when I had a dead ring. You can also use the silicone to seal the hole you drilled for the wires.

JamesWood

Icspots do you know of a step by step guide for doing halos? I am concerned about screwing up my headlights but I have feeling I can do it if I can find a guide with pictures and all explaining the install. Also where is a good place to buy raptor or predators from? I think Ill end up going with those.

yj4x4

Check out this write up:
http://mazda3revolution.com/forums/2...l-eye-diy.html

Could get them from:
http://www.umnitza.com/predator-orio...10-p-5843.html
Or
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...ducts_id=14906

icspots

Also check out http://krystmsgarage.com/?p=25

mazda3girl

I used engine paint from auto zone