I got my 3
March-28th-2008, 11:22 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 31
I got my 3
I finially got my 3!! 08 True red S Sport 4 door, automatic. Only options I added were the spoiler, auto start (after market), and the auto compass/dim. I do have a few questions thought. My rims are getting caked on with brake dust, I am washing them every other day as of now, but how long till this stops, I have heard about 2 weeks!? Anyone?
Also how about LED tail lights, where is a good site to get thoes from? Heated side mirrors? heated seats? I have also seen some upgraded front lights that have the BMW esque look to them. What else have everyone done? I am very excited to be in this car and get rid of my POS Pontiac G6
finially.
I'd post pic's but don't have a clue how to do it.
Thanks!
Also how about LED tail lights, where is a good site to get thoes from? Heated side mirrors? heated seats? I have also seen some upgraded front lights that have the BMW esque look to them. What else have everyone done? I am very excited to be in this car and get rid of my POS Pontiac G6
finially. I'd post pic's but don't have a clue how to do it.
Thanks!
March-30th-2008, 06:03 PM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 504
The brake pads mazda uses dust like hell. Try replacing them with new low dust pads.... I'll do that when the stockers are dead personally. Also like he said try waxing the wheels after cleaning them and it will make them easier to clean the next time.
LED tail lights there are a couple of choices. There's the OE ones that you can get from the dealer, and I think from streetunit. There's also some aftermarket LED tails that you find on ebay.
Heated side mirrors are a definitely possibility... I added mine just recently. Check out my walkthrough HERE.
Heated seats you can buy online ranging from $75-150 per side. I've heard that the carbon fiber ones heat up faster and more evenly as well as you can trim the length. If you install them yourself (requires removing the seat and the upholstery) then that's how much they'll cost. I imagine any good auto upholstery shop would install them for you but I don't know what the labor would be.
The BMW-esque lights you're talking about are HIDs. The GT trim (in the US anyway) comes with OEM HIDs, all others get halogens. There a few ways you can go about getting them. Option one is to get an aftermarket HID kit. This is the cheapest and easiest way, but won't provide you with the best results. HID and halogen projectors differ and the optics of the HID projectors gives a much wider and better spread of light. HIDs in halogen projectors have a much blurrier cutoff and hot spots instead of a fully diffused beam. The next option would be to find OEM HID headlights and replace your current lamps. Then you'd have the OE HIDs. The OE HID projectors are pretty good, however the lens is frosted so it tends to not give as good a visual effect, however some people have replaced the lens with that from a Evo projector (which is clear). Also the OE ones don't give that blue flicker from the sides, but you can space the lenses with washers to give that effect. Lastly you can retrofit the projectors from another HID car (BMW, lexus, acura, etc) into the existing headlights.
LED tail lights there are a couple of choices. There's the OE ones that you can get from the dealer, and I think from streetunit. There's also some aftermarket LED tails that you find on ebay.
Heated side mirrors are a definitely possibility... I added mine just recently. Check out my walkthrough HERE.
Heated seats you can buy online ranging from $75-150 per side. I've heard that the carbon fiber ones heat up faster and more evenly as well as you can trim the length. If you install them yourself (requires removing the seat and the upholstery) then that's how much they'll cost. I imagine any good auto upholstery shop would install them for you but I don't know what the labor would be.
The BMW-esque lights you're talking about are HIDs. The GT trim (in the US anyway) comes with OEM HIDs, all others get halogens. There a few ways you can go about getting them. Option one is to get an aftermarket HID kit. This is the cheapest and easiest way, but won't provide you with the best results. HID and halogen projectors differ and the optics of the HID projectors gives a much wider and better spread of light. HIDs in halogen projectors have a much blurrier cutoff and hot spots instead of a fully diffused beam. The next option would be to find OEM HID headlights and replace your current lamps. Then you'd have the OE HIDs. The OE HID projectors are pretty good, however the lens is frosted so it tends to not give as good a visual effect, however some people have replaced the lens with that from a Evo projector (which is clear). Also the OE ones don't give that blue flicker from the sides, but you can space the lenses with washers to give that effect. Lastly you can retrofit the projectors from another HID car (BMW, lexus, acura, etc) into the existing headlights.
March-31st-2008, 12:02 PM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 31
The brake pads mazda uses dust like hell. Try replacing them with new low dust pads.... I'll do that when the stockers are dead personally. Also like he said try waxing the wheels after cleaning them and it will make them easier to clean the next time.
LED tail lights there are a couple of choices. There's the OE ones that you can get from the dealer, and I think from streetunit. There's also some aftermarket LED tails that you find on ebay.
Heated side mirrors are a definitely possibility... I added mine just recently. Check out my walkthrough HERE.
Heated seats you can buy online ranging from $75-150 per side. I've heard that the carbon fiber ones heat up faster and more evenly as well as you can trim the length. If you install them yourself (requires removing the seat and the upholstery) then that's how much they'll cost. I imagine any good auto upholstery shop would install them for you but I don't know what the labor would be.
The BMW-esque lights you're talking about are HIDs. The GT trim (in the US anyway) comes with OEM HIDs, all others get halogens. There a few ways you can go about getting them. Option one is to get an aftermarket HID kit. This is the cheapest and easiest way, but won't provide you with the best results. HID and halogen projectors differ and the optics of the HID projectors gives a much wider and better spread of light. HIDs in halogen projectors have a much blurrier cutoff and hot spots instead of a fully diffused beam. The next option would be to find OEM HID headlights and replace your current lamps. Then you'd have the OE HIDs. The OE HID projectors are pretty good, however the lens is frosted so it tends to not give as good a visual effect, however some people have replaced the lens with that from a Evo projector (which is clear). Also the OE ones don't give that blue flicker from the sides, but you can space the lenses with washers to give that effect. Lastly you can retrofit the projectors from another HID car (BMW, lexus, acura, etc) into the existing headlights.
LED tail lights there are a couple of choices. There's the OE ones that you can get from the dealer, and I think from streetunit. There's also some aftermarket LED tails that you find on ebay.
Heated side mirrors are a definitely possibility... I added mine just recently. Check out my walkthrough HERE.
Heated seats you can buy online ranging from $75-150 per side. I've heard that the carbon fiber ones heat up faster and more evenly as well as you can trim the length. If you install them yourself (requires removing the seat and the upholstery) then that's how much they'll cost. I imagine any good auto upholstery shop would install them for you but I don't know what the labor would be.
The BMW-esque lights you're talking about are HIDs. The GT trim (in the US anyway) comes with OEM HIDs, all others get halogens. There a few ways you can go about getting them. Option one is to get an aftermarket HID kit. This is the cheapest and easiest way, but won't provide you with the best results. HID and halogen projectors differ and the optics of the HID projectors gives a much wider and better spread of light. HIDs in halogen projectors have a much blurrier cutoff and hot spots instead of a fully diffused beam. The next option would be to find OEM HID headlights and replace your current lamps. Then you'd have the OE HIDs. The OE HID projectors are pretty good, however the lens is frosted so it tends to not give as good a visual effect, however some people have replaced the lens with that from a Evo projector (which is clear). Also the OE ones don't give that blue flicker from the sides, but you can space the lenses with washers to give that effect. Lastly you can retrofit the projectors from another HID car (BMW, lexus, acura, etc) into the existing headlights.