Hello,

I bought a pearl white 08 Mazda 3 5dr Sport over the weekend and as you already know, it did not come with HIDs. At first I thought it was as easy as buying a HID kit but upon doing some research I found out that it is not a good idea to equip HIDs on a car that uses halogen as the head lamp housing are generally not designed for it since HIDsuses a more focused beam.

I know the Mazda 3 uses a projector housing for both HIDs and Halogen. So my question is does the above statement applies to our 3? I don't want to lose any light output if i switch over to HID.Also, when buying a HID kitI know the higher the Kelvinthe less i'll be able to see the road. I'm debating between 5k and 6k. Of course 6k will look better but will I be losing a lot of light output compare to 5k or even the stock halogen?

I found that Apexcone HID kit got pretty good reviews among the mazda forums. The price is great at $150, if I wish to spend a little more what other kit would you guys recommended?

Thanks a lot guys!

 

While the 3 has projectors on the halogen low beams they are different from the HID ones. You will still be getting more light on the road over the halogens though. The biggest differences you'll see with HIDs in halogen projectors are: a fuzzy cutoff line (HID cutoffs are very sharp), hot spot 'squirrel finders' above the cutoff (HID beams have an even distribution of light without hotspots), and a much narrower beam (HIDs generally have a very wide beam vs. halogens). If you can get your hands on a set of OE HID headlights.... even just the innards you can use the stock HID projectors by retrofitting them into your lights.

 

I put on the 5k's and they are far better than the halogens. The white light cast out farther and road signs are easier to see as well. They are very easy to put on and the kit that i got came with a plastic washer so there was no need to make any retrofitting easy as putting in a new bulb. I sip-locked the converter to the side of each light and no problems. Apexcone 55 w put them in on March 2008

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I know for sure I'm not going to retrofit my lights, so I'm just going to buy a kit and stick them in to the stock projectors. Now, i'm having the hardest time deciding 6000k 55w or 5000k 35w. Without retrofiting the headlight, is 55w too bright for road use? I don't want to blind oncoming traffic or get pulled over.

Thanks

 

35w kits are "safer," and just a little bit less expensive too, but you are less likely to be spotted by the po-po. Remember that even a retro kit is illegal in all theplaces I know of, or have heard of. The DOT dosesn't like you messing around w/the factoryheadlights.

That said, I'd go w/the 35w-5k kit. A little less output than the 55w for sure, but safer for you (the po-po again) and those coming towards you. You may also want to consider lowering the low beam a little bit too.

 

i just recently put 4000K in my car. you can tell the difference with those compared to the stock ones htat come with the mazda3

 

i have 5k 55w and it lights up all of I-95 and come to think of it i didn't really need 55w but since i got them for a good price i said why not. When i first got them installed people flashed me but now i get high beamed once in a blue moon. Its worth it if you live in the suburb though, i don't even use my high beams since they are useless now because of the 55w.

 

Virgin thanks for the info about the picture thing.o ?? how do you lower the low beam? I thought they can not be adjusted. I was thing about put 35w 5k for the fog lights just so they would have the same tint color of the low beam 5k i have on.

 

On the rear of the headlight housing are 2-10mm headed bolts. One may be covered by a white plastic cover that needs to be removed.The uncovered one adjusts the whole headlamp assem, while the other adjusts only the low beam.
And, you're welcome.

 

Stock what? Halogens?