Mechanical and visual modifications to the CX-5

[rmvf]

Folks after taking some advice I want to start a general thread on modifying the CX-5,  whether it's what your planning on doing or just on the wish list. whether it's with the engine/interior or exterior, Reason for this is I would like to hear or see what might be happening right now out there, now I know this isn't really the right kind of vehicle to be messing with like this but as you can now pick up second hand cx5 for less than 10k, some people will start to dabble, for me my cx5 in now 52 months old and after doing some research I've found a engineering company that can modify the 2 ltr petrol engine with remap  ( bbrgti.com )also i would like a stainless rear exhaust system from the USA once the time comes to change it. If you have done mods please post in correct threads, thanks

[Willpower]

This is a good idea for projects that come outside of the Visual & Interior Modification boards that are already available.
Please join in if you are considering a project. 

[Flippersaki]

I have done some cosmetic modifications to my 2.2 diesel AWD in Soul Red listed below

 I have put some red pipping inside my vehicle on  the dash etc from wish
Red CX5 rubber mats for all the holes doors drinks holders etc from wish
Red steering wheel cover from Aldi
Stick on plastic brushed steel effect covers on the air vents and door openers
Front facing recording camera under the mirror.
Wind deflectors on the Mirrors

Just ordered running boards from ebay £139.99
Just ordered Wind deflectors from ebay £25.05
Chrome stick on strip for along the bottom of the doors from ebay £12.89
Planning on cleaning up the brake callipers and painting them red
May go for chrome effect mirror covers £15.15 from ebay
May go for rear bumper protector outside and inside £64.00 from ebay
Possibly a dog guard

[rmvf]

I'm planning on doing the wind deflectors aswell:) my sons girlfriend has them on her A3, look good.

[Huxie]

Thought I'd podt a picture of my wind deflectors for reference. They're ClimAir brand, not the cheapest but I had the same brand on my last car so stuck with them for the CX-5.

[Deeps]

They look good and are made over here in Germany. As a YouTube video correctly points out, it is important that accessories are approved (over here that's ABE) if not to run foul of ones insurance company in the event of an accessory (in the context of this post, the wind deflector) flying off and doing damage to others property etc.

Can I ask, did you opt for the clear or coloured variant as it's difficult to ascertain with all the reflections in your posted image?

[Huxie]

They're the smoke grey tint. This picture might be better:

[Deeps]

Thanks. Me likey likey so will probably go ahead and order some for myself. Fed up with getting the door armrest/switches wet when opening the window to pay a road Toll or some other such thing. My VW Touran was a killer for this although I suppose most modern cars fall foul of letting water into the car as a result of manufacturers not installing rain gutters into their shell like bodies anymore.

[rmvf]

I like them very much and so does the other half so I think I will take the plunge and order a couple of sets. Thanks for the post

[Deeps]

For those who can't resist changing/modifying every aspect of their car  a look through the Japanese version of the accessories catalogue might offer additional suggestions. http://www2.mazda.co.jp/accessories/web_cat/cx-5/pc.html

[SmileyT]

For those who can't resist changing/modifying every aspect of their car  a look through the Japanese version of the accessories catalogue might offer additional suggestions. http://www2.mazda.co.jp/accessories/web_cat/cx-5/pc.html

Some of that is excellent, others are just loopy !!

[RogB]

Having just moved over to a 2015 '64' CX-5 from a 2013 Freelander 2 Im looking at making some minor modifications to my new toy.

Nothing dramatic, but mainly focused on interior/exterior lighting. Ive looked in the manual and there isn't a list of what type of bulbs are used in which light unit (i.e. 501 bulb for sidelight/number plate)

Does anyone have a list of what bulbs are needed specifically for the interior overhead lights, the feeble sidelight bulbs, and the stock DRL units within the main headlight housing.

Im wanting to upgrade all of them to LED or equivalent to improve them (and yes I am fully aware of CANBUS and possible requirement for resistors etc as the modification threads on the Freelander forum are pretty extensive)

TIA

Rog

[Ant]

Hi

If you have a 64 plate Sport Nav, is it not the facelift version? If it is, all of the exterior front lights you mention will be LED already and not replaceable other than by changing the whole unit. My ‘15’ reg Sport Nav had all LED front lights apart from the indicators.

The interior lights are the festoon type - the smallest size I believe and are readily available. I had all LED interior lights in my CX-5, including the glove box (bit of a fiddle to change), boot light and vanity mirror lights). I’ll check the size and post back later when I’m at home. Can include a link to the place I bought my interior LEDs as well.

[RogB]

thanks for the reply.

mine was registered Jan 15 on a 64 plate but is the pre facelift I believe. It has Xenon projector dipped/main lights but the rest appear to be halogen bulbs, possibly 501 in the headlight units..... how do I get to them by the way ??

[Ant]

Sorry, I got muddled with the 64/15/65 plates/years!

In the manual for the facelift version, the bulb types (including for non-LED versions, assuming they are the same in the pre-facelift models) are given in the specs on page 9-9 and instructions for changing the front bulbs on pages 6-54 and 6-55. You need to partially remove the wheel arch liner and get to the bulbholders that way. It’s a bit of a fiddle but it doesn’t take too long.

The interior overhead lights are 31mm festoons. I bought mine and the vanity mirror bulbs (which look like glass fuses) here:

https://www.auto-lighting.co.uk/eng_m_Lights-Bulbs_LED-Bulbs-Lamps_Interior-LED-Bulbs-Lamps_C3W-Festoon-31mm-81639.html