1st Gen Mazda 3 gauge brightness (at night) preference?

[TheAnswer_03]

Those who have the electroluminescent gauges, do you use the bright settings or the dimmer option when your headlights are on?

Sounds silly but I have trouble deciding which settings to use. The dimmer setting emits the cool looking blue more but the brighter setting is easier to see during the late afternoon, rainy days etc. Kind of a hassle to always be switching the settings all the time.

[Trini2DeBone]

I've always used the bright settings from the first day I got the car. Honestly never really noticed the cool blue until recently as it gets darker when I'm at this setting.

I'd be keeping it on the bright setting; prefer to see my gauges at all times when I'm driving. Maybe an option to explore if you like the cool blue theme so much is to upgrade to some LEDs. Just a thought.

[vinnierap]

I use the bright settings as well... Easier to see, no need to strain my eyes to see my speed.

[cwp_sedan]

I run it how it's supposed to be run. Bright during the day and dimmer (w blue glow) in the evening/night. I manually turn my lights on anyway so I just use whatever is easiest to see at that time.

[boyracer]

I run it how it's supposed to be run. Bright during the day and dimmer (w blue glow) in the evening/night. I manually turn my lights on anyway so I just use whatever is easiest to see at that time.

Exactly how I run mine.

[greaves82]

I constantly change my brightness to whatever easiest to see. Dont really have a specific setting

[Booostin]

Brightest setting it way too bright at night. I like it dim.

[rzapata]

Not sure if you noticed, these lights have some sort of memory so say for example, during the day, you set the brightness to the brightest setting then at night, you turn the lights on and you set the brightness in a way where the blue light is visible... You'd notice that whenever you turn your lights on and off, the gauge brightens/dims automatically to the settings you had done (at least that's how it is with the MS3)... :)

[TheAnswer_03]

Not sure if you noticed, these lights have some sort of memory so say for example, during the day, you set the brightness to the brightest setting then at night, you turn the lights on and you set the brightness in a way where the blue light is visible... You'd notice that whenever you turn your lights on and off, the gauge brightens/dims automatically to the settings you had done (at least that's how it is with the MS3)... :)


I know that, but if I'm driving late night where it's pitch black I'll tend to use the dimmer setting, but if the next day it's raining in the afternoon and I have to turn the headlights on, I'll have to switch to the brighter settings and vice versa again when I drive late nights.

[rzapata]

I know that, but if I'm driving late night where it's pitch black I'll tend to use the dimmer setting, but if the next day it's raining in the afternoon and I have to turn the headlights on, I'll have to switch to the brighter settings and vice versa again when I drive late nights.

Ahh, gotcha! Well, what I normally set it up, during the day I believe it's 2 clicks from the brightest setting and I think 2 clicks from the brightest setting as well during the evening.. :)

[Laz93]

i put mine lowest at night and highest in the day.

[Rob23]

I run it how it's supposed to be run. Bright during the day and dimmer (w blue glow) in the evening/night. I manually turn my lights on anyway so I just use whatever is easiest to see at that time.

+1 lol

[the_big_D]

I run it how it's supposed to be run. Bright during the day and dimmer (w blue glow) in the evening/night. I manually turn my lights on anyway so I just use whatever is easiest to see at that time.

+1 :cool

[ROB_MAZDA]

keep settings in the middle, don't adjust too much

[sudz]

When I'm driving up north and its pitch black, I bring it to about 20% the bottom. Normally though, Full Brightness.

[SickoS2K]

keep settings in the middle, don't adjust too much

:thumbsup

[Sappo569]

I keep it cranked up all the time, unless driving home to the parents (country roads up north) then I usually turn it right down so it is easier to see the road

[littlefield]

I keep mine low with the blue all at all times. The Blue matches the background color of my double din. I also find the bright red to be far to bright.

[Reddie1337]

In the day time, I turn my headlights on, so I normally hit the switch in the cluster, to make it bright, but at night, I hit it again bringing back to regular light settings, and normally around 50% brightness at night. (with the dimmer control).

[lcianf01]

Hi there,

I've got an 05 sedan GS base model. I've noticed that some mazda gauges have that blue light around the red line/high speeds. I have never seen the blue light on my 3. By reading this thread it looks there is a separate setting for this??? I'd like it if there was a blue light on mine. When i turn on my high beams i love the blue light that lights up the gauge.

Thanks for your input,

Leo

[Reddie1337]

Hi there,

I've got an 05 sedan GS base model. I've noticed that some mazda gauges have that blue light around the red line/high speeds. I have never seen the blue light on my 3. By reading this thread it looks there is a separate setting for this??? I'd like it if there was a blue light on mine. When i turn on my high beams i love the blue light that lights up the gauge.

Thanks for your input,

Leo

The Mazda you have may be the GX model. The blue comes in some GS models, my Mazda 3 Hatch has it. It all depends on model I guess. Its extra little LED's at the top of the dash.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j301/Ry133/Mazda%203/ad1ff302.jpg

With light off.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j301/Ry133/Mazda%203/5b473de7.jpg

[lcianf01]

Hey,

Ya i have the GX. I can't ever remember which one i have. I didn't know it was little LEDs at the top. Not really worth the hassle for me. fogs and adding power windows are at the top of my list now. (adding cruise was my first job) which is done now.

-Leo

[Reddie1337]

Hey,

Ya i have the GX. I can't ever remember which one i have. I didn't know it was little LEDs at the top. Not really worth the hassle for me. fogs and adding power windows are at the top of my list now. (adding cruise was my first job) which is done now.

-Leo

Power windows? That could be fun, never tried that on a Mazda 3... and the LED's are easy, its just a different piece that you could get from a wrecker.

[lcianf01]

Haven't quite looked into it yet. I will only end up doing it if i can get my hands on a parts car. A pick and pull kinda thing. My car does have power locks though. so i'm hoping the cirect to each of the powers will aleady be there for power. In this senerio i may be able to just pick up four doors with power windows in them already and install and plug them in. But we will see.

[hgmahaha]

I use the dim settings. Its too bright during the night and the blue glow is nice.

On rainy days, I leave it on dim. Once you've been driving for a while, you sort of know where the needle needs to be anyways. I find that once you're used to the car, then you don't really need to look at the dash.

[Reddie1337]

I use the dim settings. Its too bright during the night and the blue glow is nice.

On rainy days, I leave it on dim. Once you've been driving for a while, you sort of know where the needle needs to be anyways. I find that once you're used to the car, then you don't really need to look at the dash.

I have definitely been trying that more, just leaving the gauges to darkest. Its kinda cool to just know where the needle is. I love that blue glow though.

[trulankan]

i usually leave mine on the blue glow at night cause i like the blue/red look. kinda gives it a spiderman style haha. i use the normal orange during the day.

but really its ur own preference on what you like...theres no real correct setting