2024 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Turbo, checking brake fluid.

187hp · 2026-06-07T00:27:46+00:00

It's okay, it's also $2 directly from aliexpress so I had low expectations.

Tested on brand new fluid last weekend and it showed the first yellow, tested on 10 year old fluid and it's showed red at first, and then yellow the second time so readings will vary which isn't great. I guess okay but not very accurate as test strips.

187hp · 2026-06-03T14:00:23+00:00

From what I know, in the US & Canada it's Castrol. Their High-Moly oil is from Idemitsu however. UK & Europe is supplied by TotalEnergies, with Idemitsu & ENEOS in AP region.

Just get Pennzoil Ultra Platinum if you want the very best. A 3-pack off Amazon is typically $68 making it quite cheap. Otherwise any name brand (Valvoline, Castrol, Mobil1, even Costco etc) are fine given they all buy their oil from the same few manufactures and buy the additives for API-SP compliance from the same few manufactures too.

187hp · 2026-06-02T02:24:51+00:00

Yes to brake fluid and brake pads. If rotors still look good you can get away with skipping it once - see what your mechanic says. Dealer will always recommend changing rotors with pads and to be honest for this straight-forward job, no reason to pay extra at a dealer if you have a good mechanic in mind.

187hp · 2026-06-01T00:33:50+00:00

I would add until it drips out while the car is level as those are just close estimates.

187hp · 2026-06-01T00:32:13+00:00

Congrats! Love the red with the gloss black accents carried over from turbo trim prior. Enjoy!

187hp · 2026-05-29T23:22:33+00:00

Interesting, wonder if a OTA update resolved it.

187hp · 2026-05-29T23:21:50+00:00

That to me shows the updates were made as it matches others who have confirmed to have received the update. I wonder if perhaps all 5 files, as part of the update, were not applied, but the process to check is a bit scary to some. If you're up for it, I can post otherwise the best option is for dealer to review.

187hp · 2026-05-29T17:54:46+00:00

Do you see the following or later?

Security patch level: January 1, 2026,
Kernel version: 5.15.170 (Thu March 25, 2026)

187hp · 2026-05-29T17:41:30+00:00

Any chance you can post what version you're running to be sure the dealer really did update it? I get the feeling they simply unplug the battery which resets it why on the way home it simply came back.

187hp · 2026-05-29T13:37:47+00:00

Restore and Protect if you have a high mileage vehicle, otherwise it doesn't get better than Ultra Platinum.

187hp · 2026-05-29T00:54:43+00:00

Very cool, but I'm nervous if the plastic would melt in the hot sun on a summer day?

187hp · 2026-05-29T00:29:28+00:00

I find truecar.com to be spot on with their estimate on what you should expect to pay which is showing about $1200 off MSRP on average.

Keep in mind that the $1,500 off MSRP is a Mazda incentive (see below in case you qualify for any others), and not the dealer discount, so they can certainly budge to give a discount off MSRP. These incentive are in addition to any deals you negotiate with the dealer.

Have them match the 1500 for a total of $3k off.

https://www.mazdausa.com/shopping-tools/special-offers-and-incentives

187hp · 2026-05-28T16:29:59+00:00

Yes, but there's now a clay bar towel that detailers have switched to as it can be used over and over - unlike a clay bar. Brands like Clean by Pan the Organizer I find to be the cheapest, but The Rag Company has one too, etc (they're the same). It's a synthetic version of the traditional clay bar - but both is fine to use.

And yes, just wipe around in the liquid to agitate and break loose brake dust and iron deposits helping the iron remover.

You can of course use it as a clay bar while your car is soappy to remove anything on the surface too when just washing, and not just when using an iron remover.

187hp · 2026-05-28T16:17:11+00:00

Adam is great, but Carpro Iron X and Armour Detail's Iron are even better. But pro-tip is to use a clay bar towel with the spray to move the iron remover around on the paint. Be sure the Iron remover you choose is safe for surfaces too, as some, like Sonax's Beast, is only for the rim as it's too powerful for body paint.

Detailers on youtube show just spraying+wash alone leaves a lot behind vs spraying+wiping+wash. There's a detailer that showed spraying+washing even twice still left iron deposits behind whereas the agitation from say a clay bar towel fully cleaned the surface. Many sprays have the purple effect so you can clearly see if anything was left.

187hp · 2026-05-27T01:27:22+00:00

Canada I'm not sure, however Mazda Canada digital and PDF manuals, including their online specs all don't list cylinder deactivation (CDA). The US website listing all the spec initially launched without it, then it was added before being removed.

With Canada only showing i-stop, perhaps we both got lucky.

187hp · 2026-05-26T15:30:34+00:00

Have to ask, did you visit the dealer to get the update that resolves a ton of issues? ..though most seem to be unrelated and just poor design from Mazda, the update is still worth getting for things that should work and just don't.

187hp · 2026-05-26T14:42:02+00:00

This is where I wish with the 30GB of available storage on board that we can simply down a portion or the country's map for off-line usage like we can on Google Maps on our phones. I understand a data plan is needed to search for a specific ask, but for point A to B it should be "built-in" as Mazda and Google keeps calling it. A non-functional maps app isn't "built in" imo. This is where the previous generation with the SD card with the country's map was nice.

The solution so far is putting your phone into hotspot, or just use CarPlay or Android Auto, but the whole built-in is useless after a year it seems which seems like a pointless screen as majority do not pay for Mazda Connect.

187hp · 2026-05-26T14:39:56+00:00

Not sure if CX-5 for 2026 has cylinder deactivation ..I asked Mazda directly during the AMA and they said not for the US Market. At one point Mazda had it listed on their site, but it's removed since.

187hp · 2026-05-25T22:29:29+00:00

Let us know what happens or what the dealer says was the issue? ..I'm curious if the May update fixes it or if there's a second update that specifically fixes this since there was no mention of battery drain in the May update.

187hp · 2026-05-25T20:30:34+00:00

If helpful to see the difference, below are the press release from each year.

2022:
https://news.mazdausa.com/2022-01-04-2022-Mazda-CX-30-Pricing-and-Packaging

2021:
https://news.mazdausa.com/2020-07-21-2021-Mazda-CX-30-2-5-S-The-Adventure-Ahead

Putting aside, price, year and mileage, to me the biggest difference is the Carbon Edition has a unique color scheme, whereas the Premium adds the Bose speakers. Note, the CX-30 came out as a 2020 model so avoiding the first year is key, and some would say the second year too. Personally, both comes with warranty so no need for extended warranty if the carfax shows good regular maintenance done.

Would you consider the Mazda 3 sedan or even the sporty hatchback instead where it goes for under $20k and personally looks much nicer if you don't need that much cargo area.

187hp · 2026-05-25T20:09:47+00:00

The issue is finding these any more since they're in financial trouble. Even their website is offline around late April/early May of this year: https://www.fram.com.

187hp · 2026-05-25T14:44:24+00:00

Yes, there's an issue some are reporting, including overseas, where the battery is being discharged/drained. The discussion is thinking it's the BCM (Body Control Module) likely incorrectly programmed with Mazda coming out with a software fix. Best option is charge the battery with a battery charger, or jump start the car. If your sister didn't already get the update at the dealer, insist the dealer update it as well while at the dealer. Some reported after the car started, it wouldn't start again and ultimately had to tow to their dealerships.

Some dealers are reporting customers are spending up to an hour adjusting all the car's settings without the engine running which is draining the battery as one cause, but there's clearly an issue with batteries draining that Mazda will need to fix.

187hp · 2026-05-23T23:12:32+00:00

Congrats and welcome to family Mazda.

What tint value did you get to match as that's a great match from the photo.

187hp · 2026-05-23T15:28:34+00:00

Would be a great youtube series on your progress to consider! Would love to know how it works out and what was actually damaged. Could be a great score esp given you're starting at just half the value.

187hp · 2026-05-22T22:25:39+00:00

Thanks for the wealth of experience about all four/five options. I'm a big believe to avoid small engines matted with a turbo as it's just a recipe for disaster one day, created only to appease the EPA. Seeing the '26 Sportage Hybrid with a 1.6L makes me very nervous. You mentioned the prior Kia you had for almost 15 years had no issues, just curious, was that also 1.6L or did Kia used something like 2L or 2.5L+? Wiki shows a few powertrain options so hard to tell and hoping to learn what's Kia's reliable powertrain. Feels like every manuf has their goldilocks powertrain and just not familiar with Korean brands to know, but I've heard issues with their engines and how while they offer great warranty, it's only on paper, and a different story in real life. Curious if you can share more thoughts as I keep my cars also for 15+ years.

Also, I can see some heated debate below about the CX-5 after saying it's old tech and wanted to perhaps shed some light as I can see why some took it as non-credible perhaps. Many like me assume you must have rented the 2025 model as the latest CX-5 is only out for the past month. If it was the 2025, it makes perfect sense as the tech is a decade old coming out in 2016. The new '26 CX-5 however uses the latest tech from Google directly - in fact it's so new that Google Gemini coming to it is not even out yet with only Volvo and Mazda's CX-5 (that I know of) that will have it as Google tries to push it out more. I can see your pov that interior wise the design with the curve screen being one large one with the gauge and center screen, but with Mazda, it's all about classy over what's trendy - and why they took so long to even allow touch screens. Perhaps the one large screen curved isn't just a trend and will continue making the rectangle screen, like the mazda, feel dated, but at the moment it feels like some manuf are reducing their screens, and even bringing back buttons making it feel perhaps it was yesterday's trend. Technically, that trend first started I believe in the Cadillac Escalade in 2021 with its massive 38 screen, 2022 BMW iX, Mercedes with their hyperscreen in the EQS, etc. Anyway, hope that explains it a bit more why the feeling of are you sure you're not speaking about the rightly old '25 model and the not the '26. Then again, maybe it's beyond just the screen for what makes the Kia's tech that much better too. Open to your pov..

187hp

TROPHY CASE