hey EP3/DC5 guys. long time honda enthusiast but will hopefully be a 1st time EP3 owner. i know the basics of this car as any honda enthusiast would but wanna know when test driving this car what in particular should i look for as far as "Recalls" or "Honda Service Bulletins". does the trans have 3rd gear grinds and popouts like the FG2 does? or just simply anything other than the obvious i should look for when test driving these cars:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...2005&doors=Two Door&transmission=Manual&max_price=&cardist=26&sta ndard=false
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...2005&doors=Two Door&transmission=Manual&max_price=&cardist=20&sta ndard=false

im leaning toward the silver EP, because i have a feeling that blue one had the **** kicked out of it. i would have preferred a 02-03 4 lug but im having trouble finding one for the right mileage/price/location.

id also like to know what brand header most of you guys run? i currently have a Hytech rep on my H22 Acura CL and would like something along those lines, no DC garbage.

thanks in advance for any input or responses.

 

I was an EG guy that got a silver 02 EP3 in 2008. Its nice not worrying as much about it getting stolen.

I would actually prefer the 04-05 because I really wanted to run AP1 S2000 wheels, but w/e. I think someone is selling a Taffetta White one in the Northeast classifieds if you wanna check that out.

As for header, most people run the DC Race Header prob because its cheap and fits well. Other choices are Buddy Club but a little pricey, Strup, OBX, and the Kiddracing header. Kiddracing is a replica of the SSR but for like half the price, but good luck putting that **** together, took me like 2 hours just to assemble the header

Only thing I know of that you should watch for is the 2nd gear grind. I have a minor case of it. And something I noticed is a lot of EP3s rear bumper lights don't work (wiring gets ripped like of the sockets or something)

 

thanks for the response. i would probably go with the kiddracing header. i have that on my H22A and am very happy with it.

 

Smart move on going with an EP.I actually prefer the 04-05's over 02-03's because of 5 lug,sideskirts,lights,the sway bar is actually bigger as well.With EP's there is really nothing scary to be worried about when purchasing except the 3rd gear pop out eventhough it's not as bad as the 06+. Oh yeah your gonna love EP owners they are friendly as hell

 

Oh yeah forgot to mention hit up ephatch.com if you want more info.For aftermarket places hit up showstoppersusa they usually have good deals

 

thanks. i hope i find the right EP. my other option is an Accord V6 6spd. i like the looks of the 04-05 aswell except for the tailights.

im going to test drive the silver EP i listed on tuesday.

 

its weird, I hated the 04 tails first, but now I kinda want them lol

 

I like 04-05 cuz: side skirts, head light, tail light, wheels, 5 lug.
As for tranny, I had some issue with synchro and wornout throwout bearing, but with 80k miles of beating taken from teenage drive, I wasn't surprised... And yes, EP3 owners are very very friendly and helpful. GL!!!

 

Def. go for the 04-05 simply because of the skirts and 5-lug.

If you don't like the tails which a lot of people at first don't you can always convert to the 02-03 which are all red.

GD luck with your purchase

 

i only like the 4 lug because wheels are cheaper.

if i pick up the car im test driving im either going with Enkei RPF-1's or Wedsport SA-90's.

 

Lol at wheels are cheaper,Keep us posted on how your test drive goes

 

I am in midwest. /wave

 

yeah, 4 lug wheels are cheaper and some old school wheels w/ 5 lugs are rare to find... cuz, if they had 5 lug RS-Betas, I'd gotten'em in a heart beat... gosh I miss'em...

 

lol those aren't cheap!

 

cheaper then like Advan RG's, Desmonds, etc etc.

 

Good luck on getting your 1st ep. I just missed out on the deal of a lifetime, 30k miles 02' ep3 for 10k, but i dont feel as bad missing out on the 02 becuase i just watched a video about cam galling issues that came up in the 02 models.

 

This was common on 02's,to avoid that you have to use 5w30 instead of the 5w20.

 

interesting.

do you guys run with premium? that would be a nice thing not too, since i have to with an H22.

 

You can run premium if you chose too,You can also run regular as well and won't really have any issues.That's a plus especially with gas prices.

 

Whoa. Let's slide in a few facts before you jump to any conclusions about cam galling issues in '02 Si motors.

WRT the video you watched, the person narrating the video states the motor in question had gone more than 140k miles. One hundred and forty thousand miles. More significantly, however, the person narrating the video indicates the car's owner said he was "getting on it" when he "thinks he may have misshifted" and over-revved the engine. Other than these two pearls of wisdom, the person narrating the video knew essentially nothing WRT the car's mechanical or maintenance history prior to the owner's experiencing a power loss in an eight-year old motor that had gone more than 140k miles before it gave up the ghost.

In short, of the thousands of '02 (and '03, '04 and '05) Si motors out there in CivicLand, some had mechanical issues (as do all manufacturers' engines) and some percentage of those involved camshaft problems, typically in high-mileage (100k-plus) motors. In most cases, however, these potential problems could have been avoided entirely by running a decent 5W-30 weight oil and observing the redline on the tach.

 

I ran regular at first, but I got better mileage with 93 so I decided to use that. Plus its only $1 difference per fill up so f-it I don't care lol