Honda and Acura Model Specific Forums

wuggiewuggie · 10-04-2006, 04:44 PM

Hi I'm thinking about buying a 2004 ep3. I've been doing some research on the car, and from what I've found it sounds like the bumpers and headlights changed from 2003 - 2004 models. Is this correct? If I get the car I'd like to get the OEM type-r kit for it (front lip, rear lip, sideskirts). Where can I get this for the 2004 USDM model? Would I have to get entirely new bumpers to do this? Thanks for the help.

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WizDUMB · 10-04-2006, 06:45 PM

the only really change is the 5 lugs instead of 4 lugs, front and rear lights, the front seats, slight change to the materal used on the steering wheel ... etc

BarracksSi · 10-04-2006, 08:02 PM

The bumpers were the same between the early and late EPs. JDM bumpers (and the corresponding rebars) from any year will fit. Also, replicas made for USDM bumpers will fit.

There's a bunch of other small differences, but regarding your question, there was no change, so you're good to go.

cnyej1 · 10-04-2006, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WizDUMB

the only really change is the 5 lugs instead of 4 lugs, front and rear lights, the front seats, slight change to the materal used on the steering wheel ... etc

Whats different about the seats and steering wheel??

powdbyrice · 10-04-2006, 09:26 PM

04-05 come with side skirts also.

04-05 had the HFP model available.

BlueIntegraBoy · 10-05-2006, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnyej1

Whats different about the seats and steering wheel??

The 04-05 shift knobs were grainier leather than the 02-03

cnyej1 · 10-05-2006, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueIntegraBoy

The 04-05 shift knobs were grainier leather than the 02-03

But nothing about the seats and steering wheel?

04DOHC · 10-05-2006, 08:02 AM

i have a 04 ep3 and my headlights are bigger than the 03ep3. plus if you get a 04 and you want to change to the 03 head ligths you have to change out the whole wiring harness for the lights because they are both different and use diff. light bulbs and the rear lights on the 04 are jdm stlye the 03 are just regularall red which i think look cool. it all depends on what your looking for as far as style is concerned.

trieuth · 10-05-2006, 11:16 AM

im looking at buying an ep3 too. what would you guys recomend? 02-03 or 04-05?

BarracksSi · 10-05-2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trieuth

im looking at buying an ep3 too. what would you guys recomend? 02-03 or 04-05?

Yes.

A couple things to note --

There have been reports popping up of defective camshafts, probably only from the '02 and maybe 03 model years. One thing I've heard is that a few/couple batches weren't heat-treated properly. I'm expecting to eventually hear some news from Honda themselves with more specific info.

The stock tire size on 04-05's has quite a few more equivalent models in wider tires and bigger wheels (although 17" is the largest I would go on an EP) that retain the stock outer circumference. Trying to find wider tires for 16's on my '02 EP has led to some dead ends, but if I bumped up a sidewall size, I'd have a lot to choose from.

cnyej1 · 10-05-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04DOHC

the rear lights on the 04 are jdm stlye the 03 are just regularall red which i think look cool. it all depends on what your looking for as far as style is concerned.

What do you mean the taillights on the 04-05 are JDM style?? The 02-03's are also JDM style since they look almost identical to the foreign EP's.

Klutch-Control · 10-06-2006, 05:19 AM

Didnt the newer ones get side airbags also?

cnyej1 · 10-06-2006, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klutch-Control

Didnt the newer ones get side airbags also?

They were always an option.

Klutch-Control · 10-06-2006, 07:29 AM

Oh ok then I didnt know that!

cnyej1 · 10-06-2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klutch-Control

Oh ok then I didnt know that!

Always learn something new here on HT.

BarracksSi · 10-06-2006, 09:32 AM

Taillights on the EP:

All versions have clear reverse signals in the same place. Besides that, here's how they're different --

02-03 USDM = all red, brake/running lights on the bottom, turn signals/flashers in the top circles. Center portions blank.

02-03 Type-R = Top circles brake/running lights, middle sections amber turn signals/flashers, bottom were the rear foglight on the driver's side.

04-05 USDM = Top amber circles turn signals/flashers, bottom running/brake lights, middle blank.

04-05 JDM = same as USDM (as far as I can tell) except that the top circles are red instead of amber.

andromeda673 · 10-06-2006, 12:09 PM

how are the 04 to 05 tailights JDM style ? that boggles my mind, i don't get it?

cnyej1 · 10-06-2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andromeda673

how are the 04 to 05 tailights JDM style ? that boggles my mind, i don't get it?

Because they are Altezzas duh! Hehe.....or "Euro" lights, whatever the kids are calling them these days.

BarracksSi · 10-06-2006, 06:06 PM

They're not.

If anything, the 04-05's look "altezza style" when compared to the 02-03's. The clear housing & chrome makes the difference.

JDM/UKDM/etc 04-05 EP3 tails have red circles on top.

wuggiewuggie · 10-09-2006, 12:53 PM

Thanks for all the input. I'm still a little confused about whether the 2002 oem ctr kit will fit on a 2004 without buying new bumpers. The oem kit i'm talking about is the one on this car:

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1774053

Thanks again.

cnyej1 · 10-09-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuggiewuggie

Thanks for all the input. I'm still a little confused about whether the 2002 oem ctr kit will fit on a 2004 without buying new bumpers. The oem kit i'm talking about is the one on this car:

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1774053

Thanks again.

The replica kit made to fit USDM bumpers will fit.

trieuth · 10-09-2006, 06:16 PM

so what would be a better buy? the 02-03 or the 04-05?"

BarracksSi · 10-09-2006, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trieuth

so what would be a better buy? the 02-03 or the 04-05?"

Yes.

There are only two things I would take into consideration. First are the stock tire sizes of each, which I mentioned earlier.

Secondly, on the '05 EP's (but not the 02-04's), the vehicle's VIN is stored in the ECU. This apparently would cause an issue if you've swapped or otherwise messed with the ECU then taken it to smog/emissions inspection, and the ODBII readout says that the ECU doesn't match the car. I have NOT looked into this very far because my '02 EP wouldn't have a problem. But, it's an answer that came from Hondata when I asked an emissions-related KPro question over at k20a.org.

BarracksSi · 10-09-2006, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuggiewuggie

Thanks for all the input. I'm still a little confused about whether the 2002 oem ctr kit will fit on a 2004 without buying new bumpers. The oem kit i'm talking about is the one on this car:

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1774053

Thanks again.

Adding onto what was posted earlier --

There is no OEM CTR lip kit that will fit the USDM bumpers. No Civic Type-R was made for the US. You'll have to either get the replica lips or get the genuine bumpers, rebars, and OEM lips.

There has also been a recent release of a replica CTR bumper, FRONT only, in fiberglass instead of OEM urethane. Wayne at speedstar-racing.com posted info about them on ephatch.com.

NakashimaR · 10-10-2006, 04:13 AM

greetings from across the ocean. May i supply some ep3 info? apart from the visual changes yall succesfylly noticed (lexus style tail-lights, bigger logos, headlights, interior changes, turn signals embedded to mirrors) there are also some mods like different fuel maps and lighter flywheel (approx 7 pounds ligher!!!) thus gaining 0,2 sec in 0-60...hope i helped

10-04-2006, 06:45 PM	#2
WizDUMB Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 7 1 RAW, CA Posts: 79	Re: What changed on the EP3 from 02-03 vs 04-05? (wuggiewuggie) the only really change is the 5 lugs instead of 4 lugs, front and rear lights, the front seats, slight change to the materal used on the steering wheel ... etc

10-05-2006, 08:02 AM	#8
04DOHC Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: san diego, ca, united states Posts: 37	Re: What changed on the EP3 from 02-03 vs 04-05? (wuggiewuggie) i have a 04 ep3 and my headlights are bigger than the 03ep3. plus if you get a 04 and you want to change to the 03 head ligths you have to change out the whole wiring harness for the lights because they are both different and use diff. light bulbs and the rear lights on the 04 are jdm stlye the 03 are just regularall red which i think look cool. it all depends on what your looking for as far as style is concerned.

10-06-2006, 05:19 AM	#12
Klutch-Control Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Inner, Ma, USA Posts: 283	Didnt the newer ones get side airbags also? __________________ 2002 RSX Type-S FOR SALE:p: http://www.hondamarketplace.co...43630

10-06-2006, 07:29 AM	#14
Klutch-Control Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Inner, Ma, USA Posts: 283	Oh ok then I didnt know that! __________________ 2002 RSX Type-S FOR SALE:p: http://www.hondamarketplace.co...43630

10-06-2006, 12:09 PM	#17
andromeda673 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brew City, Wi, USA Posts: 3	Re: (trieuth) how are the 04 to 05 tailights JDM style ? that boggles my mind, i don't get it? __________________ REPPING414andNSHC EPSQUAD SERVICETECH#113@DAVIDHOBBSHONDA VBP03EP3

10-04-2006, 08:02 PM	#3
BarracksSi Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington, DC, USA Posts: 1,325	The bumpers were the same between the early and late EPs. JDM bumpers (and the corresponding rebars) from any year will fit. Also, replicas made for USDM bumpers will fit. There's a bunch of other small differences, but regarding your question, there was no change, so you're good to go.

10-04-2006, 09:26 PM	#5
powdbyrice Junior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: the bay, CA, USA Posts: 84	04-05 come with side skirts also. 04-05 had the HFP model available.

10-05-2006, 11:16 AM	#9
trieuth Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 8	im looking at buying an ep3 too. what would you guys recomend? 02-03 or 04-05?

10-06-2006, 09:32 AM	#16
BarracksSi Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington, DC, USA Posts: 1,325	Taillights on the EP: All versions have clear reverse signals in the same place. Besides that, here's how they're different -- 02-03 USDM = all red, brake/running lights on the bottom, turn signals/flashers in the top circles. Center portions blank. 02-03 Type-R = Top circles brake/running lights, middle sections amber turn signals/flashers, bottom were the rear foglight on the driver's side. 04-05 USDM = Top amber circles turn signals/flashers, bottom running/brake lights, middle blank. 04-05 JDM = same as USDM (as far as I can tell) except that the top circles are red instead of amber.

10-06-2006, 06:06 PM	#19
BarracksSi Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington, DC, USA Posts: 1,325	They're not. If anything, the 04-05's look "altezza style" when compared to the 02-03's. The clear housing & chrome makes the difference. JDM/UKDM/etc 04-05 EP3 tails have red circles on top.

10-09-2006, 12:53 PM	#20
wuggiewuggie Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA, US Posts: 166	Thanks for all the input. I'm still a little confused about whether the 2002 oem ctr kit will fit on a 2004 without buying new bumpers. The oem kit i'm talking about is the one on this car: http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1774053 Thanks again.

10-09-2006, 06:16 PM	#22
trieuth Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 8	so what would be a better buy? the 02-03 or the 04-05?"

10-10-2006, 04:13 AM	#25
NakashimaR Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Athens, GREECE Posts: 5	greetings from across the ocean. May i supply some ep3 info? apart from the visual changes yall succesfylly noticed (lexus style tail-lights, bigger logos, headlights, interior changes, turn signals embedded to mirrors) there are also some mods like different fuel maps and lighter flywheel (approx 7 pounds ligher!!!) thus gaining 0,2 sec in 0-60...hope i helped __________________ cd5 intake, jdm pistons, jdm cams, dc sports racing header, J's racing throttle body, Greddy evo 2 cat-back, Toda gasket0,3, Injen Rd cai...we race at 235 bhp

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