My first car, EK hatch - help/advice appreciated!

[Ry_]

Hi all,

Pretty new to all this, so please bear with me :)

So I finally bit the bullet and put some money into a little black unmodded Civic EK cxi hatch, 2000 model, 99,500k's, one previous owner, log books, 3 year dealer warranty.

Thinking I might have some extra money left over, and am thinking of a couple of extras. Some kspeed mags/wheels from Tempe, and a bodykit too.

A couple of questions- regarding the wheels, if I've chosen them, is it enough to order them just telling them 17", the model I want, 4x100, and would it be simple as putting them on and going, or would I need to visit a tyre specialist after and what would I be asking for?

The next q's on the kit- I've seen a few around, I don't mind one of the Mugen ones, but muchly prefer a C-West look. I've searched the web for ages but can't seem to find where to start. I'd appreciate advice from anyone in Brisbane who's sourced a kit for an EK at some point, and had it installed and painted etc.

Thanks very much in advance! Ry

[destrukshn]

with 99500kms.
your up for a major service which is a timing belt and water pump if needed.
so i suggest putting money towards the service first.

[Ry_]

I didn't even think of that! Thanks. How much does a major service usually cost?

[destrukshn]

depends where you go.
if you use genuine parts or aftermarket parts.
and what else you decide to change.

[aimre]

I would have tried to talk the dealer into doing that before selling the car

[NSPYRE]

well wats done is done.

anyway, like destrukshn says, there are alot of variables. just as a guide, i bought my water-pump for $270, timing belt for $75 and fuel filter for $45 (approximate values). these are all genuine honda parts. i changed the fuel filter myself and had the rest done by a mechanic. mechanic charged $400 for labour and that included new seals, coolant flush and new bosch fan belts as mine were cracked.

so for a major service using genuine honda parts, ur looking at around $700 mark (mine was more for fanbelts). hope that helps =)

[destrukshn]

where are you loacted?

[Ry_]

Located in sunny Brisbane. Sunny but chilly at the moment. :)

aimre- Yeah, that would totally have been what I should have done! Or at least get them to subsidise it. But like they say, hindsight's 20/20 :S

Thanks for all the input guys. Appreciated. So would it mean I'd have to bring it in to Honda? I hear they're slightly pricy.. kinda wondering about how the major service elsewhere would affect the dealer warranty as well..

[NSPYRE]

dealer mechanic's will rip you off. dealer's also commonly use apprentice's to work on your car. im sure there are competent apprentice's out there and everyone needs to start somewhere, but personally i'd rather have someone experienced touch my car.

as for the warranty, there are places out there that will not void it

[destrukshn]

read the conditions.
or ask them about it
because that doesn't seem like factory warranty.
and when it comes to aftermarket warranty, you will usually have to bring it back to the dealer for service, THEN they will approve your warranty.
if you don't bring it to them, they can void it.
but it all depends on the conditions.
ask them, or read the terms and conditions of the contract you signed.

[Ry_]

Thanks again all. I guess I'll have to speak to the guy when he delivers the car Friday. Have budgeted around a grand, hopefully it won't cost more.

The car was bought from a Honda dealer.. not sure what kind of warranty it is specifically, but will find out more.

Onto other things, someone's recommended DMD for bodykits (seems so superficial in light of the major service!). They seem to have just the Mugen one, but I've sent them an email to check. Anyone else have a good source for a bodykit in Brisbane? Is it the sort of thing you can get the yellowpages, drive into a random mechanic and ask them if they can get them, or is it more like only a select few establishments actually distribute bodykits?

Thanks all!

[destrukshn]

you never know the major might be done already.
just check it first.
that service should not exceent 1k

[Ry_]

True. Oh well. Will find out by Friday hey. I'll keep everyone posted.

[NSPYRE]

u kno instead of full body kits, u can just do lips and drop it a few inches. sometimes, bodykits can look really tacky, especially if it doesnt line up properly... but hey, each to their own

[Ry_]

Hmm.. actually, I've seen a few people say that. Would anyone have a link to what it'd look like?

[civicVI]

imo just put some lip kit and drop it ... your car will looks good.

[Ry_]

Would anyone have a recommendation for a particular lip kit, or where I could get one from? I've been searching for a bit, but it seems like all the same sites keep popping up, and there's not much selection.

Sorry if this reveals my ignorance, but would Honda dealers tend to supply lip kits? A pointer in the right direction would be much appreciated! Cheers.

[LUD35]

hey dude,

hell yeh another brissy EK! if you need any help ill be glad to be of assistance to another EK boy. DMD are pretty good i hav heard, ive had alot of problems(personally) with Jetspeed...i dont know about everyone else but i wouldnt let them touch my car.

Lip kits are pretty easy to get hold of for your car. get a SiR lip for the front and Civic Type R skirts and back lip - subtle yet smooth...then dump it. Also i prob's wouldnt goto a Honda dealer for a kit...prob charge u 3-4 times the amount of a aftermarket lip mate.

i have just a front lip on my car and its dumped on its arse, and its pretty sweet...i think anyway :D if you need help dont hesitate to pm me.

[Ry_]

Thanks LUD! pm's coming.

Also, the promised update. Rung the dealer today, and yay! On the 99500k's car, there was a small servicing at 98000, and another at 99000 when it came into their stock- changed timing belt, refurbed clutch other misc things too. So yeah, sorted! Slightly more budget for everything else *relief!*

Emailed DMD, evo motorsports & JDMyard about kits.. still no replies, but I don't expect them very quick. Not much in terms of leads for a kit other than a Mugen one. Anyone got a spare goodlooking EK 00 kit lying around?

Cheers!

[NSPYRE]

any mention about the water-pump?

[Ry_]

hmm. Don't think I heard anything. What should I be asking?

[EK4R]

dont get a full body kit. simple lip kit are the clean way to good. looks hot as hell and alot cheaper too.

personally get a mugen lip kit or a CTR lip kit fitted. Have a look at this thread to get some ideas mate. they is 400+ pages lol. im sure you will find better kits and wheels and might even change your mind.

http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23978&page=1

here are just some samples.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3310/4ztfo7sdw5.jpg

[Ry_]

Yeah that thread.. hehe that thread's a black hole. I went in yesterday and didn't come out for a quite a while. Some really nice cars in there I thought. Not sure I like those two slits in both ends of that mugen one..

I'm eyeing this one:
http://www.procivic.com/pages-product_car_part_info/category-71_96/product-701/index.html (the silver one in the picture) for the front.. I don't think it's too overdone.. just reasonably understated. What do you think?

[scyt7e]

haha if you get a bodykit sell me your frontend bumper :thumbsup: anyway with ur major service, a timing belt need not be done at 100000 km you can do it at 130000 or 140000 i think 150000 is pushing it but despite what many tell u our honda timing belts are designed to last way longer :thumbsup: and dont get a lip kit from honda.... :thumbdwn: they will rip one hella huge hole in ur pocket. but yeah just my two cents.

[Ry_]

Funny how I never thought of cars as a whole bunch of individually saleable parts til I actually got this one! It's like lego, but more difficult :lol:!

But yeah, good news was I found out they changed the belt at 99,000. So yay me. :)

Hey, just wondering- so like, what's the first performance type upgrade most people go for (and how much does it usually cost)? I've been looking at the kit and wheels and stuff, but I guess that's all pretty superficial..

[NSPYRE]

cxi's were not built to be fast. they were more focused on building something thats fuel efficient and to be used as an everyday car. then again, saying that, if u got the cash, anything is possible.

by saying you want better performance, be more specific. for example handling, fuel efficieny or outright power. give us an idea of wat u want and we'll give our input :)

[Ry_]

Handling would be the first one for me I think, the fuel efficiency before power. What would I need for it to handle like a dream? :)!

[NSPYRE]

sway-bar and good coil-overs would be a good place to start. wheels and tyres also play a big part. go atleast 7 inch wide tyres and 16 inch rims. as for tyres, dont stinge out on these. good quality tyres will give u a better improvement in handling than any sway-bar or coil-over could.

[Ry_]

I've been looking at tyres lately, a purchase is very near. Can't seem to make up my mind on rims though. I've been looking at Kspeed, Lenso, Volk, RSGT, and so far, I'm thinking while the Volks and RSGT's are probably better quality, the look seems pretty common. I can't seem to find RSGT ones in glossy black (though I've seen them in poster type things), also consideing the Lenso Light S2, Kspeed Kronus, Kspeed Pro Gear (but with these three I've never seen a picture of a car with them on, so don't know how it'll look- anyone?).

Thinking 17/7's with 215/45/17 Kumho Ecsta SPT's (do they come in that spec?).. does that work?