The Best Coilovers For Your Honda Civic EP3 Type-R And Integra DC5
Suspension guide
The first question when an EP3 or DC5 comes through the door is which car, because the two share a lot but the entry end of the suspension range runs differently for each. BC Racing lists the Civic. It does not list the Integra. That changes what is available at the cheaper end, and it changes the upgrade path.
From the AST 5100 Street upward, both cars use the same part code. Cameron's view on that is straightforward: it gives DC5 owners a clear path to the quality stuff without fuss. Garreth's take is that DC5 owners on a tighter budget should look at TEIN MONO SPORT before spending AST money, because it is a decent monotube at a sensibly lower price.
Below is our pick at every level, cheapest first, with the price and who each one is for.
- BC Racing lists the EP3 Civic; the DC5 Integra starts with TEIN FLEX Z at entry level
- From the AST 5100 Street upward, both cars use the same part code
- TEIN limits the Civic rear drop to 5 to 25mm, because the torsion beam has less travel than the DC5 double wishbone
- TEIN spring rates are stiffer on the DC5 FLEX Z (8 and 10 kgf/mm) than the EP3 (6 and 8)
- DC5 owners have an intermediate step in TEIN MONO SPORT before moving to AST
Where the two cars differ
For coilovers the EP3 and DC5 are different cars at entry level and similar from the AST range upward.
| Car | Entry option | Rear suspension | TEIN rear drop (reference) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic Type-R EP3 (2001 to 2005) | BC Racing or TEIN FLEX Z (VSA22-CUSA1) | Torsion beam | 15mm (maximum 25mm) |
| Honda Integra Type-R DC5 (2001 to 2006) | TEIN FLEX Z (VSA02-C1SA1) or MONO SPORT | Double wishbone | 30mm (maximum 40mm) |
TEIN drop figures and part numbers from the application tables on our listings. Both cars use the same AST and MOTON kits from the 5100 Street upward.
The torsion beam rear on the Civic limits travel, which is why TEIN sets a lower maximum drop at the rear. In practice the car sits well at the TEIN reference of 15mm. The Integra’s double wishbone gives more room, and TEIN’s reference of 30mm at both ends is achievable without fighting the geometry.
On coverage: Bilstein and Eibach do not list either car with us, so there is no springs-only or B14 rung in this guide. The five brands we do list cover both cars from entry coilover to MOTON 3-way, with the exception of BC Racing, which covers the Civic only.
The ladder at a glance
Five levels, cheapest first. BC Racing covers the EP3 Civic only; from the AST 5100 Street upward, both cars use the same kit.
| Level | Our pick | Price inc VAT | What you can adjust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry coilover | BC Racing BR (EP3) | £1,049 | Height, 30 click damping |
| Fast road coilover | AST 5100 Street | £3,276 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| Club and trackday 1-way | AST 5100 Clubracing | £4,248 | Height, 12 click rebound |
| 2-way | BC Racing ER (EP3) | £1,849 | Height, rebound and compression separately |
| 3-way | BC Racing ZR (EP3) | £2,159 | Height, three way adjustable |
Prices read from the site on the day this guide was built, inc VAT. The product cards below show prices before VAT, as the rest of the site does; the Inc/Exc VAT switch changes them.
1. BC Racing BR or TEIN FLEX Z: the entry coilovers
BC Racing BR is the starting point for the Civic. Threaded body, 30 clicks of damping on a single knob, default spring rates of 6 and 9 kg/mm, and six top mount configurations available on the one listing. The dampers are rebuildable. The same listing is the launchpad for the ER and ZR if you want more adjustment later.
TEIN FLEX Z covers both cars, but on different part numbers: VSA22-CUSA1 for the EP3, VSA02-C1SA1 for the DC5. Twin-tube, 16 damping positions, full-length ride height adjustment, camber-adjustable front upper mount and pillowball rear. DC5 FLEX Z spring rates are 8 and 10 kgf/mm, stiffer than the EP3’s 6 and 8, because TEIN specs it to the car. If you have a DC5, FLEX Z is the entry option because BC Racing does not list a kit for the Integra.
Cameron’s preference for an EP3 at this level is BC Racing, because the price is close to TEIN and the series upgrade path on the same listing is a useful option to have later.
- Price. £1,049 inc VAT, BR
- Adjustment. Height, 30 click damping
- In the box. Coilovers with springs; the top mount options are on the listing
- Buy it if. You want height and damping adjustment for under fifteen hundred pounds
2. TEIN MONO SPORT (DC5) or AST 5100 Street: the step up
TEIN MONO SPORT is the DC5-only option at this level. It is a monotube kit, 16 damping positions, full-length ride height adjustment, camber-adjustable front mounts and a pillowball rear, spring rates of 12 and 14 kgf/mm. The listing is for UK-market cars; an import needs confirmation before ordering. It sits at about half the AST price, which makes it worth considering for a DC5 owner who wants a monotube step up before committing to European money.
For either car, AST 5100 Street is the quality European option. Made in the Netherlands, 12 clicks of rebound, and the ACU-H1502S part code covers the EP3 and the DC5 on a single application. AST 5100 Street Performance adds camber-adjustable front top mounts, which a lowered car needs at the alignment stage anyway. Garreth’s view is that if you are spending AST money the Street Performance is worth the step, because the camber adjustment comes into the job one way or another.
- Price. £3,276 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 12 click rebound
- In the box. Springs included, uses your original top mounts
- Buy it if. You want a monotube step up at TEIN money (DC5 only), or the quality European option for either car
3. AST 5100 Clubracing: the trackday kit
At the trackday level there is one kit in our listings for these two cars: AST 5100 Clubracing, on the same ACU-H1502S part code as the Street version. Coilover at every corner, camber-adjustable front mounts, solid rear top mounts, 12 clicks of rebound. We do not list a MOTON 1-Way Clubracer for the EP3 or the DC5, so there is no equivalent at this level in our range.
Cameron’s note: if the car goes to regular trackdays and you want more than a single dial, this is the kit to buy before stepping up to the 2-way range. It is not a budget option at this level; it is a proper trackday coilover that happens to be before the separate-adjustment kits on the price list.
- Price. £4,248 inc VAT
- Adjustment. Height, 12 click rebound
- In the box. Coilover rear, camber front and solid rear top mounts
- Buy it if. The car does regular trackdays and you want coilover rear, camber front and solid rear top mounts
4. Two way: BC Racing ER (EP3 only), AST 5200 or MOTON 2-Way
Separate rebound and compression is where a track car starts to get tuned properly session to session. For the EP3, BC Racing ER is the budget route in: the same listing as the BR with a second dial and external reservoirs, at a fraction of AST or MOTON money. BC Racing does not list the DC5, so Integra owners start at AST 5200 or MOTON at this level.
AST 5200 and MOTON 2-Way are the European-built options for both cars. Both run 15 clicks of rebound and a separate compression circuit on a remote reservoir. Garreth’s position is that for a car that actually races, AST or MOTON is the right choice: built and valved to the car, custom spring rate options, UK rebuild centre. Cameron thinks ER is the cheapest way to learn what a second dial does on an EP3, and that is a fair way to look at it before committing to more money.
- Price. £1,849 inc VAT, ER
- Adjustment. Height, rebound and compression separately
- In the box. Coilovers with external reservoirs and springs
- Buy it if. You tune the car session to session and want rebound and compression on separate dials
5. Three way: BC Racing ZR (EP3 only), AST 5300 or MOTON 3-Way
The top rung splits compression into high speed and low speed, which lets you tune traction and body control independently. BC Racing ZR is its competition kit, EP3 only, at a price that sits well below AST and MOTON. AST 5300 adds low speed compression to the 5200, giving you rebound, high speed and low speed compression on a remote reservoir. MOTON 3-Way gives you 15 high speed and 6 low speed compression positions, on top of 15 clicks of rebound, from the same factory that builds MOTON kits for touring car programmes.
Buy one when somebody is going to write the settings down.
- Price. £2,159 inc VAT, ZR
- Adjustment. Height, three way adjustable
- In the box. Coilovers with external reservoirs and springs
- Buy it if. It is a race car, or a trackday car with somebody setting it up properly
Anti-roll bars to go with them
Coilovers control body movement over bumps and set the car’s height. Anti-roll bars change the balance through corners. H&R list uprated bars for the EP3 Civic. There is no H&R listing for the DC5 in our catalogue. If you need help confirming fitment before ordering, drop us an email or click to open a chat and we will check it with you.
| Part number | Fits | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| 33323-1 | EP3 Civic Type-R | £465 |
Every option we list for the EP3 and DC5
| Range | Part number | Listed for | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Racing | BCR-A-16 | Honda Civic (03-05) [EP3] | ZR £2,159, ZX £1,964, HM £2,059, ER £1,849, RM £1,239, BR £1,049 |
| TEIN FLEX Z | VSA22-CUSA1 | Honda Civic Type R EP3 | £1,212 |
| TEIN FLEX Z | VSA02-C1SA1 | Honda Integra Type R DC5 | £1,212 |
| TEIN MONO SPORT | GSA02-71SS1 | Honda Integra Type R DC5 | £1,908 |
| AST 5100 Street | ACU-H1502S | Acura, Honda Applications | £3,276 |
| AST 5100 Street Performance | ACT-H1502S | Acura, Honda Applications | £3,576 |
| AST 5100 Clubracing | ACC-H1502S | Acura, Honda Applications | £4,248 |
| AST 5200 2-Way Motorsport | RIV-H1502S | Acura, Honda Applications | £5,832 |
| AST 5300 3-Way Motorsport | RAC-H1502S | Acura, Honda Applications | £6,144 |
| MOTON 2-Way Motorsport | M 504 050S | Acura, Honda Applications | £6,300 |
| MOTON 3-Way Motorsport | M 504 051S | Acura, Honda Applications | £7,080 |
Every coilover and spring listing that names the EP3 and DC5 today. BC Racing prices are per series.
Before you order
- Which car. EP3 Civic or DC5 Integra: the part numbers differ at entry level and BC Racing covers the Civic only
- DC5 import or UK spec. TEIN MONO SPORT is listed for UK-market cars; if the car is a JDM import, confirm fitment before ordering
- Rear drop on the EP3. TEIN limits the Civic rear to 25mm maximum; the torsion beam does not allow the same drop as the front
- Alignment. Any change of ride height changes camber and toe on both cars. Book an alignment as part of the job
Common questions
What are the best coilovers for an EP3 on a budget?
BC Racing BR. Height and damping adjustment, six top mount options, and the series upgrade path on the same listing for later.
Does BC Racing list the DC5 Integra?
No. For a DC5, the entry options are TEIN FLEX Z or TEIN MONO SPORT. From the AST 5100 Street upward, both cars use the same kit.
Why are TEIN spring rates stiffer on the DC5?
TEIN specs the kit to the car. The DC5 FLEX Z runs 8 and 10 kgf/mm against the EP3’s 6 and 8. MONO SPORT goes further to 12 and 14. The figures come from TEIN’s application tables on the listings.
Why is the EP3 rear drop limited?
The EP3 uses a torsion beam rear with less travel than the DC5 double wishbone. TEIN sets the EP3 rear maximum at 25mm and the reference at 15mm.
Can I fit a MOTON 1-Way to an EP3 or DC5?
We do not list a MOTON 1-Way Clubracer for either car. The AST 5100 Clubracing is the trackday 1-way option in our range. EP3 owners wanting two dials on a budget can look at BC Racing ER.
What we would fit
Cameron fits BC Racing BR on an EP3 and spends what is left on tyres and an alignment, because it sits the car right and the damping knob deals with the road. For a DC5 that needs to sit better and nothing more, his pick is TEIN FLEX Z: the right part for the car at a similar price.
Garreth’s pick for a car that gets driven properly is AST 5100 Street Performance: the better damper, camber mounts included, and one part code for both cars. For a DC5 owner with a tighter budget, TEIN MONO SPORT is worth considering before going to AST money. For a car that races, AST 5200 or MOTON.
Our TEIN suspension guide covers the full TEIN coilover range, and the AST guide and MOTON guide go deeper on those two ranges.
Send us the registration and whether you have an EP3 Civic or DC5 Integra. We will confirm the right part number and level before anything is ordered.
Tell us whether you have an EP3 Civic or DC5 Integra, and what the car is for. We will find the right part number and confirm the level before anything is ordered. Call us on 0115 647 8650, drop us an email or click to open a chat.
