It is a little odd. I have had some rust/ deterioration of some of the parts in my engine bay. I just replaced them. The break rotors just look like that. sometimes the calipers might rust a bit.

I probably wouldn't be that worried about it. All the parts shown weren't painted so they weren't protected from the elements. All the parts shown could also just be replaced or repainted very inexpensively if you had an afternoon alone with the car. I would ask for a discount though since it is new. you probably just don't see much of this on the S because most S owners clean under the hood. Some of the cars can get bad under the hood very quick if not cleaned.

where I live it snows and I think that those pics aren't out of line for a car driven in the winter even if newer. Since it is a SoCal car I think either it was out of state for a while or the owner just lived/worked close to the beach and didn't garage the car.

 

I'm Not super anal about my engine compartment but I probably average 5 minutes a week running a rag over the engine and its components just to keep most of the dust off. Aside from living right on the beach which would require some extra attention, if you live in a dusty or smoggy part of the country or happen to drive dirt roads on occasion, the dust that settles on your engine attracts moisture and holds it against parts which accelerates the formation of rust and corrosion. Consider the humidity in your part of the country as something that can and will add to the environmental proplems that most every one faces to some degee.
I'm not advocating routine engine detailing, thats up to you, but I am advocating that everyone spend a few minutes now an then wiping the engine compartment down.

 

So true JACKS. We should all show our cars some loves!

 

Good catch. I'm not sure what that's about.
At least his VIN sticker is still present on the front bumper.

 

Did you see this at the Honda in Westminster? I can see it from the photos. I also looked through several other cars online (including CarMax) and it seems like the black brackets are changes for MY08.

 

Its only on CRs not Reg s2000. I've looked too. I looked through Carmax and cpo s2000 (hoping the cpo represent stock stooks).
And yea it is west minster. It's a really clean car if you can get past the rust. I can't so I passed but I'd buy it minus the rust!

 

I guarantee its not a CR bracket. thats a clatter-can paint job, and thats the reason for the rust there. If you paint a steel item, and a small bit of the paint comes off (as in when you tighten down the bolt), it will rust from that location. Look up galvanic corrosion. Basically, the entire bracket is being "protected" by the small amount of exposed steel.

[citation: Corrosion/electrochemistry classes]

 

living near sea water will definitely do that, sea air is highly corrosive. You can use some rust converter on the bolts or buy a set of stainless engine bolts from dressupbolts.com, I'm using one of their kits and I like them alot.

I bought some new radiator brackts from Honda this year to replace my older grey coloured oem brackets and the dealer gave me a black coloured set, I didn't mind and I didn't question why I figured those were the new replacements for the older style.

 

i think to have some rust in those spots is normal, but in your pics. the rust looks like it is starting to get excessive. it seems like they went cheaper with all those bolts on the radiator support as i remember most of the bolts on all my previous honda/acura's have a kind of gold looking plating on them preventing rust. my08 the hood latch bolts, a/c condensor bracket bolts, and some others were starting to rust. i hit all the rust spots i saw with nox-rust spray underbody rust preventive coating. you could also replace the bolts all with new. i live in hawaii, maybe 5 min or 1-2 miles away from the beach but still get some salt air on my car. what contributes to the rust also is if you don't drive the car very much, long enough for everything in the engine bay to heat up and dry up all the salt residue and moisture that accumulates then you will get rust/corrosion. also this helps prevent that corrosion powdery stuff you get all over the aluminum stuff on the engine. mine has it and i have only 22k miles. also every time i wash my car, after i wipe down the engine bay of all water from washing.

 

Good info everyone thanks!