Bill

Can someone confirm for me what I think are the differences between the dx and lx VIN's??
I believe the dx is JM1BG224xxxxxxxxx
and I think the lx--JM1BG226xxxxxxxxx.
The reason I ask, is because I have access to an internet impound list, and will only go if there's a LX. Also, will the VIN tell the tranny type? Thanks for any help
Bill

nate0123

How do I read my VIN?
Your (North American) BG/BH/BJ Protegé's VIN should be as follows:
JM1xx####x#######
|||| | |||||
|||| | ||||Series & Car # (rolls to 100001 every new generation)
|||| | |||Plant # (0=Hiroshima, 1=Hofu)
|||| | ||Model Year (listing below)
|||| | |Check digit
|||| | Mod/engine type (see below)
|||| Body style (22=4 door, 23=3 door hatchback, 24=5 door hatchback)
|||Body Code (BG=90-94, BA=95, BB=96, BC=97-98, BJ=99-02)
||Vehicle Type (1=car, 2=truck/van, 3=van, 4=truck)
|Mazda
Japan

Model years: L=90, M=91, N=92, P=93, R=94, S=95, T=96, V=97, W=98, X=99,
Y=00, 1=01, 2=02, 3=03

Mod/engine types:
1st generations: 1=Canadian 1.6 liter SOHC 2WD, 2=1.6 liter SOHC 2WD,
3=Canadian 1.8 liter SOHC NA 2WD, 4=1.8 liter SOHC NA 2WD,
5=Canadian 1.8 liter DOHC NA 2WD, 6=1.8 liter DOHC NA 2WD,
7=Canadian 1.8 liter SOHC NA 4WD, 8=1.8 liter SOHC NA 4WD
2nd generations: 1=1.5 liter, 2=1.8 liter, 3=1.5 liter w/o airbag, 4=1.8 liter w/o airbag
3rd generations: 1=1.8 liter, 2=1.6 liter, 3=1.8 liter w/side airbag, 4=1.6 liter
w/side airbag, 5=2.0 liter, 6=2.0 liter w/side airbag, 7=MP3/MazdaSpeed, 8=MazdaSpeed (w/side airbag)

Series numbers:
1st generations: 100001-400000: 1990-1991 models
400001-900000: 1992-1994 models
2nd generations: 100001-200000: 1995 models (BA body code)
300001-400000: 1996 models (BB body code)
100001-300000: 1997-1998 models (BC body code)
adjusted series in accordance to BHA chassis #: 100001-300000 (1995-1996 models), 300001-600000 (1997-1998 models)
3rd generations: 100001-400000: 1999-2000 models
400001-600000: 2001-2002 models


source: the FAQ

JJB

using the info in the FAQ decode the VINs:

J - Japan
M - Mazda
1 - car
BG - 1st gen
22 - 4 door
4 - 1.8 liter SOHC NA 2WD

and

J - Japan
M - Mazda
1 - car
BG - 1st gen
22 - 4 door
6 - 1.8 liter DOHC NA 2WD

then, continuing down the FAQ:

so, based on that, the first one is DX with the SOHC and the second one is a DX with the DOHC