help - how can i tell if my mx5 IS a japanese import

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 Hi i have just bought a mazda mx5 (1.6, 1998 mark 2) and according to the garage i bought it from they say its a eunos roadster mx 5 - japanese import, but when i went to halfords yesterday, the guy there says its a uk spec and not an import - HELP. how can i check to see if it is a proper import or not.  I havent got the logbook details back yet.

Please advise this very confused member.

Regards

Debbie

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 Hi Debbie, How did you manage to insure it without knowing what it is? The insurance company should know as soon as you give them the reg number.

Anyway let`s start with the visuals. What do the badges say on the back of the car? Mazda MX5 or Eunos Roadster?

Is the rear number plate the usual UK shape or square shaped?

Are the sunvisors one piece (uk) or split / folding style (import)

Is the indicator stalk on usual UK side or the opposite side? You would soon know as you would have turned on the wipers when cornering 100 times by now i would think.

There is a label inside the drivers door…Any info on there?

Others will be along with better ways to tell for sure but that`s a start.

Any pictures or a link to the advert?

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The vin number is the giveaway, JMZ = UK car, NA/NB = Japanese car—

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 Not sure but I think a lot of the telltale signs that were obvious were not carried over to the Mk2 - and the indicators are on the same side whether UKor import anyway. (We have both).

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 If it is a Mk2 it will have an NB chassis no!

Not all Mk2 imports have the indicator stalk on the left- mine is on the right

 

It would be a Mazda Roadster (not Eunos)

Sicker in the door will be in Japanese, not english

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imports ussually have eunos badge on rear of car and they have electric windows powered steering. air con. speakers in head rests.

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Thanks for that

There are no speakers in the headrests and it says roadster at the back.

All stickers, info etc is in japaanese and it has electric windows etc.

Indicator arm isd on my right near the window and washers on the left.

It gets very confusing to say the least.

Debbie

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Hi Debbie

Easy way to tell.

Open the bonnet and look at the bodywork just behind the engine. There will be a small plate facing the front of the car. On this plate will be a number, this is the VIN. As Geoff states above, a number that starts with JMZ is a British MX5, if the number starts with NA (MK1) or NB (MK2), then it is an import.

 

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Unless its an Irish or Cypriot import. Some Mazda dealers and non-franchised places were importing non-UK spec cars from these places. They were EU spec, but there were some tiny trim differences.

 

Gets even worse with the handful of Hong Kong MX5s in the UK; externally, identical to a UK car, including a rear foglight. Some were badged “MX5 V-spec”. Internally, some are more like a Roadster, complete with nardi steering wheels etc. And then rumours abound that Mk2 HK MX5s were all automatics, fitted with a Mk1 1.8 engine. Not sure of the VIN system used.

 

Australian MX5s; early ones had a square rear plate, later ones, rectangular. they had their own VIN system as well.

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wow I never new that. Found out mine Japanese import. I have only had it for 10 years LOL

Thanks

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It’s a Mazda Roadster then , and was first sold in Japan (same as mine!)

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Gary, you only put that photo in so you could show off your engine bay…again!

Wasn’t pride of place i this months STHT enough? Wink