MX-5 OC Forum

Hi there, i recently took my Eunos down to mx5 parts to get a new hood fitted and they commented that they thought my 5 was a limited edition. The info sticker on the inside of the drivers door however appears to have been rubbed out and a few original features were potentially missing, (15" bbs alloys). Is there anyway of finding out if it is by the chasis number or any other way. I did find some info on the 'dandycars' website which suggested it could be a RS Limited edition. Colour match, Bilstein shocks and chrome speaker surrounds are all correct however mine is a 95 and the spec said 94. Any info on how i could find out would be much appreciated, cheers.

If you can get any codes off the driver's door sticker, I might be able to work out the spec for you'; I have been working on a spreadsheet for a while, based on the specific Mazda Japan model codes.

However, if it is an RS-Limited, there is a specific range of applicable VINs; NA8C-300001-310000. Note, RS-Limiteds were not built with consecutive VINs.

If its a RS-Limited, it should also have Recaro seats (if these are missing, expect to pay up to £1000 for a pair of used seats), a yellow engine strut brace (upto £100 used) and a front lip spoiler(£150). Like other cars of the period, the door trims will have the "short" style of door trim, and the carpet will have a loop pile. The rear "Roadster" badge will have a red script. All RS-Limiteds had power mirrors as standard.

However, Montego Blue M8 was a recycled in a later model of S-Special.

Late 1995, the series 2 Roadster came out; still a mk1, but with trim changes, engine changes and some other bits and pieces. These cars were NA8C-400001 and up. The later montego blue S-Special Type II had: manual mirrors (power mirrors optional0, stainless steel kick plate, black engine strut brace, Bilsteins and 15" Bilsteins. On the drivers door sticker, the bit where is says which edition it is is blank.

RS Limited model spec; N041. Later S-Spec I/II;  N044. But if these aren't visible, other codes help. The seat type for a RS should be STE, but STA for the later S-Spec (those with an earlier car, don't get too excited if you have STE; Mazda recycled the seat codes depending on the year. STE was also used on early non-body Sonic S-Special seats).

Word of slight caution though; I was aware of a few years back about a 1995 Montego Blue roadster sold by Zen Motors in Birmingham. Very dodgy cut n shut; it had all the features of the earlier type of car, but a chassis number that had been stamped over, and a screw on plate indicating it was supposed to be a 1993 silver car (but everything was blue under the carpets). It was fitted with aftermarket Enkeis, but otherwise was mechanically standard.

Thanks alot. I'll see what info i can get hold of. 

Hi again, i have just been out to have a look at the codes etc. The VIN is NA8C-400098. Model- E-NA8C M8. It has a black engine brace and the roadster badge is in green writing. I also managed to get off of the drivers side sticker Model Spec- N044 but couldn't read any numbers after and the seat type is STA. Many thanks for your help and if there is any more info you would like for your data base then let me know,cheers, Justin

Yeah, you have a phase 2 NA8C Roadster S-Special. It would have had either 14" or 15" BBS wheels, depending on whether it was a S-Special Type I or Type II. One day, I'll have that spec figured (how to tell what the car was originally, after the BBS wheels have gone walkies)..

What your car should have:

1. 1996-1998 style seats; these have a normal high back, but the squab is a bit shorter than earlier cars.

2. The carpet will be a fuzzy type of carpet, repeated in the boot. The door pulls will be the longer type, the same as was fitted to 89-93 cars. If you have a hood cover, its probably missing the securing straps that were fitted to earlier cars.

3. The steering wheel should be a Momo, but of a modern design. The car should have a stitched black leather Nardi gear knob.

4. The car has a 4.300 Torsen Type 2 LSD; the RS had a 4.300 Torsen Type 1 LSD. There is no practical difference really in how they feel.

5. It will have the same lightened flywheel as the RS.

6. As part of the Series 2 upgrades, the ECU became 16-bit (partly to accomodate OBD-II in the US). The compression of the engine was raised. These changes resulted in the power output  being bumped up by about 5hp, to 135hp. So these cars are ever so slightly quicker than the RS-Limited. The Series 2 engines can be recognised by plain camcover bolts (not chromed) and a plastic camcover breather pipe.

It will help my database if you could supply the number after "Katasiki-Ruibetsu", it its visible. Can you see N044-31F after "Model Spec". I'm working from a Japanese parts catalogue.

 A very informative thread !

Thanks very much, it really is great to know what car it is i have. Unfortunately alot of what you have specified is missing, alloy wheels, steering wheel, gearknob, hood cover. All as you say have gone walkies. I wouldn't be able to comment on the seats and door pulls as i'm a bit wet behind the ears with all this stuff but i am slowly learning and it's great to know that there are people on this sight who are always more than willing to share info. I think i managed to see a '3' after the N044 on the model spec but i'll have another butchers at it tom and see if i can make out anymore. Cheers, Justin

If you were being really pedantic, you can order a fresh door sticker from mazda for about £50, if you give them the VIN.

Your car would have had this type of steering wheel:

These are the standard style of seats for this model, and also shows the door pull style (this car is a 1997 standard car, hence the additional door pocket, and the standardised Momo wheel):

Note the wear on the seat; the fabric was particularly weak on this style of seat, but was harder wearing on the earlier style.

This is an earlier S-Special; see the difference in the seat squab style, and the shorter door pull (and these cars also had a door pocket as standard)

Thanks for the pics, I'm learning every day at the moment. I've also managed to check the model spec and i can make out a '31F'(maybeB). Hope this helps.