I have finally found all the info

Im sick of seeing everyone with their "i own a 94 prelude bb(something)" and always being wrong....so, here is how to read a vin code and what all the letters and numbers mean

Cars of year: 1983 - 1989


1st POSITION NATION OF ORIGIN
1 = USA
2 = Canada
3 = Mexico
J = Japan
K = Korea
V = France

2nd POSITION MANUFACTURER
H = Honda

3rd POSITION VEHICLE TYPE
M = Passenger Car, Built in Japan
G = Passenger Car, Built in USA/Canada

4th & 5th POSITION, 1983 BODY TYPE
SR = Sedan
WR = Wagon

4th & 5th POSITION, 1984-86 BODY TYPE I ENGINE
AD = Accord
AE = Prelude Sedan
AE = Civic, l300cc CRX
AF = Civic, l500cc CRX
AG = Civic, 1300cc 3 door
AH = Civic, l500cc 3 door
AK = Civic, 1500cc 4 door
AN = Civic, Wagon
AR = Civic, Wagon 4X4
BA = Accord

6th POSITION, 1983-86 TRANSMISSION CODE
2 = Semi-Hondamatic
3 = 3 Speed Automatic
4 = 4 Speed Manual
5 = 5 Speed Manual
6 = 5 Speed Manual-Super Low Gear
7 = 4 Speed Automatic

4th Thru 6th POSITION, 1987-89
CAR LINE/ENGINE
BA3 = Prelude SI
BA4 = Prelude 2.0L
BA8 = Prelude
CA5 = Accord
CA6 = Accord coupe
ECI = Civic CRX
EC2 = Civic 1300
EC3 = Civic 1500
EC4 = Civic4 DoorSedan
EC5 = Civic Wagon
EC6 = Civic Wagon 4X4
ED3 = Civic Sedan 1.5L (1988)
ED6 = Civic Hatchback 1.5L (1988)
ED7 = Civic Hatchback 1.6L (1988)
ED8 = Civic CRX 1.5L (1988)
ED9 = Civic CRX 1.6L (1988)
EE2 = Civic Wagon 1.5L (1988)
EE4 = Civic Wagon 1.6L (1988)
EY1 = Civic Wagovan
EY3 = Civic Wagovan 1.5L

7th POSITION, 1983-86 BODY TYPE
2 = 2 Door
3 = 3 Door
4 = 4 Door
5 = 5 Door

7th POSITION, 1987-89 BODY TYPE AND TRANSMISSION
1 = 2 Door Sedan, Manual
2 = 2 Door Sedan, Automatic
3 = 2 Door Hatchback, Manual
4 = 2 Door Hatchback, Auto
5 = 4 Door Sedan, Manual
6 = 4 Door Sedan, Automatic
7 = 4 Door Wagon, Manual
8 = 4 Door Wagon, Automatic

8th POSiTION GRADE
1 = Basic, HF
2 = Standard, DX
3 = GL, GLS, LX
4 = Lxi, SI
5 = Special
6 = Accord Hatchback
7 = Accord Hatchback & LXI

8th POSiTION GRADE, 1988-1989
2 = DX Accord Manual seat belt
2 = S Prelude Automatic ("passive") seat belt
3 = LX Accord Manual seat belt
3 = Si Prelude Automatic ("passive") seat belt
4 = LXi Accord Manual seat belt
4 = (std) Civic Hatchback Manual seat belt
4 = DX Civic Sedan Manual seat belt
4 = (std) Civic Wagovan Manual seat belt
4 = Si Prelude w/optional 4WS Automatic ("passive") seat belt
5 = DX Civic Hatchback Manual seat belt
5 = LX Civic Sedan Manual seat belt
5 = (std) Civic CRX Manual seat belt
5 = (std) '89 Civic CRX Automatic ("passive") seat belt
5 = (std) Civic Wagon Manual seat belt
5 = SEi Accord Manual seat belt
6 = DX Accord Automatic ("passive") seat belt
6 = HF Civic CRX Manual seat belt
6 = Si Civic CRX Manual seat belt
6 = Si '89 Civic CRX Automatic ("passive") seat belt
6 = Si Civic Hatchback Manual seat belt
6 = RTi Civic Wagon 4WD Manual seat belt
8 = LXi Accord Automatic ("passive") seat belt

9th POSITION CHECK DIGIT

10th POSITION MODEL YEAR
D = 1983
S = 1984
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989

11th POSITION ASSEMBLY PLANT
A = Marysville, Ohio, USA
C = Saitama, Japan
H = Alliston, Canada
L = S. Liberty, USA
S = Suzuka, Japan
T = Tochigi, Japan

12th Thru 17th POSITION PRODUCTION SEOUENCE NUMBER
This number starts at 000001 with the first car.


Car of year: 1990 - 1998


1st POSITION NATION OF ORIGIN
1 = USA
2 = Canada
3 = Mexico
J = Japan
K = Korea
V = France

2nd POSITION MANUFACTURER
H = Honda

3rd POSITION VEHICLE TYPE
M = Passenger Car, Built in Japan
G = Passenger Car, Built in USA/Canada
L = Multi purpose passenger vehicle

4th Thru 6th POSITION
CAR LINE I ENGINE
BA4 = Prelude, 2.0/2.1L
BA8 = Prelude, 2.2L
BB1 = Prelude VTEC, 2.2L
BB2 = Prelude, 2.3L
BB6 = Prelude 2-door
CB7 = Accord, 2.2L
CB9 = Accord Wagon, 2.2L
CD5 = Accord 4 Door 2.2L
CD7 = Accord 2 Door 2.2L
CE1 = Accord Wagon 2.2L
CE6 = Accord V6 4 Door 2.7L
CF8 = Accord 4 Door SOHC
CG1 = Accord 4 Door V6 VTEC
CG2 = Accord 2 Door V6 VTEC
CG3 = Accord 2 Door (VTEC or ULEV)
CG5 = Accord 4 Door VTEC
CG6 = Accord 4 Door ULEV
ED3 = Civic4 Door, 1.5L
ED4 = Civic 4 Door, 1.6L
ED6 = Civic 3 Door, 1.5L
ED7 = Civic3 Door, 1.6L
ED8 = CRX, 1.5L
ED9 = CRX, 1.6L
EE2 = Civic Wagon, 1.5L
EE4 = Civic Wagon, 1.6L
EG1 = Civic del Sol, 1.5L
EG2 = Civic del Sol VTEC 1.6L
EG8 = Civic 4 Door, 1.5L
EH2 = Civic 3 Door, 1.5L
EH3 = Civic 3 Door, 1.6L
EH6 = Civic del So, 1.6L
EH9 = Civic 4 Door, 1.6L
EJ1 = Civic2 Door, 1.6L
EJ2 = Civic2 Door, 1.5L
EJ6 = Civic 2/3/4 Door 1.6L
EJ7 = Civic 2 Door 1.6L
EJ8 = Civic 2/3 Door 1.6L
RA1 = Odyssey
RA3 = Odyssey 5 Door Wagon (1998)
RD1 = CR-V 5-door (4 Wheel drive)
RD2 = CR-V 5-door (2 Wheel drive)

7th POSITION BODY TYPE I TRANSMISSION
1 = 2 Door Coupe, Manual
2 = 2 Door Coupe, Automatic
3 = 3 Door Hatchback, Manual
4 = 3 Door Hatchback, Automatic
5 = 4 Door Sedan, Manual
6 = 4 Door Sedan, Automatic
7 = 5 Door Wagon, Manual
8 = 5 Door Wagon, Automatic

8th POSITION GRADE, 1990-1993
1 = 2.0S Prelude
2 = 2.0S Prelude
3 = 2.1S Prelude
4 = 2.1 Si Prelude w/4W5
4 = DX Accord
4 = (Std) Civic 3 Door
4 = CX Civic 3 Door (1992)
4 = DX Civic
4 = S Prelude (92-93)
4 = S Civic del Sol (1993)
5 = 2.1Si Prelude
5 = LX Accord
5 = CX Civic (1993)
5 = DX Civic3 Door
5 = EX Civic2 Door (1993)
5 = LX Civic4 Door
5 = (Std)CRX
5 = (Std) Civic Wagon (2WD)
6 = DX Civic 3 Door (1993)
6 = DC Accord
6 = EXCivic4 Door
6 = EXCivic2Door(1993)
6 = SiCivic3 Door
6 = Si Prelude wl4WS (92-93)
6 = Si Civic del Sol (1993)
6 = HFCRX
6 = Si QRX
6 = ATi Civic Wagon (4WD)
6 = VX Civic 3 Door (1992)
7 = EX Accord (92-93)
7 = VX Civic (1993)
7 = VTEC Prelude(1993)
8 = SE Accord
8 = Si Civic 3 Door (92-93)
9 = EX Civic 4 Door (92-93)
9 = 10th Anniversary Accord

8th POSITION GRADE, 1994-1998
0 = Accord SE 2/4 Door
0 = Civic LX
1 = Accord DX w/ABS 2/4-door
2 = Accord DX 2/4-door
2 = Civic CX 3-door
2 = Civic DX 2-door
2 = Civic EX 2-door
2 = Civic HX
2 = Civic CVT
2 = Accord Wagon LX
3 = Civic CX w/AC 3-door
3 = Civic DX w/AC 4-door
3 = Civic EX w/ABS 2-door
3 = Civic LX
3 = Accord LX 2/4-door
3 = Accord Wagon LX w/ABS
3 = Accord w/ABS V6
4 = Civic DX 4-door
4 = Civic EX 2/4 Door
4 = CR-V w/o ABS
4 = Accord DX 4-Door (1998)
4 = Accord LX w/ABS 2/4-door
4 = Civic Del Sol S
4 = Odyssey LX 6 Passenger
4 = Prelude S
4 = Prelude VTEC (1997)
4 = w/o SH pkg. Prelude (1998)
4 = CR-V LX (1998)
5 = Civic CX 3-door
5 = Accord EX 2/4-door
5 = Civic LX 4-door
5 = Civic DX w/AC
5 = Civic EX a/ABS 2-door
5 = CR-V w/ABS
5 = Prelude Si
5 = Prelude SH (1997)
6 = Civic DX 3-door
6 = Accord E w/leather 2/4-door
6 = Civic LX w/ABS 4-door
6 = Civic Del Sol Si
6 = Odyssey LX 7 Passenger
6 = Prelude 4WS Si
6 = CR-V EX (1998)
7 = Odyssey EX
7 = Accord EX
7 = Accord EX ULEV (1998)
7 = Civic LX w/AC
7 = Civic Del Sol Si/wABS
7 = Civic Del Sol VTEC
7 = Prelude VTEC
7 = Civic VX 3-door
8 = Civic Si 3-door
8 = Civic LX w/ABS
8 = Accord DX 25th Anniv.Edition
9 = Accord Wagon EX
9 = Accord Value Package 4 Door
9 = Civic Del Sol LX w/ABS
9 = Civic Del Sol Si w/ABS
9 = Civic Del Sol VTEC w/ABS
9 = Civic Si w/ABS 3-door
9 = Civic EX 4-door

9th POSITION CHECK DIGIT

10th POSITION MODEL YEAR
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998

11th POSITION ASSEMBLY PLANT
A = Marysville, Ohio, USA
C = Sayama, Japan
H = Alliston, Canada
L = East Liberty, USA
S = Suzuka, Japan
T = Tochigi, Japan

12th Thru 17th POSITION PRODUCTION SEQUENCE NUMBER
This number starts at 000001 with the first car.

--Matt

 

So I have:

Origin - Japan
Make - Honda
Type - Passenger car built in Japan
Line - Prelude 2.3L
Body/transmission - 2 door coupe, manual
Grade - not listed (number is 5, but it's not listed in the 90-93 code list)
Year - 1992
Assembled in - Sayama, Japan

Sounds good to me


Modified by InvaderTrax at 11:46 PM 12/27/2005

 

Good stuff!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by InvaderTrax &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So I have:

...

Sounds good to me</TD></TR></TABLE>

So you just posted your VIN number. Smart

 

Good info.

 

There IS a BB4....I had a JDM VIN plate that said so....might even still be in my wallet!

 

Yet another useful yet time consuming creationg from Matt.

Much appreciated. 1 vote for putting this in the FAQ

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The Phil &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So you just posted your VIN number. Smart </TD></TR></TABLE>

I needed a new VIN number too, the marshalls were on to me

Good write up, or cut and paste skills, none the less

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4bidden &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There IS a BB4....I had a JDM VIN plate that said so....might even still be in my wallet!</TD></TR></TABLE>

do you know anything about the car it came off of??

 

BB4=JDM Si VTEC
there's also
BB3= Euro 2.0 SOHC

 

Cool, my car was made in Sayama, Japan.

 

Is that only true for USDM Preludes?

According to this site (which I really have no verification of its accuracy),

http://alljapanesecars.com/vie...c=BB4

, there is a BB4. But these are all JDM Preludes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
SO THERE IS NO DAMN BB4 PRELUDE!!!!!!!!! If anyone wants to argue this, i want to see a picture of a bb4 vin stamp.

--Matt</TD></TR></TABLE>


bb4 is the japanese market 91-95 vtec model

 

jhmbb6

 

your list doesnt contain bb4 because it doesnt contain any japanese market vin codes.

no eg6
no ef9

no bb4

 

@BB4

the black prelude in your gallery is not a bb4 the bb4 was just built as a RHD and with h22a on your pictures i see a LHD and a SI gauge

i have a JDM RHD BB4 and my interieur (seats,climate control) looks different i have black/red seats and no sunroof

 

I doubt your list is complete, and here is a BB4 VIN should you doubt people like Japanpower



and as pentaq said, there is also a BB3... i know this first hand because i drive one.

 

who can tell me why the bb4 has a different vin plate then other preludes from edm or usdm ?
my vin dont starts with JHMBB
im from germany and my honda dealer never seen this before

@arisen devil
bb3 is a very good car its a liitle bit slow but mileages over 200.000 mls are no problem for this engine. im driving a bb3 too for winter season since 6 years and it runs very good never had problems with it it has now over 140k and my girlfirend has a white bb3 that we imported from italy and her car has only 15.000 mls (23.000 km) and its a 1994
my bb4 is my summer car since this year with 30.000 mls . in the first few days it was a little bit hard to drive with a RHD in germany but now i love it

 

European dealers didn't see much

Japan VINs are not VINs in the meaning of international standards. Maybe because those cars are not meant to leave the country at all?

I wonder how it looks with Australian cars (I mean Japanese ones produced for Australian market)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

SO THERE IS A DAMN BB4 PRELUDE!!!!!!!!! If anyone wants to argue this, i will show you a picture of a bb4 vin stamp.

--Matt</TD></TR></TABLE>

Fixed that for ya....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Japanpower &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">@BB4

the black prelude in your gallery is not a bb4 the bb4 was just built as a RHD and with h22a on your pictures i see a LHD and a SI gauge

i have a JDM RHD BB4 and my interieur (seats,climate control) looks different i have black/red seats and no sunroof</TD></TR></TABLE>
yea i know i never said it was a bb4, its obviously a bb2 with a h22a swap, but post pics of your seats, im interested in seeing how they look.

 

hi here are 2 pics from my bb4 i bought the bb4 on 12.12.05 but now it is sleeping in the garage i bought it in the uk with 30 k
the car weight is 2720 lbs and has no ABS no Airbags no 4ws and no sunroof just LSD and a fantastic fast engine
the seats are looking in reality a lot of better than on the pictures




im looking for a gauges that shows miles and kilometers and would trade it against my JDM gauge with mile converter the gauge was a 200 km that is converted into 200 mls

 

Crazy stuff, my bb1 jdm front clip had no abs also, i've never seen that steering wheel before, the one from my clip is leather and has 4 horn buttons and no srs.

 

sick, those seats and steering wheel are nice!

 

thank you
but i have to replace the steering wheel because its very hard to enter the prelude from the right side
the cockpit on the right side is smaller then on a LHD prelude

@BB4
your prleude looks very nice
do you have rota´s on it ? which size is it ? do you still have 205-55-15 on it ?

looks really nice i think my bb4 will have the same style
deep , black wheels and carbon fiber lip PERFECT