Any windows experts out there

[Innuendo]

Leroy,

Use an Asterisk * in place of your x

So you could have

HQ L234*** 80270
HQ L234567 80270
HQ L234568 80270
HQ L234569 80270
HQ L234570 80270

They should sort in the order you require.

Hmm, I just reread your problem. You can't use a symbol in a file image naming format but you can use it via "tags" as I thought you were asking.
Then realised you actually mean VIN tags. This being the case you will need to introduce some other method.