Confused! 4 Owner 2004 Model

K

kadro

Member
Ladies and Gents,

In a slight dilemma. I have my eye on a 2004 3.0 with less than 40k miles. It's in very good condition, however, it is on its forth owner...6 years with 4 owners...apparently each previous owner bought and sold it through BMW (can this be verified??)

I'd love to hear advice on what you experts would recommend. The last thing I would want is to struggle to sell it 2-3 years down the line because of the ownership situation.

Thanks!
 
Can't see a problem with it having 4 owners, the cars 6/7 years old with only 40k, just make sure its been maintained properly :thumbsup: mines just shy of 40k and its not even 3 years old now.
 
As Jan said - check it's been maintained properly. I think you, and future buyers will care more about spec and condition than no of owners.

Sounds like it's just been a couple of peoples weekend car.
 
It's fairly common for cars like the Z4 to change hands after a year or so, people realise they cannot live without 4 seats, or the boot just isnt big enough for example.

I was the same but bought a banger instead and kept the Z4 :D
 
Mine had 3, possible pre registered then changed hands twice in 2 and half years, I'm owner no. 4
 
Guys - thank you. Its certainly refreshing to hear. Everyone else I've spoken with has advised me against the car on the back of the ownership.

Feel free to keep the comments coming!

Thanks again.
 
Usually a high number of owners could be a cause for concern as it can indicate the car's a faulty example that so people keep selling it on. But like srhutch said, sports cars like the Z4 often change hands regularly so it shouldn't be a problem. As has already been said it's more important that it's in good condition and has a full service history.

I've just bought my '03 with 45k that's had 4 previous owners.
 
Is 4 owners alot for a 6 year old car nowadays?

I would say its average.. Performance car's generaly have more owners than car's more of the norm
 
Matty said:
Usually a high number of owners could be a cause for concern as it can indicate the car's a faulty example that so people keep selling it on. But like srhutch said, sports cars like the Z4 often change hands regularly so it shouldn't be a problem. As has already been said it's more important that it's in good condition and has a full service history.
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I think this is something that was more common in times gone by...

It's a bit like the reputation certain brands have for rusting (FIAT) or being soviet bloc rubbish (Skoda). Pretty much irrelevant in 2010!

I'm third owner of my 08:

BMW registered, then first owner 2 weeks later (who sold due to pregnancy), then me 2 years later.
 
As said above, good servicing and full records is more important than # of owners. It is possible that some of those owners were a garage registration, once they get added as an owner rather than a garage/seller i doubt they can remove it from the dvla. There could be a number of reasons people get rid of it soon:
1) They buy the car before thinking about fuel / servicing costs
2) They buy before checking insurance
3) Fast car could mean lost license so sell up rather than keep car stored for x months
4) Not big enough for their day to day uses
5) Flash car means they dont stay single very long and sooner or later need to increase luggage space to accomodate the other half :rofl:


Ive recently bought an '03 with 70k and 4 prior owners. As long as its in good nic and HPI check confirms the owner number and you have stamped book it should be fine.
 
My car had quite a few owners before I bought it - It bothered me a the time but as it had all the BMW dealer stamps in the book I took the plunge.

It seems that a lot of people buy with the heart and not the head !
 
kadro said:
Ladies and Gents,

In a slight dilemma. I have my eye on a 2004 3.0 with less than 40k miles. It's in very good condition, however, it is on its forth owner...6 years with 4 owners...apparently each previous owner bought and sold it through BMW (can this be verified??)

I'd love to hear advice on what you experts would recommend. The last thing I would want is to struggle to sell it 2-3 years down the line because of the ownership situation.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's condition and history that's all important. Follow the check list in my signature which covers most things when buying pre-owned.
 
mine has had a number of owners before me (i forget how many but either 3 or 4) and I bought it at 2.5 years old... Ive had next to no trouble with it :D

as others have just check it has been maintained properly and looks and feels 'right' - not a quantifiable measure I know...
 
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