2004 BMW Z3 Log Book inconsistencies

[GazHyde]

Had a post earlier this evening on one of the Z3 Facebook groups I run. A guy came on to see if we could give him a price on what his Z3 was worth as he was looking to sell it one.

The main issue is that his Z3 has a 2004 registration - never seen or heard of anything past a 2003 reg. On delving a bit more in to the details he posted this photo of his V5, and to me something doesn't seem right. I don't in anyway think the guy is being anything other than genuine, and he has been completely honest with everything we have asked him so far.

Realoem.com (and another VIN decoder) shows the production date as 12/2001.

Anyone know where section D.4 Wheelplan is correct for a Z3? My logbook shows 2-AXLE-RIGID BODY

We have directed him to his local BMW dealer to get them to give the car a look over, and then to call the DVLA and see if they can sort out the confusion.

Any comments/suggestions for this guy? Could this be an import?

 

[badman gee]

Hope it's not a cut and shut!

 

[DivideBYZero]

We'll, 34 were registered in 2004, and 26 in 2005. Weird ish happens.

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/bmw_z3#!newreg

 

[hard top]

Think it is an import.

 

[GazHyde]

Think it is an import.

Looks like you are correct. Just been chatting with the owner, who showed me another section on his log book which showed it has a SVA/IVA Certificate.

He has spoken to BMW today who have answered the question. It was indeed manufacture in 2001 and shipped to India where it sat in a car showroom undriven (hence low mileage). It was then "imported" in to the UK in 2004 (must have been given an SVA/IVA at that time).

It's a bit odd having it with an 04 plate though, but I'm guessing they argued it hadn't been sold so was first registration since build?

Hopefully that answers all the questions we asked last night @Aceman & @pete59 !

 

[Brian H]

Only just seen this, I came accross a Z3M a couple of years ago with the same issue, it turned out to be an import. Getting the history for an imported car is really hard so Ieft it well alone.

 

[Aceman]

Interesting tale Gary, I guess it has travelled a fair few more miles than the odometer mileage suggests then without even turning a wheel.

 

[zedonist]

You always get cars like this at face lift or model change, as most people want the newer version or latest car such as the Z4 the old ones languish in the sales compound, but you can get some great deals if you buy like this, there was a big argument on .net about a pre facelift with a 2000 reg number, so dont show them this, they will insist it is a ringer.