Good shop for routine mechanical/maintenance on E90 M3 - Westside of Los Angeles?

[SM_M3]

Hi All: my dealer is Nick Alexander, but I'm out of warranty now and looking to use an independent shop. My old mechanics are at Specialists on Lincoln in Santa Monica, but they don't seem to know the new M3's. Does anyone have experience with a good independent shop for routine maintenance and scheduled work?

Thanks!

[Charlie@McKennaBMWService]

Originally Posted by SM_M3

Hi All: my dealer is Nick Alexander, but I'm out of warranty now and looking to use an independent shop. My old mechanics are at Specialists on Lincoln in Santa Monica, but they don't seem to know the new M3's. Does anyone have experience with a good independent shop for routine maintenance and scheduled work?

Thanks!

Might be a drive but Joe @ Trinity, or LTBMW.

[Koy]

gt international
2221 Colby Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90064
john or richard

[Sandye90m3]

Not trying to hijack, but can someone recommend a shop in OC for routine maintenance as well??

[sensi09]

Not the westside, but if you don't find something to your liking closer, I'd consider avus autosport and the M shop.

[kchu221]

AUTOTALENT

20780 Leapwood AVE
Carson, CA 90746
(310) 231-7800

all three of their techs, Zolti, Danny, and Koji are fanstastic at what they do and i wouldnt trust anyone else!

[PandaM3]

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

Not trying to hijack, but can someone recommend a shop in OC for routine maintenance as well??

I need an OC shop too. I've called the ones on Yelp as well as a few other recommended BMW shops, but none can give me a straight answer as far as what maintenance my car needs and what the cost is.

I call the shops asking what's the cost of oil change, spark plugs, steering fluid flush, brake fluid flush, trans flush, and diff flush... And they all can't give me an answer... Instead they all say bring the car in for a diagnostic as the computer tells you what it needs. I tell them I bought the car used, I don't know what the previous service history is, and I plan to track the car once a month so I can't go by BMW's recommended schedule. So they tell me the computer tells me when the plugs where last changed, when the steering/ trans/ diff fluids where changed, and all I need to do is follow what it says.

Why can't a shop just tell me how much the above services are out here in south Orange County?!?!?

I looked up the diy's and they all seem easy enough except the plugs since I don't have the right tools for that...

I might just do the maintenance myself since I have the advantage of working on my schedule, I can ensure my own QC, I can ensure I'm using the right parts and fluids.

I want to use the place near where I work, but they couldn't even tell me what oil I needed or how frequent the plugs need changing.

[hifiguy]

there's also Rhythm and Speed

1934 Cotner Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 444-7986

[fastmike]

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

Not trying to hijack, but can someone recommend a shop in OC for routine maintenance as well??

Try Coast Motor Werk, they're a BMW/Mini only shop. They have two locations Huntington Beach and Irvine. High ratings on Yelp.

I got a PPI done at the Irvine location and chatted with the owner Ron for a while he seemed pretty knowledgeable. Prices seem pretty good and they seem pretty thorough. M3 oil change is about $208 and a battery was $250 iirc.

One thing to note is they geared towards OEM maintenance and repair. I asked if they could install aftermarket pads they didn't want to do it.

[Sandye90m3]

Originally Posted by PandaM3

I need an OC shop too. I've called the ones on Yelp as well as a few other recommended BMW shops, but none can give me a straight answer as far as what maintenance my car needs and what the cost is.

I call the shops asking what's the cost of oil change, spark plugs, steering fluid flush, brake fluid flush, trans flush, and diff flush... And they all can't give me an answer... Instead they all say bring the car in for a diagnostic as the computer tells you what it needs. I tell them I bought the car used, I don't know what the previous service history is, and I plan to track the car once a month so I can't go by BMW's recommended schedule. So they tell me the computer tells me when the plugs where last changed, when the steering/ trans/ diff fluids where changed, and all I need to do is follow what it says.

Why can't a shop just tell me how much the above services are out here in south Orange County?!?!?

I looked up the diy's and they all seem easy enough except the plugs since I don't have the right tools for that...

I might just do the maintenance myself since I have the advantage of working on my schedule, I can ensure my own QC, I can ensure I'm using the right parts and fluids.

I want to use the place near where I work, but they couldn't even tell me what oil I needed or how frequent the plugs need changing.

Originally Posted by fastmike

Try Coast Motor Werk, they're a BMW/Mini only shop. They have two locations Huntington Beach and Irvine. High ratings on Yelp.

I got a PPI done at the Irvine location and chatted with the owner Ron for a while he seemed pretty knowledgeable. Prices seem pretty good and they seem pretty thorough. M3 oil change is about $208 and a battery was $250 iirc.

One thing to note is they geared towards OEM maintenance and repair. I asked if they could install aftermarket pads they didn't want to do it.

I actually sent my friend to Coast Motor Werk to have his BMW 328i E46 serviced on. They replaced a sensor for $250 and he was out very quickly and he told me that they were very genuine and explained what was wrong with his car.

Also whenever I pass by there to fill up gas, I see the nicest BMW's some that are completely stock and some that are modded, which means they must be doing something right. They also have great reviews, so I'm thinking I will start servicing my car there. I will have to get my spark plugs changed next month and I will go to them because my dealer is charging me $600 to have them changed. Completely absurd, the spark plugs are ~$10 each, there isn't 60 cylinders -_-

[tightie]

Mini Corsa in North Hollywood.

Owner has a E90 M3. Tracks a ton. Real awesome guy, Danny.

[Charlie@McKennaBMWService]

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

Not trying to hijack, but can someone recommend a shop in OC for routine maintenance as well??

Joe @ Trinity Autosport, his shop is in Santa Ana/Irvine area.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by PandaM3

I need an OC shop too. I've called the ones on Yelp as well as a few other recommended BMW shops, but none can give me a straight answer as far as what maintenance my car needs and what the cost is.

We are your one-stop shop in OC:



european auto source
4015 E. Leaverton Court
Anaheim, CA 92807

Drop by and we'll be happy to show you around!

[meez]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

We are your one-stop shop in OC:



european auto source
4015 E. Leaverton Court
Anaheim, CA 92807

Drop by and we'll be happy to show you around!

I drive from Long Beach/Torrance to EAS for all my needs (an hour in traffic). They always take care of me, even if I show up @ 5pm on a Friday.

Everything that has been installed in my car has been installed by EAS. Very reasonable prices for labor, very laid back atmosphere (you can walk around and talk out of your ass), and even a comfortable waiting area.

It IS a drive from the Westside, but well worth it.

[PandaM3]

Gonna try a shop out in San Juan Capistrano (Star Motors)as its next to work... Will see how it is, but got a decent quote on the oil change and they told me the correct grade so will see how it goes.

Oil change quote is actually pretty good, but might be doing diff, trans, steering, and plugs on my own as the DIY's look easy enough.

The remainder of the fluids look just as easy as the oil change on the DIY's and since the car is up in the air... Would just need to drain the trans and diff from the bottom then fill from the top... But the cost differencial between steering/trans/diff fluid and labor is more than between the oil and labor so would rather just do that stuff on my own.

[aajami]

There was a shop in Torrance that had relocated from Hermosa Beach (corner of Pier Ave. and Sepulveda) back in 2009, but I forgot their name. Does anyone know which one I'm talking about?

[fastmike]

Originally Posted by aajami

There was a shop in Torrance that had relocated from Hermosa Beach (corner of Pier Ave. and Sepulveda) back in 2009, but I forgot their name. Does anyone know which one I'm talking about?

Status. they're in Gardena now. Are they any good?

[sensi09]

For the last two posts, in that area South bay autohaus gets lots of recommendations.

[J335Red]

MRF Engineering
25691 Atlantic Ocean Dr, Lake Forest, CA
949 233 0448

This shop is in Orange County


Great shop for
Any time of work. Ask for Malek really nice guy to work with also very good prices

[SM_M3]

Thanks for the messages. I looked at most of them. They all are worth checking out! Since I work in the South Bay, I'm narrowing this down to 3

gt international AUTOTALENT, South Bay Autohaus

Has anyone personally taken their E90 series M3's to these shops for routine maintenance?

Thanks again for the useful feedback and help!

[kchu221]

Originally Posted by SM_M3

Thanks for the messages. I looked at most of them. They all are worth checking out! Since I work in the South Bay, I'm narrowing this down to 3

gt international AUTOTALENT, South Bay Autohaus

Has anyone personally taken their E90 series M3's to these shops for routine maintenance?

Thanks again for the useful feedback and help!

auto talent is my go to shop for ANY work on my e92 m3!

[fastmike]

I've taken my car to South Bay Autohaus, talk to Qais he's a stand up guy. Seems very knowledgeable and doesn't try to push stuff that you don't need, unlike a dealer.

I talked to another guy there who had a supercharged e46 M3 and raved about the place.

I wouldn't hesitate to bring my car there.

Originally Posted by SM_M3

Thanks for the messages. I looked at most of them. They all are worth checking out! Since I work in the South Bay, I'm narrowing this down to 3

gt international AUTOTALENT, South Bay Autohaus

Has anyone personally taken their E90 series M3's to these shops for routine maintenance?

Thanks again for the useful feedback and help!