I just bought a used BMW and wanted to know the best place to take it for maintenance/future repairs (non-dealership if possible). I'm in the Moore, Oklahoma area. I love BMWs for their styling and the way they drive but I'll be honest, I know NOTHING about engines, etc. I'm the perfect candidate for overpaying for unnecessary repairs.
I just need someone who is honest and fair with price.

Since I brought the car home I have noticed half-dollar sized drops of oil in my garage. They are located toward the front of the car about 10 inches to the right of the driver's side wheel. I've done forum searches and read many "oil leak" posts and I'm going to try and locate it myself (unless I can bribe one of our local members with some cash to meet up and help me look :D ).

I'm planning on starting with the "easy-cheap" fixes like the dipstick o-ring gasket, etc.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Paul

My preferred shop (if I can't fix it myself ) is Gearhead tech, who did a BMWCCA tech session last year. Located in the industrial park just south of tecumseh just east of the railroad tracks. I used to take it to bavarian Autohaus on I-35 near Moore. David there is a pretty good guy but I had a bad experience there. I suspect you will hear both good and bad reviews of them.

Chances are your oil leak is from the oil filter housing. It might either be cracked, or you need a new filter o-ring.

I dont know of any indy shops in Oklahoma, just the dealer in Tulsa.

Kyle

if you can take it to the north side, i recommend Penn Automotive. there is a new shop in Moore next to the new Theater close to 19th. bryan and ryan have good reviews on this shop. Gearhead Tech is ok too. i did however take my car there and they used an ungodly amount of rtv gasket maker on almost everything they touched. but they fixed my problem.

Thank you everyone! Now I have to figure which one to use. I'll probably try the new shop in Moore. Do you know the actual name of it, Jed?

there is also eurosport that just opened in norman, it is owned by a local cardiovascular surgeon who has worked with a lot of the doctors i work with. they have all given me good reviews on him and he has supposedly hired some very good bmw techs.

it is located right next to the movie theater in norman off of I-35.

There is a shop here in Tulsa called Benzin Motorwerks... they do work on Mercedes, Hummer, and BMW... they are all certified mechanics and are pretty reasonably priced.

I would agree with Jed about Penn Automotive. My dad and I have been there a few times whenever we had questions about my car or my brothers and he has always given us good advice. A really good machine shop is Sims automotive which is somewhere in downtown okc, I worked a little with him when I rebuild my motor and he was very Knowledgeable, he is also the guy jcbmw goes to.

Thanks guys! It's nice to know there are so many options available for service. I didn't realize there were so many so close to where I live. I really appreciate the advice!

My goal for this year is to learn everything I can about the engine in my car so I can work on some things myself.

Paul

there is also eurosport that just opened in norman, it is owned by a local cardiovascular surgeon who has worked with a lot of the doctors i work with. they have all given me good reviews on him and he has supposedly hired some very good bmw techs.

it is located right next to the movie theater in Norman off of I-35.

Which doc? Just wondering since my wife is a nurse and familiar with most of the Docs around here. It's not Dr. Crook is it? or Sellars?

I would add a third vote for Penn Auto. Took my wife's 525i there for a diag and O2 (yeah, I know, but too cold to lay on the driveway). Clutch failed on the drive there, so we limped it in.

For .5 hour diag / O2 sensor / Clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing / Rear trans mount (broken) / 2 Rear bushings / Carrier Bearing (PO tried welding it...yikes) and shifter bushings it was $1200 and done the next day. He also told me to call if I was working on something at home and needed help, he would help over the phone, no charge. Nice guy, great service!

I've had more than my fair share of oil leaks at least on an E36.

I'd say dipstick o-ring, oil filter housing gasket, or the vanos solenoid o-ring be primary locations for leakage. I had massive blow-by and as a result all the first weak links that could leak/blow out....did. Those were my primary gremlins when it came to places oil actually leaked/spewed out of. There really isn't a ton of gaskets that are directly related to oil on these motors. I've not heard much about actual cracking of anything that would cause it.

Beyond that.....what everyone else said about shops.

there is also eurosport that just opened in norman, it is owned by a local cardiovascular surgeon ......
My wife's guess is that it's Dr. Toll. Is she right?

nah its not Toal, Crooks, or Sellars. hes an older doc that used to work with the Baptist and OHH guys. i forgot his name but, ill ask and let you know. im pretty sure it starts with an H. hes retired now.

also, for everyones viewing pleasure, dr. chen's ferrari is at eurosport parked on the showroom. hehehe

+1 for EuroSport, great shop.