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Thread: What mechanic shops do you recommend in San Diego?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    '95 325i Convertible

    Question What mechanic shops do you recommend in San Diego?

    Just bought my first BMW ('95 325i convertible) and am looking for some good mechanics to do the maintenance work. I've been to German Motors and Imports on Turquoise in North PB and wasn't that impressed with the quality of work or that the final price was almost double what I was quoted. La Jolla Independent BMW Service on La Jolla Blvd. seems better but really big on preventive items that may not need to be done. I looked on Yelp and found good reviews on Boulevard Automotive (another shop on Turquoise in North PB).

    There are things that need attention on my car so I'd like to go ahead and find an honest and reasonable priced shop to start taking my business to vs. going with a hit-or-miss approach.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    805
    My Cars
    88 M3(sold)
    Try Apex Engineering in Kearney Mesa.
    Current

    2006 Land Rover LR3
    1988 M3 Track Car

    Past

    88 M3
    99 M3
    91 325i
    00 328i
    71 2002
    92 325i

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    I can do most maintenance/installs for cheap.

    If you want good indy, I'd recommend Marco Gentile (marco polo bmw) in La Jolla (858) 354-7800.
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  4. #4
    apexW36 is offline License Revoked Secret Santa Deadbeat
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    400
    My Cars
    E-fowdy sex
    Big Fish Motorsports in San Marcos maybe?


    www.bigfishmotorsports.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    865
    My Cars
    92 Miata
    Quote Originally Posted by Kaiv View Post
    I can do most maintenance/installs for cheap.

    If you want good indy, I'd recommend Marco Gentile (marco polo bmw) in La Jolla (858) 354-7800.
    I can recommend Kaiv, he just did my diff install this morning and did a great job!

    Official Off Topic Badass Club Member. Sean - 2 Cancer - 0

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Los Angeles
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    M2CS
    Quote Originally Posted by Kaiv View Post
    I can do most maintenance/installs for cheap.

    If you want good indy, I'd recommend Marco Gentile (marco polo bmw) in La Jolla (858) 354-7800.
    Glad to see you were happy with him, Marco is the man!
    M2CS 6-spd

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    168
    My Cars
    328i
    when you guys recommend a shop, can you say why you recommend them? Some of you guys are listing places and not saying why you like them. I'm trying to find a shop in San Diego to fix my radiator and just had a horrible experience with Nexus Automotive. So today I'm getting my car towed to another mechanic, and need to find a good one today.

    Thanks

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Los Angeles
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    4,354
    My Cars
    M2CS
    Marco Gentile because he's honest, uses quality parts and has been working on BMW's for decades so he will get the job done efficiently.
    M2CS 6-spd

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    San Diego Ca
    Posts
    386
    My Cars
    m3 335d
    I recommend Kaiv,you can save a lot of money with him,and he has experience.
    Boulevard auto I would not go to.
    hello

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    Quote Originally Posted by windnsea00 View Post
    Glad to see you were happy with him, Marco is the man!
    Yeah he really helped me out when I had my mysterious electrical problem which turned out to be a damn fuse If something I can't fix ever pops up I'll definitly give Marco a call.

    Quote Originally Posted by Rokomis View Post
    I can recommend Kaiv, he just did my diff install this morning and did a great job!
    Quote Originally Posted by mrdeezy View Post
    I recommend Kaiv,you can save a lot of money with him,and he has experience.
    Boulevard auto I would not go to.
    Thanks guys!!
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    1,363
    My Cars
    328is

    Back from the dead...

    I definitely need to take my car to a local garage- I have a misfiring cylinder (#6) fault code P0306.

    The only San Diego shop I've ever taken my car to (to get my rear wheel bearings pressed) is DIETER's Motorsports downtown.

    Anyone else get any big work done at a San Diego shop that you'd like to reccomend?

    What's up Kev, ever fix a misfiring cylinder?



    Thanks guys,

    Chris

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    Quote Originally Posted by chr328is View Post
    I definitely need to take my car to a local garage- I have a misfiring cylinder (#6) fault code P0306.

    The only San Diego shop I've ever taken my car to (to get my rear wheel bearings pressed) is DIETER's Motorsports downtown.

    Anyone else get any big work done at a San Diego shop that you'd like to reccomend?

    What's up Kev, ever fix a misfiring cylinder?



    Thanks guys,

    Chris
    Hey Chris, have you checked cyl.#6's coil pack/connections to it and your spark plug?

    If you don't know how to check the coil pack try swapping it with the one of another cylinder and see if the code comes for that cylinder or not
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    Bumping this old thread.

    I'm still available most weekends to do installs/maintenance.

    Just did shocks/struts/lowering springs/strut bearings/rsm/RTABs/front and rear sway bars and transmission mounts on dapopa9's this saturday.
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    159
    My Cars
    '89 325i
    Great job Kaiv! Thanks for all the help on Saturday. Car drives amazing now.



    Quote Originally Posted by Kaiv View Post
    Bumping this old thread.

    I'm still available most weekends to do installs/maintenance.

    Just did shocks/struts/lowering springs/strut bearings/rsm/RTABs/front and rear sway bars and transmission mounts on dapopa9's this saturday.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    Thanks man

    Also did Hartge mufflers on an M5boards member's E60 M5 and a 6 piston front/4 piston rear Wilwood BBK on SD Pete's Eurosport TS E36 M3
    Last edited by Kaiv; 03-28-2010 at 08:23 PM.
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    bump!
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    Did an M3forum member's FCABs and RTABs today.

    Doing Supersprint stepped headers next week on another M3f member.
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    California
    Posts
    1,227
    My Cars
    E30 325e, E92 M3
    Kaiv didn't know you did work on other people's cars. Might hit you up for future work (i.e. oil change, etc etc)

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    482
    My Cars
    05 M3, 87 325is, 01 740i
    Quote Originally Posted by Kaiv View Post
    Thanks man

    Also did Hartge mufflers on an M5boards member's E60 M5 and a 6 piston front/4 piston rear Wilwood BBK on SD Pete's Eurosport TS E36 M3

    And he flushed my radiator!! Highly recommended


  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    Quote Originally Posted by SD Pete View Post
    And he flushed my radiator!! Highly recommended
    ahahah thanks Pete!

    Quote Originally Posted by dawalude View Post
    Kaiv didn't know you did work on other people's cars. Might hit you up for future work (i.e. oil change, etc etc)
    Anytime! I'd love to check out your cars BTW
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    482
    My Cars
    05 M3, 87 325is, 01 740i
    Kaiv,

    What happened to your SSR's?? I thought you loved those...

    Interested in installing some adjustable front camber plates?

    Pete


  22. #22
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    5,484
    My Cars
    "stock" 95 M3, 97 318ti
    Quote Originally Posted by Kaiv View Post
    I can do most maintenance/installs for cheap.

    If you want good indy, I'd recommend Marco Gentile (marco polo bmw) in La Jolla (858) 354-7800.
    +1 on Marco. He's great.

    Shane at EuroAutoSpot in Miramar is also a great mech and extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend him.
    -Brandon

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    5,255
    My Cars
    911
    Kaiv has done my work on my car and he's very competent.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    Quote Originally Posted by SD Pete View Post
    Kaiv,

    What happened to your SSR's?? I thought you loved those...

    Interested in installing some adjustable front camber plates?

    Pete
    Definitely, shoot me a PM. What kind did you get?

    The SSRs will be back on the car very soon. The LMs belong to a friend

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr.M View Post
    Kaiv has done my work on my car and he's very competent.

    Thanks Robert, let me know when you want to take care of the rear brakes!
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    6,533
    My Cars
    S54 and S62
    Still helping out members

    Did E46 M3 CSL headers and a couple of S54 valve adjustements lately.
    Current:
    Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT

    Past:
    Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
    Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
    Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
    Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
    Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
    Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
    Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
    Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
    Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
    Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT

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