NorCal Service

fighting_fish · 02-24-2011, 12:48 PM

I've noticed there's more than a few members of the forum in the bay area. Where do you get your service done in NorCal? I'm looking for recommendations of independents or stealers, thanks!

gferil · 02-26-2011, 07:23 PM

I have had great experiences with Edge Motorworks in Dublin, they have a good group of people working there.

jdl1pt · 02-27-2011, 02:55 AM

My girlfriend has taken her 325xi to Bavarian Auto in Berkeley for years. They are really good and this is probably where I'll take my car after warranty is up. Had the owner looking for an MC for me at auction, but found one on my own. Really nice guy and knows BMW's inside and out.

mfanatic325 · 02-27-2011, 04:13 AM

I HIGHLY recommend Performance Technic in Pleasanton. They're pretty far from my house, but if I need something major which requires extreme expertise, I've nothing but good things to say about them.

Otherwise, I just go to a small do-all shop that I have access to in Campbell. The owner is really chill and allows me to borrow lift(s) and/or tools and/or his mechanic(s) pretty much whenever I need =P

Then there's always Bavarian Motorwerks or TC Design in Milpitas. They're not the cheapest at least are better than stealershits lol.

Finnegan · 03-03-2011, 12:22 AM

In the Sacramento area I can recommend IPB Autosport or Valley Motorwerks. IPB works on P-cars and BMWs (as well as Audi), Valley is BMW only. I haven't had any engine work done by either, but both have done a nice job with performance alignments and other odds and ends (Valley with camber bolts; IPB with camber plates). Both shops have knowledgeable owners who track (and race) who listen and offer suggestions/ideas if asked. No attitude and solid work and reasonable prices.

mfanatic325 · 03-03-2011, 12:55 AM

Oooh I've heard of Valley Motors as well. A distant friend of mine used to work there. I'm not sure if he's still there now though. But they also built an acquaintance's E46 330Ci supercharged with transmission swap from Steptronic to 6-spd ZHP.

Finnegan · 03-03-2011, 10:50 PM

Valley does a lot of supercharger work from what I've seen. Several of the shop cars and quite a few guys coming and going. Many on S54s.

I'm really happy with the time they (and IPB) took on alignments. I had other shops do them prior, not so good with the results and the alignment didn't last--these guys took their time and did it right--solid work you can feel (and see in term of tire wear). Next time I'm there I'll ask about S54 timing, etc. Wouldn't be surprised if Valley has torn down and rebuilt a few S54s and timed them (and have proper tools/experience).

mfanatic325 · 03-03-2011, 11:15 PM

sigh, I want at least one turbo for my S54 so badly

jdl1pt · 03-19-2011, 07:00 PM

On mfanatic325's suggestion, I went to Performance Technic in Pleasanton today for a pre track inspection. The guys were awesome. Gave the car a complete look over and also spent some time helping my find out where a small oil leak was coming from. (the dealer told me about it and said they needed to replace the oil pan at some point, but I wanted a second opinion before continuing. This time the dealer was right)

Best part, to my surprise, they didn't charge me a cent for the inspection.

They said they do it for free as they want to encourage their customers to track.

Will definitely be doing business with them when warrante expires.

Finnegan · 03-19-2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdl1pt

Best part, to my surprise, they didn't charge me a cent for the inspection. They said they do it for free as they want to encourage their customers to track.

Will definitely be doing business with them when warrante expires.

Wow. Nice to know there are some good shops and options in the general area here!

mfanatic325 · 03-19-2011, 07:30 PM

mikeinsf · 04-04-2011, 01:32 PM

If you're in SF I'd highly recommend Vanguard Motors in SOMA. I took my Z3 to him for 10 years. Always very thorough, professional, and honest. BMW and Porsche service only. After a 2-year BMW hiatus, I'm back and about to pick up an M Roadster. I stopped in to say hi to Gary last week and actually kind of missed him (and his wife), thinking it was going to be good to get a working relationship back with him.

mfanatic325 · 04-04-2011, 04:06 PM

you probably missed his wife more than he huh, don't lie LOL jkjk =P

The HACK · 04-04-2011, 05:18 PM

Bavarian Motorsport
247 Houret Drive
Milpitas, CA 95035-6801
(408) 956-1662

Most of the NorCal BMW CCA instructor knows the owner, Ramon LeFrancois. Tell him one of the CCA driving school instructors sent you and he'll take good care of you.

mfanatic325 · 04-04-2011, 05:26 PM

^ Yup, I already mentioned them in my first post in this thread; although it's supposed to be motorsport instead of motorwerk as I called them, oops!

02-24-2011, 12:48 PM	#1
fighting_fish Private First Class 6 Rep 167 Posts Drives: 2.5i Z4 2004 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	NorCal Service I've noticed there's more than a few members of the forum in the bay area. Where do you get your service done in NorCal? I'm looking for recommendations of independents or stealers, thanks!
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02-26-2011, 07:23 PM	#2
gferil Captain 30 Rep 740 Posts Drives: 06 Z4MC Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (6)	I have had great experiences with Edge Motorworks in Dublin, they have a good group of people working there.
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02-27-2011, 02:55 AM	#3
jdl1pt Lieutenant 21 Rep 494 Posts Drives: Z4M coupe 2007 IL Blue Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oakland, CA iTrader: (5)	My girlfriend has taken her 325xi to Bavarian Auto in Berkeley for years. They are really good and this is probably where I'll take my car after warranty is up. Had the owner looking for an MC for me at auction, but found one on my own. Really nice guy and knows BMW's inside and out.
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02-27-2011, 04:13 AM	#4
mfanatic325 ///M-fanatic 193 Rep 3,885 Posts Drives: '01 911 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA. iTrader: (23)	I HIGHLY recommend Performance Technic in Pleasanton. They're pretty far from my house, but if I need something major which requires extreme expertise, I've nothing but good things to say about them. Otherwise, I just go to a small do-all shop that I have access to in Campbell. The owner is really chill and allows me to borrow lift(s) and/or tools and/or his mechanic(s) pretty much whenever I need =P Then there's always Bavarian Motorwerks or TC Design in Milpitas. They're not the cheapest at least are better than stealershits lol.
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03-03-2011, 12:22 AM	#5
Finnegan Dog Listener 701 Rep 7,850 Posts Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Teaching the dog to slalom iTrader: (22)	In the Sacramento area I can recommend IPB Autosport or Valley Motorwerks. IPB works on P-cars and BMWs (as well as Audi), Valley is BMW only. I haven't had any engine work done by either, but both have done a nice job with performance alignments and other odds and ends (Valley with camber bolts; IPB with camber plates). Both shops have knowledgeable owners who track (and race) who listen and offer suggestions/ideas if asked. No attitude and solid work and reasonable prices.
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03-03-2011, 12:55 AM	#6
mfanatic325 ///M-fanatic 193 Rep 3,885 Posts Drives: '01 911 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA. iTrader: (23)	Oooh I've heard of Valley Motors as well. A distant friend of mine used to work there. I'm not sure if he's still there now though. But they also built an acquaintance's E46 330Ci supercharged with transmission swap from Steptronic to 6-spd ZHP.
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03-03-2011, 10:50 PM	#7
Finnegan Dog Listener 701 Rep 7,850 Posts Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Teaching the dog to slalom iTrader: (22)	Valley does a lot of supercharger work from what I've seen. Several of the shop cars and quite a few guys coming and going. Many on S54s. I'm really happy with the time they (and IPB) took on alignments. I had other shops do them prior, not so good with the results and the alignment didn't last--these guys took their time and did it right--solid work you can feel (and see in term of tire wear). Next time I'm there I'll ask about S54 timing, etc. Wouldn't be surprised if Valley has torn down and rebuilt a few S54s and timed them (and have proper tools/experience).
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03-03-2011, 11:15 PM	#8
mfanatic325 ///M-fanatic 193 Rep 3,885 Posts Drives: '01 911 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA. iTrader: (23)	sigh, I want at least one turbo for my S54 so badly
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03-19-2011, 07:00 PM	#9
jdl1pt Lieutenant 21 Rep 494 Posts Drives: Z4M coupe 2007 IL Blue Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oakland, CA iTrader: (5)	On mfanatic325's suggestion, I went to Performance Technic in Pleasanton today for a pre track inspection. The guys were awesome. Gave the car a complete look over and also spent some time helping my find out where a small oil leak was coming from. (the dealer told me about it and said they needed to replace the oil pan at some point, but I wanted a second opinion before continuing. This time the dealer was right) Best part, to my surprise, they didn't charge me a cent for the inspection. They said they do it for free as they want to encourage their customers to track. Will definitely be doing business with them when warrante expires. __________________ \|OEM Strut bar\|ZHP Knob lighted\|RPI Scoop\|Zeckhausen Modified CDV\|DIY Clutch Stop\|Camber shim kit\|
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03-19-2011, 07:30 PM	#11
mfanatic325 ///M-fanatic 193 Rep 3,885 Posts Drives: '01 911 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA. iTrader: (23)
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04-04-2011, 01:32 PM	#12
mikeinsf First Lieutenant 10 Rep 335 Posts Drives: 2007 M Roadster Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (1)	If you're in SF I'd highly recommend Vanguard Motors in SOMA. I took my Z3 to him for 10 years. Always very thorough, professional, and honest. BMW and Porsche service only. After a 2-year BMW hiatus, I'm back and about to pick up an M Roadster. I stopped in to say hi to Gary last week and actually kind of missed him (and his wife), thinking it was going to be good to get a working relationship back with him.
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04-04-2011, 04:06 PM	#13
mfanatic325 ///M-fanatic 193 Rep 3,885 Posts Drives: '01 911 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA. iTrader: (23)	you probably missed his wife more than he huh, don't lie LOL jkjk =P
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04-04-2011, 05:18 PM	#14
The HACK Midlife Crises Racing Silent but Deadly Class 1820 Rep 5,337 Posts Drives: 2006 MZ4C, 2021 Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Welcome to Jamaica have a nice day iTrader: (1)	Bavarian Motorsport 247 Houret Drive Milpitas, CA 95035-6801 (408) 956-1662 Most of the NorCal BMW CCA instructor knows the owner, Ramon LeFrancois. Tell him one of the CCA driving school instructors sent you and he'll take good care of you. __________________ Sitting on a beat-up office chair in front of a 5 year old computer in a basement floor, sipping on stale coffee watching a bunch of meaningless numbers scrolling aimlessly on a dimly lit 19” monitor.
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04-04-2011, 05:26 PM	#15
mfanatic325 ///M-fanatic 193 Rep 3,885 Posts Drives: '01 911 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA. iTrader: (23)	^ Yup, I already mentioned them in my first post in this thread; although it's supposed to be motorsport instead of motorwerk as I called them, oops!
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