PiPhiAngel

i've had my 3-series 2000 BMW for 5 years now and have always taken it to the dealership (crevier bmw in santa ana) since the day the car was purchased. since my warranty has expired, i've noticed that the fees amount to at least $1600-$2000 in maintenance and minor repairs that result from normal wear and tear everytime i've taken it in. the last time i took it in was about 2 or 3 months ago (the bill was about $1700 for minor maintenance repairs) and just a few days ago, i noticed that one of the blinkers went out, so i'll need to get that fixed, along with a diagnostic.

i'm looking for a good, HONEST mechanic (in the orange county area) that won't charge me an arm and a leg, and knows how to work on BMWs. if you don't know of any specific places, i'd also like to know what i should look for when i'm choosing a mechanic. since it's a BMW, is it okay to take it to just ANY general mechanic or does it have to be one that specializes in BMWs?

i have no clue-- i know nothing about cars, so anything would be helpful!

mechmike0034

http://www.haydonbros.com/
http://www.economotors.com/

A five-year old BMW (how many miles?) isn't going to get any cheaper to maintain as it gets older. They aren't exactly known for being low-cost-of-ownership to start with.

Maybe a good independent would be a little cheaper, but probably not by much. Both of the abovementioned links are to Bosch Authorized Service Centers - Bosch being the designer/manufacturer of most of the electronic/engine control systems on your car.

A post-'96 BMW is not a good car to take to a non-BMW specialist. The tools and service information required to service them properly is uber-expensive, so most independent shops (that don't specialize in BMW) are not properly equipped and trained to deal with them.

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InfiniteNothing

MechMike, you should go into the referral buisness and make some money off these referrals.

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mechmike0034

I could be a "consultant", I guess. My wife has a highschool classmate that's in the pr0n biz in the northeast. His business card says "consultant"... I always wondered just what it is that consultants do.

PiPhiAngel

thanks, i'll look into these.

the car was given to me as a high school graduation gift, but now it's just a huge black hole where my money disappears into. it has about.... over 45k miles on it i believe? i'm really fed up with the services and repairs that go along with this car-- my previous car (a toyota) gave me absolutely NO problems at all and it was 10 years old!

mechmike0034

I am painting this with a broad brush, I realize, but I have found your scenario to be the case with many Euro imports. Not every one, mind you, but as a whole they are expensive to maintain in general - particularly at the dealer.

People slag GM cars, but I like them (and own three) because I can work on them when I need to, plus parts are cheap - especially with the sources I've got. They are certainly not the most stylish, dynamic, nor exciting vehicles on the road, but they suit me and the family for what we use them for.

I bought a '96 Olds Ciera wagon for a commuter car back in October - 3100 V6, all power, air, third seat, 65K miles, clean as a pin and shiny as a new nickel for $2100. Hot rod? Stylin'? No, but that matters not to me. 25 mpg, cold air, and reliability do, though.

Nija

bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer bimmer

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Airencracken

That sucks. I love my Toyota, I don't think I'll ever own anything but an asian car. Unless there was one particular model of an american car I liked. Maybe a corvette. Or y'know my Ferarri.

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PiPhiAngel

at this point, i don't want to go through the trouble of the downgrading process (trying to sell it, look for a new car....) so my option right now is to look for someplace where i can take it to that's cheaper.

my other option (which i'm looking into), is to talk my mother into trading the BMW for her Lexus-- it has less miles and while it isn't exactly a toyota, its been a lot easier to maintain with a lot fewer repairs in general.

regardless, i still have to look for a place to get that back blinker fixed as well as a general diagnostic, which should result in the replacement of worn parts here and there. should i just look up BMW specialists in a phone book and hope for the best? is there some sort of national certification for BMW mechanics out there? a directory of some sort?

brainsmile

I was going to check out peterson automotive. If I do who should I say referred me?

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Nija

Lexus = Toyota with a nice markup.

Showtime

I might have someone in OC, but it's my friends mechanic. Dude helped my friend a ton when his 5 series was acting up. Even told him that he might want to sell it because of how much it would cost to maintain. If you want his number, lmk and I'll call my friend.

-j

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mechmike0034

Mike.

If Brad looks confused when you tell him my name, tell him that I am the one that he turned on to IrfanView all those years ago. He'll know who I am then...

ek5686

best BMW mechanic in Orange County is Manfred BMW in Fullerton. He is off of raymond st off the 91 freeway. Most BMW shops and dealers know who he is. his phone number is 714-870-4450. He does great work and has great prices. Just ask for Manfred and he might be a little rough on the phone, but you won't regret it. Give him a shot.

PiPhiAngel

thanks so much! this is actually really close to where i am so i'll definitely give him a call. is he known to be an honest mechanic? i'm always worried of being taken advantage of as it's really obvious that i don't know much about cars...and i look like i'm 16.

AmRivlin

Ahh relax, even if he thinks he can take advantage of you, Go in with the knowledge that: Headlight fluid, shouldn't cost more than $22 per bulb. Now he won't be able to scam you.

16? Ahhh, well just leave a few beer bottles and marlborough packs in the cup holders... Rough and tough, driving around in a 3 series. Intimidation.

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PiPhiAngel

Haha.... beer bottles and a box of cigs....as opposed to the usual Diet Snapple bottle and a box of colored Mentos that I usually have in there...now THAT's intimidation.