If you own a BMW, there is no better shop to care for your auto's needs. Hands down! Work I've had done include: Fluid changes Steering rack replacement Tranny flush ECU tuning read more

Outstanding service and communication. And costs are very competitive. Easy to schedule appointment and get reminded.

We have had three cars repaired by JP at A1 Imports Autoworks and every time he and his crew have done an amazing job. We have an old Audi, an old BMW, and an even older Defender that has been a challenge for half a dozen speciality repair shops. JP persisted and solved two difficult issues that the others gave up on (but still charged us for). A1's charges are very reasonable and the service is excellent. We appreciate the communication and diligence. read more

A1 Imports Autoworks - Our dog hanging out in the office. - Auto Repair Near Me - San Rafael, California

Best mechanic ever. Will be my go to from now on. JP is an absolute gem. I've been searching for quite some time for a reliable, trustworthy, good, efficient mechanic to avoid getting gauged the dealership and got a referral for this place from a client. He solved an ongoing clogging expensive issue I had with my rear ac. He cleaned it, made it run perfectly again, and then gave me a permanent cost effective solution. And I was back to work in no time didn't have to spend the whole day there. I am so grateful as I transport animals in my van and during warmer days I want to make sure the rear a/c is running smoothly and that they are cool and safe. JP is a talented stand up individual who is obviously a brilliant problem solver. Such a huge relief to find him! He and his staff are the best! read more

JP and his team are my go-to mechanics for anything BMW & Mini. I've been brining my Mini Cooper to him for years and always come away knowing the job was done right. He never has tried to sell me on stuff that doesn't need to be done and always breaks down what needs to be fixed immediately and what will likely need to be fixed down the road. Prices are more than fair for the area and the quality of work, not to mention how quickly he's been able to help me out and complete the work. Can't recommend him enough, I wouldn't go anywhere else. read more

JP is the best mechanic in the Bay Area. He combines his knowledge of cars with honesty and integrity. I have been using his service for twenty years. I highly recommend him! read more

My new Audi go-to for repairs. When my coolant light gave me a warning, I stopped in at A-1. They filled my coolant, which held me over the weekend. I ended up needing a new radiator for my q7, and the price was extremely fair. Thanks! read more

A1 and JP came through for me on my unusual upgrade request. On time on budget, confident the job was done correctly on my audi r8, an especially difficult vehicle to service. Super reliable and friendly folks. Results came out awesome, thank you guys!!! read more

Went for a pre-purchase inspection of a used vehicle. JP charged me $170, which is more than other places would've, but he was able to see me on short notice, so I appreciated that. Hard to say how thorough his inspection was, as he didn't do any specific number point inspection (like a "120 point inspection" that checks 120 things), but I think he did a fair overall evaluation. Took him about an hour. Afterward, JP went over his findings with me verbally, and explained a few things to keep an eye on. (The used car was in good shape and I bought it.) I appreciated the verbal discussion, but asked for a written report of his inspection. All he gave me was basically a list of about 20 things with the word "good" or "bad" next to them. I didn't remember the details of everything he told me verbally, so I asked him for more detail in the report, with his explanations. He acted like that would be troublesome, told me he didn't have time to write it all up at the time, but we agreed that I would email him and he would do it later. I emailed him that same day, but never got a more detailed inspection report. Overall, the purpose of the pre-purchase inspection was to make sure the used car was in decent shape, and I think it is (only had it a few weeks now). But I paid a good amount for a thorough inspection, and I didn't receive the info from that inspection to guide any work I might want done on the car. I would not recommend A-1 for a used car inspection. read more

It's such a boon to have an auto repair shop you trust. JP has been taking care of Priscilla the Prius for the past 5 years and before that my Lexus. One of the things I love about A-1 is that I don't need an appointment. Just this past week I took Priscilla in for a brake job spontaneously because the time was right. That JP will say "sure" when I show up at 9a and have the job done in 2 hours time... well, let's just say I was thrilled. And if you're lucky you can hang out in the waiting room with JP's dog. Highly recommend A-1 Autoworks. read more

JP at A-1 is a fantastic mechanic. I've been taking my BMW to him for close to 20 years. A-1 provides honest, fair priced great work. Can't recommend them more highly. read more

Was very fortunate to learn of this place from a friend (shout out to Phil LoCoco/ Harrison Maynard) and holy smokes it is impressive. In a world increasingly overrun by "technicians" this place is the real deal run by mechanics who are dedicated to the craft/ lost art. JP is very humble & one of the most knowledgeable mechanics in Northern CA. I trust him & his crew with any task for my old BMW E30 read more

I just say enough about how great these guys are! I have an old classic Mercedes and was stumped when all the electrical driven parts went completely dead. Any other shop would propose an overhaul costing 100's of dollars. JP and his team sourced the fuse box, cleaned all the contacts and replaced the fuses! That was the ticket! He fit us in and the car was up and running by end of the day! I am so grateful for the quick turn around and honest service. I highly recommend this shop! The more I think about this shop and their wonderful service the more I want to tell yelpers how great they are! read more

I've owned many cars over the years. I'd had many mechanics for those cars over the years. I've had many good, even great, experiences with those mechanics over the years. That being said, never before have I experienced such genuine care and attention as I did when it came to my first visit to A-1 Autoworks earlier in the week. Kind as can be, smart as a whip, easy-going, relaxed and yet highly efficient, JP rocks. All I can say is that I look forward to going back to JP at A-1 Autoworks soon (and that isn't normal, right? Since when do you want to see your mechanic?). I will surely implore everyone in my world to take their car to JP, the best move they and you can make! read more

Six months ago JP and his guys put a used engine in my car as the original engine smoked badly at startup due to worn rings. As part of that a new water pump was installed. Two months ago I moved to Novato where it was no longer convenient to have my car serviced by A-1. My Novato mechanic had to replace my car's alternator, and he noticed that coolant was leaking around the water pump. I called JP and described the problem, and JP asked me to bring the car in so he could replace the defective water pump under warranty, at no cost to me. JP and A-1 are honest and experienced mechanics and I recommend them highly. read more

Found this auto repair on Groupon and I've been going back since. JP is no nonsense and the prices are reasonable. Good work! 5 stars! read more

I have been a customer of JP and A-1 Imports Autoworks for over six years. I can proudly say that I have never experienced a more honest, reasonable, and high-quality auto shop in the 15 years that I have been a car enthusiast. A-1 Imports will take time to carefully diagnose problems, determine what needs to be done now, done later, and maybe never done, and advise you on the best course of action. They provide a level of care that goes beyond simple car repair, from the friendliness of the staff to the never nickel-and-dime method of doing business. I've needed all kinds of unusual things for my 40-year-old daily driver BMW, from hardware to switches to relays, etc, and JP never bats an eye about putting the part I need in my hand in order to get me home, to work, wherever. And if it's something serious, he will shuffle his busy schedule, stay open late, whatever, to make sure I get home safely. From routine maintenance on up to things like an all-encompassing custom engine install for my vintage car (a 1972 BMW 2002), JP's shop is a pleasure to deal with every step of the way. Everyone there is friendly, communicative, realistic, and utterly expert at what they do. My car is more like a member of the family than basic transportation to me, so I spent a long time trying out different specialist shops before I found JP. Since I've started working with A-1 though, I've never looked back. If you search for them, expert repair shops where cost is no object aren't hard to find. What really sets JP's shop apart is that you get this level of service from a place where everyone is realistic about customer needs and budget constraints. There are shops that are a little cheaper, and shops that are much more expensive, but to get top-shelf work with no attitude for a fair price like you'll find at A-1 is truly a special thing. I could go on and on about how great A-1 Imports is, but the bottom line is that if you have a modern foreign or domestic car and are looking for quality service at a reasonable price, this is your shop. Or, if you have a vintage BMW and you're looking to give it the care and feeding it deserves, or maybe even tackle a restoration or have some custom fabrication done, you've found the right place. Like Peter H, I am dismayed that Yelp has filtered 4 legitimate reviews for this repair shop. Each of the filtered reviews is a 5-star, and each is written thoughtfully by real customers of this shop (two of whom I have met there personally). These are not fake reviews, were not solicited by this business, and I have no idea why they are being filtered. If you want to read more from real customers of A-1 Imports, click on the 'filtered reviews' link below. read more

I will give the benefit of doubt that A-1 has bad mechanics rather than them out right trying to cheat us; thus a two-star rating as opposed to a one-star. We dropped the car off early for an 11:30 oil change, at 2:30 work had not been started. After the oil change and tire rotation (including over-tightening the lug nuts) the bill reported "brakes appx front 20% rear 15% material left, will need replacement soon" - a $400 to $550 brake job. I removed all four wheels and measured the pads to find them at almost a quarter inch or over 50% remaining (replacement is suggested to be around an eighth of an inch). The rotors are in fine condition. Money saved - my hours lost! Previously I took my Subaru in for a radiator leak and replacement of its missing baffle. They recommended an oil change because the oil was "dark," which I refused in writing (email) because it was less than 3,000 miles since the previous. When the car was picked up, the oil and filter had been replaced. To their credit, the oil change charge was removed without any problem. The baffle was never replaced. On another oil change the technician forgot to replace two splash shield clips. The shop initially denied responsibility - logic prevailed and the clips were installed. The only success story is their being able to get a temperamental BMW to pass the smog test. In summary: There are other shops that will get my business. read more

I'm a regular, at least as little as possible! JP is a rock solid guy, a BMW expert and most important, an honest mechanic. My father in law first came here with my 525 5 years ago, not sure how we got so lucky, but I know I can trust JP to do the right thing with my car and he'll stand by his work. His new protege Evan gets it and puts you at ease that he's seen it before or will figure it out. I saw some negative reviews but they are isolated and I think he's getting a hard time when he'd be the first to try to repair whatever's bothering his customers. I back A-1 100%, it's hard to find people in the biz you can trust, particularly in the BMW world! read more

JP and his team at A-1 Imports are very professional and knowledgeable. He repaired my X5 diesel when another shop in SF could not and at a very reasonable price. read more

Thank you JP for excellent service, above and beyond. Highly recommend A-1 Autoworks for quality work and excellent customer service. And, they CARE! Love this business; won't go anywhere else. read more

These folks here have been jumping through hoops for me and yet, they are remaining pleasant. Dropped my VW Beetle off on a Saturday and they were here to greet me (They are closed on Saturdays). I had a barrage of things I wanted checked. The owner called me on Monday and gave me a very honest rundown on what I didn't need done and what I did need. There was one issue after another (that kind of luck follows me). They stayed on top of everything and did a very thorough job. The waiting room is well equipped with TV, magazines, coffee and water. Staff is exceptionally kind, friendly and accommodating. While there were part issues, they weren't the fault of the establishment, but they went above and beyond to overcome the hurdles, while keeping me completely informed of the status. Can't thank them enough. I will be bringing my other cars in in good time, if they will have me. 5 stars. read more

I recently moved my business down the street from A1 AutoWorks and I am happy to have found a shop so close to my work. The owner is into race karts, so you know he has to keep things running in perfect order. Although I only needed some basic repairs to my Chevy truck and Toyota the works been done quickly and pretty fair as far as labor goes. I would give these guys a shot if you are looking for a good Marin repair shop. read more

Let's see J.P. ...how long have I been bringing my cars for service to your shop? 30 years? 35 years? That probably says enough about my confidence and satisfaction in the work you do. However let me say that once again this last appointment was up to your 5 Star standard. Thank you!! Doreen read more

So, I purchased a car for my daughter, attending college at Dominican University, but car was purchased in Southern California. The seller had car checked out, all seemed fine. I drove it up to San Rafael, no issues. On Sunday, January 15th, 2017, the check engine light comes on, DARN IT! Now knowing that it was a holiday weekend, extending into Monday, I was kinda screwed, having to get back to Southern California by Monday Evening and having her car serviced. JP to the rescue! ! I called Monday morning, and to my surprise he actually answered the phone. I explained my situation and he said that he wasn't doing much service that day as he had given his staff the day off, but bring it by and he'll try to get a look at it. I brought the car in, he pulled out his scanner, read the codes, and said that he could order the parts and have it done by mid afternoon. Yeah me!! So, I take my daughter to lunch, little mandarin in San Rafael, another awesome place, have a great meal, and then JP calls and says the car is all done. I can't thank him enough. I now have a trustworthy establishment that I can send my daughter to for her car repairs, knowing that she won't be taken advantage of . Pricing is market value, If you buy cheap, it'll cost you double in the long run. Quality and Honesty reigns over everything else and that's what I believe that I've found dealing with JP. Thanks JP for coming to the RESCUE. Side note, I just read a review from Jonathan, he was there when I dropped off my daughter's car. JP EXEMPLIFIES TRUE PROFFESIONALISM. read more

JP saved my car. I own a 1957 Porche Speedster. Its rare and irreplaceable. My previous mechanic messed up a carburetor repair so badly, gas got into the fuel tank while i was driving and the engine froze up. Ruined forever. Thank god the tow tuck driver talked me out of taking the car to my former mechanic, and to JP. JP took care of everything, found a new engine, put it in, fixed other odds and end... and all for a VERY reasonable price, far under my expectation. The only person to ever touch my car again will be JP, and i urge you to consider him for your car. Especially the special ones. read more

Have been using JP and has team for my X5 and latterly my Z3 & Madza. Great experience with BMW's and has deep network of businesses who have helped my out with resprays & getting a new top. As is the case with older cars, it is important to have someone who is familiar with the oddball foibles they develop and JP definitely has this. Has saved me a bunch of money in rapidly identifying the issue and getting it fixed. read more

[I have to weigh in here, both because I am a long-time happy customer of A1, but also because of what appears to be a targeted and suspicious attack on the business and its staff, which has mysteriously resulted in the filtering of the other reviews for the business, all of which appear to be legitimate 5-star ones. Something is broken in the way Yelp does its filtering (automatically), but they do not disclose details of how it works. I'm hoping that as a long-time Yelper (and Internet denizen since the 1970's!!), that this review will stand and help correct an injustice.] I've taken my wife's Mercedes E430 here for a few years, and before that an older Mitsubishi Diamante. JP and crew have been nothing but professional and helpful, and I have never felt pressured to do anything that was recommended. On the contrary, I appreciate their thoroughness in identifying potential issues without painting them as critical if they aren't. JP has also worked on my BMW 740iL, doing the much-feared transmission fluid change on the "lifetime" sealed tranny. You will note if you look up my other reviews that I normally and loyally take the BMW to Bill Arnold (another truly exceptionally good and honest shop), but it was Bill himself who sent me to JP, since they are friends and Bill didn't have a necessary piece of equipment for that specific job. I'm not a "helicopter" customer (nervously hovering over the mechanic), but I do some of my own car work, so I like to know what's going on with my cars. I have always been granted free reign to watch the action, see the parts/work being recommended for repair, and observe the issues firsthand before making any decisions. I am no master mechanic, but I have taken cars completely apart (and put them back together, working), so I can safely say I know what I'm looking at when someone makes a recommendation. JP himself has gone the extra mile to provide great service, including checking for parts pricing from the dealer vs. eBay (and being willing to install parts I obtain separately), and doing what he can to get the job done on time and on budget. On my last visit, knowing that I wanted to avoid being without a car for a second day, JP stayed in the shop until after 9pm, calling me to come pick up the car when it was ready). The shop itself is immaculate (for a car repair shop) and JP obviously cares about cars (he races Karts on the weekends, and is building a growing business in restoring/re-engineering old BMW 2002's, so there are several examples around the shop on any given day). Everyone I have dealt with (JP, Karlo, and JP's daughter, and a couple others) has been friendly, helpful and low-key. Labor rates are fair for the area -- not the cheapest but not the highest either, and considering the quality of work, it beats the pants off of going to the dealerships, especially for European cars, where the dealer model puts a "service consultant" between you and the real mechanic, thus providing less effective service (for people that know something about their cars) for more money. All in all, I give my highest recommendations to JP and the rest of the A1 crew. They have done excellent work for me, and stood behind their service. Feel free to message me through Yelp if you have any other questions. I certainly hope to see more of JP's customers weigh in here to drown out the obvious hit-piece review that occurred a few weeks ago. read more

I took a BMW here for a pre-purchase inspection. First of all, they were able to fit me in totally last minute, very nice receptionist btw! Second of all, JP spent 45 minutes thoroughly checking out this car, then proceeded to give me an honest, direct summary of info about the car (which basically was not in the shape it's owner was claiming). JP seemed genuine and trustworthy, and I felt like I was in really good hands. I will definitely be going back to this business for future pre-purchase inspections. Thank you A1 for providing such excellent service! read more

I purchased a Living Social Deal after checking their website to see if they would have appointments on Saturday. I then used their website to book an appointment on a Saturday two weeks out. Their website gave me an appointment for saturday at 11:30am. I later got a call from them saying they did not usually book Saturday appointments and wanted me to come in during the week. When I told them I was not available during the week, they said they'd have to check with the owner. I ended up cancelling the Living Social Deal. They should spell that out on their website and in their living social deal. They should also change their website so it does not accept appointments on the weekend if they are not open. read more

Great service. The high pitched noise that the last mechanic did not solve is gone and my 2003 car is running smooth again. I came here on the recommendation of an auto collector friend and glad I did. Honest service with no oversell. I will be back! read more

I could write a lot, but there's plenty of reviews here with repair details. 5-Stars should say it all! read more

I have a 2006 BMW M5 which I've had A1 work on . They do a solid job and are very fair price wise. I am a fan.

Love these guys reliable shop for german auto repair/svc.

I love JP's shop. There are not very many honest auto shops in the Bay Area, but A1 Imports most definitely is one of the honest ones. A while back I got a '84 325e for free from a friend to use as a daily driver while I am at school. I had problems getting the car into first gear. I tried replacing the clutch master and slave cylinder. Still no go. So thinking that there was something wrong with the gear box its self I took the car into JP so he could look at the g260 6 speed. He found out that the problem was a badly bent clutch pedal, and took the pedal off his own spec e30 race car and put it on my 325e so that I could get my car in good time. Even though I am a big time car guy and often do my own work, there are times where you just get so fed up with a problem you need some one who gets payed to be annoyed do the work for you : ) For anyone that is interested JP also does some amazing custom performance car builds. BMW 2002s with s14 and m20 engines and lots more cool stuff. Very thankful to JP and his staff! Keep up the good work! JN read more

Tried A1 Imports through Groupon. (Bought a 3 pak of oil changes.) Didn't expect much. However, we were blown away with their outstanding customer service. We will definitely continue bringing our vehicles here! read more

DO NOT GO HERE!! I would give ZERO STARS if I could. Made an appointment for 8AM today and there was a sign on the door saying they're closed for the day. UNACCEPTABLE. When I called the number listed the woman answering would not give me the owner's name. What is that about? Horrible horrible customer service! read more

An honest mechanic is what you will find here. JP and staff are knowledgeable, available, and kind. Add fair pricing to the equation and you have a stellar company. BMW's are their specialty. The great thing is that they work on all my companies vehicles. Marin County has a huge asset with A-1 Automotive. read more

Great shop. Owner JP was very helpful and took my appointment on short notice to service my BMW. Received a message directly from the owner a week after the service to check in and make sure everything was going smooth. Top notch. Earned my business going forward. read more

I went to this place because our car wasn't smogged when we bought our car. They dealt with the seller directly because it was not our responsibility to smog the car, which was so helpful. This place exceeded my expectations and did things to the car for next to nothing, while the bigger things were being fixed (on the expense of the seller of my car). I am grateful for their help. These guys are great! Talk to J.P. or Evan. They're the best techs and will be right there for you at all times. read more