I have been coming here for a long time when Kevin was the owner. Back then, you could get good service at a decent price. Not anymore. I took my car recently and the mechanic misplaced the gas cap. You take your car to the auto service shop to get it fixed, not bring it home with new problems. When I went to the shop to check if the gas cap was there, they flat out refused to look for it and instead accused me of losing it. Like I would try to swindle a business for a $30 gas cap. That's less than what I pay for a full tank of gas. There are plenty of good auto service shops in the area that do fantastic work for reasonable prices and have excellent customer service. I will be taking my vehicle to one of those places. read more

Been using them for over 8 years on 3 cars. Subaru WRX STI. VW R32. Jag F type. Plus some others by other family members. Complex to simple issues all handled fairly and quickly. No issues. This is a guru shop - from simple work to engine rebuilds to even engine swaps, they can do it all. They listen well and they tell you the truth. There are shops out there that say they do the work and don't actually do it...have heard stories. This is not one of those - old fashioned expertise and respect but full bore tech skills. True car nuts. My F-type is super happy using this shop - as is our vr6 R32. I have been to a lot of shops over the years - this is one of the good ones. Highly recommended. I plan to keep supporting them. read more

First of all that man Ricardo or Carlos Suarez needs to learn how to speak to the customer first time I didn't say nothing but this time it was different had to to let him know whats up then a year ago I took my car to get something done and it had the undercover and they where fixing my car so when they give it to my on a Friday they were about to close the shop so when I inspected my car when I got home it wasn't there anymore I had to wait until monday to go to the shop again and he said something like I don't know if we might have it at the storage or you probably didn't even have one so I just let it go but Im 100% sure it had it, where they put it I don't know. Going back to how rude that guy is for no reason he might need some vacation or something I thought he might have had a bad day but no like I said first time it was fine but two no that's the reason why if someone asked me if this a good shop I wouldn't recommend it 100% because of him read more

Great shop. I had my "crank no start" F30in and they were able to locate the electrical fault and repair the car quickly. I usually do my own repairs but could not figure out the fault this time around. I would recommend them to anyone looking for BMW service. read more

SUPER EXPENSIVE for what they do. Would not use them again. Many other quality shops with reasonable proces.

I decided to give AKTIV a shot due to the high ratings on GOOGLE reviews and recommendation + discount from BMW CCA. MY BMW 340i needed new driver and passenger side front control arm. Carlos was the mechanic that worked on my vehicle. Got them replaced, issue resolved. Here are the issues I had dealing with this shop: - Poor communication: I dropped my vehicle at the shop Wednesday 8/24/22 early morning and was told it'll be ready end of the day. I told Ricardo (front desk guy) I won't be able to pick it up until Friday 8/26/22 and if it was okay with them. He said it was fine. I show up Friday and was told Carlos ran into issue with a stripped thread on one of my strut mount and needed to be retreaded. It'll take few days because they didn't have a certain size bolt in stock and needed to be ordered. Okay- so why I was not informed ahead of time? They had all Thursday 8/25/22 to call me and let me know.. I ended up wasting time and money (uber) getting there just to be told it wasn't ready. - Price: While I thought price to replace the control arms not too bad, they hit me with a $184.64 to rethread. I started to complain and they knocked it to $164.58.. - After picking up my car: My front suspension height was altered ( I have coilovers ) I knew because my car sat a little higher in the front than before.. It just so happened with my bad luck, I got a tire blow out when I got home, took wheel off to confirm. Originally, I had the locking collars all the way down to the point you don't see any threads. I noticed about 10 threads showing this time on both struts. I started to look for the spanner wrench that came with the coilovers to where they were not found. Called the shop and was informed they forgot to put back in my car.. Another trip to the shop.. - Dishonestly: I'm not sure if Carlos thinks I'm some idiot or not know anything about cars.. but I actually have some basic knowledge... He said he didn't mess with the height. If that was the case, why were my spanner wrenches used? They were inside my trunk, so you had to go out your way to get them to adjust my coilovers. If it was adjusted for the purpose of getting the work done properly, why not adjust them back to how they were originally? - I return a few days later 8/31/22 to drop off my car for front height adjustment and alignment (no charge). I specifically asked and told for an alignment sheet prior to leaving the shop. Later in the afternoon, I got a call my car was ready for pick up. I show up and NO ALIGNMENT SHEET. How do i know if it was actually done?! Also, carlos told me they don't do alignments in house and needed to be performed at another shop.. Why was this not disclosed with me that you had to drive my car out your lot?? All alignments records are stored in the computer.. im not sure what the big deal is just hitting a simple "print" button.. He then proceeds to contradict himself by saying an alignment is not needed since it was only height adjustment. As long car drives straight ill be fine. I beg to differ.. When height is changed, camber,toe can be affected. I have Michelin pilot sport 4s tires which are very pricey.. i do not want them to wear out prematurely.. THE REASON WHY I WANTED AN ALIGNMENT SHEET for my records. Overall, shady business practice. I did not have a good experience with AKTIV and advise those considering to use them, be very cautious. EDIT 9/1/22 1730: I went back , showed them my invoice of alignment that i got at another shop that included what im looking for. They reimbursed as promised. EDIT 9/1/22 : I received the "alignment sheet" notice how it does not show any VIN or make/model of vehicle. How do i know this is MY car? I do not trust this!! I will be bringing my car to get a proper alignment at another shop later today that will show my vehicles information for a piece of mind and will make ACTIV automotive pay for it. They have agreed. Will update later if that holds true. read more

AKTIV Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

This is your place if you like fair, honest, and responsive experience with your European luxury car.

I don't know the quality of work they do because their office management is so poor I never had the chance. First I made a 3:00pm appointment for an oil change and when I got there the guy behind the counter told me it'd be thee+ hours to have it done. What was the point of making an appointment if I had to wait all afternoon anyway? The guy then told me that if I come back and make an appointment when they open at 8:00am I'd be the first one to get work done in about an hour. I made a new appointment and took a day off from work and was there before 8:00am. At 8:10 the guy behind the counter showed up and said it'd be another 3+ hours as all of the service bays were full of cars that did it get finished the day before. He even said the service techs don't even come in until after 8:30! I walked out for the second and last time. I hope they don't service cars as poorly as they manage their business. read more

Kevin, the owner, knows his stuff. He takes care of your car like it his own car. He repairs only what is critical, no up-selling here like dealers. He is very easy to work with on everything. He will work with you on costs to make it the most cost effective. He really worked hard on getting my 2004 BMW M3 right that included a bad radio/NAV unit that was killing my battery every night and a recurring check engine light that indicated bad oxygen sensors . It is a great one-stop shopping BMW shop that can do routine maintenance/service, performance/racing upgrades, and pre-purchase/state safety inspections. The BMW CCA National Chapter holds events here, and BMW enthusiasts go here for all the above reasons. Great shop, wonderful people, excellent service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

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They don't pressure you into getting parts fixed that don't necessarily need to be worked on. That's what I like about AKTIV Automotive. The staff is also friendly, and waiting room area is always clean. It also helps that I live walking distance from them, so it's good to know that I can trust them. read more

Kevin & his team are legit! They really got it honest, they keep it real 100% as well as always caring for the customer & not just the profit! They'll be the only ones working on my 2015 Audi A3! read more

Had Kevin install a Borla cat-back on my 335i F30. Price was very fair. Would not hesitate to go back for other work.

Kevin is a very honest and respectable man, I believe he served in US Marine. He took care of my wife's 745Li since he first open. Very knowledgeable, and very helpful, never charges for the small things, the price for repairs are very reasonable. But the thing we like most, is the fact that we don't have to doubt his diagnosis, and we never worry about getting ripped off! He even saved me from getting ripped by my Cadillac dealership (it's a long story), yes he also repaired my Cadillac! I wish more business are run by man like him. Thanks Kevin! read more

I first heard about this business when the owners reached out to me about a craigslist ad regarding service manuals I had for BMW. They didn't end up buying them from me because I lost the license information which tells you one thing - this is a reliable and honest business that does everything the way it should be done, properly with no shortcuts. I also asked them for help on my radio unit as I could not turn it on and couldn't figure out where the red wire (12V) went. They took a look at it and helped me fix it within 5 minutes, free of cost. This business truly valued my time and I will look forward to coming back here again. read more

I had to get a wifi antenna installed in my SUV. Carlos was extremely flexible in getting me in early so I wouldn't have to wait. Once I got there, I was even more appreciative since I saw how busy they were. Nick took care of my car and was just amazing! Extremely professional and even allowed me to see how he was doing it because I asked him if I could watch to learn. He was extremely busy and yet still took the time to explain the steps and did an amazing and clean job. Overall, very very satisfied and will most definitely go back to them for my car needs despite me living in Arlington and them being located in Gaithesburg. It was that good of an experience, thanks guys! read more

The best mechanic I've ever had! I'm so sorry I moved out of the area. Mathias is a shop with a small town feel. Everyone has been there for years. They always take great care of the car and customer. They clearly explain the issues, don't pad the bill and always do great work! If you work near the shop they even drive you to and from work when you drop your vehicle off. It's great. I miss this shop SO much! read more

When servicing my Audi TT convertible, they said they would keep it inside since the rear window leaks. Mold was growing behind the car seat on that side when I got it back, which leads me to believe that they did not. They were not familiar with the shifter issues in Audi TT MK1/VW MK4 models, or they would have known where to obtain aftermarket parts to fix. Instead it took them a week to research and get the parts in. I asked them to make sure they replace every bushing in the shifter, and Kevin told me they did. They did not. I have the entire thing ripped apart finishing the job myself. A retaining clip was missing on the bell crank hinge, and they basically destroyed the trim that surrounds the shifter. They broke the plastic on all screw holes (see pic). I had to buy a used one from a junk yard as this is a discontinued part. The side-to-side shifting failed to get me into reverse a few weeks after they supposedly refurbished the entire thing. It's a shame because I had planned to get more work done there since they are pretty close to home. read more

AKTIV Automotive - This flopped around after they did the repair. 2 holes "kind of" remained after they had their way with it. Junk yard replacement was needed - Auto Repair Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

Kevin was outstanding to work with. He was sufficiently communicative about the repairs, estimate, and status of the work. He was sensitive to my concern about minimizing repair costs for a car that I intended to sell in the near future. The repairs appear to have been completed correctly and the car is operating very well. He also offered some welcome advice about future maintenance and selling it. I was very satisfied with the service that AKTIV provided. read more

Installed Dinan exhaust on my F80 M3 perfectly. They came highly recommended and lived up to that. Could have used other shops closer (Arundel Mills area) but will gladly make the drive here for my auto needs in the future. read more

"Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car." -E. B. White Most auto repair service reviews don't start with poetry. Mathias Auto Service reminded me of that line because it's not like most shops. Attracted by the Yelp deal they were offering, I came in to have my oil changed and my fluids checked. I spent only $20 and less than an hour there. But I got way more than a fast and fair priced check up. Mark Becker, the general manager, is an honest man and a font of information and sound advice. He was upfront about costs & benefits of the service my car needed. When I chose the lowest cost package, he didn't try the old hard sell. He respected my decision. My car was good to go before I knew it. They even left a little gift bag with mini icescraper in it. A very pleasant surprise. :) Not only that, he assuaged my chronic fears of car troubles, telling me that my car was running fine. Tell me another place that does that! read more

Decided last year to stop going to the stealership and find a good Indy shop for my 340i. Happy to say Aktiv is beyond good. Kevin and his team has helped me with various maintenance and performance parts. They're honest, ethical and great people to work with. They go above and beyond. Don't look elsewhere for your BMWs! read more

Was really excited to purchase a BMW 535xi at an awesome deal and being a previous BMW owner, you can't just take it to any mechanic (and I don't care for the dealership hullabaloo). Checked Yelp (of course) and saw the awesome ratings and had to stop by to inquire about AKTIVs pricing and services. After noticing the owner at the front desk and simply telling him the year, make and model of my car, his responses proved how KNOWLEDGEABLE he is-this guy really knows BMWs inside and out and it shows. Had to go pick up the kiddos but will definitely give this shop a try for my next oil change. If all goes well, updating to a 5 star rating for AKTIV Auto will be easy as pie read more

Last week, a friendly state trooper pointed out a headlight malfunction on my BMW. I also received a Repair Order to be completed within 10 days. Unfortunately, changing a light bulb wouldn't do. I had to have the whole headlight assembly replaced. Kevin was instrumental in ameliorating this potentially stressful situation. Not only did he make the repair before my deadline, he also spent his valuable time finding me the least expensive option. Furthermore, he provided the Inspection Mechanic's certification necessary to close my case with the police. Thanks to ACTIVE Automotive, I can safely drive my car at night again. Therefore, I highly recommend Kevin and his team. read more

Honestly this is the best place to take your BMW (or any brand car). Kevin and his team have taken care of me so many times and their customer service is unbeatable. There really isn't much else to say, just take your car there and you'll see how great they are. read more

Moe S 1 review just now I purchased new my 2011 BMW X5 5.0, and after seven years of BMW dealer service, I took my X5 for the first time to an independent BMW service. I needed to replace my oil pan gasket due to a small oil leak. I did some research to try to find a reputable BMW service company in MD. In addition to Aktiv Automotive; I sought quotes from two other companies, but Aktiv by far had the best reviews out of the local companies I could find. I called and spoke with Kevin, who was very professional & courteous, and he gave me a truly reasonable quote (with my BMWCCA membership discount). Kevin and his team did an excellent job. Furthermore, Kevin is an honest and trustworthy owner. I'll be taking my BMWs for service there. read more

Really good guys and very honest service conducted here! i've never been to a shop that tries to help you save money until now!!! Despite my request, the owner, Kevin, actually advised against installing new transmission mounts on my car since he informed me that they were still in good shape! Give them a try for your car repair needs! read more

Wonderful garage. Honest and they do exceptional work. They take time to explain any problems and give good recommendations of the next courses of action. I am very glad that I have found these guys. Very nice to interact with as well. Recently, I needed to replace a skid plate (lower engine cover) that I destroyed via a Snowpocalypse pothole in DC. They said it could be pretty expensive if they ordered it from their sources and had it installed - $200 and up. So instead they suggested I buy one from a junk yard or cheaper vendor (less than $100), bring it in the next time I got an oil change, and they would install it for free. How's that for great service. In you're in the Gaithersburg/Germantown/Rockville area, this should be your garage!!! I drive all the way up from NW DC (where there are no garages within miles) - it's totally worth it. read more

I had an appointment at 4.30pm, but due to an accident on the highway I arrived by 5pm. They still did my tires and did not make me reschedule. Great customer service! read more

AKTIV Automotive - Inside - Auto Repair Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I'm here in gaithersburg for an internship and was very nervous about taking my car to an unknown mechanic. Through the suggestion of a coworker I went to these guys....they are amazing! They didn't bs me and the whole transaction made me feel confident in their car-fixing skills, but also in their honesty. They were able to fix my problem in one day and were very pleasant to deal with. Very very happy I found them and would recommend them to anyone! read more

I had an issue with my car revving while stopped. It was hard to diagnose because it was an intermittent problem. Kevin guaranteed that he would solve the problem. It took some time to finally find the cause of the issue, but they did find the problem and solved the issue. I've been taking my cars to AKTIV for a while now and trust them to solve the issues and they stand behind their work. Kevin takes the time to explain the issue and the solution. I highly recommended AKTIV. read more

I live right down the road from this repair shop. After reading the other reviews, I decided to give it a try. I received such rude service that I actually ended up asking for my keys back and leaving. When I first arrived and told them I had an appointment for a scheduled maintenance service this morning, I was greeted by a look of annoyance and an audible sigh. After taking down my information, the advisor tried to send me away with no estimate. Since I was there for a standard service, I asked them to give me an estimate. The advisor told me I'd have to wait, which was no problem. Then he went out to my car and came back and told me it looked like a wild animal had been living in there. My car is messy, but this actually made my jaw drop. This is when I asked for my key back and left. I will not be back. read more

I found this place after they ran a Groupon for a $10 Oil Change and since then this is the only place I will take my car even if other places are running a special. The technicians are honest and take real pride in what they do. They don't try to up-sell you on crap you don't need and thoroughly check your car (they found a small nail in my rear tire)! Up until I found Mathias I was going to Jiffy Lube and I always felt like they were running a production line of salesmen! The wonderful gentleman at the front desk at Mathias is so super friendly, I always bring a book to help pass the time but never even open it because I enjoy talking to him! I've recommended this shop to friends and family and will only go here for any car work. Support local community business and give this place a try, you won't be disappointed. Oh and call ahead to make an appointment! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Kevin and the Aktiv shop. I first found them with a BMW Car Club DIY, and they were awesome. I've sent multiple people here and all have thanked me for saving them money and appreciated the quality work they did. If you need BMW service do not hesitate to take your car here. They have both a passion for BMW's and an appreciation for the costs of modern life. read more

This place is great! As a resident of DC, it was difficult to find a trusted repair place that wouldn't try to rip me off because I'm a woman. I thought I'd give these guys a try because they had great ratings and were right around the corner from my work. They totally delivered! I called for an oil change and they took me right away, were very polite on the phone and super helpful when I dropped the car off. JD was awesome and very trustworthy. I will definitely be bringing my car back here if I have any trouble! Also, what repair shop do you know that offers Keurig coffee and snacks?! Way to go! read more

First time at this business...owner answered the phone and gave me an appointment. He asked some pertinent questions to help with the diagnosis. When I arrived, they looked over the car and suggested a solution...which could be done that day, at less than I thought ! Gave me some choices on what to do now and what will be needed later since I had a budget. I also asked them about a power car window that was working poorly and I thought it needed a new motor or had a jammed scissors unit...the owner suggested before you spend a lot of money try a can of silicone spray....it might work and only cost you a few $$. Worked perfectly. Clean, honest, gets work done on time and suggests something that would work but does not earn them a fee. This business seems to "get it"...be honest and competent, charge a fair price, treat a customer like you want a long term relationship.... will use them again. read more

Care To Share With Friends? Mathias Servicenter, Inc. Merceds Benz & Volvo 22A West Diamond Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301) 869-9302 7/6/2010 I was a customer for 20 years under the old owner. When the new owner took over I let them replace my front brakes and then my back brakes. Soon after, my front brakes started making a terrible noise. I took it back, but Mathias said they couldn't hear anything. Another repair shop disovered that the brakes were installed incorrecly & lock nuts were missing. Reinstallation = $218. Then the back brakes started making noise. Another shop said that either inferior parts were used or the wrong parts and again lock nuts were missing. This time there was damage and I paid $750. Old owner =great. New owner = bad. Run away. read more

I tried Aktiv Automotive tor a simple maintenance job for my car. I needed to change oil, rotate, and inflate tires since indicator showed low pressure. Ricardo told me that it will be done in 1 hour. I left my car, but after 2 hours nobody called me. I called myself and I was told that it will be ready in next two hours, between 2 and 3 pm. Nobody called and I called again. Car was not ready. Ricardo promised me that it will be ready at 5:30 pm. I was waiting for his call, nobody called. I decided to come anyway. Ricardo left, but I found Carlos and he told me that car was ready. When I drove back I found that low pressure light is on. I called Carlos and he explained that light will reset automatically after I drive it for a couple of miles. I drove 20 miles, light was on. After I came back home I checked pressure myself. All tires pressure were about 25 PSI, much lower than it should be. They did not inflate the tires. Now I am not sure if they even changed oil or rotate tires. They did not put a tag which all companies do: next oil change in xxxxx miles. I think this shop is unreliable. read more

Very honest store with great fast service, needed to go on a road trip one day and really wanted to get my oil change before i left out. Almost every shop told me it i would need an appointment or that the wait time was 3 hours. I ended up finding AKTIV which was 4mins away from my house. I called and they said i could just stop by and it would only take 30mins. Then my only concern was the price i thought it would be ridiculous but it wasnt, so much cheaper than 10min oil change which was the one other place i knew i could go to for a simple quick oil change before i left. After the oil change they told me my front brakes were wore down and i should consider changing them. My mind was thinking "Here comes the crazy pressure to get it changed, at the cost of an arm and a leg." but to my surprise price was reasonable and no pressure to get it changed. Maybe 6 month later i ended up getting a new car, i was looking up places to get it inspected. My only worries while look around was if i ran into a technician that would tamper with my car just so i would need to get it repaired. Then i remember AKTIV. Took my car there and it was a 45min-1hour wait, and everything went perfectly. i came back the next day because i notice a slight shaking while idling at a red light and one other small problem. They checked it out really briefly and told me its normal for my car to do that in this 10 degree weather. I could imagine if i went to any other shop i would have been bombard with BS repairs quotes. I highly recommend coming here if you know nothing about cars, i feel that there are many shops that will overcharge or push services that are not needed. But at AKTIV you do not have to worry about that. read more

Excellent location (easy to enter/park/exit). Mark was friendly and professional. He even greeted me by name, even though I'd never been there before -- He simply noted the time I arrived, saw the type of car I pulled up in and figured it must be me -- seems so basic, but it really makes a big difference with customer service seeing as most people seem to just say, "Mepya?" (rushed version of, "May I help you?"). Pricing was fair for my oil change and tire rotation. I was compelled to give them a try because they're one of the few shops with a number of favorable Yelp reviews. I was also pleasantly surprised by the goody bag on my front seat, which included an ice scraper. Thank you, Mark and team. I'll definitely be back. read more

This place is great. The staff are very friendly, helpful, and responsive. Prices and advice are always reasonable. I started going there about a year ago and will continue to go and recommend to others. Like the review below, this is my first review on any site, but I felt obligated to do one and praise when it is so obviously deserving. read more