Recently I took my Mini Cooper to the shop to diagnose and solve some problems with the car running rough. Usually I do most of the maintenance myself, but due to space constraints, Minis can be a bit tricky to work on. While the price is a bit high, service and expertise is definitely top notch and would be going back to them again if another project pops up on the car! read more

Bavarian professionals bent over backwards for me on a Friday before a holiday weekend!! We had a MINI Cooper become stranded in Berkeley while on a road trip and they did not hesitate to help us out! We got a fast and accurate diagnosis when other shops in the area told us they wouldn't be able to help us out for several days. You guys are truly an elite level european shop! PEOPLE...DO NOT HESITATE TO GIVE THEM A CALL!!! read more

I normally do not leave internet reviews of businesses, but given that the service I've received from Bavarian Professionals has routinely been top notch, I felt compelled to review them: I have been taking my 2007 BMW 328 xi to Bavarian Professionals for 3.5 years now. My first visit was due to an unplanned failure of the mechatronic system that controls the transmission, which happened at 141,000 miles. I have routinely worked with Nemo and Eric, and they have always provided honest and timely estimates and repairs. Since then, I have visited Bavarian Professionals for front brakes and rotors, new tires, rear brakes and rotors, oil changes, brake fluid flushes, a transfer case oil change and other minor issues. An example of their honesty and service stems from a visit where I needed my brakes changed. They inspected the front and rear brakes and while the rear brakes were 85% worn out, they recommended only replacing my front brakes given how few miles I drive each year. (I drive less than 4,000 miles per year.) The car now has 161,300 miles on it and is in a condition where I expect to be able to drive issue free for a number of years. We live in San Francisco and have found that it is always worth making the trip to Berkeley because their service is trustworthy and dependable. They have a very nice waiting room with complimentary wifi and ample seating + outlets that allow me to work while waiting. Other times they have graciously driven me to work when I needed to be in the office. My car is always washed, washer fluid is topped off, and the air pressure in my tires is checked before turning my car back over to me. Bav Pros always calls me if they discover something different from what they estimated and get my approval before proceeding with any unscheduled work. With the exception of the transmission issue, all of my servicing has been done in less than a day. Service: 5 Stars Customer Service: 5 Stars Cost: 4 Stars. Bav Pros charges ~$160 per hour in labor - so it isn't cheap. But again, they do great work and I'm paying for the peace of mind that I'm not being ripped off, and that the job will be done correctly. Reliability: 5 Stars. I have never had to go back after a repair because something wasn't done correctly. Covid: My most recent visit was during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Everyone in the office was wearing masks and following all of the recommended guidelines. If you have a late model BMW, or one that is out of warranty, I would highly recommend paying a visit to Bavarian Professionals. read more

BavPros is a no-nonsense, highly-skilled BMW and Mini Cooper service shop that provides outstanding service at very fair prices. I have my much loved 2006 Competition Package M3 serviced at BavPros. They also service my daily ride, a 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman S. There is simply no reason to take your BMW or Mini Cooper to the dealership (once your maintenance package is expired, that is.) Go to BavPros! read more

They fixed my car when nobody would or could! Big thank you to Eric for the awesome customer service, status updates etc. I WILL NOT be bringing my BMW 5 Series to anyone else but Bav Pros period! read more

First class service! My car could not pass smog due to some OBD (onboard diagnostics) issue (2001 E46 325i wagon). I took it originally to BMW Concord and the service tech did not know what I was talking about. After some searching on Yelp, found this great shop! After explaining the problem, they knew exactly what I was talking about and told me they would check the codes, etc. Turns out I needed a new O2 sensor. This was an option given to me the last time I serviced my car at the dealer, but they wanted $600 for one sensor! I got it replaced for less than half at Bavarian Professionals! Since I was there, I had my alignment done and not only was the alignment explained to me, it was done so that I could actually understand! It's good to finally find a place to pamper our 325i! Will def becoming back! read more

Wow!!! my bmw x1 battery needed to be changed and all of the places we called were overpriced/cant give us even an estimate over the phone and would not accommodate us. we called bavarian professionals and Eric was wonderful!!! gave us a quote over the phone, was attentive and on top of things, very professional! when we got my car it was even cleaned and vacuumed inside. i told my bf if i can give them 10 stars I would :) read more

Bavarian Professionals are simply the best BMW service and repair experience I have ever had. Life handed me the horrible Timing Chain problem in my 2013 X3 at just over 100K. Eric at BAVPROS went over all the costs, and described in patient detail every nuance of the services to be completed. The dealership was a nightmare. But Bavarian Professionals gave me a perfect parts list. A schedule and a cost breakdown for everything. A loaner car was available once I paid for the parts. The work was done expertly. The budget was right on the money. The time was as expected, which was nice because it was a big job. While they were in there we found my car needed a new radiator, a new harmonic balancer, and rear brakes. All costs were accounted for. Perhaps BAVPRO's biggest achievement is the professionalism and great customer service to match the great repairs. It is right there in the name. Bavarian Professionals know their craft and know how to deal with a BMW Owner. My X3 runs like new. They are reasonable in cost compared to the outrageous costs the dealer wanted to charge for everything. The dealer didn't catch the hole in my radiator. Truly a Bay Area 5 star company. I would give BavPro's 10 stars if I were allowed. read more

This place is legit. Integrity at it's finest. Not only do they do an outstanding job at providing BMW repair services, their customer service is top notch. They are very trustworthy and will tell you where you can get a service much cheaper or if a service you are looking to get is not necessary. FIVE STARS FOR SURE! read more

This is the most honest, quality car repair service in the SF Bay Area. Their trustworthiness and professionalism allows for a quality, safe, and secure service for your BMW or other German-made vehicle. They have my highest recommendation. read more

Not sure why I haven't written a BavPros review earlier, but it's time to fix that! My wife and I have been customers since about 1987, not long after the shop opened. Since then, Bavarian Professionals has been the only non-dealer service for our 3 BMWs (2002, M3 and 530xi wagon). It's rare to find any business that is this consistently excellent, but to have over 30 years of great service from the same shop is pretty amazing. Just booked the M3 in for service next week. 250k miles and going strong thanks to Nat, Marta and the rest of the team. read more

This visit was only for new windshield wipers, but this is my go-to place for any service for my 2014 Mini Cooper. These folks are consistently responsive, organized, efficient and considerate, and courteous as well. As long as we plan ahead, they provide a loaner car. read more

After Wetherford BMW repeatedly tried to upsell me with services the car did not need, and just treated me like 'customer 1000', I looked around and went to Bavarian Professionals. I am glad I did! First was just an oil change and vehicle check. It was fast, professional and trouble-free. Eric explained how the car is now and what services are needed next and about when. It's like having my own mechanic again! I do not intend to go back to Wetherford, and had their license plate frame removed... read more

These guys saved me a couple hundred bucks on a repair that might have costed be about 1000$! I didn't have much to do or say to the representative up front. I walked in, he asked what was wrong and about how much it would cost. I walked out, picked up the next day and paid about the cost of his estimate. If you own a BMW and have a repair that you are not quite certain about, this is the spot! They got the work done in a timely manner and walked out a very happy customer! read more

Scheduled a next-day appointment for a 50K service. When I arrived, the service professional who greeted me was knowledgeable about my model of car, as well as the services I needed versus those which could wait until 60K. At 9:30am on a Friday morning I was the only customer waiting in the large waiting area adjacent to the service desks, and I helped myself to some top end single serving coffee. My car was done in less than 2hrs - a pleasant surprise. Highly recommended. read more

I was referred to Bavarian by a Co-worker. I brought in my vehicle for two reasons. A smell emitted from the engine of the vehicle and a lack of cool air from the air conditioning. I received a call from Nino in regards to quotes to repair the AC and to repair a valve gasket leak. The valve gasket cover leak was going to cost me over $800! Nino said he would call me back and when he did he said that his Co-worker Marta established that the valve gasket cover was covered under the Sulev warranty in the state of California. Per their recommendation I took the vehicle to Weatherford BMW in which they covered the repair under warranty! I can see why this shop has such a high rating and I was referred to them by my coworker. Rather than try to make me pay for repairs that were covered under warranty they did the right thing which was to inform me of the under warranty repair. If you want an honest repair shop I would highly recommend Bavarian! read more

I just had some work done on my 328 I. I really like this place, don't take me wrong. They will give you very detailed information about what your car needs and what it'll cost. There won't be any surprises. As for prices, I don't find their prices higher than other places at all. The fact is that these cars are expensive to work on and the parts are not cheap. Also, the customer service is very pleasant, Marta is absolutely a pleasure to deal with. I just got my car from the shop. As soon as my car was brought to me, I noticed 2 massive scratches on the left rear door. Since they don't review your car body in front of you before receiving the car, I, unfortunately, have no way(s) of proving that my door was in perfect condition when I left my car for service. It's so frustrating because it's my words against theirs. As I said before, I've never had a problem with the Bavarian before, and to be honest they've always been very honest. But, I think not looking at the cars before receiving it, I think is a big mistake. Not only for the shop but also for the customers. read more

Had a major service performed at Bavarian Professionals for my f80 m3. They were prompt and professional. I'll use them again for future service! Thanks! read more

Always thorough, professional, honest, and friendly. They have seen it all, and keep me aware of any potential and developing issues. Have brought several BMWs there over the decades for routine maintenance, major repairs, track day inspections, and performance upgrades. They have earned my highest recommendation. read more

Haven't been to this shop yet but I plan to. I called about having some preventative work done to my M4. The issue that is so often raised on Internet forums regarding newer M3's and 4's is the crank hub. The knowledgeable staff member I spoke with said don't worry about that part and the car is stout. He could have easily sold me on the job but told me "don't believe everything you read on the internet". This will be my new shop now that I'm out of warranty. read more

Great experience with Bavarian Professionals! Had my water pump give out in my 2008 535i (these tend to give out around 80,000 miles on E60's, so beware) and cause my cooling system to go down. I'm very anal about work being done on my car, as I usually do it myself, so I always make sure to bring it to a very respectable shop. Very glad I found Bavarian Professionals to replace my water pump, thermostat, and coolant expansion tank. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff (even the receptionist knew exactly what she was talking about when she ran me through my invoice before payment). Really like how you can text them, in addition to calling like normal -- super convenient. Shop is kept clean and organized from what I saw, and their process is straight-forward and pretty transparent, which I greatly appreciated. I personally was in contact with Eric from start to finish, and he was very helpful and quick at responding (text and call). Even threw in a free install on a new coolant expansion tank I brought in myself, with no extra labor cost, along with a free tire inspection (low pressure warning) and refill. Repair time was very quick, because they had all the parts I needed in stock. Total time from when I dropped my car off to when I picked it up was 24 hours, with the car washed, too! Super happy with the service time. Would definitely recommend Bavarian Professionals to anyone wanting work done on their BMW (and Mini Coopers from what I understand). Will contact Eric without hesitation the next time I need service from a shop. read more

This is my first time bringing my car to Bavarian Professionals. Having been serviced by the dealer all these years, I feel the decision to make the move Is absolutely right! I needed only an oil change and a regular checkup. But the experience was great. I called in to ask some general questions. Nino answered all my questions. I felt that this was a nice place so made the appointment. When I arrived and later picked up my car, Marta patiently explained everything and provided options/recommendations. I am going to bring my other car here for an annual service soon... read more

These Guys are the best! One year later I am still overly satisfied with the service I receive at Bavarian! I had some repairs done on a Friday, shortly after picking up my car the check engine light came on. Immediately upon speaking with Eric the following Monday I was able to bring it back and have it checked out. He offered a loaner I declined as I was calling Uber he offered to have me dropped off at home (thumbs up). A little over an hour later Eric phoned car is fixed a sensor wasn't firmly secured after the repair; totally took responsibility for the error! The superb service didn't stop there Eric requested to drop my car off at home, filled the tank, and washed it off! These Guys are the best, I highly would recommend!!!! One other thing Yelpers it pays to be a good customer too; if you go in all crazy, blaming, and pointing fingers you get what you deserve. Remember to be respectful and customer service goes both ways!!! Cheers! read more

Customer service and work is top notch! Eric and his team fixed my 2007 BMW 328i last year when my water pump failed. They even sent out a flatbed truck to pick up the car from my home in Berkeley and the repair was done that day! My check engine light came on again today so I drove it in to speak with Eric. He quickly diagnosed the problem as spark plug/coil related. When I told him I would prefer to do the work myself, he said no problem and then to my surprise he shared the diagnostic report with me and then walked me through the results and the specific plugs and coils he would recommend replacing. When I tried to tip him for the help, he refused it and said "use it on your new coils!" Amazing experience. I know where I will be coming next time I have car issues. Thanks again Eric! read more

I was able to bring my car in to replace my drive belt on the same day that I called. This place is very honest and professional. They evaluated my car problem, changed the belt and even wash and vacuumed my car. My experience here is so much better than going to any dealership. I'm very happy about my visit there and would bring my car in again for any other problems and services. read more

How much do I like Bav Pros? So much that when I heard they were listed at yelp, I joined yelp just so I could write a glowing review of them. I have no affiliation with Bav Pros except that I am their loyal customer. Over a year ago, a co-worker asked me if I knew of a reputable independent BMW shop. I didn't, but a knowledgeable friend referred me to Bav Pros saying "If I still drove a BMW, that's where I'd go." I carpooled my then co-worker to and from Bav Pros, and watched how they treated him at check-in, then tracked how they corresponded with him, and finally delivered his car. Everything was exemplary. My co-worker was not car savvy, was soft spoken, and his native tongue was not English. Yet Bav Pros treated him with courtesy. They easily could have written work he did not need, but they declined to. They accommodated him handily for after-hours pickup, even making final arrangements as we were running late en route. I had dealt with numerous motorcycle and car dealerships and had almost never seen this level of service culture and professionalism. Fast forward to several months ago, when I took delivery of my first BMW car, a brand new one I ordered from a dealership. Having planned from the start to make a few cosmetic and functional changes to this car, I quickly learned that the dealership's rates for such work were outrageously high. This I confirmed by getting reasonable quotes for the same work from Bav Pros. I remembered them for their good treatment of former my co-worker. Since then, Bav Pros has done all work to my new BMW car that was not warranty related. This has included cosmetic and performance modifications (both hardware and software), special orders of OEM parts, custom installation of aftermarket electronics, and preemptive oil changes. I have found Bav Pros to be pleasant to do business with, fastidious, caring, and proactive. Their work for me has been excellent. Not only do Bav Pros stand by their work, but they bring to the business a humanity that is rare among those who service high-end marques. I cannot recommend Bav Pros highly enough. read more

Bavarian Professionals - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had real problems with a broken mirror on my 2004 BMW M3. I took it to four other shops and they could not fix it. BavPros was able to fix it perfectly and also did some other repairs. Nino was most helpful and Marta always takes great care of the customer. Plus they wash the car after each job! A ++ all the way. I will be back. read more

Very knowledgeable when it comes to BMW. If you have any issues with your BMW and want it diagnosed as well as repaired by professionals. Go check this place out! Had more than one issue than I originally thought with my BMW. They repaired everything and even took it to BMW for me to get some parts replaced that were still under warranty and saved me some $$$. Friendly staff and A1 service! Highly recommend! read more

In the interest of full disclosure (and because Peter Pan's service & parts director has been after me since I posted my reviews....I can't tell if it's menacing or genuine customer service but it's kind of making me uneasy), here are the exact comparisons between what we got done at Bavarian and what Peter Pan would have charged us for the very same repairs: 1) Repair passenger-side washer hose: Peter Pan quoted $419.31; Bavarian repaired for $33.62 (the replacement part was actually $1.12; the additional $32.50 was labor). So on this alone, we saved $385.69 by going to Bavarian. 2) Replace right rear PDC sensor: Peter Pan quoted $603.06; Bavarian repaired for $272.74. On this, we saved $330.32. 3) Replace transmission sealing sleeve & pan gasket: Peter Pan quoted $669.94; Bavarian repaired for $559.33. We saved $110.61. 4) Replace both thrust rod bushings: Peter Pan quoted $777.58; Bavarian repaired for $491.93. We saved $285.65. So for all four things, we would have paid Peter Pan $2469.89. We paid Bavarian $1357.62. That's a total savings of $1112.27.....for the same repairs with 100% authentic BMW parts installed by BMW-certified technicians. No aftermarket/off-brand stuff. Just wanted to make sure my original claims were backed up - the last thing I want to be is misleading in any way. I understand that service & repairs at a dealer are always going to be more expensive, but over $1000 for identical work is a pretty big deal for me. read more

I own zun wienerdog. I own zun BMW. I am zee feeling of deutschland! Nein, I am not German. But I might as well be. Kinda hard though, being Asian and all. But I own two things that are important to me and are inherently German :) I drive down Gilman a lot and one day, saw a large sign on top of an older model BMW on the side of the road that read "Bavarian Professionals." If you're not a car guy, that may not mean much. If it said, "Toyota Professionals," or "Ford Professionals," then you might be inclined to say, "Oh yeahhhhh, they must be mechanics." BMW's are a different breed, thus I'll NEVER go to a mechanic that has a sign that says, "BMW Mechanic," or "European Cars Mechanic." If you work on BMW's, then you should refer to yourself as a Bavarian Mechanic - then we'd KNOW you worked on Bimmers, or Beemers. I took my car there because I wanted an outstanding oil change and to get my exterior temp sensor replaced. I was greeted by Martha, a very cool Slovkian woman that KNOWS her shit about BMW's. For example: Martha: "Do you drive a ZHP?" Me: "Huh?" Martha: "Let me go check." Steps outside, takes a look. Martha: "No, it's the Sport Package." Me: "............................................" Next conversation: Me: "I eventually need to swap out the idle control valve" I say to her smuggly, thinking she'd never know the answer to this one. Martha: "Sure, on your model car it will be around $240 for parts." Me: "..............................................................................." Dude. Really? LOL - I GOT PWNED! (if you're a gamer, then ya'll know why I spelled "owned" as "pwned." If you're not a gamer, then tough shit). Anyway, service was spot on and I'll have to return to see if I can stump Martha, but I seriously doubt it - she out witted me on brakes, rotors, the "kit." Bah! In all seriousness, the service is 5 Star, the shop is very efficient, and they live and breath the national Bavarian car - BMW's. Why would you want to go to any other type of mechanic? Why go to BMW for a $400 oil change when you can get it down here for 75% less? Duh. And they wash your car for you at the end of the service :) read more

I've been meaning to write this review for a while now. Early last year I opted to take my BMW for repairs at Bavarian Professionals for what ended up being worn out engine mounts. The technicians at this location wasted a considerable amount of my time with unnecessary repairs in order to "test" the car in hopes of having the issue reveal itself. Needless to say that it never did. Unfortunately by that point I'd spent close to a thousand dollars on repairs to no avail. Luckily, in the summer that immediately followed, I moved back to my hometown in SoCal after finishing a graduate program in Norcal and visited a shop down here. They managed to properly identify and fix the matter within two days and charge me less to boot. read more

Great service for my 2013 MINI and great communication from Marta at the front. Will come back as needed in the future - after this positive experience, I don't feel the need to look elsewhere. read more

As a car guy who usually does his own work on his cars, I am very, very picky about who gets to put their wrench to my car..I usually do work myself, but alas, sometimes I do not have the correct tools, experience or patience.. Immediately upon reading the reviews here and checking out their website, I knew they would be exactly the shop I was looking for - a shop that is staffed by true enthusiasts who will meet the needs of an exacting owner like myself. I filled out their online appointment scheduling form on a Sunday evening and heard back from them the very next day. Scheduled the car to be dropped off on a Friday so I will have access to a loaner car. When I called them up late Thursday asking if I could drop my car off early and pick up the loaner I was obliged. I had asked Nat, the service adviser, about possibly taking on another job on my car, something I thought might be a few minute breeze..he said that if in fact it only took several minutes there would be no charge. I got a call Friday morning informing me it was more than I thought, so I told him to just forget it. Got a call in the early afternoon letting me know the car was done and that I can pick it up. Score! Very fast. The final bill was very close to the original quote, aside from a part I forgot to provide (I always provide the parts when I have my car worked on..). Another point for honesty. All in all, an excellent experience. Nat, Marta and the other staff I spoke with were very knowledgeable and courteous. The only thing I can complain about was that the loaner car I was given had a dead headlight and old wipers, which I had to drive at night in the rain with. read more

Aside from a brief dalliance with Honda, the cars in my life have been BMWs and these guys have always serviced my cars out of warranty. I don't think it's possible to love your mechanic, just like it's hard to love the dentist, the hospital, or the undertaker. But if competence is what you value, then I've had a good experience with these guys. Over the years, I've had Inspection(s) done here, pre-purchase inspections, suspension strut arms replaced, cooling system overhauls, oil service, etc. I can't really speak to promptness of service since my lifestyle is such that I don't really NEED to drive, so I'm a pretty easy client as far as scheduling. At the time of this review, I can pop my bike in the trunk, take the car to the shop, and then ride to work. I also can't speak to pricing as I haven't really done much comparison shopping. My main criteria is whether or not the issues get fixed and if I have to go back repeatedly. I would rather somebody charge me for an extra hour than to hurry and make a mistake. So, the summary: low snob factor, competence and communicative without any sales fluff. Just what you want from your mechanic. read more

I've been here for two times (one for replacement of starter, and one for tire/wheel replacement). I have to say they are really professional, and know what they are doing. Why? The reason I had my first visit is because Weatherford BMW cannot figure out what went wrong with my car (had sizzling sound when start cold), even if they've run 3 diagnoses on it ($100+ for one diagnose). Finally, I decided to give up Weatherford BMW and came here. Eric took the car and let it sit for days and finally figured out what's wrong. Even though the hourly rate is higher compared to others, but they know what they're doing and do it efficiently, so it's worth every dollar I pay. read more

This review is based upon routine service done on my wife's 3 series. Overall, this place is very professional, has loaner cars (with advance notice) and they make quality repairs. Prices seem reasonable, and they are certainly not they type of shop to attempt to gouge you. Never had any problems with routine repairs, and we appreciate the honesty they exude when calling you back to review a repair plan. They really do care about you AND your ride. Unfortunately, we relocated and can no longer take the time to get the car there for maintenance. Bummer.... Oh, as others have mentioned, the front desk lady is extremely nice, VERY knowledgeable about cars, and makes for wonderful eye candy if your repair goes into overtime! read more

I can't recommend these guys enough. They are scrupulously honest. I'm a starving single mom stubbornly driving a '73 2002, and I can only do the most critical repairs. Bavarian has been so understanding; Mike and Matt let me know what can wait and what has to be attended to right away.. Their work is also excellent, with top notch mechanics. They do their best to accommodate emergencies, give rides, etc. Best of all, I come in with my old shabby car in an absolute mess - I'm a teacher, and it's always full of papers, my son's candy wrappers, my kitties' paw prints all over the hood, etc. - and they still treat it like it's the top of the line latest model, including vacuuming and washing it til it sparkles! I have used other BMW shops in the past, but will never switch again. Yay, Bavarian Pros! read more

This place is awesome. They are a high end dealer alternative and are a bit on the pricey end but do the cushy stuff the dealer does like top off your fluids and wash your car when you take in for service. Labor rate is $120 an hour (yikes!) but they honest and transparent about everything and won't charge you an extra 30-50% on parts like the dealer will. I've had an air intake installed here and a set of tires installed. Very happy with the service both times. Costs were communicated up front for both services, no surprises with extra charges or extra labor time. As with any auto shop, be sure to have basic familiarity with your vehicle and its service needs before taking it in. Basic auto knowledge will help a lot with communication and understanding what they are asking to fix and what they want to charge you for. Be prepared! read more

I went here due to the great reviews and left scratching my head. First, Eric is not the easiest person to deal with, secondly when I asked the tech what's wrong he said "I don't know" but Eric comes back and says it's this and that ( I am keeping it vague to limit retaliation). They kept on changing parts and testing over several visits hoping to fix the problem which at $150/hour of labor is criminal. In reading some reviews, I had a similar experience with Blasian S. and Jack H read more

These guys have my '91 325i running better than ever. Great attentive service, they know their business. So glad I found them. Too bad I wasted so many years going to inferior repair shops. They have always given me good pricing and have suggested less costly methods to repair a problem. Good job! read more