I never write reviews because they're just not worth the time, but I MUST write this one. I am very picky about the type of service I receive for a fair price. My 2008 BMW 528i recently had gear shifting issues, weak battery with programming problems as well as leaking gaskets. Took it to the dealer and the estimate was around $4,000. With that sticker shock, I asked a friend in the automotive industry if he knew anyone and referred me to Rudy at Elite Automotive. I've never taken my car to anyone else except the dealer. Upon arrival I gave him the actual paperwork from my dealership and he verified after running the diagnostic that all those items needed to be repaired. His estimate... $2,200 and a 24 hour turnaround. He was honest and told me he would only use genuine parts and would only do the work that was necessary. He even showed me the parts. The next morning I arrived and he informed me that there were seven other items on the programming that were not reading correctly and would need to be taken care of. It would be another half a days worth of work and normally would cost $400 but he did it at NO COST. In addition, he paid for a one day car rental since I didn't get his message before I arrived. I couldn't believe it. One of his employees drove me to the rental company. I have two other BMW's and have decided I will bring all my cars to Rudy. Just FYI, he has worked at a West-side BMW dealership for 18+ years as their Sr. Technician and Foreman for the service department so he knows what he's talking about. Upstanding gentleman, quality work and well priced to boot. Thank you Rudy. read more

I've tried out a few of the Santa Monica area "German Auto" specialists, but I have yet to find one that's as good as Elite. First, let's talk about quality. The stuff that other mechanics weren't able to figure out...they figured out and fixed. Really weird stuff, too, like programmable window regulators... (maybe that's not even the right name for it--all I know is that it works now...) Rudy used to be a mechanic at Santa Monica BMW, so he knows it all and he can get parts quickly. Now, price. Oil changes are definitely less expensive here, as is everything else. On top of that, it would be pretty easy for someone to gouge an auto-idiot like me, but Rudy doesn't. Today, I brought my car in because the smog test guy told me that I need new break pads. (An indicator light that looked like a lightbulb, but didn't seem to be because all the lights seemed to be working fine was on.) Rudy called me pretty quickly and said "Uh...you don't need brake pads, you need a new parking light." Not only did Rudy not charge me for labor (I just paid for the light), but he washed my car, too. Now that my 330 is off warranty, I intend to never set foot in Santa Monica BMW again! Elite's my place. read more

I've had really bad experiences servicing my 2004 BMW 645ci. I've gone to two independent mechanics in Los Angeles (as well as two dealerships). My experiences at all those places either consisted of horrible service or shady business practices. I'm really happy I found Rudy at Elite Automotive. He is a BMW Master Tech so he knows what he's talking about. When I took my car to his shop in the morning, hiis estimate seemed fair and said my car would be done by the end of the day. Not only was he done earlier than expected, he came back with $150 less than what he originally estimated because he found out one of the parts didn't need replacing. Most crook mechanics would keep quiet and charge for it anyway. What an honest guy. I even told him that my windshield washer fluid was leaking (minor issue) and he took the time to fix it free of charge. The whole job took just a day and now my car is free of the issues it was having. Not only that, I FINALLY found a skilled, honest, and reliable mechanic who knows BMWs inside and out. There's no reason to ever go to a BMW Stealership again. read more

I have been taking my BMW to Elite for just over a year now. I previously spent almost 15 years in the automotive industry and it's extremely rare that you can find someone with as much integrity and honesty as Rudy. Elite automotive services my car and washes it before I pick it up. Read the rest of the reviews but they are simply the best when it comes to customer service and knowledge. Keep up the good work Rudy. My 750 has never been better. read more

I found Rudy through a coupon mailer for a simple oil change and now I am never going back to Santa Monica BMW-- ever!. I have always taken my car to Santa Monica BMW but I thought I would give him a try to save to money. When I took it in, he diagnosed a noise that was nagging me for a long time with a part that only cost $60. Santa Monica BMW diagnosed something completely different and was going to charge me $$$ to try and fix without a guarantee. He spent a lot time explaining everything he was doing, took me under my car and showed me issues that may need attention in the future and when he was done washed my car like they do at the dealer. This is all around the best service I ha;ve ever gotten and to top it off --it was way cheaper. I would recommend him for all BMW related repair and maintenance! read more

I have a 2001 BMW and have been looking for a reputable, affordable shop to do my repairs. Called to ask how much they would charge to install brakes and do a fluid flush with pads and rotors I bought myself (I am very picky about my BMW and only use high-quality, OE parts). I was told they won't install any parts I bring in, and that they only use their own parts. Presumably to make higher profits. Guess I'll be going somewhere else. read more

Rudy and his crew are a pleasure to work with and truly are those rare mechanics that take care of you from the minute you walk into their shop and for months afterwards. I went in just for an oil change and found out I had multiple oil leaks, bad breaks and a handful of other repairs. Being a young professional, I immediately became stressed at the unexpected expenses of a car fix but Rudy made it manageable and broke down the repairs in order of priority. Within 8 months all of my repairs from big to small have been fixed and I could not be happier. If your looking for a true, good honest mechanic who will take care of you FOREVER, this is your shop. read more

I've brought my 2003 325 to Rudy for about 3 years now. He is very responsive and gets things done usually within a day. He always calls after he had a look and lets me know about other problems he found. It's an oldish car so there often is something to get fixed, but he always explains clearly what it is and shows convincingly why its broken. I am naturally suspicious about being sold stuff I don't need. Rudy, though never pushed anything on me. He gives me his opinion and price and leaves it up to me when to get it fixed. No pressure. He clearly cares about his customers and goes the extra mile to keep them happy. read more

I found Rudy and Elite automotive from two friends of mine he takes care of. When my BMW started having problems they said take it to Rudy because he is a master mechanic, he'll show you what's wrong with your car, has the most fair if not the best prices and is honest and easy to deal with. It's been 1000% true with my experiences. If you ever need a referral for something else that all follows to the next person you end up at. This is a great shop to be at and it's no wonder why he's got all five-star reviews. read more

Just amazing. Rudy is a top notch pro and is extremely knowledgeable about BMW's. I had an electric steering lock warning signal and took my car to a BMW dealership for a diagnostic. Their estimate was nearly $4k. Rudy took a look and came up with a prudent plan to get my car fixed up. He recommended what he thought was necessary and pointed out certain repairs I was quoted for by the dealership that were absolutely unnecessary. I ended up paying about a third of the dealership's estimate and my car is running like a dream. Moving forward, I won't trust anyone else with my BMW but Elite Automotive. Note: Rudy has a special deal with Hertz for a very reasonable $22 a day; really made my experience painless. read more

bimmer master tech twenty years experience great work at fair price read more

Rudy is great! I have a 1995 M3 that began to have some issues. I bought it pretty well used, but not abused. Well, with my luck it started having some issues. I live fairly close by, and happened upon this place purely by accident. Rudy is extremely knowledgeable, honest and reasonably priced. He has always given me accurate quotes and timelines and been great. They will give you a ride to somewhere within reason if you cannot wait. Rudy showed me every single part and piece that he has ever removed from my car, and explained what the problem with it was. I have been to him on a number of occasions (fuel pump, water pump, ignition switch/starter, and a few other issues). Rudy has all of the connections to get the necessary parts, and will always give you any options you have, as well as make honest recommendations. For example, my passenger window switch failed on me, and Rudy told me that I would be better off finding one online, than ordering a new one for $85. He was right. I got one for $14.95, and was even able to install it myself at his suggestion. I wholeheartedly recommend Elite automotive for ANY BMW owner without a second's hesitation. read more

I've taken my X5 to Rudy for various things over the last couple years. He's awesome. He knows his stuff and will quickly figure out what's going on with your car. He'll give you his honest opinion and will save you a buck or two when he can. I could go on and on, but the other reviews have pretty much said everything I could think of. I will never take my BMW anywhere else. read more

Rudy was highly recommended. Brought my 2011 750 LI in to his shop with a transmission issue and from the beginning he made me feel comfortable. He took his time to diagnose my car fully and sat me down to explain in full what was going on and why it was happening and what needed to be done. After deciding to go ahead and fix the issue he ordered the part and my car was finished and ready to pick up in only 2 days. I've taken my car to the dealer for minor issues and it's taken a week or more at times. I must also mention that i called the dealer to compare the pricing for the same exact job and they wanted over $3000.00 more than what Rudy's price was. I recommend Elite Auto. Rudy is a gem. read more

Thanks Yelpers for pointing me in the right direction when my 2002 BMW was in serious need of service. Many of my indicator lights were on. I was dreading to have to take my car to the dealer's service center for expensive repairs. I had a terrible experience a while back with BMW of San Diego and ever since then, I don't trust the dealer's service advisors. I dealt with Rudy at Elite Automotive and found him to be honest, experienced, and reliable. He will show you all the parts he changed out & explain why. Bonus star - He was able to do a couple of extras for me that I would have otherwise paid for at the dealer. Bonus star - washing my car after service. Bonus star - Getting me set up with a rental from Hertz. The shop is clean, service is excellent, and stress free experience. You can't pay me to take my car anywhere else from now on! read more

Rudy & the his team are amazing. I brought my car in because it had a couple service lights on, I thought that it just needed an oil change but Rudy looked it over & told me everything that needed to be done. He was nice enough to list everything that I needed with the details & price. Because I couldn't make it back to the shop he took photos of everything & emailed me a copy. He had to order some parts & while I waited for them over the course of the week, he kept in touch & kept me up to date with everything that was happening step-by-step. It was much appreciated! When I returned to pick up my car he sat me down to explain everything that had been done & even showed me how worn down my breaks & suspension were. Rudy is very knowledgeable & I'll definitely be returning in the future! read more

Awesome - that's all I can say about Rudy and his crew. I have had the same problem with my convertible top for years and have been ripped off many times at every BMW dealership throughout Los Angles and the South Bay and then I found Rudy. I went in praying that this would be my last stop of this expensive merry go round for my precious 1992 BMW 325I and with one suggestion to make the top manual - Rudy save me thousands and thousands of dollars for all the future repairs. His prices are extremely reasonable but more important to me was his pride in his work, his honesty and kindness. He cared about my car and my wallet and tried to make it as easy on me as possible. If you have any car trouble and are near Rudy - go - he's the best! read more

Rudy is a stand up guy. He's straight to the point, knowledgable and has the most amazing customer service. I first brought my 2007 335i in for an oil change. A few thousand miles later and I was down 1 quart of oil, I swung by Elite and Rudy gave me a quart at no cost. I really wanted to pay for it! He cares about his customers and generally takes great pride in providing excellent BMW service and amazing support. A few months went by and sure enough my water pump failed on the freeway, a common and expensive issue with these cars. Elite had me up and running the next morning, Rudy even threw in a brake fluid flush as it was needed but I wasn't quite prepared to have everything done at once. Amazing. Today I've been battling a problem with my ignition system and needed two coil packs, I dropped by the shop and Rudy just handed them to me. He is seriously the best, and Elite is hands down the best experience I've ever had with any automotive repair facility. BMWs require a lot of specific tools and can be a pain to work on, but Elite makes it a truly painless experience. I'll never go anywhere else. read more

I have used another BMW specialist in the area and was OK with things. I never liked their pricing but they seemed to know their stuff so I persisted because the car had always gone there - even with the prior owner. However, in writing a (good) review for them, I read some of the others and there was a mention or two of Elite so sure enough, when I had a small issue, I decided to give them a try. I was amazed at how calm and polite Rudy was. Never got that "I'm doing you a favor" vibe that is so prevalent. I just got an instant sense that I could trust this modestly mannered man. I made an appointment in advance and they stuck with it. And by that I mean, they immediately saw to my car at the appointed time. This may not always be possible but I appreciated it. I only needed some filters and a rear bulb changed but you could see the care he gave to the car was beyond that required. He vacuumed out leaf debris in general from the engine compartment and then replaced not one but both rear light bulbs because one was faulty. "While you're here you may as well." OK. Sure. Why not, right? Then I saw the bill. No mention of the lights. Either of them. "Don't worry about it. No charge." I'm done with my search. It's Rudy and Francesco that will be looking after my 530i for the foreseeable future. I live near The Grove but to me having someone that reminds me of the incredible service I once enjoyed from Two Guys from Sweden (Saab and Volvo only unfortunately), I'll make the trek to Venice. I'm sold. read more

Robin N. Took my BMW X3 to Elite on Friday January 18th. My car needed 4x4 actuator motor replaced. Dealer quoted me a price of $1469 was not paying that. Took the car to Rudy at Elite they quoted me a price of $884 to fix the problem. Left my car with Rudy, he also provided me that day with a Hertz rental car so i had something to drive while my car was being repaired. Rudy has a partnership with Hertz down the street and they will loan you a car at a discounted rate of $22 dollars a day because you are getting work done with Rudy. Hertz will pick you up at the garage and take you to their place of business and provide you with a car. And that $22 dollar rental price will be added on to your bill with Rudy once the work is done so no need to pay Hertz.. They still want a credit card or debit card to loan out the car but nothing is charged on the card. Rudy cuts them a check that day at his place of business. All you have to do is take the car back with Gas how you orignally picked it up. Rudy, is very knowledgable about BMW's and he is very honest and will quote you a very resonable price. He didn't even charge me a diagnostic price to check the condition of my car, he waived that and just charged me for the inital repair and the cost of the rental car. Got my car back the same day and when it was all said and done i only paid $916 dollars for the repair work. Rudy saved me $500 bucks. And i also have a 2 year warranty on the part that was replaced. Rudy will answer any questions. I will definitely be taking my car back to Rudy for any additional repairs or service i need on my Car. read more

So I had left a review earlier about not being able to reach these guys on the phone. Anyways, I had my emissions light and the right front parking lamp turn on and took the car in this morning. Rudy was busy but he took the time to look at the light - since he didn't have one in stock, he asked me to come later in the day when he would have it ready. He proceeded to read the codes for the check engine light and showed me that there were no real fault codes and there was some issue with the communication between the transmission and the software. He reset the codes and asked me to come if I saw the light again. Total charge $34 + tax for the bulb - since it was my first time, he didn't event charge me labor. I am excited to have found a reliable guy for my BMW and I am also excited to again ask BMW Santa Monica to take a flying leap of a tall building. Awesome service read more

I don't know what happen to my review I have posted last week. It did not post. Rudy is excellent and am very satisfied with the results. He took care of properly identifying the problems with my car and the result is fantastic. He even split the cost of the cab when I took my car. Keep up the good work Rudy. I will be seeing you soon. read more

I found Elite through Yelp and saw all the reviews. When I went in today I met Rudy and he's everything that everyone has written about him and his team. Honest from the get go and lays out all the costs and options before moving forward. Showed me damaged parts. Explained to me how the extended warranty works - the pitfalls and how to maximize usage relative to deductible. Thanks Rudy - not often you run into a trustworthy mechanic. Appreciate it man. read more

I've had my car here twice now two different repairs. My car is out of warranty & repairs are expensive but it's part of owning a BMW. I was aware of that when I bought the car. Anyways both times I've brought my car her Rudy & his team have been amazing. Fast in and out service, I would highly recommend him. read more

Elite BMW definitely know what they are doing on BMWs. My wife's 1997 328i had some kind of short that made the battery go dead ramdomly every few weeks to months. We took the car to over 4 different other BMW mechanics including two BMW dealer services $$$$$$$$$$$. NEVER EVER take your older BMW to the dealer - the do not knwo what they are doing and charge you for nothing. After leaving our BMW overnight 3 times to try to find the problem at another service place, Finally we were referred here. It did take two different visits, but elite BMW was able to chnage out the correct parts to fix this electrical short. They were very honest with the repairs and reasonable with service pricing. Now we do not take our BMW anywhere else - even for an oil change. read more

Rudy is extremely fair and straight forward. I've been coming here a couple years and though I live close, couldn't imagine bringing my bmw anywhere else. I came in as Rudy was leaving one day for a battery replacement in my key and he got out of his car and hooked me up free of charge. Just had a brake flush done today and follow his recommendation of oil changes early every 7,000 Miles read more

My 2001 325i had issues: brakes were vibrating, AC was shot, fluids leaking, check fluids/coolant light was coming on and off. Took it in Tuesday afternoon and picked it up today (Thursday- there was one day extra because I was out w/ a migraine and so didn't authorize the work until late Wednesday) Rudy took care of me. It is obvious from the first moment that he believes in what he does, and that excellent customer service is a priority for him. He stayed a bit late for both my drop off and pick up; he arranged a rental for me with pick up and drop off at a special discount rate. He listened to the issues I thought were the problem, and then went over what he thought they might be. He then called me with his assessment, and quoted me prices for parts and labor separately for each issue. He told me what he thought would need replacing and what could wait, and why. After I authorized the estimate, he found more issues, but he comp'd them because he didn't want to go over my estimate but he felt the work should be done while he was working on related parts. When I picked up, he showed me all the work he did, and then showed me all the old parts and explained why each had to be replaced or repaired (corroded radiator, cracked coolant tank, leaking pipe, nasty ass air filter and pump, etc.). He provided an itemized invoice of each piece of work that was done. In all my interactions, Rudy never made me feel dumb because I don't know about cars, and I never felt like he was hiding anything. He called it like he saw it, and went out of his way to explain things to me without making me have to ask. I am very pleased with the work and the customer service. I'll post an update if anything is less than great in the coming weeks. BMW service and parts aren't cheap, but you can really get gouged by some of the other dealers. That doesn't happen here: Rudy is a straight shooter and I would recommend him without reservation. read more

When I bought a new (for me) BMW after years of owning Hondas and Acuras, my big fear was "where to take my car?" I found Elite Automotive on yelp and was so glad. The shop is less than a mile from my home (lucky me!) and everyone is great there. So happy! read more

I was referred to Rudy by another independent European auto repair shop and I'm glad that they did. Rudy fixed my 1998 BMW 323i convertible top and my father's 1997 328i convertible top when other independent shops were afraid to touch it (and the dealer wanted thousands for a new top). I now use Elite Automotive for all of my repairs this past year including a brake light switch and a door handle. read more

I've only made one other recommendation on Yelp before, so when I make a recommendation, I really mean it! Elite Automotive is a company that deserves such praise. They are truly top notch! Rudy, who runs Elite Automotive, is fantastic. He is a master technician (was at Santa Monica BMW for years) who is honest, fair, fast, and always true to his quotes, which are incredibly reasonable. Not only are his prices great, but I actually don't know how Rudy earns a living since he often gives away parts and labor courtesy of Elite Automotive! I've been taking my BMW X5 4.4 (2006) to Elite since 2011 and have always been completely satisfied. I have had my oil changed several times, brake pads, discs and sensors replaced, coolant expansion tank replaced, and many minor repairs as well. Rudy always shows you your old parts (and is happy to give them to you if you want them!) and walks you through all the work done. You also drive away with a clean, washed car. Pretty amazing customer service. Seriously, don't read any more reviews. Stop your research now and drive directly to Elite Automotive! read more

I was driving back from Vegas and the engine light came on near Baker--that sucks right? Well the good news is I take my car to Rudy at Elite. These guys are without a doubt just great people. Rudy does care about all his customers, and he is totally transparent about everything. No bull, shows you the parts, gives you all the info you need to know to understand what happened and what is going on. And I like that he always tells me what to look out for next. MY 535i has 105k miles so I like to know the maintenance I need ahead of time. Going to Rudy takes the pain from the expense because you know it's been handled professionally and truthfully. read more

Rudy the owner and certified BMW mechanic is OUTSTANDING. He is fair, professional, and Honest. He has helped me keep my 10 year old X3 purring like she did when she was new. Thank you Rudy you are the best. read more

An honest car repair shop does exist. This place is superb. They took the time to help me out, teach me a bit about my new car and not even charge me for their time. I'm so impressed. You will be too read more

Fixed me up nice. Breath of fresh air in a shady world... Thanks Rudy!

Once again, Rudy proves to me (and everyone else) why he is the BMW whisperer. There is nothing this man can't do. He is too efficient. His knowledge of BMW's is uncanny. I cannot stress the importance of using him as a resource over the dealership or any other local shops. read more

Simply the best. The service and customer care that's provided is above and beyond any other luxury car repair shops in California including dealerships...hands down. Rudy's prices are fair and honest. Always below dealer cost. If you own a new or late model BMW you know how over priced dealerships are regardless of the repair. I have been a fan of Elite since the first day Rudy opened his doors for service. Back then, I drove a 3 series and had all my repairs done by Elite ( there weren't many). I've been a loyal customer ever since. I sold my 3 series when it reached 90,000 miles in fear of future expensive repairs. I suggested to the guy who bought it to continue taking it to Rudy. The car now has over 200,000 miles and still runs great and looks pristine. The guy who bought the car sends pics every so often and thanks me for suggesting Elite. I'm currently driving a Range Rover Sport and I take it to Rudy for oil changes and brake repair. I just don't trust anyone else with my vehicles. Further more, before purchasing the Range Rover I brought to Rudy to get his approval. Of course, he suggested sticking with BMW, but found nothing wrong with the RR and gave me his blessing...lol. You're just not going to find a great honest and fair mechanic like Rudy. read more

Thanks Rudy, the best car repair experience I have ever had. There is no place better to bring your BMW.... believe it!

I am very impressed by the honestly and helpfulness of Rudy at this repair shop. I gave Rudy a try and I was not disappointed. He demonstrated patience and knowledge in servicing my BMW. I WAS a long time customer of another BMW mechanic and eventually got sick of their attitude and high prices. They did a good job but their arrogance eventually pushed me to try another and thankfully I gave Rudy a shot and was pleased. read more

This is the first time I have posted a review on Yelp, but I was so impressed by Rudy that I felt it was warranted. I have my own business and these guys runs theirs like mine. They are honest, pragmatic and ethical. They obviously see the value in the long term relationship rather than the short term revenue. Finding this in a an auto shop is huge as it is certainly something I know nothing about and can easily be taken advantage of. I took my 2006 BMW 750I in which was billowing grey smoke. I had a regular mechanic tell me it looked like an internal engine problem and would probably cost 7K to fix. I called Elite and they told me to bring it in and they would look for anything visible and if they could not see anything they would have to crack the patient open and it would be a major job. I ended up leaving with 2 new crankcase caps for the total of $45. Rudy's advice was to try this and see if it solves the issue, if it doesn't then I will need to come back for the more major repair. This kind of honest and start simple approach will definitely bring me back and if I do have to do the major repair I will do it with the confidence that it was necessary and the most economical solution was explored first. Being a bit of a cynic I thought all these 5 star reviews might have been bogus but they are completely consistent with my experience. I will definitely recommend this shop to anyone looking for a honest mechanic who is looking out for their customers first and profit second. Thanks guys! read more

I have been going to Rudy since 2009. If you care about having the job done exactly right at the best price this is the place to go.