I have been to several BMW independent shops in Burbank and found Empower stands above the rest. James brings with him his years of experience as a Chief Mechanic with BMW. However, what separates Empower - his business is built on honesty and integrity. He puts the customer first and explains the critical requirements and allows you to decide the course of action. This is how long term business relationships work. And, James just being an all-around nice person takes away the pain of getting your car repaired. read more

James is really nice and patient. I learn a lot for him. Also he is really professional about car. Thank you James. Our friend James.

If you buy your cars and hold them for a few years instead of leasing, you will undoubtedly need to find an honest mechanic for service. I was referred to James by a friend a few years back and drive from Agoura to his shop in Burbank as I know it will be done right. He's worked on my daughters Jetta and a couple of my Audi's after the warranty period expired. He's that guy you can trust to take care of any issues without over selling me unnecessary service or repairs and his pricing is very fair. read more

I bought my 2005 BMW convertible from Andy sight-unseen. I had never, ever done anything like that before, but I ended up getting a fantastic car and a great deal. He bought it at auction for me, and had all the reports and paperwork on it, so there was no reason to doubt him. I would never trust anyone else to service or sell me a BMW. Andy is a real pro and a honest and honorable guy. I don't even live in the valley, but it's well worth the drive for me to be able to trust a mechanic. Who knew! read more

Andy is the most honest car dealer in California. He is knowledgeable about the cars he sells and cares about his customers. I will always do business and refer business to Empower Auto Sales. Andy goes out of his way to take care of customers and is a master mechanic. read more

Been going to Empower for many many years. Was referred by a friend who's been taking his 650 there for over a decade. And I've referred friends as well. James is not only the best mechanic but his integrity is better than best. I've taken problems to him that anybody else would have easily transformed into a mega-bill but instead he explains what the real problem is and no more. Plus he's connected to various networks for parts for older cars like mine. I wouldn't think of going anywhere else. read more

I am a complete paranoid neurotic when it comes to taking care of my car. Andy and James are the best. And now that I've found them, I won't take my 06 550i anywhere else. They are knowledgable, fair, and passionate about their work. read more

I have been a BMW owner for the past 15 years. And anyone who has been a regular BMW driver is acutely aware of the contrast in prices of going to a 'dealership', or serendipitously finding a local boutique mechanic, who most often can do the same work at about half the price. I have visited both types of businesses during my ownership and it has sometimes taken a toll on me both financially and sometimes, spiritually. But I have finally found the single greatest mechanic and BMW repair facility in all of California. I have come to know James at BMW Empower in Burbank for the last decade or so, and there is no one - again, no one -who's more knowledgeable, more professional, who possesses more integrity, and who maintains a greater acumen for a BMW, specifically its engine and peripheral parts, than James. Sure, everybody's looking for a low price, and fast service. You will get those both here with James, but... you will also receive that vital extra sense of affirmation accompanied by a confident hand on your shoulder, gently reminding you that everything is going to be okay. And who amongst us doesn't need that in our day, at least once in awhile? I suppose anyone could write a glowing review from a business that has brought them happiness, but my father was in retail for 50 years. He never forgot to remind me that the customer came first. I believe this to be true and accurate, and James is the embodiment of this statement. I challenge anyone to compare where they have been, then at least once have their Beemer repaired by James and his incredible team, and find out what real service actually is... there is no finer shop to have your automobile serviced, and no finer man to do the job with care and compassion and excellence. read more

My wife and I recently bought an old 1967 Karmann Ghia from EMpower in Burbank and it would be impossible to speak highly enough of the business and the integrity of the owner, Andy. Being nearly 50 years old the Karmann Ghia naturally had a couple of minor issues to be fixed and Andy immediately pointed them out to us AND demanded that we bring it back if there were any complications whatsoever. There were some minor hiccups with the car in the first couple of weeks and when I brought it into Andy he fixed every single one without hesitation, on the spot. (installed a new battery, changed the plugs, replaced some old wiring, fixed the headlight) He also went so far as to bring over a VW specialist to come service the car at no cost to me. When I drove it off the lot it ran like a new car and he didn't ask for a dime. This is an honest businessman! They're nice, they're honest, they're efficient. We'll be having our Karmann Ghia serviced by them forever. If you're in the market for a used german luxury car or in the market to have yours repaired, these guys are GREAT. read more

I really like these guys. They have repaired or services my BMW 3 times and I've been happy each time.

My experience was similar to J.L."s. We knew we wanted a 325Ci convertible under 60K mi and under $14,000. Dropping by numerous dealers and used car lots had proven fruitless. Searches on Auto Trader and Cars.com took me to EMPower Group in Burbank, which happens to be close by. We went on a Friday evening. Our salesman was Amir--very pleasant, genuine guy. We negotiated a great deal and bought a beautiful black 2001 with 55K miles.On the way home we discovered that the AC did not work. Even thought this was an "as Is" sale we brought it back Saturday morning hoping that EMPower would help us out in some way. We were pleasantly greeted by Andy, who responded "I know what the problem is". He proceeded to replace a sensor, called in a certified AC technician to charge the system, plugged in a diagnostic computer to check and program the sequence of operations. Meanwhile Amir and I were talking about the paint job and whether what we saw on the hood was some kind of over spray, or minute scratches caused by driving on the freeway behind sand trucks etc. Amir called a local hand car wash and detailer to make an appointment for us to take the car on Sunday and have it washed, rubbed, waxed and detailed. He paid for half. The AC seemed to work a little better, but there was still something wrong. I called Andy on Tuesday morning and told him the AC was blowing hot air. He asked me to bring it in. He immediately decided to send the car to an AC shop, and he gave me a 740i to drive as a loaner! The AC shop replaced a faulty valve that was getting stuck and that fixed the problem. If you are looking for a BMW (or an Audi or Saab or Mercedes, but mostly BMW) try to work with EMPower. These guys are incredibly knowledgeable about the cars themselves (Andy has an amazing collection of vintage Beamers), they have a service center on site--but most important, they are genuinely good people who will do their best to meet your needs. read more

In February I bought a 2006 Saab thru these guys, paid 3k less for it than I could find it for anywhere else. That includes a month on the net nonstop hunting for this car along with countless trips to dealers to spend hours haggling. At 1st i was reluctant to even go look at the Saab Empower had on their lot because the price was so low I figured it was a salvage. After inspecting and test driving the car twice I decided to buy it, but was still execting to have some troubles down the road. Well 6 months later and 2 inspections from Saab and my car is still flawless, even the mechanics have mentioned how well maintained the car is :) To wrap this up in a nutshell, the car was cheaper, in better shape, more options, and was sold to me by some1 who didnt make me feel like I was a sucker!! Empower will get my business the next time I goto purchase a car A+ to these guys read more

Granted, Andy's shop might not seem the slickest (as Sean B. mentioned in his review) but I can honestly tell you that these guys are great. I used to take my 2001 525 to a mechanic in Santa Monica for service but it was just too far. That is, until my car overheated on the way to Burbank Airport. After looking at the reviews, I decided to give Empower a shot. They were fantastic. Andy was pleasant, honest, and incredibly passionate about all things BMW. The repairs were done on time, there were no surprises in the charges, and they walked me through each detail - making sure I understood everything. The car has run perfectly since. I wholeheartedly recommend them. read more

I took my BMW there for service and I had the best experience ever. I have owned BMW's for the last 12 years and never had such excellent service. Andy is brilliant. He is extremely kind as well. I will only have my car serviced by him. I also hope to buy a used BMW from him. Trust me you will not regret using him. Do not hesitate going here. You will not find any one better in Los Angeles. He has my business for life. I now have peace of mind when it comes to servicing my BMW. Andy is quite simply put The Best. read more

I've been bringing my BMWs to Empower for as over 9 years now. This is my second BMW. Andy and his team ALWAYS provide EXCELLENT customer service. They are courteous, communicate well about what repairs are needed and the costs. As far as service goes, Empower goes above and beyond any other garage I have been to in my 20 plus years of driving. I have referred friends and clients to Empower and everyone always thanks me, after they have been to Andy, that I did. Andy & his crew are fair and knowledgeable, you won't find better prices for services and repair on BMW's and German engines. As for any negative reviews, I would take them with a grain of salt, because Empower is truly a gem of business. I feel completely comfortable taking my car to be serviced here. Girls: you know how garages sometimes give you a bunch of BS about what your car needs 'cause they think they can take advantage of you being a female and not knowing much about what they are doing. That won't happen at Empower. The bottom line is I trust Empower and it's the only place I will bring my car. read more

I drive 30 miles from Santa Clarita to go there for my car repairs. They have saved me few times from huge expenses on my cars. I bought a used Lexus and took it to a supposedly top mechanic to check it for any significant issues. I had it checked out by the dealer mechanic first but still wanted to get a second opinion. The second mechanic insisted that the car worth nothing and has major transmission issue. I took it for final check to Empower and they said it needs minor repairs but no major problems. They were right and I have been driving the car since without any issues. Another time my wife called me telling me that steam is coming out of the front trunk on our Toyota. She took it to a nearby mechanic whose diagnosis was that it needs a new radiator and will cost $400. The mechanic wouldn't fill the radiator even if we pay and insisted that he would only do what he suggested. I had to go there and fill out the radiator with gallon of water I bought from gas station and then I drove it to Empower the next day in cold morning. It turned out that only the cap of the radiator was bad and nothing leaking. Anyway, just saying my experience with these guys. they are honest. Something you can't find easy these days. read more

This is my first review of a vendor. The only reason I am taking the time to write this review is because of the level of service I recieve from Andy and his team. I am on my 4th vehicle purchase from Andy because he has saved me thousands and thousands of dollars on repairs and maintenenace. I cannot afford a 745I BMW, an E350 Mercedes and an X3 BMW on my own...I need a car partner. Thus my recomendation for Andy and his people. I buy my cars used and have Andy do ALL my repairs. No one touches my car because I have had bad experiences virtually everywhere else I have done car reapirs prior to finding Andy. I always get honest answers on whether a repair should be done or whether it can (or should) wait until it is necessary to replace the part. One last piece of information.....I drive from Orange County to Burbank because I am willing to trade my time for honesty. I can certainly go to a local BMW or Mercedes dealership, but I have always been overcharged for the work and needless work gets performed.....forget it...I'll drive to Andy for peace of mind. read more

BMW Owners: THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE TO GO if you care about your car and excellent service is important to you. My 3-series' brake light kept burning out even after I replaced the bulb a couple times. I took it to Empower and the nice gentleman fixed the problem in just a few minutes. In passing, I mentioned that when I turn on the AC, the air doesn't get cold and that I will make a service appointment with him. He checked it out on the spot, vacuumed out the sensor that was not detecting the temperature inside the car and that took but a couple minutes. Overall, my experience was OUTSTANDING. I will never go anywhere else. read more

I never write reviews... ever, but the experience I just had buying a car from empower group was so incredible that I have to say something. I have never met a salesman like Andy. I honestly feel like I just bought a car from a family member or a friend because he was so concerned on my being satisfied with the car, and what I was getting, that I feel like he was less worried about the money he would make and more about my satisfaction. Anything I had a concern about he took care of and provided a warranty that if I found anything in 30 days that it would be taken care of. Im still in shock that I found a car dealer who is as honest and helpful as Andy. I didnt think people like him existed. Faith in humanity and good honest people is restored! I think I may have just found my new car repair shop as well! If you are looking to buy a car, you will be thrilled at the service you recieve here. read more

My experience of buying a BMW from Mpower BMW was extraordinary. After visiting more than half a dozen dealerships (BMW and others) and test driving numerous cars, I hadn't found a used BMW in the condition I wanted, for the price I wanted to pay. Then I visited Mpower. It was not at all like the other places I shopped. Andy , the gentleman I dealt with, was thoroughly knowledgeable about BMW's and had all the answers that I couldn't get from other dealers. When I passed on the car I had gone to see, he suggested another car. It was totally clean and beautiful, but had a manual transmission and I don't drive stick. He didn't give up. He told me he would find me the car I wanted at the price I set, and he did. No BS, no bait and switch, and not a trace of the smarmy, sleazy factor you encounter at so many other car dealers. This guy is not a salesman - he loves and knows all about cars - especially BMWs. Andy found me the car of my dreams. I ended up with a spotless used 2005 BMW convertible and I couldn't be happier. There is no way I would buy another BMW or take my car for service anywhere else. For service, honesty, and value , no one beats Mpower. I don't even live in the valley - but I wouldn't even consider going anywhere else. Andy is my car guy - period. read more

I bought a car from Andy's, the owner's partner (no longer partner) and it turns out they sold me a car without proper title. Not only did they not have title to the car but they never gave me dealer plates to put over my license and I got 2 tickets for expired tags. The brake light came on 1 week after I bought the car and I asked them to reimburse me for getting the brakes fixed and they said they would give me half. This was okay I thought until I found out that I did not have free and clear title to my car. Andy said he would take care of both of my tickets and claimed to have written to both courts saying this car was new and that I did not need tags. I received letters from both courts saying I owed 500 and 1000 because i did not take care of my tickets and that I was ordered to appear in court. I spent 10 hours in 2 courts and time visiting AAA to get a new front license plate that he did not provide. He also said he would buy my car back from me and get me the same car at a better price from auction. When I asked him to sign a simple contract saying he would do as he said he declined. I asked Andy to reimburse me for the time and money I spent on the tickets and he said no. The guy seamed like a nice guy but everything about my experience was wrong and not handled well. I have never written a report like this but felt I should warn other buyers to be careful. read more