Reputable shops for maintanence?

[mdosu]

My free maintanence peroid is expiring early early 2012.

Does anyone know or have had experience with good reputable 3rd party shops in the DC area that can do all required 30k and 60k maintenance work? Of course their labor prices has to be reasonably lower than the dealers'.

I understand most of us have not done this for our E9X M3s, but i figure since some came from E46s might know a few places.


thanks!

[Tuner1984]

There are some good shops out this way in Northern VA, IMA Motorsports, Piper Motorsports ect....

[MDyDinanM]

I hate to say this but both m3post and e90post on the Mid-Atlantic Region.

here are a few suggestions that i've had nothing but good experiences with.

J&F Motors in Arlington are good. Paul is the shop manager, knows his stuff. They deal in BMWs and even have a BMW Diagnostic computer.

4064 South Four Mile Run Drive
Arlington, VA 22206-2307
(703) 671-7757

They helped me out greatly when it came to me having Launch Control issues that the BMW dealer couldn't figure out.

I've also gone to Advantage Auto Certified in Manassas. Always had quality work done there, and they have given me great customer service. They even have loaners (beaters/older BMWs) but hey, I'm not complaining about that. They even call me up after service, like the day after, to see if everything was ok and to my satisfaction.

Then there is always RRT in Sterling

[Tuner1984]

Originally Posted by mdyaman

I hate to say this but both m3post and e90post on the Mid-Atlantic Region.

here are a few suggestions that i've had nothing but good experiences with.

J&F Motors in Arlington are good. Paul is the shop manager, knows his stuff. They deal in BMWs and even have a BMW Diagnostic computer.

4064 South Four Mile Run Drive
Arlington, VA 22206-2307
(703) 671-7757

They helped me out greatly when it came to me having Launch Control issues that the BMW dealer couldn't figure out.

I've also gone to Advantage Auto Certified in Manassas. Always had quality work done there, and they have given me great customer service. They even have loaners (beaters/older BMWs) but hey, I'm not complaining about that. They even call me up after service, like the day after, to see if everything was ok and to my satisfaction.

Then there is always RRT in Sterling

RRT is a good shop, but at times they can be slow due to the fact that they race in the Continental racing series. I have hear good things about Advantage Certified Auto, but have never dealt with them before.

[novablackm3]

why not extend the maintenance?

[Tuner1984]

Originally Posted by novablackm3

why not extend the maintenance?

It's pretty pricey. I know the no maintenance warranty through some of the dealerships for the M3 runs at at 3200 dollars. The extended maintenace warranty is even more.

[novablackm3]

Originally Posted by Tuner1984

It's pretty pricey. I know the no maintenance warranty through some of the dealerships for the M3 runs at at 3200 dollars. The extended maintenace warranty is even more.

call a few other dealers as you'll see a major diff in price. otherwise currys is also good with more locations. and i've also taken multiple cars to rrt when my office was right down the street from them

[Navin323i]

I've been seeing the same mechanic for years now (Pat Blisset) in Rockville, who used to own a shop called Pro Imports but is now called S2 Dynamics. He did all the work on my 323i including supercharger install, 5spd manual tranny swap, and all maintenance. I plan on taking my M3 to him as well eventually.

[MDyDinanM]

Originally Posted by Tuner1984

It's pretty pricey. I know the no maintenance warranty through some of the dealerships for the M3 runs at at 3200 dollars. The extended maintenace warranty is even more.

Good thing you didn't get a M5 then...I paid just over $8K for a combined extended maintenance and vehicle warranty. Thats even after finding a BMW dealer with the lowest prices and $1200 discount! LOL!

[pseto]

Originally Posted by Navin323i

I've been seeing the same mechanic for years now (Pat Blisset) in Rockville, who used to own a shop called Pro Imports but is now called S2 Dynamics. He did all the work on my 323i including supercharger install, 5spd manual tranny swap, and all maintenance. I plan on taking my M3 to him as well eventually.

these cars are a lot less mechanical, does he have all the latest equipment to diagnose? what is his labor rate?

[abugiacomo]

Originally Posted by Navin323i

I've been seeing the same mechanic for years now (Pat Blisset) in Rockville, who used to own a shop called Pro Imports but is now called S2 Dynamics. He did all the work on my 323i including supercharger install, 5spd manual tranny swap, and all maintenance. I plan on taking my M3 to him as well eventually.

Originally Posted by pseto

these cars are a lot less mechanical, does he have all the latest equipment to diagnose? what is his labor rate?

+1 for pat -- he's a beast, and the most honest mechanic i've ever met...huge parts network as well...i haven't been to his new shop yet (s2) so i can't speak to the specific equipment he might have these days, but he did all the work on my e36 m3...i drove all the way from vienna to rockville, even for the littlest things...

[checkmate]

RMS Service in Chantilly has my vote. Call Edgar and tell him Sanjay (IR E46 M3) referred ya. Great shop and local!