European Motor Works is owned and operated by John Handal, a BMW certified master technician with over 15 years of BMW experience.

We are your dealer alternative in Arcadia, and we are a one stop repair facility for all your BMW and MINI needs, from routine services to the most complex repairs and diagnostic work. In addition to that, we also build high performance BMWs for those who want to explore the outer limits of their BMW.

We use BMW and MINI original diagnostic equipment the GT1 to accurately diagnose and repair your vehicle right the first time. We are also equipped with all the BMW and MINI special tools to efficiently perform the repairs. European Motor Works is dedicated in providing you the very best quality in workmanship and service at a very competitive prices.

We guarantee once you experience the service at European Motor Works you will never go anywhere else.

1 Review

Teresa T15 years ago

I had two auto repairs done at EMW, both were to replace BMW X5 Front CV boots. 1st repair, they misdiagnosed my vehicle and the technician replaced the wrong part “LEAVE THE BAD and REPLACE THE GOOD" . In other words, they SCREWED UP the repair. Sadly, I didn’t notice it until my 2nd repair was due. Below is the scoop:

1st repair in April.2010, I asked EMW to replace the front RIGHT CVB as the dealer recommended this repair in writing. “Found Front RIGHT Outer CV Boot Destroyed. Grease is all over the surrounding area.” EMW decided to replace the front LEFT CVB instead.

Nov. 2010, approx. 3,500 miles later, (my best guess), I noticed a thick coat of grease inside of the front RIGHT wheel and ignored it.

Jan.2nd, 5,000 miles later, there was clunking sound while making Right Turn. I made an appt.with EMW.

Jan. 4th,2011, my 2nd repair, EMW lifted my car up. John, the owner and me went under the car and he confirmed it the grease was from the torn Front RIGHT CVB. He then pointed a couple of spots and threw me some mechanics vocabulary to explain the condition. Of course, I have no idea what he was talking.

I then questioned why didn’t they replace the Front RIGHT CVB like I requested (dealer recommended) in April ? “ It was good at that time and DEALER MADE MISTAKE”. Said John. ”Everyone make mistakes, right ? John.” I said. “WELL , I DON’T MAKE MISTAKE.” said John,the owner, insisted many times HE DOESN’T MAKE MISTAKE.

Getting a glimpse of the pretty torn up CV boot , I was so worried of driving it with the clunking sound and knowing it might cause further damage to the steering and the axle (from my web research) Plus and my ride was arranged. I asked EMW to replace the torn front RIGHT CV boot.

They charged Labor $200 + parts $65.70+ $10.00 Parts cleaner. I asked what it was for. Peter, the manager said they’ve to use special cleaner to clean the grease around it. I then questioned why this $10.00 cleaner wasn’t on my previous repair. Does it mean there was NO grease to clean=CV boot was not torn on my 1st repair?

I paid my bill and they’re getting my car ready. I noticed a thick coat of grease inside of the front RIGHT wheel was still there. Didn’t you guys charge me extra $10 cleaner to clean the grease? Oh, they meant inside, the surrounding parts around the CV boots. John asked the assoc. to wipe some of grease off. Still, Black oil were all over the rim.

EMW misdiagnosed my vehicle and the technician replaced the wrong part “Leave the bad and replace the good”. In other words, they SCREW UP the repair. A complaint was filed… to be followed.

Was this review helpful?

John Handal1 year ago

To Whom It May Concern,

I want to begin by stating that this response is not intended to deflect responsibility, but rather to present the facts, supported by physical evidence and professional experience, so that you may fairly assess the situation.

In April 2010, we replaced the left (driver's side) axle boot, which was clearly documented on the original invoice provided to the customer. We replaced the side that showed clear signs of failure—visible grease leakage and contamination of surrounding components. There would have been no reason to replace a functioning axle boot on the opposite side, as that would be both illogical and inconsistent with our standard of care.

We are confident that the correct side was addressed at the time, and our records, as well as physical inspection, support this. Notably, when an axle boot fails, it throws grease onto surrounding components. During a recent inspection, we observed that the left brake caliper bushing showed signs of swelling, consistent with prior grease exposure. The right side, which the customer now claims was originally at fault, showed no such signs—no swelling, softness, or widespread grease contamination.

Additionally, the current tear in the right-side boot is approximately ½" in length. A tear of that size would not likely go unchanged over a period of 5,000 miles and several months. Had it been damaged in April, we would expect a complete circumferential tear and significant grease contamination in nearby components, which is not the case.

It is possible that a clerical error occurred on the dealership’s part when their service advisor documented the wrong side as damaged. From my prior experience working at a BMW dealership, I know firsthand that service advisors depend on technician feedback and do not typically inspect vehicles themselves. This appears to have been a case of miscommunication, rather than a failure on our part to perform the correct repair.

I’ve operated European Motor Works for over seven years with a strong commitment to transparency, integrity, and quality workmanship. I always encourage customers to inspect their vehicles and get second opinions whenever they have concerns. As the saying goes, "seeing is believing."

While I am confident that we performed the correct repair initially, I do deeply regret the misunderstanding and the frustration it has caused. I have since reviewed and adjusted our internal processes to further prevent situations like this from arising in the future.

Thank you for taking the time to read this response.

Sincerely,

John H.

Owner, European Motor Works

European Motor Works

Hours of Operation

Nearby BMW Repair Shops

SGV Bimmer

BMW Repair in El Monte, CA

Mac's BMW Mini Service

BMW Repair in Monrovia, CA

Bimmer PhD Motorsports

BMW Repair in Pasadena, CA

Pasadena Motor Cars

BMW Repair in Pasadena, CA

1 Review