I am an experienced mechanic but now permanently disabled. I observed Bavarian Motors skillfully trying to charge me for multiple non-required repairs.
The original and only problem that brought me to Bavarian Motors was overheating at idle on my BMW 550i. I had personally replaced the coolant expansion tank a few days earlier and I told Bavarian Motors that air bubbles in the cooling system just needed to be bled out to fix the overheating issue. I just didn't have the time or energy to bleed the cooling system myself. They said they would diagnosis it and let me know.
Tuesday 8/1/17: They charged me $67.50 which was a fair amount to diagnose the problem and said it had a failed water pump & failed thermostat. (They also said I needed an oil change & a new brake vacuum pump gasket ... even though my brakes worked perfectly) I am very sick and fighting a severe type of Multiple Sclerosis so it was just easier to let them replace these parts. The cost was $1,404.00 and I picked up my car the next day Wednesday 8/2/17. After driving about 20mi my BMW overheated and went into "limp mode" stranding me on the highway during heavy Friday 8/5/17 rush hour traffic. I had to get a $400 tow back to Bavarian Motors. Sadly the overheating problem was clearly not fixed at all.
Monday 8/8/17: Bavarian Motors then said that the problem was definitely a fried fan relay. I let them replace it but for some unknown reason it took them 2-3 days to complete the work. Again this repair did not fix the overheating problem.
Tuesday 8/9/17: Bavarian Motors then said the problem was a significantly leaky upper radiator hose (I started getting suspicious because they never mentioned any leaky hoses upon their initial diagnosis 5 days earlier)
The owner then tried to sell me on replacing the electric fan for an additional $1,200. He insisted the fan was fried. What he didn't know is that I already tested the electric fan last week and it functioned flawlessly. This was the tipping point where I realized I was either being misled or they were incompetent.
When I pointed out their fraudulent recommendations they seemed shocked that I actually knew what I was talking about. They eventually refunded $638.62 for the water pump/thermostat labor. In total, I still spent $1,165.38. ($765.38 to Bavarian +$400 tow). After a week in their shop my BMW was no different than the day I drove it in there.....still overheating.
I also really question whether the oil change & brake vacuum pump gasket (that I didn't request but they up-sold me on) were even needed. I even asked for the old parts to be returned but they could not produce them.
My BMW is now fixed.. The electric fan was not the problem. The cooling system just needed to have air bubbles bled out as I originally told them. Once this was completed the overheating problem was gone.
There is a specific coolant bleeding process for BMW's that Bavarian Motors was unaware of.......because they are not factory trained mechanics as they advertise.
Yes, their mechanics are NOT factory trained as they advertise. I know this because I spoke with their young female Asian mechanic who was hired there less than two years ago and she told me she had no formal automotive training at all. When she was hired, the owner, Chris Bruun, told her if she knows "lefty loosey righty tighty" then she qualifies to be a mechanic there. Her only prior auto repair experience was working on her brothers car.
Every auto repair experience is different and they do have some good reviews out there but I truly wonder how many of those customers actually ever knew they were probably overcharged for extra unneeded repairs.
Buyer beware, ask questions and go inspect recommended repairs with your own eyes before approving or paying for repairs. Make sure to collect the old parts.
I should give them 5 Stars on this review for their ability to mislead and up-sell their customers.
