Reputable BMW mechanic Danbury CT area...

[rockyfeller]

Looking for a good mechanic anywhere in a 60 mile radius. The local dealer seems to be making a fortune having a monopoly on the millions of owners in this area. He wants $800 for an Inspection II...Yeah OK buddy! I can change my own oil/microfilter/air filter (Thanks to sites like this and Bruno's site) so what else can they do for me?? Spark plugs??? And THEY want to tell me what else is wrong with MY car so they can make MORE money??....like I'm illiterate or something. $92 an hr! Spare me. (Half of those rich 7-series, X5 owners don't know a damn thing about their cars and listen to whatever nonsense the stealer throws at their wallet) I need a brake job/coolant flush, tune up, control arms etc. (which I could probably handle too, but I just don't have the time). Who's good and honest? Someone who will preferably use parts I provide for them. It's a crime to give the dealer money for nothin.

[DaCan23]

Auto Technic, New Milford, CT, 860-350-8407

Talked to them before... the do more performance stuff but will do regular work too... very knowledgable... got some nice race cars.... a guy there did an old school weight & balance alignment for me after a local said he could do it after I did some front tned work.

[DaCan23]

Only stealer in western CT outside of Greenwich...


Auto Technic, New Milford, CT, 860-350-8407

Talked to them before... the do more performance stuff but will do regular work too... very knowledgable... got some nice race cars.... a guy there did an old school weight & balance alignment for me after a local said he could do it after I did some front tned work.

[AllanS]

Hey, you're in Danbury! I'm like 15 minutes away in Brewster NY. If I ever have to have it serviced professionally, I'd probably take it to Bimmers Only in Bedford, NY. The number's 914 241 1085 and the owner's name is Graham Lawson.

[rockyfeller]

Actually Allan, I'm even closer; more like 30 sec away from Brewster--I live in your backyard....on the border of New Farifield/Danbury/Brewster. Bedford dosen't seem too far; gotta give em a call! Thanx!

[rockyfeller]

When I 1st got my car, and I was young and nieve, (I was not enlightened by this forum yet) I replaced a single cartridge, 1 control arm, 1 sway bar link and 1 engine mount for a $2000+ bill through REM. I had some false assurance that the stealer is the only place to take my baby Bimmer. The bill shock only hit me days later. OK, so I got a spankin new 328is loaner (which I was in no hurry to give back) but c'mon! I could have lowered my car with a Sachs kit and thrown on some 17" type 5s for that money! I could have bought all the above parts off Ebay for like $600.Only now do I know that ! REM never again...I just buy my oil filters from them (the only bargain from them for $10!) and other knick nacks (fastners/trim etc.) I see other uninformed owners wasting their money on overpriced wiper blades, headlight bulbs and even saw some dude spending $2000 just on "OEM" tires!! w/o any warranty LOL! Luxury car owners with money are pretty dumb. I should open a dealership! I'm glad I found some do-it-yourselfers/bargain hunter friends on this forum.

[AllanS]

Hey, you should drop by sometime- I work in an office right off rte 22 in Brewster (not the village, but were it meets with 684).

I've been to Graham's shop a few times, he's a good guy. I bought some small stuff on occasion, when I needed it asap and didn't feel like dealing with the dealer in Ridgefield (bunch of *******s there... and one of their salesmen is named "Rock"- nuf said), and he's always been very nice, even though he's obviously not making any money off of an oil filter or some hose clamps.

He had an m6 on the property about a year ago, and an 850i, that were project cars, plus some other interesting ones... worth a visit, in any case.

[rockyfeller]

You work on 22 near 6-84?? Wow, yeah you're close...I'm just up the road off of Milltown Rd! I could drop by sometime defintely. Bimmers Only sounds like a place I have to visit. You say they're "professional"? Does that mean they are a dealer?

[rockyfeller]

OK...AutoTechnic vs. Bimmers Only...I went through the trouble and miles of driving to visit each shop....Bimmers Only seems more famous though once I got to the crammed archaic shop I wasn't too impressed. The guys there seemed cool and knowledgable but everything seemed pretty average to me. $90/hr kinda turned me off. AutoTechnics (45 min in the opposite direction....man these places are all far enough) was a different story. I can't believe I didn't know these guys existed. After nightmares with the Stealer I was in BMW heaven! The salesman seemed much more friendly and knowledgable. The shop looks cleaner, and well-equipped, the cars in the lot look like enthusiast's cars and they even sell cars. Looks like they'll do mods of any type and install parts even I provide...$70/hr...OK found my new mechanic! They are so professional, they even have their own website. If you guys live in the Western CT area, definitely look them up...http://www.autotechnic.net/ I am very impressed!

[AllanS]

For experience, I don't think you can beat Graham at Bimmers Only, especially for an "older" car like the e34. Maybe I'm weird, but I'd trust a real BMW mechanic over a user car dealer. Hell, i'd trust Ollie North over a used car dealer.

[rockyfeller]

I can't say too much since I haven't actually used either yet....They did seem quite knowledgable I agree...It was just that I thought they were just OK...Autotechnic is more of a tuner/work shop than a dealer...They have the cars on the side like only 5-7 of them. You're probably right, and since you've used those guys I'm sure you can trust em. I saw more older cars at Bimmers only, like E28s, E32s and E34s I just had a better feeling at the other shop even though I saw more E36s, E38s and E46s. I'm gonna take a chance on these guys though, and if I'm not totally happy I always know I can go to Bedford. Thanks Allan!

[DaCan23]

Glad you liked the Autotechnic recomendation.... I didn't know you can bring your own parts... most dont like that... I use to go to a guy in Boston that let me do that... rare to find... the one experience I had w/ them was a Saturday... they were closed but the engine builder for their race cars was there... took the time to do my alignment... old school.. and charged me $60.... My parents live in New Milford and my pops the Chrysler 5 Star Mechanic use to work right across the street... but now works at Wetmores which you passed on Route 7 there...

[AllanS]

Right on- older BMWs are definately the mainstay of Bimmers Only. If I had an e46, my recommendation might have been a little different. I honestly don't know where I'd bring an e46 to get work done. But if I had an e30 m3... :)

[Jason]

they probably won't gurantee the work.... they gotta make their money back some where if there is no mark up on parts. did you ask about that?

[rockyfeller]

Yeah they won't guarantee the parts of course, you're right....but then again I'm doing all kinds of work, so he'll get money.....tune-up, new radiator etc. I'll be buying parts from him....except just the pads, that shouldn't be a big deal. I may even get him to do my Sachs kit someday, he quoted 4hrs labor, sounds fair!....Again, this is work I could probably do myself if I had the time, but he says he can do it in minimal time...

[RHR1960]

For experience, I don't think you can beat Graham at Bimmers Only, especially for an "older" car like the e34. Maybe I'm weird, but I'd trust a real BMW mechanic over a user car dealer. Hell, i'd trust Ollie North over a used car dealer.

I just had the most shocking experience with Graham who, in the past, has done thousands of dollars worth of excellent work on my car. I called to get an estimate to install new struts and shocks, and he said that he "wasn't interested" in working on older cars because there are "just two of us," and "newer cars are easier to work on." He recommended a new BMW dealership nearby and, when I objected to spending dealership dollars, he said "well, that's what we charge anyway."

It was absolutely the most bizarre conversation I've ever had with an auto repair shop and utterly unexpected of a BMW CCA advertiser (at least I'm pretty sure he is...). I was particularly disappointed, because it took me a while to find Graham and he has done such good work for me in the past. Maybe he blew me off because it has been several years, but is it my fault that the e30 is bullet-proof?

So, the moral of this story seems to be that you can take your newer car to Graham, but there's a "velvet rope" policy for older models??

By the way, I had some tires mounted by the guys at AutoTechnic . They seem like great guys who enjoy their work and they have a very nice shop. I just wish they weren't so far away from me!

[DaCan23]

Wow!!! How can an Indy make a comment like that.

When I am home for xmas I might stop into AutoTechnic to say high, usually when I am home no ones there on the weekends. The shop seems to be doin very well.


I just had the most shocking experience with Graham who, in the past, has done thousands of dollars worth of excellent work on my car. I called to get an estimate to install new struts and shocks, and he said that he "wasn't interested" in working on older cars because there are "just two of us," and "newer cars are easier to work on." He recommended a new BMW dealership nearby and, when I objected to spending dealership dollars, he said "well, that's what we charge anyway."

It was absolutely the most bizarre conversation I've ever had with an auto repair shop and utterly unexpected of a BMW CCA advertiser (at least I'm pretty sure he is...). I was particularly disappointed, because it took me a while to find Graham and he has done such good work for me in the past. Maybe he blew me off because it has been several years, but is it my fault that the e30 is bullet-proof?

So, the moral of this story seems to be that you can take your newer car to Graham, but there's a "velvet rope" policy for older models??

By the way, I had some tires mounted by the guys at AutoTechnic . They seem like great guys who enjoy their work and they have a very nice shop. I just wish they weren't so far away from me!

[RHR1960]

Wow!!! How can an Indy make a comment like that.

When I am home for xmas I might stop into AutoTechnic to say high, usually when I am home no ones there on the weekends. The shop seems to be doin very well.
It was mind-boggling, but the more I think about it, you can hardly blame him for preferring the easier -- and presumably more lucrative -- pickings to be had in this heavily BMW-populated part of the world. The more I think about it, though, should installing shocks and struts be that challenging, be it in a new OR an old car?? Still baffled and really bummed that I now have to find another local facility I can trust....

[John in CT]

I had Autotechnics do my front bushings last fall, very good experiance,

John
1995 525i 5 speed