Ken’s Import Service

I am the latest traveler to be helped by Ken’s Import Service. I was between Amarillo and Flagstaff when my clutch started acting up. I was aware of what the likely problem was and called Ken’s in advance to tell them that I would be at the shop at about 4:30 pm. Upon arrival, a quick verification of the problem was done before placing an overnight order of the clutch slave cylinder. A little after three the next day the car was ready to go. By the way, my car is a 1975 BMW 2002 so getting parts is perhaps a bit more challenging than most vehicles. I was very pleased that the part was secured so quickly. The staff was helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and professional.

This stranded tourist showed up at their shop at 3:30 pm on a busy day and before closing at 5pm they were able to get me in, diagnose the problem, and arrange for the parts to be there first thing in the morning. They got me to and from my hotel and and had me back out on the road by 11:30am the next day, all with good humor and jokes along the way. Now I know I have mechanics I can call on in Flagstaff, Arizona!

Genuine, helpful, amazing service and work ethic would be the words I’d use to describe Ken’s.
We were moving from California to Texas but ran into car noise in our 2002 Audi A6 once we hit Flagstaff. Tim got us in the shop the very next morning and told us we had bad power steering.
Problem was we had to hurry to Texas for a job interview, and the particular pump was nowhere to be found. Shipping would’ve taken at least several days and no one else in town had them.
Tim ended up calling Audi in Phoenix, who fortunately had the part. Tim sent one of this guys to drive down to Phoenix (2 hrs away) and back up the same day and had 3 other technicians on standby to make sure we could get the repair done that day.
Thanks to his help we were on our way by 6PM, and made it to Texas in time. Amazing service and experience!

I took my 05 Audi allroad into tino for some issues. I had the transmission fluid changed with OE ZF Fluid, they did a hopefully good job in changing the fluid, filter and pan gasket… I hope. I had some major overheating issues as well as the fans on the car doing strange things, they never figured out the issue but gladly charged my card. We put in a new radiator, new thermostat, thermostat housing, timing tensioner, timing belt and I installed a new aux fan. All OEM Factory parts. They tried to fix the issue but were unsuccessful in finding the problem. I threw over $ 1,500 worth of parts and nothing was solved. So I drove it to Denver to a allroad specialized since I was visiting there, he figured out the issue in less than a day. Came down to a faulty sensor and wiring harness to the sensor soldered together and corroded. I also had the coolant flushed in this car by KEN’s as there was lots of residue in the coolant tank after they replaced coolant, they were not able to do the job to spec due to not having a flush machine.
So they refunded me for the work and I had the work done elsewhere. Come to find out, they never refunded me. So I asked them about it and they said they would get me next time I came in. What? This was not what was said to me. I was told I would be refunded so I can use that money at the other facility that had the flush machine. The other guys (European Auto tech in Prescott– Highly recommend) did a great job plus they found some plastic plug stuck in a hose. Why did Ken’s not find these problems is beyond me? They were checking for coolant/​overheating issues.
Anyway, the issue with the overheating was found by some else, the coolant flush and coolant issue was done/​found by someone else yet I paid Ken’s over $ 2500+ to figure out they could not figure it out. I guess it’s good though as I got tons of new parts on the car.
Now on to the next. I also brought my mazda cx-​9 Awd in for vibration issue. They threw more parts at it and did not cure it. I would say this place is ok for simple stuff but truly diagnosing problems might be lacking. I rather spend less money and get the problems solved, Ken’s could not produce. 2 issues 2 different cars, problems not solved but solved elsewhere. Mazda was never solved but I found with my own investigating it was a bad motor mount.
They did finally refund me after several attempts to get it back, only took since July 2014. I have spent close to $ 4,000 here with both vehicles and they did not solve any of the issues. I really liked this place but feel as though things just do not mesh with us so we may need to part ways. I may give them one more chance in the future. We will see.

I was road tripping from Atlanta to San Francisco when all of a sudden my engine started steaming in the Navajo, Arizona. Having AAA I was able to get towed to Winslow, AZ (yes, of Eagle’s «Take It Easy» fame). The shop in Winslow essentially tried to rob me, telling me I needed all sorts of unnecessary work done and that it would take a week to get all the parts in (A WEEK!). That wouldn’t do. I was able to get a second tow from Winslow to Flagstaff where I was half expecting to again to be highway robbed in a po-​dunk Arizona town. I could not have been more wrong. The AAA service man suggested Ken’s, and not know the area, I had little I could do but comply with his suggestion. The service at Ken’s was impeccable. Anything I needed, I gave them a call. If I needed a ride somewhere around town, give em a call. Had any questions about what to do around town, give em a call. Being from the south, I’m HUGE on hospitality and customer service and these guys gave anything I’ve seen in Georgia a strong run for their money. Not only was I wrong about the po-​dunk town (I absolutely fell in love with Flagstaff while I was there), these guys had no intention whatsoever of taking advantage of my «stranded traveler» status. In two days, for a fraction of the price I was quoted in Winslow, I was up and running and the car was running better than when I left Atlanta. Of course, Flagstaff turned out to be so cool I had to stay an extra night after getting my car back. Not only did I discover what is most likely America’s best kept secret of a town, I made what I consider to be good friends at Ken’s Import. When I go back to visit Flagstaff (and believe I will), I will be stopping in to hello my new friends at Kens! Seriously, could not give this place a better review. Add a star, make it 6!

Very helpful in a pinch. A bit pricey, but the customer service and courtesy makes up for it

Driving back to California from Colorado my check engine light came on. I stopped for the night here because I saw the excellent reviews ken’s had. At 8:01 the next morning they had my keys in hand and pulled the car right into the bay. They also had Zac (shop help) out front waiting for to drive me around flagstaff to find a rental car. Sure enough 5 hours later they had diagnosed the problem and told me my Volvo was safe to finish the drive back to California. Nothing but excellent service here.

I was heading from Los Angeles to New Mexico on business when my Lexus had an engine and VSC warning light go off. The automatic shifting had stopped working and I started feeling a rumble. We were about an hour away from Flagstaff but Ken’s Import Service seemed to be our best option for servicing a Lexus. I was initially hesitant because I had only serviced my vehicle at Lexus centers, but we were soon put at ease by the excellent and very friendly staff. Even though they were short on mechanics, they made a push to get our vehicle done quickly, as we needed to get back to LA in a couple of days. So they took the car and gave us a free lift to the nearest Enterprise rental office. They finished the car when they said they would and charged me a very fair price for servicing the vehicle so quickly. The whole time, they kept me in the loop as to how everything was going. I give extra points to the staff. Everyone was extremely pleasant and friendly and we were always treated respectfully. It was an unfortunate situation that my car broke down on a business trip, but remedying the problem went as smoothly as could be hoped for because of Ken’s Import Service. Finding a trustworthy mechanic can be stressful, but you’ll be in good hands with these guys.

I was traveling through AZ on the I40 towards California. It was around 9pm and at that time a BMW passed me. Well I couldn’t have that! I have an M3 and there is no way I’d let a poxy SUV pass me. So I accelerated from 80 miles per hour to 130. I was screaming along and BAM! The car was slowing down. I pushed the gas but nothing was happening. It was still slowing down! So there I was, on the side of the road praying nothing serious was wrong. I called AAA and asked them to take me to a hotel and the car to a BMW shop in Flagstaff. I searched the internet for a good one thats services BMWs and found Ken’s Import Service. If anyone is hesitating about getting AAA, don’t! It is a fantastic service that saves you so much hassle. Even if you are stuck in the middle of no where they find you and get you any place safely.
The morning came and I walked to Ken’s Import and told them I was the owner of the M3 and that the engine made a BAM sound and here I am. Of course I didn’t tell him I’m a bloody fool for topping 130 in a 65! He probably figured that out.
So here is the thing. While they were looking at my car they offered me free rides to get food or sight see. They actually picked me up from the hotel and dropped me off to wherever I needed to go for free! I was very humbled at their generosity.
The verdict on my car was that I had blown the engine. Everything was bent and I needed an engine replacement. I would have had NO hesitation to let them replace the engine because they are qualified BMW mechanics but I live in California and I didn’t want to drive to Flagstaff for any problems that may occur with the refitted engine. I had it towed to California and had the engine replaced there.
Ken’s Import Service did NOT charge me to look at the car. Yes, thats what I said. They didn’t charge me! So I was shuttled around for free and the investigation into the problem was free. I had to give them something so I paid them $ 100 for them to put my car on a tow truck in odd hours. The tow truck guy was a bit of a looney buts thats another story.
If anyone is in need of a very good team of mechanics in the Flagstaff area, do not hesitate to use Ken’s Import Service!

I had just finished working near Las Vegas and was on route to my home in Upstate NY. I was racing the clock to get back in time for my Son’s second birthday and I blew the turbo in my Golf MKIV TDI. Fortunately, I broke down near Flag where I have several friends. Through a fortuitous series of events I ended up at Ken’s, and I am glad I did.
If this shop was located near my home, I would never again perform the work on my car:
1. These guys are awesome from top to bottom! Tino and Jerry were very kind and communicative. They showed me where the turbo had grenaded and explained the repair process and discussed the price and timeline for getting me back on the road. When it was finished, Tino gave me advice for breaking in the new turbo. Even the guy that shuttled me to my hotel was great. He invited me to go a see some local live music — great hospitality!
2. They pushed hard to send me on my way as soon as possible, because they knew I was trying to get home for my Son’s birthday. I was heading east on I-​40 in about 24 hours. I still can’t believe it. The turbo was ordered on a thursday, but didn’t arrive until late friday morning and it was done by 5pm. These guys must have been hauling to get it done. I am still so grateful it was done on Friday, otherwise, i wouldn’t have been able to leave until Monday (they are closed on the weekends).
3. The price was awesome! VW parts and service can be notoriously expensive. The price of the parts were exactly what I expected, but the labor to do what they did was VERY reasonable. .
Conclusion: If this shop was within 75mi of where I live, I would have found my mechanic. Until they move to Upstate NY, I guess I will be stuck working on my own vehicle. Needless to say, if you European car is in Flagstaff and its broke, call Ken’s Import Services. You won’t regret it.

We pulled into Kens with a warning light on in our X5. Evin, our mechanic, was very friendly and helpful. He fixed our issue and sent us on our way with a smile. Thanks

On Friday afternoon the alternator light came on in my ’79 VW Westy while just west of Flagstaff on the way to Tulsa from Palm Springs CA. I found Ken’s Import on Larry Chase’s Roadhaus (a guide to VW repair shops) rated very close to excellent. Tim, the service writer, made it clear they wouldn’t be able to get to my bus before Monday and offered to assist in locating and transporting me to accommodations for the weekend. An unnecessary but real nice gesture. My alternatort was ordered on Monday and installed on Tuesday afternoon just as Tim promised. The next day I left to complete my journey and I write this review from Tulsa upon arriving with no further mechanical difficulties. I’m confident the work performed at Ken’s was excellent using quality parts. The only reason not to give a full five stars is the bill was in excess of my expectation. Tim made considerable effort to justify the cost and I thankfully accepted the difference considering my good fortune finding excellence and kindness in my time of need.

This is a great shop. Very professional, very nice people working there. They really helped me out while I was travelling through Flagstaff, by getting a replacement part overnight and the repair done quickly so that I was back on the road the next day. They drove me back and forth from the hotel, and even dropped me downtown so I would have something to do while I waited for the repairs. I’m very thankful they were there when I needed them.

I can’t say enough good things about Ken’s import service! My son was on his way to California from Massachusetts about 2500 miles from home when he was unable to start his Audi S4 at the Grand Canyon and had to be towed to get it fixed. We searched online and found Ken’s, which turned out to be the best thing we ever did. Not only did they not take advantage of this young man in a bad situation but they helped him out and got them back on the road for only a small amount of money. They did excellent work and made sure that he was not going to have the problem again. If you’re anywhere near Flagstaff take advantage of the hospitality and professionalism available at Ken’s import service.

Tim at Ken’s Import Service was my guardian angel last month. He happened to be working on his own car over Thanksgiving and answered the phone during the holiday! He told me to go ahead and tow my broken down car to his shop. I was driving from LA to Santa Fe and had broken down in Flagstaff. Since I had to pick my car up during the holiday weekend to get back to work in L.A., he opened the shop up on a Saturday when it was normally closed, just so I could start my drive and get back home!!! All this, plus the service was not overpriced. He is a rare gem and an honest mechanic. The best car experience I have had in the life of my 4Runner.

I was referred to Tino at Ken’s Imports by Randy’s Downtown Garage, who unfortunately couldn’t help me (but were extremely kind and called around on my behalf). Everyone at Ken’s Imports is competent and kind, I felt in very good hands. Tino did a great quick repair, Evin checked it out and gave me a Mountain Dew, Tim ordered the parts right away and let me walk his dog Suzuki… What more could you ask for? I was just passing through, on my way to California and headed for the Mojave — everybody made sure the repair was quick, correct, and would get me through the desert. THANKS GUYS!

I found Ken’s based on several reviews recommending it for European car service in Flagstaff. The reason for my visit was that my Audi had the check engine light on and was behaving bizarrely. By the end of the business day, the problems had been fixed and I was given a clear explanation about the different problems that were discovered over the course of the visit. Jerry is very friendly and most definitely knows his stuff about cars. They were upfront about the cost and if you have a European car, I highly recommend Ken’s Import Service. Plus, several weeks after my visit, the owner Tito followed up with me via a phone call to ask how my car was performing. Now that is what I call customer service!
11/​14/​2012 Follow Up:
I had the thermostat in my Audi replaced and found that my coolant tank was empty several days after the repair had taken place. I took my vehicle back to Ken’s and it was quickly diagnosed that the replacement part was leaking. A new O-​ring was ordered and my car was repaired at no additional cost. I was happy with the resolution to this unpleasant situation.

Jerry @ Ken’s Import Service was terrific. His knowledge was immediately obvious and comforting given the horrific situation I had been in just prior to my arrival. He delivered unpleasant information gracefully, explained the situation very well and showed me on my vehicle exactly where the problem was. He didn’t oversell me on something I didn’t need. When I left the shop, I felt very secure that the right thing was done to my car; it was like driving a new car because of how well it performed. I cannot say enough good about Ken’s Import Service and their excellent service. Thank you so much to everyone at Ken’s!