Bavarian Performance Specialists

Only mechanic I trust my old M3 with. He has taken care of me for years, and am happy with the service. He has diagnosed a few problems on-​the-​spot just by his experience with BMWs. Really great guy.

Hal is awesome, I will never go to another shop. I have been taking my car here (actually 2 cars now) for 4+ years. Hal and the office manager Tiffany are amazing people.
Every repair has been perfect without any future problems. Hal always explains the situation honestly and lets me know how serious a repair is and how long I have before I absolutely must get it fixed.
Not only that, Hal has a phenomenal reputation in the general auto repair world and so he’s referred me to other businesses that got me a great deal on:
Towing
Disposing of a totaled car
Tires
Basically I take my car to Hal’s shop because:
I know my car will be fixed right and I won’t come back for the same problem
I know I’ll hear the truth about the work I need done
I know I won’t get misled
Hal and Tiffany are awesome.
Nuff’ said.

There’s that saying «if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all’, but it’s been a couple months and I constantly find myself using Unilocal when trying new places. I finally felt the need to post my experience with Bavarian Performance which was not only the worse, but embarrassing at the same time. Who calls the cops on a customer for no reason! Was it because I chose not to do recommended repairs?
Unfortunately my mechanic does not have the BMW machine to reset certain codes, so suggested I take my car to the dealership. Made appt Bavarian for am appt and dropped it off night before to avoid the DEALERSHIP. I literally picked my car from my mechanics shop in Ventura and drove it straight to Hal’s shop with no problems with the exception of my steering wheel being a little bit off due to the Steering Angle Sensor code my car was firing (reason taking it to Hal).
Next day no call from Bavarian. I call them around noon and they still hadn’t looked at my car. Finally get a call at around 3:40 pm and the gal has no knowledge of what she’s telling me, starts laundry list of what’s wrong with my car. I basically tell her, I’ll be there in 20 mins.
I get there and the tech starts going over recommended repairs. Starts by showing me the «UPSELLS». Comes down to, if it not broke why fix it and my mechanic feels the same way! After I shoot down the upsells, they go to the repair that was really needed. Drive from Ventura to TO my lower control arm tie rod blows up?! I guess it’s possible, I call my mechanic and he tells me to bring it back to him as his work, parts are guaranteed (defected OE part he replace a year ago).
This is where it gets interesting — I let Hal know my mechanic is going to warranty the work. Hal tells me I need to pick my car up tomorrow because they need time to buckle it up cuz they close at 5:00 (it was approx. 4:10 at this time). I was going to be out of town the next day, so I had to get my car out. I take care of my invoice — and start chatting with staff — all OK, right.
After my car is buckled down (10 minutes later), Hal comes into the office and tells me he cannot release my car because it unsafe to drive. First I’ve heard of this. Tells me the only way he can release it to me is if I have it towed on a flat bed. Ok — so he suggest using the tow company he uses and «they can bill shop» I’m having car towed too. I told him it was ok because I have AAA. Call AAA at 4:19; I let Hal know Flat Bed on its way. Again Hal is adamant that the shop I’m towing my car should pay for the tow. Meanwhile I’m chatting away with his tech — all ok right.
Get a call from AAA 20 minutes later to tell me they are waiting on a flatbed, so it’s going to be another 15 – 20 minutes. Let Hal know they are running behind and tells me, if they aren’t here by 5:00 he can’t release car.
At 4:45 a Deputy shows up in the parking lot and Hal walks to towards him. I look at his tech and ask him, did he call the cops? He had no idea… Apparently he did! Deputy parks in front of shop after speaking with Hal. Hal calls his tech over and I finally walk up to Deputy and ask him what was going on. He basically tells me they had a call come in but there’s nothing he can do. He was going to wait for tow truck to show up to keep the peace. I explained what happened, and was just waiting on the tow truck as Hal requested. Asked the officer what time the call went in and he tells me 4:24. This was a few minutes after I told Hal tow truck was on its way! Cop was like, if you called the tow truck, what’s the problem! I told deputy tow truck is running late and should be there shortly. Deputy then says, there is nothing he can do unless you drive down the st and there is a visible safety issue. But if I drove the car in with no problem, he didn’t understand why he was refusing to release car even after I called the tow truck. He takes off.
I was like WTH is happening here to myself! I didn’t lose my cool or was I belligerent to anyone at the shop. After seeing the blown tie rod, I was not about to drive off in my car and put myself or anyone else at danger. I know enough about cars that I would be stupid to drive it like that. I don’t have money to throw around, but if my mechanic was going to warranty the work, why would I pay for the same repair? Why pay for unnecessary work? I paid my invoice, get my car off the rack so I can have it towed when tow truck shows up. Does Hal do this so customers give in and say just fix it!!! Hal leaves and has his tech wait around to hand keys over once Tow truck shows (hour later).
Can’t speak for Hal’s reasoning… maybe he was having a bad day! Not only did he lose a new customer, he lost family/​friends that referred me to him (used him for extended warranty work).
FYI — after repairs called Hal to make appt to reset code since already paid for. No Apology from him. Took his tech 2 – 3 minutes tops to reset!

I’ve brought our BMW’s to Hal for years… I can’t imagine going anywhere else after the factory pre-​paid service and warranty period. He even does a pre-​warranty expiration «courtesy inspection» so you can get the dealer to do work they likely missed!
He isn’t cheaper than the dealer, but the quality of work is better, and Hal can identify issues the dealer won’t – like the need to change transmission fluid and filter on your «lifetime lubrication» automatic.

Bavarian Performance Specialists (and Hal) are excellent mechanics. I have had BMW’s for over 15 years, and have been using them, based on several recommendations from friends, since moving to CA.
If you have a Beemer and you want it well cared-​for, check them out.

I would highly recommend Bavarian Performance Specialists to any BMW owner needing an honest and knowledgeable mechanic. I was looking for an independent BMW shop to perform a pre-​purchase inspection on a 5-​series BMW in the Thousand Oaks area and happened upon Hal’s shop. I am very picky with mechanics. I have owned four BMWs and am a long time BMW car club member. I prefer to work on my own cars, but don’t have the tools and know how to do it all. Hal was willing to speak with me at length about the inspection, and did a fantastic job. He even put some of the inspection cost toward some other service he performed on the car. When it was discovered that there may be an issue with the AC unit, he went out of his way to track down the needed part at a near by salvage yard for me to pick up even though he would make no profit from locating a $ 900 part for me for only $ 300.
If you care about your car and appreciate a mechanic that is honest and transparent, then take your car to Bavarian Performance Specialists. You won’t regret it.

Dropped car off in the morning when they opened, was told they would call us before noon after free courtesy check. We already knew our issues and what we wanted done, Hal stated they do a complete check and would call with costs and findings. Never received calls, called them several times in the same day to determine issues and potential costs, finally at end of the day was told what was wrong however did not have costs and would have to call us back later in the evening from home even if he had to and of course he never did, they kept car overnight and then next morning we had to call again to determine costs and agree to what repairs were to be done, much to Hal’s surprise we did not chose to go with a $ 118 oil change and $ 160 spark plug change for a Jetta, after selecting what service we did want the shop to do he again said he would have to call back as he did not have the cost and when the car would be done. (it was noon and his technician went on break) So I went down there at 130pm and learned his technician was now on lunch and so I sat in front of the shop for over two hours to watch a technician finally return from lunch and actual work being done on the car. While there, I heard the same stories being told customer after customer on the telephone regarding their cars in his shop. Terrible communication, taking on more than they can handle.

We have a long standing relationship with Hal and Tiffany. Once again Hal is amazing and comes to our rescue. Our son has a BMW and is away at school in Orange County. His coolant light came on and we had to get the car in for service. Hal took a phone call with my husband and son to figure out the issue and where we could find a mechanic where he is living. My son was able to get the car fixed and picked up in the same day. Thanks again Hal for your all your help and guidance. We greatly appreciate it! You are the best!

Great customer service, and saved me some significant money. I ordered tires through Tire Rack, they were delivered in two days and installed by Bavarian. Saved $ 130.

I brought the car in on a Thursday because a service engine light came on and a whining noise was coming from the engine compartment. By next Tuesday, the fault codes had been cleared and the car was still in the same condition. When I expressed my concern that nearly a week had passed and nothing had been accomplished, Hal reminded me that he had cleared the code and done some minor tasks that could potentially lead to such fault codes. However, my main concern was with the condition of the vehicle and the noise that prompted me to bring the car in for maintenance in the first place, not the service engine soon light being on. I was charged close to $ 200 dollars for the code read. I then had to take the car to a different shop to address the mechanical failure that was resulting in the whining noise. Of course, the official BMW shop was now at a disadvantage in troubleshooting the problem since they no longer had the benefit of the codes. While Bavarian may have the best of intentions, I don’t think they have the in-​house expertise to address all mechanical problems. Keep that in mind as it may cost you additional time and money!

THANK YOU, Hal!
I brought my 2004 vehicle here a couple of months ago as it was «driving funny.» Obviously, I know little about cars and have completely trusted my old mechanic for years. Don’t get me wrong, I still trust my old guy, but Hal and the team at Bavarian Performance Specialists sure do know BMWs inside and out!
During this visit, Hal came out did a quick systems check and asked me a few questions. Apparrently, saving a few cents per gallon at the cheap-​o gas stations was the root of my problem! After following Hal’s recommendations, and two tanks of «the good stuff,» my car lost its sense of humor and seemed to drive just fine.
Upon bringing it back to Hal about a month later for an oil change and the big 100k mile service, Hal thoroughly over-​explained my car and its problems, and did a complimentary inspection on every part fathomable!
I had all kinds of preventative maintenance work done and my car has never run better! There’s still a list of items that need to be done later on, and Hal’s my guy!
Hal and his team make me feel very confident that I drive away in a safe, reliable vehicle! Thanks again, guys!

I had a self-​induced problem with the electronics of my new 2012 BMW 535 M-​Sport. I went to Bavarian Performance Specialists and met Hal, the owner, and explained what had happened. I had several fault codes that need to be cleared and a module that need to be reprogramed. Hal took his time and explained what he was going to do in an attempt to fix what I had messed up. While I waited for Hal to complete his work I had an opportunity to watch his interaction with his customers and his employees. I found him to not only to be extremely knowledgeable, but also very professional. He knows BMWs and knows how to treat people, whether they are customers or employees. In the end he fixed my car without issue and in short order. I will be back. Finding an honest, knowledgeable and professional mechanic is not an easy task. I highly recommend this shop to anyone with a BMW that is looking for an independent shop.

I started taking my BMW to Hal over 10 years ago. I have never met anyone that knows more about Beemers than he does. I have just passed 240,000 miles because of Hal’s diligent care. This was the 3^rd shop I tried out before I decided that this place was «The One». Hal is what we all hope to find in a person and in a mechanic, but are frequently disappointed. He is trustworthy, honest, empathetic, and great to talk to!
His repair estimates are 99.9% right on — but if he finds anything he didn’t expect, he will call you right away, not wait for the end of the day like other shops will. His prices are higher than most, but lots lower than the dealer would charge. In this case, you get what you pay for. His knowledge of any issues your Beemer is known for is handled with PREVENTATIVE measures that will buy you miles and miles of great performance and, frequently, will save you money in the long run. Tiffany is amazing in the front office. Bring in all of your old repair receipts and she will put your car’s repair history in order and have it all organized. She, fortunately, has a great memory for people and for where Hal puts things (LOL). If you love your Beemer, take it here.

I have a 2004 3 series and have been coming to Bavarian Performance Specialists for about 4 years. My certified pre-​owned car came off warranty and I was looking for a shop other than a dealership. I searched and looked around several shops in the Conejo Valley. I stopped by Hal’s shop and «interviewed» some of his clients picking up and dropping off their vehicles. I was impressed with their loyalty and gave the shop a chance… and here I am 4 years later.
I believe that Hal will give you an honest diagnosis and has a genuine interest in you wanting to come back to his shop. Hal and Tiffany are always courteous and make it a comfortable place to do business. I like that the garage is right out front and you can see the work going on. Nick does a great job in the garage and is more than happy to review the repairs/​service that are done with you as well as Hal.
Once my engine light came on so I scheduled an appointment and dropped off my car. I received a call later that day explaining that it was a bad connection on one of my hoses — it was a simple fix and I was not charged. That was good, honest service and will keep me coming back for years.
Highest possible recommendation!

First, let me say that I work on my own cars and am thus knowledgeable on the subject and that makes my experience with outside mechanics mostly frustrating and commonly exacerbating. However, Hal is a standup guy and someone I trust immensely with my BMW. All BMW shops have inflated pricing for labor rates and Hal’s shop is the most expensive I have come across. Knowing how much work goes into a job and knowing what he charges can be jarring; however, it is a small volume shop and for that the quality of work is exceptional and attention to detail is there. I’d like to qualify that you can whole-​heartedly trust Hal with his diagnosis — he will never charge you for something you do not need and does not nickel and dime you like many other shops for diagnosis etc etc. What he charges is what he charges but he is always upfront about that. His shop is for the picky among us that really put value in the work done on our cars. What Hal does lack somewhat compared to other high-​end bimmer shops is ambiance — There is no comfy waiting room but rather a cozy counter setup with a few stray cats (Hal originally wanted to be a veterinarian), which I prefer actually as I like that the workshop is out for you to see instead of stashed away from a large waiting façade. The office clerk, Tiffany, is friendly and helpful with setting up appointments etc. Despite my honesty on his pricing, I want to say that Hal treats me like family and this will keep me coming back to him. One time when I was working on my car and I didnt have the proper tools he even helped me out and replaced some stripped lug nuts for free — that is the kind of guy he is and why I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a great mechanic.

Hal & Tiffany run a great place for BMWs. Every time I need tire (s) replaced on my bimmer, I always purchase it on Tire Rack and have them directly deliver to Bavarian Perf Spec. Usuall Hall will send an email saying that he got my order, then he follows up another when the tires arrive at the store so that I can email/​call and make an appointment to bring the car in. Now that’s sweet service. Tiffany who runs the front office looks uncannily like Stephanie March who plays the DA on «Law & Order SVU» (I think).
I always see the mechanics here working on cool BMWs. Luckily mine hasn’t needed much work (aside from 17″ run flats), but they’re definitely an option I’d consider (as opposed to the dealerships in the area).