Arvada German Garage — Local services in Arvada

If you want lies, excuses and delays then this is your garage. Dropped my car off on Wednesday for a minor repair. I was encouraged when the Owner told me that the repair would only take a day or two at the most but I'm also realistic and fully understand that most garages take more than a day or two make any type of repairs. So, after a week and no contact from the garage, I called the following Wednesday morning to inquire about my vehicle. The person answering the phone did not seem to be aware that my vehicle was there for repair and that nothing had been done towards the vehicle. The car is covered by a 3rd party warranty company, no contact had been made with them about getting the repair approved. Finally received a call from the garage's receptionist to inform me that she had waited too long to call the warranty company for approval because they are on the east coast and 2 hours ahead of us in time. She also stated that the part needed for the repair was in stock but that the VW dealership did not have a delivery driver on Wednesday and that the part will be delivered on Thursday and my car would be ready to go. I informed the receptionist that the car was my primary mode of transportation and that riding my bike in sub-freezing temperatures and the $40-$60 per day for Uber fees were becoming a burden. Thursday comes around and I do not hear anything from the garage until almost 3pm when the receptionist calls and informs me that the part was delivered by the VW dealership, but unfortunately it was the wrong part and the correct part would be delivered on Friday and my car would be repaired and I would have it for the weekend. I did not hear from the garage until 2:30 on Friday when the receptionist called to tell me that they had received the correct part but would not be able to install it because they were closing early that day at 3:00pm (3 hours earlier than the posted closing time) At this point after being told that the garage was closing 3 hours early on a Friday and I would have to wait until Monday (maybe) after being told originally that this would be a 2 day job, that there was no delivery driver to deliver the part (there are 5 VW dealerships within 10 miles, no one in the shop could go pick up the part?) When the part was delivered it was the wrong part and then on the 10th day the correct part showed up but unfortunately for me they were closing 3 hours early and I would have to spend another 3 days without my car incurring more rideshare costs and potentially delaying my Christmas road trip to see my family, I informed the owner that I would no longer need his services and I will pick my car by the time they closed early on Friday. The owner attempted to explain to me that not being called for a week was standard operating procedure for his garage, so if you drop your vehicle off just know they expect you to call them about your car after a undetermined amount of time. The owner also tried to explain to me the parts delivery fiasco was something out of their control (once again, 5 VW dealerships within 10 miles, no one could go get the part?) and those type of delays are out of his control. The owner had an excuse for every question or concern I had. The good news is I ended up going to Larry Miller VW, and thankfully I did. The so-called German shop had misdiagnosed the issue with my car, so the part that was ordered was incorrect, had I left my car there until Monday it would not have been repaired and a supposed 2 day job would have turned into a 14+ day wait for repair. Larry Miller VW had me drop my car off Monday morning and by noon on Tuesday the repairs were made including a 4 wheel alignment and front/rear differential service. If you want excuses, lies and delays this is a great shop for you. If you want quick, professional service stick with the dealership and skip the shade tree mechanics at the...

Initially positive, my experience with Arvada German Garage turned negative after they failed to diagnose a severe oil leak that triggered my check engine light. Their poor communication and vague recommendations led me to another mechanic, who identified the issue. I don’t trust them and wouldn’t recommend their services.

I’ve been taking my car to Arvada German Garage for the last six months since moving to Colorado. My first couple of visits for oil changes went smoothly, and I was impressed with the owner, who seemed very nice and informative. I was optimistic that I’d found a reliable shop. However, after my most recent experiences, I’ve completely changed my mind.

After my second visit, I noticed a rattling noise coming from my engine. When I brought the car in for inspection, they informed me that it was the timing chain and gave me a quote for the repair. However, they didn’t explain how serious this issue could be or that it had the potential to ruin my engine if left unchecked. They also mentioned I would need new rear brakes soon, but since I couldn’t afford both at the time, I put off the repairs and went on my way.

Last week, I returned for another routine oil change and finally had the rear brakes replaced. I dropped the car off on a Friday and picked it up just before closing. While the brakes were fine, I immediately noticed the check engine light was on, which was not the case when I dropped the car off. I turned around and went back to the shop, where the technician admitted he thought he had “cleared the code” earlier. He cleared it again, but after driving for 10 minutes, the light came back on.

Unfortunately, the shop is closed on weekends, so I had to wait until Monday to return. When I brought it in, I explained the issue again, but they said they would have to keep my car all day to look at it, but I had work so was unable to leave it. I was told to come back Thursday. Already feeling frustrated, I dropped the car off first thing Thursday morning, hoping they would finally resolve the issue.

By late afternoon, I hadn’t heard anything, so I called them. The response I got was vague, they weren’t sure what the problem was, but they suggested changing the oil filter or possibly replacing the sensors, which would cost $530. But even they admitted they weren’t sure if that would fix the problem and that it could be an underlying issue. At this point, I was confused and annoyed, so I took my car back without agreeing to further repairs.

The next day, I took my car to a different mechanic, paid $150 for a diagnostic, and within an hour, they told me I had a severe oil leak around the timing chain and gaskets. This was apparently the cause of the check engine light, and they were shocked that Arvada German Garage had not caught or mentioned this issue. It was a serious problem that I was completely unaware of.

I’m thankful I took my car to another shop before more damage occurred, but I’m extremely disappointed with the service and lack of communication from Arvada German Garage. What started as a positive experience has turned into one of frustration and mistrust. I won’t be returning to this shop, and based on my experience, I wouldn’t recommend...

I was a customer at this place for two years. I walked in yesterday because I had enough of the BS I was fed from this place. My BMW 328i had been experiencing a steering problem (sometimes with a fish-tailing sensation) with violent vibrations and a clunk and grind noise while driving and turning wheel/braking. With this place I had new brakes and rotors put in, a wheel bearing replacement, and new shocks on the front. I was very patient when coming back time after time with the same unfixed problem. I was actually turned away a few times being told that nothing wrong could be found with the suspension. I was told by Mike to buy a new set of tires before coming back to see if it fixed the problem. I did that, plus a whole new set of wheels since they were slightly bent. Problem persisted, yet nothing could be found. I decided to go to a new place called Bimmer Haus to get a second opinion. Part of my issue was the fact that I had warped brake rotors on the front, must've been a cheap set. I had my front brakes and rotors replaced with Bimmer Haus and my ride felt significantly better. It was still not how it was before, so I went back to them regarding the clunk noise. They asked me where I had my suspension work done and I said Arvada German Garage. They knew the owner by name and after consulting with them, I felt it was best to go to Mike and address the suspension issue I was having since he and his team had done the work on it in that area. I showed up and asked to speak to Mike, politely. He came to the front and I asked if I could show him something outside. He said "sure" and followed me. I said, "I've been really understanding with you guys." Before I could finish, he replied, "Well you should be, or else you can go somewhere else." Was I being rude? No. I told him I took his advice to get new tires, and that I also had got my front brakes and rotors replaced. He asked by who and I said Bimmer Haus. He then rode around with me in the car and asked if the mild suspension hiss was "all" that I was concerned about. Why not let me drive my own car to show you what I'm talking about? Your attitude was unnecessary. He mumbled under his breath, "Why don't you go to them?" I asked him what he said and he didn't reply. He took my car to the back of the shop to diagnose it. He told me it was a control arm and ball joint. He also said that I could take my business to Bimmer Haus. (As if I was a traitor... I told him I would've preferred to keep my business with them, but I was happy to leave at that point. I went back to Bimmer Haus today and they diagnosed and FIXED my car - which was something other than the control arm/ball joint that Mike was talking about. Stay away from this place if you value quality over price. The two techs at the front have always been very...