German Car Specialists — Local services in Bellevue

[This review is based on numerous professional services performed on my personal vehicle (W203 Mercedes C230) within the past year.]

I'm assuming you read reviews for the same reasons most other people do (to help you make a decision), so I'll cut right to the chase:

Go here. If you require well-trained professionals for any work done on your Audi, BMW, and/or Mercedes-Benz, German Car Specialists is your only real choice here in the greater Bellevue Area. Go ahead, pick up the phone and don't hesitate to give them a call. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. If you're having any doubts - keep reading and I assure you that they’ll be addressed and quelled.

Now, for those interested in the reasoning behind my extremely straightforward backing of this company, please see the following reasons:

The staff is comprised of true professionals from the instant they pick up the phone to the moment they hand you back your keys, you’ll be dealing with the best in the business through every part of the process. They have an excellent work ethic and a personable, knowledgeable staff.

One of German Car Specialists’ strongest selling points is their level of honesty. They are excellent at keeping you in the loop and communicating the status of your vehicle(s) plus any changes that may occur. GCS’s transparency is unparalleled because they have nothing to hide (a stigma that surrounds most car shops but one that GCS easily rebukes). For example: the technician has always come out of the garage and brought me back out to my vehicle and explained to me while showing me exactly where and what the issue was and had no problem recreating the issue, further explaining the issue and most importantly explaining in full the parts/steps required to reach the most efficient solution.

German Car Specialists’ (GCS) rates are much more reasonable than most other “autohaus-type” establishments especially for the level of quality of work done and the extra care taken with both the client and their vehicle(s).

Loaner vehicles are available; there is Shuttle Service available as well.

GCS believes in fostering long-term relationships with their customers, which results in fair and mutually beneficially client-business relationships.

The website has constant coupons to save you money.

Most importantly, German Car Specialists truly care about their clients and their vehicles, which is absolutely apparent in the way they treat you and your car throughout the entire process.

Lastly, Adam, the owner, is fully involved throughout the entire process and will do everything in his power to ensure your satisfaction; he has equipped himself with a team of experts in the field and it shows.

Overall, German Car Specialists truly lives up to its name as the company's friendly and knowledgeable staff are true masters of their craft. Delivering customer satisfaction through excellent client-communication, quality work and flexibility provides a customer experience that is worth coming back to time and time again.

With that in mind, if you ever need any work done on your vehicle, definitely take it in to German Car...

If you have the kind of car they service here, you already know what you're getting into with servicing it, but you might as well have a fleet of people on it who know your car's model inside and out, and are on your side with trying to source used parts if you need a bit of a break on the price. Having scored an old 2001 Boxster on eBay a year ago, I knew I'd be paying a few grand for service at some point, given that I was sort of buying it blind, but I put it off for a while, reasoning that nothing was really complaining too much.

But in the wake of a torrential NW downpout, it was leaking through the roof and the door, so I called them to tell them I had my own personal lagoon collecting somewhere under my seat (not due to incontinence – that's a separate review). The guy on the phone laughed and said he'd just gotten two other Porsches in with THEIR own personal floor reservoirs, too, and he diagnosed the problem in two seconds over the phone.

There is something to be said for people who fix the same models of cars for years – and even though OLD Porsche parts are still Porsche parts and cost accordingly, you can save a bit on service when your fixers spend more time fixing than guessing and troubleshooting.

They fixed more things than I can mention – replaced my whole exhaust system, fixed my door problems, repaired the leak, patched my tire, replaced my convertible cowl, and some other crazy big fix with my drive train...? Maybe? It was expensive. But it would have been worse if they hadn't snatched up the one stateside secondhand part which would have been thousands more ordered from Europe. And it would have been more if they weren't honest enough to come in UNDER the estimate when the labor went faster than predicted.

Driving it off their lot today it was quieter and smoother than it's ever felt. Plus they gave me a loaner for the entire week (or week-plus?) that I needed it, and were even understanding with me when I came in right at close of day to claim it. Solid peeps and great service. Everyone recommends them...

VERY FRUSTRATING EXPERIENCE!

I sent in my Audi to them because I heard of good things and I needed the service quick (Barrier Audi would always need to schedule first). The folk greeted me was super friendly. My car was making some noise from the engine and he said it sounded it came from the oil pump. I thought I could get my car back later that day and was pretty happy to have picked them with about $200 out of my pocket.

Later I was told the pump was fine it was the timing chain, which of course will cost a whole lot more to fix. And they would still charge me the labor for checking the oil pump. Since it was a Friday, I would have to wait until Monday. I had no choice but to see $2k out of my bank to theirs.

Monday afternoon I stopped by and was told they would have to order parts, the earliest would be Wednesday.

Wednesday afternoon came by and was told they got the parts and would work on it soon. I should check in with them Thursday.

Thursday got a call and was told some bolt they were trying to loosen broken or something. They would have to do a whole lot of works to first get it out before the actual repair. They would call me Thursday afternoon.

No call. Friday (yeah, it's been a week!) I called them and was told the same story, BUT they would have to charge me another $500 labor because this broken bolt or something.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!! You broke something due to the lacking of either proper tools or expertise and you charge the customer for that? ??

I disagreed with them and then they say they would split. I said NO. Eventually they agreed that they would not charge this additional $500.

NOW I wonder about the oil pump diagnosis...the more they do, the more they charge you. Think about that.

Five days to fix the car and oh by the way, we would ask you to pay another $500 because we couldn't get the job done?! It was so ridiculous!

NEVER EVER DO...