Need 60K Maintenance done on my 04 Mini--warranty is done. I ight need break pad/rotor work as well. Any opinions on British and European Car Repair in Old Town, Wolf's Foreign Car Service in Kearny Mesa, Baron's Foreign Car Service, Apex Engineering, or any other suggestions? Thanks!

Haven't needed any service yet but there's a place right across the street from where I work on Pacific Hwy near Old Town called Han's Foreign Car Service which specializes in Mercedes, BMW and MINI Cooper.

All German Auto in Escondido has been quite good the 2 times I've been there. They did my 4-year service for much less than Brecht, and then didn't charge me a dime when they couldn't find the source of the mysterious clacking coming from the front end.

They are well known in the BMW world, and were recommended by a BMW club member. It's just a couple blocks away from Brecht. Enterprise Rent-a-Car will pick you up (of course) if you need a rental, or there's an Avis that All German can drive you to since Enterprise is almost always out of reasonably priced cars.

Has anyone taken their car into Hans Foreign Car Service on Pacific Highway? I'm thinking about changing oil at 3K miles and it's right next to my office.

FWIW...I went to Baron's a while ago to get an Inspection I and belt change done based on a NAM recommendation. The work was fine, however it was a bit "sketchy" at the end. Here's what happened....They called to say that the work was finished but that they could not communicate with my car to reset it and said that they would need to investigate because it could be an electrical problem. This was after I refused some other recommended work for a later date. I was umming and ahhing about authorizing the additional costs for the electrical problems. Finally, I asked whether the communication issue would impair driving. He said I could drive it so I told him that I was going to get a friend of mine to check it out. Miracles of miracles...when I arrived to pick my car up just 15 minutes later, the first thing he said was that they used their other scanner and fixed the communication error. I call foul on this! If there *was* an issue, I would think that the modus operandi would be to try the second scanner right away. BTW...this was Dave, not one of his staff.

Again, the work was good quality but he lost my business after that "stunt". If I'm wrong and the events that transpired were not out of the ordinary, then I take back my comments. But wouldn't a professional at least try another scanner if that's the standard procedure for repair?

I haven't heard anything that sketchy about Baron's, but I was told that it wasn't the cleanest or most advanced shop around so I went to All German instead.

I wish I could find something closer than Escondido though. But I don't want to go somewhere without refs.

I purchased my MCS used and have not had to have it serviced yet. I sure don't want to go to Escondido if I don't have to. I'm very interested to see where this thread goes.

I saw a Mini at Hans Foreign Car Service on Pacific Hwy yesterday. If you see this, please give us a report on their service.

Any updates from anyone on this? I just bought a used MCSC and need to do a 60K service. Called around and Brecht quoted $875, All German Auto quoted $280, and European Coach was over $1,100. Not sure which to go with, All German is by far the most budget-friendly, but was wondering if anyone on NAM had any experiences with the dealer, an independent shop, or both (for comparison). Thanks in advance