Trustworthy repair shop and they give you the detail information on your car thats needed. I own a small Porsche repair shop and I have taken my personal friends car to have Tim look at and repaired.
The price is very reasonable and there’s no problems after the repairs. Tim have the dealer experience and knowledge to take good care of his customers. They fix it right the first time without any hassles and great follow up.
Greg H.
12/3/2011
Yelp.com
I took my E46 325i to Tim for the Idler Pulley issue. Tim popped up the hood and took a look. He explained to me in detail what the procedure would be to check the one that made noise. Also!!! he pointed out the real oil leaking problem in about 2 minutes, which took the BMW dealer 2 years and cost me thousand dollars without fixing the problem. Tim gave me a very reasonable quote and got the job done just over night. Wonderful! Johanna was there and treated us kindly. It is a great shop! I love the words Tim gave me: I would rather put the right parts in your car and fix it than see you couple times then for the same problem. Tim is the only one now I trust to touch my E46.
Sean
Nov 16, 2011
Google Reviews
I was concerned when my warranty ran out on my X5 and I had to have service. I did not know where to go so I went back to the dealer and was appalled how much they charge to do anything. After I gave them blood and signed my loft over to them as payment, I was not going back. I found Tim and Bimmer PhD on Yelp and decided to give him a try. Right from the start I liked him. He used to work at the same dealer I bought my car from, he even knew my salesperson. I like that Tim is a trained BMW technician and knows the cars like his own children. He immediately knew what my car needed and offered choices to solve the issues. I am going back; they will be my mechanic as long as I own my X5.
Thomas A.
6/20/2011
Bimmer PhD is great!. Tim, the owner, is extremely knowledgeable. More importantly, he’s ethical. That’s right, ethical. We currently own a pre-owned BMW 525i that has 1 year left on the certified pre-owned warranty. Tim took a look under the hood, noticed some problems, went back inside, ran our cars information to check for any recall issues, determined the status of our warranty, and then told us that bc portions of the repair would be covered under the warranty, we would not have to pay out of pocket. His wife Johanna is also wonderful. I feel secure in knowing that Tim will be there to look after our car even when the warranty runs out.
B/C Tim has been around BMW’s for so long, he knows the right and wrong ways to tackle problems. The repairs that he did do on our BMW was done in a timely fashion, at competitive prices, and repaired properly. Talk to him for a couple of minutes and you can tell he is passionate about BMWs. Highly recommended.
Zoom
Apr 12, 2011
I recently discovered Bimmer PhD and a terrific experience. I had been going to the Alhambra BMW dealer during my extended warranty and had complained about a vibration in the car. I was told that they couldn’t duplicate my complaint about the vibration and shifting issues. Tim found the cause, a damaged motor mount deteriorated due to an oil leak as well as some other problems. Had my brakes done as well. I’m sure this came out to about half the dealer cost for the same set of repairs. Now my vibration is gone, my automatic shifts smoothly again, my brakes are great. Tim tells you exactly what’s going on and is very honest and thorough. I’ll be going there from now on.
John
Mar 23, 2011
Hands down, best mechanic I’ve met. I guess I’ll be the third to recommend Tim, today. Truth be told, mechanics are a shady lot. Tim and Bimmer PhD on the other hand, are honest, hard working, and economical. I bought a ’95 7 series with 230000 miles off Craigslist for $2500. The guy told me I needed a new water pump… should cost about $400 I found Bimmer PhD on Google, gave Tim a call and told him what I needed. Before he agreed to order a new pump, he said to bring it in and make sure that’s what it needed. Turns out, it only needed to have the radiator bled properly and new reservoir cap: $98 for diagnosis, coolant, and cap. Took an hour. I also needed new tires, expected to pay around $700, Tim found me four GT Radials (chinese), mounted and balanced for $450 Today a new issue arose, I called up the shop and Tim asked me if I knew how to drive a stick; thirty minutes later, I was leaving his shop in a loaner for the weekend at no charge. Three examples of why I believe Tim and Bimmer PhD are worth your hard-earned dollar. You won’t find a more thorough, honest, hard-working mechanic in L.A. I can assure you, after taking your Bimmer to Tim, you’ll be doing the same as I am: recommending him to others.”
Matt
Oct 29, 2010
NUMER EINZ BMW EXPERT! My name is Maximilian W.J, I have known Timothy for a while now, he is my expert to our cars, over the time Tim is caring for our cars and I had no hint of complains whatever that would come to my mind nor my wallet. In Europe we treat our cars as the favorite child of the family…
it might sound like a joke but its NOT, back home we drive Autobahn and to drive on it we MUST have a car that is top shape, now, that is the reason I have chosen Tim is my Phd regarding BMW. Not only he keeps our cars in top shape but foremost he is trusted in everything regarding cars but he does proves himself to be the real deal and no one can beat his price and service. I have friends who work at the BMW World Headquarters in Munchen Germany, friends to which I checked Tim’s technical opinions with and they admitted he was right in his expertise, that says it all about Timothy and his Shop. Thank you.Maximilian
Oct 28, 2010
Professional and Honest Every step of the way we have had nothing but good dealings with the crew at BMWPhD. They don’t try to up-sell you on repairs and actually show you what the issue is so you feel comfortable with the repair. The prices are the best around and the quality is unmatched, even compared against the dealerships. Whether you are on a budget or looking to increase performance, this is the place to go. This shop alone will reduce your total cost of ownership. Highly recommended!
Chris
Oct 28, 2010
Michael M says:
October 25th, 2010
I recenty took my car to BMW PHD Motorsports. Mainly because I did not want to wait for an appointment with the dealer. My 745 LI 03 was due for it’s 100,000 miles service and Tim and his team of expert technicians not only performed the required maintence but did a through complete diagnosis of my vehicle and Identifed a few other issues the dealer would had missed. Overall, I saved lots of money and am totally statisfied with the service. My car is running like it was when I first brought it and I strongly recommend BMW PHD Motorsports for all of your car maintenance and repair needs. New customer for life………
Dexter says:
October 24, 2010
Customer for Life! I have owned 5 BMW’s and currently driving a pre-owned M5 which I purchased without an extended warranty or service.I don’t need to say how tempermental these M-cars can be. Found this shop on google and have been going to them for the past year now for everything from an oil change to clutch replacemnt to changing out an internal engine temperature gauge. These services requiring highly skilled technicians. I could not be happier with the customer service, the quality of work, and the excellent prices…a fraction of what the dealer will charge. Tim and his team will go above and beyond to make sure your experience is no less then outstanding. If you own a BMW out of warranty and tired of dealing with the stealership (dealers)..looking for an independentBMW specialist, this place is second to none.
Tim T says:
October 21st, 2010
After some extensive research online for good bmw specialists within the San Gabriel Valley, I have end up calling Tim to scheduled an appointment. Didn’t disappoint. Great crew, great knowledge on bmw’s, HONEST and fair on the $. All my concerns was taken care of and fixed instantly. Awesome experience..I will be a returning customer and will definitely recommend any bmw owners to go for any repairs or maintenance. HE KNOWS,, Wouldn’t trust my e46 M3 with anyone else.
John says:
October 15th, 2010
I found Tim and BMW PHD after the dealer tried to charge me around $6k for some repairs. Not trying to bash the dealer here, I’m sure they would have done a good job, but they are just overpriced in my opinion. Tim was able to fix my 328 for almost half the cost of the dealer!
I moved out of the area a few months back but still come to town to visit a relative so when I know I have an issue arising with my car or I need an oil change, I always schedule in time to bring my car to Tim!
BMW PHD cares about it’s customers and they do a great job with the repairs — all at a fair price. If you read this and go to him for service, you will save yourself headaches and money… So don’t be stingy, give your mechanic a tip for hard, honest work! Its time we reward the good guys.
Paul says:
October 10, 2010
Economically friendly and quality work! I was recommended to Bimmer PhD because the quote I received from the dealership was way too much. I just passed the 100k miles on my 330i and needed some work. I pretty much saved 50% off the dealership quote! Tim and his staff are great and the work they do is superb. If you are out of the maintenance warranty or are close to it, I highly recommend Bimmer PhD.
Lindsay says:
October 5, 2010
HE SAVED MY CAR!!! I took my car into another shop in Pasadena THREE times for overheating problems and they guy couldn’t fix it—he charged me over $1000 and the car kept overheating. I than took it to Bimmer PhD Motorsports and Tim was fantastic. He lent me a rental (free of charge) and fixed my car for 1/3 of the amount the other place had charged me—and this time the car was actually FIXED! He showed me all of the broken parts, explained to me what the problem was, and took me step by step through the charges. I will always be grateful to Tim and definitely bring my car back to him. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!
Steve says:
September 17th, 2010
Tim and his aces high team are tops in customer service! Everything was clear and fair. No need to worry. The crew will complete a quality job for less than half price of the dealer. I had a few small electrical repairs all completed in less than an hour. How to the dealers still survive with Tim and his crew on the loose is a mystery to me.
The techs are quick and accurate and happy to walk around the car with you explaining how they care for your BMW. My 330ci just came out of warranty so no more dealer foolishness for me. Bimmer PhD will handle it from here. Nice work Tim!
Joey P. says:
August 28th, 2010
I highly recommend BMW PHD Motorsports to anyone who has a BMW and wants to get quality service at a great price. Tim and his staff are very knowledgeable and easy to work with. The first time I spoke to Tim over the phone, I explained the issues I was having and he was able to explain technically (but simply) what the possible solutions could be…without talking down to me or making me feel stupid for not understanding my own car!
The other good thing is that while talking to these guys, you can tell that they want to solve your car problems and help save you $$$ at the same time. These days, it’s hard to find car shops that you can trust, but I definitely trust PHD Motorsports. I will keep going to them to help keep my BMW running smooth.
Thanks Tim and crew! You’ve saved me a lot of money and my car is running great!
Dara says:
August 23, 2010
TOTALLY THE BEST! I recently relocated to Pasadena from the East Coast, my BMWwas shipped cross country and arrived to me with some new “issues”. Being new to the area I was apprehensive to have anyone touch the car. However, I very luckily found the most amazing people at Bimmer PhD. The customer service from beginning to end goes beyond expectation and Tim and his crew genuinely do care about the work they produce and they go out of their way on every level to insure customer satisfaction. BeforeBimmer PhD I had only serviced my car at dealerships and they were unfriendly, insensitive, and overpriced, never again- thank you Bimmer PhD.
Tim K. says:
August 17, 2010
I have a 745i and I can’t find any competent mechanics to work on it. I always regret taking it to non dealer shops. I heard about Bimmer Phd Motorsports from a colleague and I figured I’d give them a shot. Best choice I’ve ever made. Tim knew exactly what the problem was, and as a woman I don’t feel that he tried to screw me over on prices. He really knows his stuff. I have officially found my BMW repair shop and plan on using him in the future again. Definitely recommend Bimmer Phd Motorsports if you want yourBMW worked on properly.
Chris says:
August 15, 2010
Good Experience Diagnosed the problem quickly, worked with me to correct. I had a great experience with BMW PHD.
Jorge Vazquez says:
August 14th, 2010
I was so frustrated with the work done by the dealer on my BMW. I finally made the decision to switch. It was one of the best decisions I have made. Went on the web and found BMW PHd. tim is awesome and fixed problems that the dealer had lied about for years. Additionally being single it is always hard for me to get a ride to work and back. I was appreciate of all the things Tim did to accomodate me. Additionally he is so patient and explains everything so clearly. You know he, and everyone else that works there, has a high sense of integrity.
EXCELLENT!
Ziyi says:
August 11, 2010
Most Honest mechanic ever My car just had weird noise I took it to the dealer.The dealer told me have to spend $4500 change my steering rack . I was having a huge doubt, so I give Tim a call (find him on google map) he said bring the car let him take look he said I might not have to change the steering rack for 2006 28000mi it’s too soon after he take look the car only took him 5min to fix the noise and it’s so little he did charge me anything OMG he just save me $4500. this is the place you want to take your car Thanks Tim I will see you soon.
Christina says:
August 5, 2010
Savings, Speed and Smiles. Not only did Tim at Bimmer PhD Motorsports save me more than 2/3 what the dealer was going to charge, but he was able to get me in and out same day, and everyone there was extremely friendly. He went the extra step and did a quick reveiw of my entire car rather than just doing what I brought it in for and was able to catch something else that might have put me in danger had I not been made aware of it…. something the dealer hadn’t done. Better service, quality and savings, no need to go anywhere else! Thank you! August 5, 2010
D…Rock says:
July 23, 2010
Could Not Be Happier with Bimmer PhD I had a great experience and am very happy with my service; i will be back. I called all over town and was blown off the phone by with a quick estimate anfd attempt to close me prior to reaching Tim. he explained the process, his recommendation and was extremely knowledgeable with BMWs. Dont waste your time and money at the other shopd/dealer, you will be happy with the service you get atBimmer PhD. Thanks again Tim.”
Jason says:
July 7th, 2010
“I am sure I am not alone when I say that we’ve all been burnt by a mechanic or two in our day. Whether it’s a service advisor at a stealer or a local indy shop guy, it’s hard to find good people whom you can depend on and who won’t try to empty our pocket books. So, in order for you to protect your investment and avoid being f’ed with your money, you end up scowering the web for series of DYI’s in hope that you can do some of the work your self. For those who are mechanically inclined, this is an alternative, but for many others, this will add more frustration to the problem already at hand.
Even a mechanically inclined person, I am extremely happy that I have Tim @ Bimmer PhD as a resource. I first found Tim before the days of PhD and was setting off to set up his own shop. Tim will tell you that I “baby” my car like no other. So when I took my “baby” into see him about a few minor problems, he took care of it the right way from day-1! Being a car guy, I can readily detect and call B*ll Sh*t when I hear it and there was absolutely none of that with him. He explained all the options and how to go about fixing problems the best way possible. I freakin’ HATE service advisors at dealerships and all their BS!!! I dispise their scare/pressure tactics to get the customers to sign for services they really don’t need and have to pay for.
Another thing that impressed me was how knowledgeable Tim was about BMWs (all through the years and various model ranges). He blew me away. I usually do a bit of homework before I talk to mechanics to ask intelligent questions and to guard against the “SUCKER” impression.
So, yesterday I take my car to see Tim because it was making a rather loud “thud” from the front suspension on certain bumps as the chasis flexed. Just for kicks, I took it in to the dealer too before going to see Tim to see what their prognosis would be. As I drove around with the SA, he was trying to scrare the me to thinking the noise came from all these different reasons. ALL VERY costly repairs of course! He said it would take them 2-3 hours just to look everything over under the front axle. That’s $280-$420 just to find the problem folks. Anyway, I laughed and said no thanks. So, back to Tim @ PhD.
I text him the evening before and he’s already given me a pronosis. I get to his shop the next morning and he takes my car for for a quick spin. Comes back and says “It’s your sway bar bracket”. He opens the hood undos a few panels that re-torques all the bolts that are securing the strut brace and finds the loose bolt!!! WOW!!! In 30 minutes he solves the problem and re-scans my car for fault codes and gets me outta there in an hour.And, he only charged me a fraction, I MEAN a fraction of, what it would have cost at the stealership. The amazing thing is that was the exact prognosis he gave me the night before without even looking at the car.
What more can I say? I currently own 2 late model Bimmers. My baby is out of warranty but my other car isn’t. Can you guess where I will be brining my other car when it goes out of warranty?
You might get pastry and free coffee at the local BMW center but you won’t get the honest, friendly, and personal care you get here. Not even close! Wait, Tim actually did offer me some fresh brewed coffee yesterday. So, only thing you got going for you is some cheap pastry at the dealership. LOL.”
Ralph says:
June 26, 2010
SIMPLY THE BEST! After getting outrages prices from the Bmw dealer I thought i had no other choice. Bimmer PhD Motorsport was refered to me by one of my friends who actually works for a BMW dealer (wont say which one) Tim is very knowledge and explained to me all my options. They did a great job and I even had my car back ahead of schedule. I highly recommend them and i will definitely refer to all my collegues. They are the best!
Lim says:
June 22nd, 2010
PHD did an excellent job of replacing my Halo lights on 2006 330i … the cost was reasonable and it was done in very short period of time … I would definitely recommend PHD to anyone who’s looking for BMW technicians…
Thanks! Tim and Crew!
Bruce says:
June 16th, 2010
Nothing but outstanding customer service from PHD Motorsports! Tim and his crew are straight forward and to the point. At PHD, you will have no worries or regrets. They make your needs their number one priority.
I brought my E36 to PHD to fix an oil leak. Tim and his skilled crew were able to fix the leak in an hour! They are very well experienced and knowledgeable of ALL BMWs. Much gratitude to Tim and his crew.
If you’re searching for an independent BMW shop, go to PHD Motorsports. Just ask for Tim and he’ll take care of you and your car.
Thanks again for the great work, Tim! My car drives so much better, I’m falling in love with it all over again.
Bob and Susan Rose says:
June 13th, 2010
We had a very bad experience with a BMW dealership but were fortunate to find BMW PHD Motorsport on line. Tim and everyone that works there (including his fiancee) were very accommodating. Tim took the time to answer all our questions and we were able to leave our car in good hands. We are happy knowing that we now have a place that provides excellent service and at a good price.”
Vince says:
May 27th, 2010
I would highly recommend BMW PHD to everyone! I went to 4 other BMW shops only to come to TIM’s shop and get the CORRECT diagnostic of what was wrong with my 2003 BMW 745Li. The whole staff was super friendly and was a pleasant experience as a whole. BMW PHD is my new & ONLY BMW shop that I now go too for all of my concerns and maintenance issues regarding my bimmer. I drove 20 miles just to get the quality & professional service needed!”
J. says:
May 8, 2010
A truly honest deal. A rare find in the automotive repair industry. Tim, Raffi and CJ are excellent technicians who work as a team to resolve issues on any model of bmw. My 740i went in for a new set of valve cover gaskets, and my bill was less than 1/3 what Avus Autosport in Glendale quoted me. I am confident in their work, the car drives like new, no oil leaks and I will definitely be going back there for anything from oil service to major overhauls years down the line. Highly Recommended.
Philip D says:
May 3rd, 2010
I would also highly recommend BMWPHD in Pasadena. Tim, Raffi and CJ are competent technicians and are very friendly and approachable. The shop is no-frills shop, just cars, tools, and knowledgeable techs. I would not hesitate to take my BMW to them again.
Larry says:
April 8th, 2010
I had my window regulator replaced by Tim on my E36 M3; it was absolutely a good experience. I hung around at the shop and chatted with the office manager Joanna while Tim and Raffi. They are very friendly and knowledgeable regarding BMW’s. I got to see how Tim treats all his customers with a great attitude and a lot of patience.
Max says:
April 6th, 2010
I service all my BMW cars with THE Phd Doctor having total confidence and trust, I have to say that I could not be more pleased with the work these guys do, the knowledge and the work performance and timing of they work is not to be matched.
The Phd team is unbeatable, true experts.
I highly recommend The Phd Team for anyone who wants to know all about the car and get the car to drive 500K miles and beyond.
Bill Melinat says:
March 13th, 2010
I got my first BMW in April, 2009 — a 2003 M5 w/37,000 miles that had been well maintained. Engine service light went on in December plus I had oil leak. Was not impressed with customer reviews from San Gabriel Valley BMW dealers, and found Tim at PHD on the internet. After talking with him on the phone and meeting him in person, I knew I had selected the right person for the job, and I was right. Tim is passionate about BMW’s and has outstanding master mechanic credentials from local BMW dealers. Needless to say, he diagnosed my Vanos system problem (a defective solenoid) and the source of oil leak and fixed them. I’ve been back twice since for a one small repair and a battery replacement. I wouldn’t trust my M5 repairs with anyone else. I highly recommend Tim for any BMW repairs you might have.
Bill says:
February 11th, 2010
I would defenatly recomend BMW PHD to all. I recieved detailed explanation of why my check engine light came on & the price was less than half of what the dealer had quoted. Well knowadgable & friendly staff, even washed & cleaned my 530 before i arrived…really a dealer alternative.
Thanks Tim. great job !
Rocky says:
February 3, 2011
I can’t say enough about this place. On numerous occasions they have come through and fixed my problems on my budget. Tim and his whole staff handled all my BMW needs with utmost respect to the car and the knowledge is extensive from the parts to the expert advise that he has from the older e30′s to all current models. Johanna handled all necessary paperwork and I can’t say enough of how happy I am with Dr. Tim and his clinic.
