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BMW Dealers steal your money

When I first purchased my BMW M3, I was ignorant. 

I would pay the dealer prices for parts/labor because it was all I knew to do.  Well, I've owned my car now for 2 years or more, and I rarely make those mistakes anymore (and oh yes..., they were mistakes).  In my continuing efforts to help others who might be in the same situation I was (and still am, being a BMW owner still), I have compiled a list of places to get BMW parts and BMW service done in California in the Bay Area that are specifically NOT dealerships, and that are NOT charging BMW markup prices for parts and labor.

I've also added some automotive performance shops to the list.

Active Autowerks (link)
(online or local for Florida residents)
High performance parts and service (not discount)

AlloemBMWparts.com (link)
(online only)
great discount bmw parts websitegreat discount bmw parts website

Auto Innovations (link)
1337 Minnis Cir, Milpitas, CA 95035,  (408) 956-8004
-One of the original import speed shops in the bay area. works on imports as well as euros. great little place to have install dones, good prices and good service.

Bimmerparts.com (Zygmunt Motors Online, link)
(online or local for Pennsylvania residents)
great discount bmw parts website

BMA autoparts - socal (link)
1822 S Victory Blvd, Glendale CA 91201    
Phone: (818) 240-1223 Fax: 240-9074  
-great prices on oem bmw parts. very helpful, great service, and fast shipping. ask for Patrick.

Capitol Transmission
3500 Pearl Ave # K, San Jose, CA 95136, (408) 267-9470 MAP
Kurtis installed my UUC motorwerks flywheel, short shift kit, and AA High Perf Clutch.

Conversion Techniques (link)
9845 Bigge St, Oakland, CA 94603, (510) 639-0911 MAP
Bought my Powerflex polyurethane rear trailing arm bushings here, support your racing habits here.

CoPartFInder (link)
(online only)
Sends out a requests to over 1000 auto dismantlers/junk yards looking for used parts you describe.

Dynospot Racing (link)
1798 Angela Street, San Jose, CA 95125, Phone: 408-271-9800, Fax: 408-271-9880 MAP
Dyno Testing, some parts aquisition, knowledable, but they never answer their phone <sigh>.

Exact Motorsports
1624 S. Main St. Milpitas CA 95035 [(408) 416-0061] [(408-416-0063] MAP
they stock Koni and Bilstein suspension, Nitto tire to name a few, and many others.  $85/hour, John and Sandy are really nice folks, they do good work, are fair with pricing, are timely, open on Saturday's (schweet!), my new favorite local place.   Had my koni's installed there, going to have them replace my front right lower control arm next.

German Motor Specialist (link)
380 San Aleso Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94085, (408) 522-9520 MAP
-owners and service people used to work at bay area bmw dealerships. -very professional and curtious service. probably not the cheapest independent out there, but still cheaper than the stealer.

Motorsport Techniques
1410 W Winton Ave, Hayward, CA, (510) 783-8383, MAP
-$80/hour labor rate, and they don't screw you for labor usage
-alignments are $80/flat
-they pretty much do it all, but talk to them first, they'll tell you if they can help you.

New Dimensions (link)
2240 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050, (408) 980-1691 MAP
Mostly a VW/Audi shop, but they might have some bling for you.

Stockton Auto Dismantlers
3239 S El Dorado St, Stockton, CA 95206, (209) 929-3900 MAP
Used bmw parts off of cars that have been in auto accidents
Dinan buys parts from them for testing (FYI)

UUC Motorwerks (link)
(online only)
-I bought my Shoft shift kit, my lightweight flywheel, tranny mount enforcers from these guys, awesome service, quick shipping, and very decent to deal with, very courteous, say Hi to Rob for me!

Winchester Auto Parts
1366 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128, (408) 866-1222 MAP
( bmw charges $40 for my thermostat, they had it for $28, in stock, open til 9pm)

Works Auto Body

Works Auto Body  
1640 Grant St, Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 748-1367 MAP
I had my spoiler painted there, when I arrived they had a Ferrari 360, 355, and some assorted porsches lined up.  They do very good work for reasonable rates.

Z Auto Sound
3896 Stevens Creek Blvd
(408) 554-6666 San Jose, CA
...not really related to bmw service, but these guys installed my stereo.

This page was last updated on Sunday, November 09, 2003 12:37 PM -0800.