My BMW had its wheels, exhaust, front fascia replaced, and the alternator upgraded. Now it's not only more attractive, but also runs smoother and has a completely different feel. The price was reasonable, their explanations were very clear, and the work was done quickly! They also gently cleaned my car, which I really appreciated. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Great communication and service by the ABS team. Car has been great so far and fun to drive again! Highly recommended!

The other day I wrote a review for alternative BMW services in San Mateo. I forgot to mention one really important fact. This is the only company I know that when I text them email them looking for service. It's returned to me immediately. Nobody does that anymore. congratulations alternative BMW services For being one of the few. read more

Fair market price, they explain everything very well and they got the job done FAST! Plus they cleaned my car lightly as well which was definitely appreciated. I will be returning read more

This a reliable, and honest businessman - John Haramis. The team knows their stuff, And if you drive a BMW, you need not go to the Dealer to have your fixes because they can do it here without the dealer fluff. The shop is clean, owners are family oriented, Bravo John! read more

I have never had such fantastic service EVER!! I have a BMW I3, I started smelling gas, and it was overwhelming my car. I spoke with Roel on the phone, and he said Do not start your car, have it towed to us now. This is an honest outfit that really cares for their clients! It was a serious problem. They worked with me. To tell the whole story would fill a page. Just want to thank them for working to make my car healthy and, me sane! read more

I left ABS extremely happy with my overall experience. John is very professional, thorough with his vehicle check and the communication is impeccable. I brought in a 2015 bmw which had not been properly maintained or serviced for a year or more. John was quick to detect the issues and clearly communicated what needed to happen next. Workmanship was top tier. Total cost wouldn't put a dent in a BMW dealership invoice. Highly recommend John and ABS. read more

John is very friendly and provides good advice. Did a great job with My BMW and reasonable price.

John, the owner, is the absolute nicest human being ever-AND- they were able to do all the work I needed on my 650i Gran Coupe including: a new battery, service/maintenance (I was super behind on this because as most people, I was super frustrated with the dealership)- who, while working on my car the last time, gave it back to me with my electronic parking brake not working, auto-hold not functioning (though they were perfectly fine when stopping it off at the dealer)- BECAUSE THE LAME DEALERSHIP FORGOT TO PUT BACK THE BRAKE SYSTEM CALIPER ACTUATOR ON MY CAR!!!?? Smh! A zillion indicator lights that all popped up at the same time, actuator, scheduled maintenance, brake fluid refresh, fixed my rear auto up/down shades which recently stopped functioning appropriately, repaired the e-brake and auto-h the dealership screwed up, reset all maintenance/tpms/electronic sensors/etc., and even did me a huge solid by getting my smog done so I could finally go to AAA & pick up my sticker even though id paid for it prior to May (since it wouldn't have passed after the dealership mucked it up!). I'm probably missing a ton of other fixes but... you get what I'm saying! ABS is the BEST! Don't trust your BMW & wallet to ANYONE else!! I did NOT want to take it back to the dealer even to remediate what they screwed up. I'd likely walk out being charged for something they'd promised to fix free, as it was their fault; plus they likely would have gone ahead & charged me to fix something else I didn't ask for! A friend of mine who has owned several BMW's recommended John's shop to me. When I yelped it in order to read reviews, I was already sold! Not only because it is SOOO much more affordable AND FAR superior service compared to the dealer; John and anyone I've spoken to have all been so extremely knowledgeable, helpful, communicative and WAYYYY more competent than the dealers! He was able to get everything done extremely fast (when BMW would've probably kept it for a few weeks!) Super impressed with ABS, John and his shop. I 100% recommend him to anyone with a BMW!! I'm so happy I was referred to him. Knows his stuff! With everything he has done on the car, I paid THOUSANDS LESS than I would have paid at the dealer and, for crappy work that BMW routinely does! The battery alone (which, btw, was totally my fault for not keeping the trickle charger on when not driving it for a while)- by itself would've cost me over $3k AND- I just replaced it a bit less than ~2 years ago. John completed EVERYTHING (and I had a long list for him), for a total which was less than HALF of what one battery would have cost me @ BMW!!! As the friend who referred me to John stated,"I wouldn't even own any BMWs if I didn't have John as my mechanic! With all the quirks BMW knowingly has- I'd never be able to afford all the maintenance visits required for my BMWs & would've sold them long ago. Not only is John an awesome person who's work far exceeds the dealer; he's super knowledgeable, prompt, reliable AFFORDABLE if you have to own a BMW and an all around great guy". I 100% AGREE and will never again have anyone other than John & ABS work on my cars! *Note: I RARELY leave reviews & if I do; it's only when I'm super impressed by someone/a company whom I genuinely love and appreciate the hard work they do (in addition to being good, honest and down to earth people in general)! ABSolutely call John at ABS if you're looking to have your BMW worked on; from the basics to complex! I'll never be bringing my BMW to anyone else!! John will even personally return all your texts ASAP; no phone tag or having to continue calling the shop. he WILL get back to you in less than 24-hours (though typically its less than just ONE hour!) He EVEN waited beyond closing hours for my car to be dropped off to his shop when he completely did not have to!!!!! THANK YOU SOOOOOOO...OOOOOO MUCH JOHN & EVERYONE AT ABS!!!!! As long as I own a BMW or vehicle John can fix- he's earned my business (in addition to my daughters, mother and father's business for life as well; they are so impressed by his work, knowledge, communication, affordability & expertise/quality of work, now THEY plan on contacting John the next time THEY need somebody!!!!) 15/10 STARS!!!!!! read more

Wow! What a welcome alternative the BMW stealership. John is Honest Trustworthy & Fair. Highly recommended!

After having a horrible experience at my BMW dealer (see my other reviews), I'm happy with ABS. They seem honest, are responsive, and scheduling appointments is easy with their text system. I'm happy to have found another option to the dealer. read more

Requested a quote for various services over text. Rather than being helpful in explaining things, they were unprofessional and condescending. Seek service elsewhere. read more

I'm glad I found this place been here twice great experience our car is 12 years old but low mileage before taking to ABS the car is always @ dealer for service and even died on 101 a year ago. After the 1st service the car has been running great @ 1st we were thinking of getting rid of the car but John says the car is in great shape and low mileage for BMW so now we decided to just keep the car. read more

ABS - Alternative BMW Service - 04.29.2021 - Auto Repair Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've completely stopped going to dealers for service after finding these guys. A couple of years ago, I towed my bmw 328i in with a flooded engine and dead battery Monday night 1 minute before they closed. They diagnosed and fixed the problem by mid day next day. Price was fair. John the owner was very clear about what needed to be fixed and what didn't. I was impressed by their ability to quickly fix the engine. Will definitely come back if I have any issues. I also had another positive experience. Very thankful they are around. Honest mechanics are hard to find. read more

Owner and head technician, John, is super helpful, honest, and reliable. He knows his craft and treats customers well. Roel works the front desk and is also nice and helpful. They helped me replace the BMW emblem on the front hood of my car. I will be back for all future BMW car service needs. read more

Came and dropped my car off a few mondays ago, BMW X5 with some issues and was greeted by a new employee, Omar. ABS seems very honest with their work and Omar gave me an honest rundown of issues, NO BS, work was done in about a day or so. Peter Pan asked for way more money. Will be back for any services and such! read more

For over a year my 2000 328i had a cold engine problem. It would misfire when cold and the idle RPM would surge, sometimes stalling out. Once warm, all symptoms would disappear. Several other shops "guessed" at the cause, but their theories didn't make logical sense. I found ABS from online searches and contacted them. They offered to diagnose the problem for a $200 fee. Fair enough. The diagnosis identified two problems: one or more bad lifters and worn Vanos seals (which at least matched the engine's symptoms). Rather than push for the repairs, they changed the oil (twice I think) and added some cleaning additive to the oil. They told me to drive the care regularly for several hundred miles and see if it improved the misfire from the lifter problem. The "let's try this first" was included as part of the diagnosis fee (a pleasant surprise). Alas, the symptoms got better but were not gone. So, I returned and had the engine repair work done. I can't express how nice it is to have the BMW running right again - John did a great job! ABS tried to save me money rather than push for expensive repairs. They did more than expected at every step and the engine problems are solved. Honesty, good customer service and technical expertise - that's a recipe for business success! Next time I need work on the BMW, I will call John at ABS. read more

John is honest, professional and knows what he is doing. He gave us a few great options to fix our son's car. Will definitely go back in the future and highly recommend him. read more

Honest and helpful. They let me come by ASAP to make sure there was not a more serious problem before I brought in my car for its actual appointment. I appreciated it greatly. read more

I have used ABS for both maintenance and repair services on several occasions. And give them an A+ for professionalism, i.e. honesty, quality, timeliness and value. They provide the highest caliber of service to their customers. I am thankful ... read more

TL:DR. John went out of his way to help and turned down payment when I offered. Obviously, that's specific to my case, but it also shows the kind of person he is. I've done two things here for my M240i: * Pre purchase inspection (ppi) * Radio panel and interior trim swap Both left me with the impression that ABS is honest and good. Satisfied with the ppi - good thorough and communicative. Found things I didn't see. Ecstatic with the radio/trim, which I did mostly myself with parts I purchased and John's help - he didn't charge a dime even after I offered, saying "you did all the work." The reality is I wouldn't have done it at all without his support, which was in fact hands on for something I couldn't figure out how to do. read more

I wrote a 5 STAR review back in 2009 when I owned a 2000 BMW. I've known John and Brad all these years and they recently (December 2020) serviced my VW Tiguan despite the fact that their specialty is BMW make and model repairs. This goes to show how great John is and how he supports his customers. I got rid of my VW and now I'm back to buying another BMW. I made an appointment for John to run diagnostics before I buy the car. If all goes well, then I'll have all my service done here at this dealership. This goes to show how loyal I'm to this shop returning over and over again for service on my German cars. You're in good hands with the service here and John is a "Master" BMW expert. He has been in business since the early 2000's and I will for ever have him service all my BMW vehicles. read more

I came to ABS again one year later, and the experience was even better than the first visit. Roel and John are both nice, honest and patient. I would rate ABS more than 5 stars if Yelp allows me to do so. read more

I always feel confident taking my car here and that they will not try to sell me on doing something I don't yet need. Nothing fancy but straightforward and reliable. Highly recommend. read more

ABS has always been my go-to with my 428i- they've been there not only for my regular check-ups but also when I've been in emergency situations- ABS is THE best!!!!! Family-owned and incredibly trustworthy read more

Let me start by saying, the mechanic who worked on my BM knew what he was doing and was honest. When asked about working on a separate issue, his response was "I've never done that before". I appreciated his honesty but that didn't exactly inspire confidence in having him do the work. As for their front desk 'Moron Mike' what a complete and utter moron! Not only does he actually know nothing about work being carried out on your car, if you ask him to find out, he gets frustrated and becomes very rude - Dude find another job if thats too difficult for you. I honestly would have given 4 Stars but 'Moron Mike' sealed the deal for me! Never coming back here again, shame!!! I did see other reviews posted here about Mike but I gave the benefit of doubt and thought he may have learned his lesson, I was wrong. read more

These guys rock, and this review is long overdue. I love these machines, but an honest mechanic is a must. I went from over $1k a year in maintenance and repairs at PP while on "warranty" to just hundreds of dollars a year OFF warranty with these guys. And everything has alway bee fast and fixed the first time. 2011 335i. read more

I am updating my 2011 review because it did not show the full extent of how great ABS is at everything. In the years following my review, I brought my M3 in for service with ABS several times and I was always happy with the results. I ended up referring a couple other owners to the shop, and they have also had great experiences. Seriously, this is what a mechanic shop should be. Thanks John! read more

these guys totally wasted months of my time. not a good shop. im glad I did more research and found a much more accommodating shop. skip these guys for anything more than basic maintenance. read more

I don't like to leave negative reviews unless I feel really strongly about something. I had an issue with my car. Had to bring in my car several times for same issues. On third occurrence I took my car to another shop and they fixed the issue. I had also done a regular oil change and tech forgot to reset service light. I really didn't have a good experience using this shop. read more

It's very good service! I really recommend this service to Maintence! Reasonable price read more

ABS - Alternative BMW Service - Auto Repair Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love this place. I have an older BMW 6-series. And ABS has been able to handle all my repairs. Big and small. Brakes, transmission, oil leak, electrical, etc.... The great thing is that my bills are up to half what I am charged at the SM and SF BMW dealers. For the same or even better work. John is easy to work with and doesn't try to up sell you maintenance you don't need. No long lists of added, expensive superficial repairs like you get from dealers. read more

John is the best bimmer mechanic I have ever known. I just went back, to get my front breaks replaced, and the guy brushed my calipers with a tooth brush and cleaned out everything, like it was a baby. Unreal. I also asked him to look at a panel that fell off from the side entrance area, assuming he'll charge me for it, and he just snapped it back in for free. My kids watched TV while he worked on my car, and I just don't see a reason to ever go to the dealer (I never feel like the dealers are honest). Besides, I'm pretty sure that he was a lead tech at a nearby dealer, and he has all the latest equipment anyway. I'm totally hooked and know that I can keep my e90 for years, without paying crazy high fees for maintenance. read more

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Rectified a minor oil seepage by replacing all pets without any charge. Was super responsive and transparent about the whole process and even provided a new oil filter. Definitely will be returning back for future needs. read more

I have had my BMW serviced here for many years. I trust this place and recommend it to my friends with no hesitation.

We moved to the area a year ago. I brought my car in to have a recent issues looked at. I spoke with Mike to outline the problem and make an appointment. He was clear and straight forward. I really appreciate this. Unfortunately after a inspection, the needed repair would cost more than my 2005 X3 is worth. Mike also explained that given the mileage and this model there is a good chance that major transmission work will be needed in the near future. While it was disappointing to hear this. It is good to have clear information. I greatly appreciate the honesty that allowed me to make a decision about spending money on repairs. I also appreciate the integrity to let me know this repair will not make everything ok. ABS is a repair shop, they could see more work and money from me as their only focus. Instead, they showed their integrity. read more

I thought for sure, I would have already written a review for ABS. Hmm, I'm sure I have! John, Mike, and the whole team are all great. We have brought our 2000 BMW and our 2008 Mini Cooper S to them for a while now, and they have never disappointed, whether it be a routine oil change or a not-so-routine major issue. Oh wait, I remember. I didn't want to write a review for them cuz then everyone will know how great they are and then the business will get too busy... OK, JUST KIDDING... :) Plus, the secret is already out anyway based on the # of 5 star reviews! read more

I've been taking my BMW here for five years. Their repair quality is good and their prices are much better than Peter Pan dealer repair. I find them to be honest and fair. While car repairs are never fun, you can't go wrong with the folks here. read more

This is the first time I've kept a BMW long enough for the Ultimate Care package to expire - meaning if the car needs repair or maintenance, we actually have to fork over the dough. I hoped I wasn't insane for keeping my car but with its low mileage (great shape and fun drive) it seemed crazier to get rid of it. Found ABS on Yelp and it's helpful that it's walking distance from my house (though they've happily driven me home on occasion). I doubt many people would look at me and say, "She's such a girl," but when it comes to cars, I am. I know little so I come from fear. When I'm fearful, I'm hyper-diligent to be sure I don't overlook something. Someone who works with me patiently is really valuable in my world. Have had the car serviced here four times with two more STAT "drives by" for assist. Nothing but good things to say. Mike and John explain things to me and help me make distinctions between things I need in the moment and those to keep in mind for the future. Example of a STAT drive by: I was about to leave on a trip across the desert from the Bay Area to Phoenix when I noticed a gash on one of my tire walls. I didn't know if it was a problem or not. I went to ABS, without calling ahead first, and Mike checked the tire. Good to go. No charge. Yesterday, I started the car, outta nowhere, "Low Coolant" light. Huh? I hadn't see coolant on the garage floor. Didn't know if it was truth or fiction, or maybe a faulty sensor. I rolled down the hill. Mike told John. John checked the coolant level and topped it off. He explained that coolant can vaporize through the cap when in really hot environments (like crossing the desert); everything was just fine. Good to go. No charge, and thank you was answered with, "My pleasure." Are you kidding? This place is great. John knows the cars and both John and Mike are a pleasure to deal with. Reasonably priced (as compared to BMW), extraordinary service. If you haven't already, ditch the dealership. read more

Talk about honoring a warranty! Wow! ABS did a front brake job done on our 03 525i in June of 2011. Unfortunately, the new brakes starting squealing after several weeks. We brought it back in in November and ABS, at no charge, tried to rough up the pads and so forth but It also did not work. In late February of 2012, I brought the car back in and ABS installed new rotors and pads at no cost to me. I was prepared to pay for the parts, but ABS did the entire job again for free! Word to the wise: apparently the problem was due to not breaking in the new brakes properly. You should use firm, but steady pressure with new brakes for the first 300 miles. A very light touch will lead to squealing. read more