Spotless work installing a non-trivial retrofit of the on board multimedia of an aging Audi and a dual dashcam. The work is absolutely impeccable on every aspect. They were. It cheap, but I could not be more satisfied. the only negative reviews are Karens and shills that have not actually used the service. They were ready to work on my car at the time quoted (8 am), the installation is almost invisible, it works perfectly, I could not ask for anything more in terms of quality of the service. I will be back. read more

I cannot say higher praise for Derek and Benchmark Motoring. Car Toys down the street had done a shoddy audio install into my car that sounded like total garbage. When I brought my car to Derek and his team, they knew exactly what to do and now my car sounds absolutely magnificent. My biggest regret is not having gone to them first. I love my car again because of these guys and whether you have a Subaru Outback or a McLaren, I can't recommend them enough. Thank you guys so, so much! I smile every-time I drive my car now. read more

Hugo and his crew do AMAZING work! They did a Escort Max install in my Tesla Model S among with some ingenious "skid plates" they designed to protect the bumper from curbs. I can't believe the quality of their work and their experience and respect for luxury cars. Highly recommend. read more

Benchmark Motoring - Custom Escort Max install - looks factory! - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I have a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport which is definitely on the low end of vehicles that Benchmark works on. That was not considered when I met Derek Terada. I was looking to upgrade the sound system, but I wanted to keep the factory radio. Derek spent a lot of time listening to my goal for the sound upgrade. He was very attentive and even took some notes. He was very thoughtful with his questions and really gained a clear understanding of what I was hoping to achieve. He said that he would call me with an estimate to achieve what I described to him. He called me the same day. He provided a very patient and detailed description of his recommendation. I immediately agreed to the terms. He provided a step by step plan and what I should expect; not only from the end result, but how long it would take to get all of the parts in and how long it would take for his team to complete all of the work. He was exactly right! Everything was done exactly how I expected based on his forecast. I left the vehicle with him overnight and his team did an exceptional job. I could NOT be MORE PLEASED with how it turned out. The install is literally undetectable to see, but the sound quality is amazing! That is exactly what I hoped for. Derek did an amazing job taking care of me. He offered insightful opinions and communicated during each step of the process. I am thrilled with the sound quality! Well done Derek, Thank you!! Derek gets a 10/10 rating A+++. read more

I have worked with Justin at Benchmark for a few years now on many of my personal cars, trailers and company vehicles. Their work is professional and very unique and tailored to your vehicle regardless if it's exterior or interior related. When I have had minor problems they have made it right with no questions asked. My latest project was custom made and painted wheels for my 2014 Gallardo Lamborghini (see picture I posted). Additionally, I had Benchmark design and install an entertainment system. The base box fits every contour of the car behind the seats. It looks amazing! They even surprised me with a built in lighted Lamborghini logo that glows at night. This type of craftsmanship separates them from company's like Car Toys or Car Stereo Plus. If you are looking for a premium company for ANY of your vehicle needs, Benchmark Motoring should be your business of choice. They are truly passionate about what they do and will only do it one way - the right way! I could go on and on but will run out of room to write. The best way for you to experience what I have experienced time after time is to try them yourself. I am a customer for life! read more

Benchmark Motoring - Custom made and painted wheels to match rest of paint. - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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If you have a disability and need help with your vehicle accommodations don't go here. I entered a web inquiry on their page and nobody responded. I decided to go there and was treated like a 17 year old. read more

Note that I did not make a purchase, this is a review of coming through the door and discussing an install. I decided to go a different route. Pros: they are open at 8am, I was greeted from the front door and a very knowledgeable rep spoke with me. My biggest complaint is that I didn't have the impression the rep was willing to work with me and my needs. After briefly discussing a combination of amp, speakers and woofer, we came to speak about budget. The total price of amps, tweeters and woofer we discussed were around $3000 (give or take) but the range of total cost which the representative informally threw out for discussion was $5500 to $6500. Even if I round up the material cost to $3500 and assume an hourly rate of $120, this works out to 16h worth of work. I quickly lost interest after doing this estimate. read more

The reference standard (dare I say, "benchmark") for custom work on finer automobiles. They added laser jamming and custom mount/power for my latest Escort MAX 360, fall 2016, Porsche 911 GTS. The MAX 360 has superior electronics to the obsolete 9500ic and is mounted tastefully out of the way yet visible enough to be fully readable. Quick work at fair cost, first class service. They have other custom products for Porsche, Audi, Ferrari, and much more if you ask; I'll be back later in 2017 and beyond for various odds and ends. If you need electronics and much more for your exquisite ride, there is nowhere else quite like Benchmark in greater Seattle. Stop by Exotics at RTC in the summer, ask around: their reputation speaks for itself, these are the trusted upgrade guys for $100K-plus cars, end of story. read more

Benchmark Motoring - Car Stereo Installation Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I don't understand how they can stay in business. They give vendors the runaround and don't pay. I can't imagine how many vendors they act like this to! So imagine how they would treat a customer. Stay far away from this place. Owner is a crook and con man. His supposedly accounting dept is the same they always have excuses that he is in a meeting or at the doctor or some other bs excuse not to pay.. I would give negative 5 stars if I could. read more

I used Benchmark for car audio work and initially I was impressed, although over time the luster has worn off. I very highly rate their ethos of not leaving new holes, building brackets, and finding solutions that do not otherwise molest the vehicle. But the reliability of the items I've had installed at Benchmark has been less-than-spectacular. Benchmark installed an ipod adapter in my car in 2011 with a custom discreet switch to piggy back onto a factory input. It was beautiful and hidden, can't fault the quality of the worksmanship... but it started malfunctioning after a few months. After a few minutes of listening, the switch would get hot and sound would cut out from one side of the car's speakers. I returned to Benchmark a few months later and they replaced the switch, which initially fixed the problem. But the same problem returned just a month later. Switch gets hot, music cuts out. I believe it to be an issue with their switch design, not a problem with the actual ipod adapter (which is a name brand). I've since moved out of the area and it's impossibly difficult to get back over there, but my switch hasn't worked since. It's hard to recommend them given this; I can't be the first person to ask for an ipod adapter install in a luxury car. read more

This is a partial review as I'm headed back to them tomorrow (3/5) but so far, the work has been good. Here's the story: I purchased a 2008 S4 Avant a few weeks ago with the factory navigation. As 2008 is a long time ago, after reading a bunch of reviews, I decided to upgrade to a Pioneer 5000NEX navigation system. I called around for installers - Car Toys, Stereo Warehouse and eventually landed at Benchmark mainly because, a) they seemed the most trustworthy (Car Toys salesmen were shady) and, b) all the Audi dealerships recommend them. Pretty easy choice although they were a bit more money. When I dug a bit, I found that there was a difference of up to 4 hours to install the stereo - very, very peculiar. Again, I went with my gut and decided that I'd rather pay $200-400 more to get it done right. A bonus was Derek upgraded my 5000 to the 6000 - for no price difference. Now while everything was done extremely well and professionally - at high volumes, I'm hearing a crackle from the passenger side speakers (they were not replaced but I never heard anything like this before). So I'm going back tomorrow so they can have a look and let me know what's going on. More to come... ...so I went back to the shop last week and had Derek have a listen at the crackle in the speakers I mentioned earlier. He sat in the car for about 10 mins playing around with the equalizer and stated pretty boldly that the old speakers just can't handle the new stereo's power. Considering how honest they've been with me thus far, I have no reason to think he's being dishonest with me but just in case, I've posted my situation on a few blogs and we'll hear what an objective audience thinks. Again, more to come.... read more

Set an appointment well in advance to have an Alpine Apple Carplay installed. I dropped the car off and they called me at 3pm in the afternoon to tell me that the unit had not arrived and therefore the install did not take place. Excuses followed, blaming UPS, Alpine, etc. Hugo didn't show regard for my time or me as a customer. So I took my car elsewhere. My guess is that if you have a $5000 install, Benchmark will pay proper attention to it. But if you are in that low range like $1500 they would rather you go elsewhere. read more

Larson Audi/Porsche When they were in Tacoma recommended that I take my car to Benchmark Motoring. I setup an appointment with Hugo who is known everywhere and provides great customer service. Had quite a bit of work done. They do everything and do it well. Any car any project. Not cheap but well worth it. My car is exactly how I want it. read more

Don't go to these guys for audio if you actually care how it sounds. The sound in my Model X is garbage now, it's embarrassing. Nevermind the new hissing and squealing sounds. I wasted a bunch of money to get a system that sounds FAR worse than Tesla's factory system, when what they sold me was supposed to supercharge it. Had to take it back in the next day because half of it stopped working. The wrong components were used, it was delivered with high noise and poor tuning, and I lost confidence that their team can even fix it. Maybe they are used to doing loud supercars where the engine noise drowns the audio, but welcome to the electric future guys. There are MUCH better shops in the area for audio, these guys are amateurs in the extreme. read more

I ended up at Benchmark Motoring after winning a Parrot Evolution 3000 integrated bluetooth in a raffle. Working with Derek to arrange the install I knew that I was working with a truly knowledgeable pro. There were a couple of idiosyncrasies with my install and Derek was exceptionally patient has he worked to address the issues and answer my numerous questions and emails. The experience of actually getting the bluetooth installed was great. It would be easy to be intimidated by the ultra high-end vehicles parked in front of Benchmark Motoring but the fact of the matter was that they were perfectly happy to be working on my Subaru Forrester. There was no snobbishness whatsoever. The staff were all very friendly and professional. The craftsmanship is top notch and before leaving a technician took the time to explain how everything works. Nice not to have to RTFM! Thanks Derek and crew for taking good care of me. read more

I am super impressed with Benchmark. Service is really important and I appreciate a company that shares that core value. I bought an amazing m4 that has had significant Dinan upgrades along with a sound system upgrade including a subwoofer. The previous owner completed 35,000 worth of work after the purchase then sold the car. I was the second owner. The sub blew out and I brought the car in. Technically they didn't need to warranty but both the owner and Justin jumped right in and took care of it. When they had a problem with the manufacturer they stepped up and covered the new woofer and install. Awesome job Benchmark and in particular Justin! I'll be back! read more

Called to inquire about car alarm installation and pricing. The guy says, "We don't really specialize in car alarms and typically only do 1 installation a year." I asked him what he suggested for me to do and he told me to call Car Toys??? Wow. Well then maybe your company shouldn't advertise security systems on your website. read more

They are doing my second car in a few weeks. This is not car toys. This is a place full of lambo's and ferrari's and they know how to work on them without screwing anything up. They are doing some customizing for me this time around, looking forward to seeing the final product. They pride themselves on being able to put your car back to stock...ie no unnecessary holes or modifications. Top notch customer service and work. You will be hard pressed to find a more capable installer. read more

I've been coming here for a while for any cosmetic related work to my vehicles and have not been disappointed. They are professional, get the job done, and will take care of you if there are issues. Be ready to pay a premium. read more

I've used Benchmark Motoring several times over the past few years and they have always impressed me with the quality of work and overall professionalism. Initially it was for a integrated radar/laser detector system on my Jaguar. The install required some custom components to be built for my console and the finish work was great. More recently, they installed a dual DVD system in my wife's new SUV. Again, everything was on time and perfect. Finally, a shout out to Justin at Benchmark who always was super responsive and helpful. read more

I read previous reviews on Yelp about Benchmark Motoring and they were all really good reviews, so I decided to give them a call. I talked with Justin who was very nice and knowledgeable about the products. So after are conversation I decide to make an appointment and go ahead and have them do the work. I was extremely satisfied with the installation and purchase of my alarm. And no I do not own a high end exotic car, I own a 93 Honda Civic (America's number 2 stolen vehicle). And they treat every car likes it's an exotic. They are extremely nice and do great work, yes you pay for that great work but it is worth it to get it right the first time. I have now bought speakers and I am purchasing a deck and installation from them in the next couple of weeks. They are the only car audio/alarm/custom shop I will go to, PERIOD! read more

As others have said, Benchmark is recommended by many dealers around here, but also by other auto related services. My favourite detail place, Metropolitan Detail, swear by Benchmark. Here's the deal: they aren't cheap and if all you're do it yourself minded you can save money by getting your replacement head unit from the Internet and installing it yourself, or paying a bit more and getting everything from Crutchfield. But what if it isn't a simple install. What if it is an integrated rather detector that has front and back laser shifters, radar sensors and a control unit that lives in the passenger compartment. What if it has a third party gadget that connects into your dashboard to give the radar display in your instrument cluster? What if you want the whole thing to look completely integrated and clean with no indication that it isn't factory? That's where Benchmark comes in. Their work is superb and their service is superb as well. read more

I recently bought a new BMW and desperately needed an upgrade to the sound. Unlike many OEM's, BMW makes it just plain hard to get good sound if you're an audiophile. The speaker size and locations make it almost impossible to get good sound staging. I went to Benchmark as I've worked with them before and found their work to be exemplary. I worked w/ Justin and he mapped out a number of options for me. It required some very custom work for the door speakers and Donovan once again proved his artistry in making it look completely stock. When I picked up the car the sound was great but not the fullness I wanted. Justin worked with me to dial in what I wanted and they took the car for another day. The sound is now perfect! I really appreciated how hard they worked to make it right for me. I know I'm exacting in my expectations and having sold car stereo equipment in the past my standard for good sound is high, but Benchmark delivered. As others have said they are not the cheapest option you will find, but they do it right and with precision. They treat your car like it was their own and you'll be amazed at the quality and finished product. read more

You cannot find a better customization shop than Benchmark. Any idiot with a garage and a flathead (Best Buy, Car Toys, etc) can plug a stereo into an '88 Le Sabre, but when quality counts and you need to trust your baby to someone, trust these guys. They will listen to you, understand *exactly* what you want, and give you a fair price. No surprises on cost, and every minor detail like custom fabricated brackets and mounting plates was perfect. This is partly due to their onsite custom fabrication capabilities; if you need it "just right", they can literally make it perfect. From basic to moderate (iPod interface in Boxster S) to complex (custom stealth 9500ci in XKR) projects, they nailed it every time. Vote with your wallet if you want the best, and call Justin to make an appointment. They are always willing to talk through options and help you make the decision that is right for you. read more

I have a 2011 Toyota Tacoma truck and recently had some mods done @ Benchmark. I found them through the dealer I bought the truck - they use Benchmark for much of their custom work. I had a custom CB mount installed, rear bumper Line-X'd, custom iPhone mount done and the stock wheels powder coated. There is no way I could be happier with either the quality of the work or how I was treated by all the staff. I realize they don't do a lot of 4X4 work (lots of really expensive cars) but the work they did was excellent ( beyond) and they had great ideas and help for any, and all, I had done. Can't or not are not in their vocabulary!! They can make anything - and what they made me was a very unique and special truck!! More ideas for the future and I will be going back to Benchmark and telling anyone I know to go there first!! Justin is great to work with and communication is great!!! read more

Having some new wheels installed and suspension adjusted. So far so good, justin was pretty quick at replying to my emails and was informative to all the questions I had. I will update this review once my car is done. read more

I bought a new Nissan 370Z. I wanted a clear bra and backup camera installed. After reading online reviews, I decded to go with Venture film. The work was perfect! They did the work neatly, and finished on time. That's not the best part. The backup camera controller they installed was by NavTool and it proved defective. They removed it and sent it back for repair/replacement. NavTool was unable to fix or replace after four weeks. Rather than make me wait longer, so they purchased another brand of controller and is installing it at no cost to me. They really back up their work. I have also had other work done to my car (teflon/stainess encased brake lines) and a bed light for my wife's pickup truck We also had them install custom wiring for our radar dectectors. It isn't the cheapest place to get custom audio, accessories, etc. for your car, but they are the best and they stand by their work 100%. In a business filled with small, often unethical shops. My salesman is Justin K. He works hard to make sure everything is right. read more

I am a car fanatic who is extremely picky when it comes to work on my cars. Justin has done an awesome job at guiding me through the customization of multiple cars and his recommendations are always right on from wheels and tires to exhaust and everything else in-between . The whole staff at benchmark are extremely good at what they do and very professional. For those who expect the best when it comes to their car I would only recommend Benchmark. Al H. read more

In the past 3 weeks, Benchmark Motoring has applied their genius to my newly purchased 2012 Scion xB. Due to the car's grille design, I was unable to use the standard fog lights. I had Benchmark install custom 4" square lights which incorporate seven 6-watt LED's, with a 40 degree-wide beam. Unbelievable! There can't be a better set-up. Today, they installed xenon headlights (low beam) and parking lights. What a great combo with the fog lights! Their customer rep, Justin, has been a square shooter from the beginning. I've been impressed. The work on this car is the first experience I've had with these guys. They came recommended by a local Toyota dealership. I'd certainly recommend them, and would assume you won't be disappointed. J.G., Issaquah, WA read more

Benchmark installed a radar detector for me in 2007, it has saved me from at least 13 tickets when I quit keeping track, the only evidence of is existence is a colored indicator in the dome light. And the audible signal. They were recommended by the dealer I bought the car from. I will return for work on my other car for stereo upgrades. read more

This is a review that is long overdue, which was work done on my car in 2008. I bought a brand new 2008 BMW 328i coupe, and wanted a two way pager car alarm. I was surprised at the quote of 2800$, but I figure it's best to pay for quality on a 46k car. Boy, was I wrong! After only putting on 100 miles and 1 month later it started to have false alarms. My wife and I would wake up in the middle of the night. And it was in my garage and I lived in Issaquah Highlands, so it was in a super quiet environment. I thought the sensor settings might be set to be overly sensitive. I called Justin and he said they'd take care of it. 2 days later I picked it up and that same night, it went off every hour! They made it worse, I ended up dropping it off at night. And let them know it still had issues the next morning. I told them they had one more shot, or I'd like to speak to a manager or owner, needless to say the 3rd time was the same result. When I demanded my money back since it was under their "warranty" they refused. So, I compromised and asked them to remove it but they wanted to charge me labor - 800$!!! Are you kidding me! I said no thanks as I didn't want idiots working on my car. I traded it in to Barrier for a Porsche Cayenne and told all the sales people + any customer that would listen to me, to avoid that place. Yelp wasn't as popular back then, I'm just glad I could warn anyone else and for those who don't heed my warning, be ready to trade in your car if you take it here. read more

I've used Benchmark (Justin as my point of contact) three times with two cars over the last 6 years and have been thoroughly impressed. The work they do is top-notch. They've built me a spectacular stereo including lots of custom brackets, housings and a dash fascia; added horsepower with exhaust, intake and tuning; and most recently, made some cosmetic improvements to the exterior of my new car. Everyone there really knows what they're doing and they're incredibly easy to work with. You don't have to take my word for it. Just walk into their shop sometime and count the Ferraris, Bentleys and other dream cars people trust them to make even better. read more

If you Want the Best, and Most amazing Customer Service You want to go See Justin Kairis at Benchmark motoring. He just drove to my home in Renton to check on a radar issue on my new Tesla P100D and well basically after the sale if anything isn't just perfect, he comes and gets your ride or send someone out. I have taken 4 vehicles there of mine and they have come out better than I could have even dreamed up, everything I wanted and more. Honestly Justin does so well communicating with you, while staying on top of things with the guys at the shop, it's just incredible! Nothing like it. For instance, do a vinyl wrap on trim and something needs some touch up after a wash no worries, warranty, and he will send a guy out fully mobile to your home and he will heat gun and put a new piece on. The Attention to Detail, the Skill, the no cut no drill mentality to preserve the integrity of you vehicle and their ability to custom laser cut cnc anything from scratch to customize anything on your car is just out of control! They will take your automotive game to a new level be it stereo, styling, wheels/tires, body work, bolt on performance and more! Call and Ask for Justin. They'll work on pretty much anything from a boat, to a car, bike, and more! Your imagination may be your only limitation, but that is where Justin comes in with recommendations, options, and he will introduce you to new concepts and designs you never even knew about for something truly unique. One of a kind place and experience! Incredible! read more

I worked with Justin Kairis at Benchmark and had a Kenwood receiver installed that allowed me to connect and play audio from my iPhone in my Mercedes. It's been a few months now and the setup works great. They also installed a hands free cell phone set up and did a great job of putting a mic in the right spot without by running a wire down to the receiver. The work cost $600 and it was totally worth it to me. I'm listening to high quality music and podcasts from my iPhone. I had previously gone to Car Toys, and they said I had to totally replace the radio and all my speakers to upgrade my system which would have put me out $3,500. Benchmark set me straight and gave me what I needed. They know their stuff and I found them very honest. read more

I went to Benchmark to get a Satellite radio installed in my BMW 335i. When I dropped off my car, I talked to the service representative, Justin Kairis, and told him what I want done. Justin said since the install was pretty simple and straight forward, the vehicle would be done within 24 hours. 10 minutes after I left the shop, I got a call from Justin asking me if I would miss my ashtray if they remove it. I said no. 24 hours later, I went to pick up my car and what I saw was way beyond my expectations. All I wanted done was to have Benchmark hide the wires through the vents so I can clip the radio on the air vent with no loose wires hanging around. Instead, Benchmark custom made a bracket to replace my ashtray and the Satellite radio sat flush mounted to trims that matched the material of my vehicle. It looked OEM. There were no exposed wires, no loose wires, no gaps anywhere, and I could still use my Auxiliary port. Justin went above and beyond what I asked him to do. I asked him why he went through all the trouble in doing that, he said "the way you suggested just didn't seem right." Justin was right. The way I suggested made the car look cheap, but I never thought he would come up with such a clever solution for what I needed to have done. When I dropped my car off at BMW Seattle for service, the service rep there asked me who installed my Satellite radio. He was truly impressed with the craftsmanship of the job. I am very happy with Justin for what he has done for my vehicle and I will always go back to him for my future installations. read more

Recommended by someone at work, Benchmark lived up to expectations. If you want the installation to look 'PERFECT', Benchmark is the place to go. I worked with Justin for front diffuser, custom radar/laser, and new speakers / amp. The insallation of the Escort 9500ci was absolutely perfect. You would think that it came this way from the dealer. The attention to detail they pay, along with their tools and equipment provide fantastic fit and finish. read more

We certainly don't have fancy cars, but nonetheless the service we got at Benchmark was first class. We put in a new stereo/Bluetooth in my son's first car and also fixed a broken DVD player in my wife's car. The team was quick and efficient to recommend valuable solutions and installation was a breeze. Amazing shop loaded with some of the coolest cars you'll ever see, so waiting in the lobby was just a treat- and it made me jealous! Great service Benchmark! read more

Came in for custom wheel and brake caliper painting on my M3 comp wheels, and installation of new front grills. Justin was very knowledgeable in explaining the overall process to me, very available and extremely patient as I went through a number of color swatches (being a very particular enthusiast, I had a very specific color in mind). The work was all very professionally done, Justin kept me updated on the progress throughout the week and I couldn't have been any more pleased by the final outcome. Would definitely recommend Benchmark for any type of custom work. read more

Ok, this place was recommended by Barrier Porsche. Barrier Porsche's Service department, at least, is not on my 'trust' list. But, Barrier recommended an auto body shop, which turned out to be pretty good. So, I thought I would give this place a shot to install an aftermarket stereo/navigation integration system in my wife's Cayenne. I exchanged emails with a knowledgeable representative named Hugo Bodailla last year and decided not to go forward due to financial reasons; our financial reasons changed for the better and I started emailing Hugo again. He was good. He kept our emails from last year and updated our quote. We brougth the car in and we were told that it would take two days. I called just to make sure and Hugo informed me that it would not be ready until the third day. That was disappointing but Hugo offered to set up and pay for an Enterprise rental car. Pretty good customer service. My wife has a complaint here or there about the system but not about the installation nor the service. read more