Although I do not normally leave reviews, I made an exception here because the customer service and repair work at Continental Imports was genuinely phenomenal. From the very start, the place has an extremely friendly, family-oriented feel. RJ at the front made scheduling the appointment easy, and the staff in the waiting area were welcoming and professional. From the beginning, they worked with me to make everything as convenient as possible--handling insurance, securing a rental car, and taking the stress out of the process. In a time when it often feels like real customer service is dead, Continental was a breath of fresh air. I brought in a recently purchased Honda CR-V that was still under a limited warranty for a small audio system issue. As part of the visit, they performed a complimentary mechanical inspection. My mechanic, Alex, found many issues with the vehicle that were not reported in the seller's so-called 200-point inspection. His meticulous inspection of the vehicle saved me thousands of dollars and countless "nickel-and-dime" headaches down the road. What really stood out was the communication. Alex really took the time to explain each issue clearly, what it meant for the vehicle long-term, and even showed me the actual areas needing attention (then later repaired) That level of transparency and patience is rare. Continental Imports is hands-down the best auto repair experience I've had in Gainesville. If you value exceptional customer service, honest communication, attention to detail, and repairs done right the first time, this is the place. Highly recommended!!! read more

My car was completely covered in scratches all the way around the car, on the hood, and on top of the car, from having to go through an overgrown area with tree sapling branches and not being able to back up because where I was driving made that impossible. I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to do anything about this but repaint the car. I went to Gettel Toyota Body Shop and they said to try a detail shop first before assuming that it needed the extreme solution of repainting. I then tried to find who would be a good detail person to leave it with. I picked up three paint pens from the Gettel Toyota Parts department. The Parts department recommended Marvin of Continental Imports. They said he had previously worked with Toyota and that it's hard to keep a good detail guy. Gettel Parts said that the shop he now works at handles high-end European car repairs such as Mercedes cars. And that what I needed if I wanted something top notch would be something that a high-end car detail guy might be able to handle. I went where they suggested. Continental Imports and Marvin rescued this vehicle. It was a goner as far as it looked to me when I left it with them. Marvin performed miracles by making the car look better than it has ever looked including when I first got it. He even got rid of old scratches that were there before the recent incident that caused the problem with the scratches all over the car. I was so relieved. I would certainly want to go back here for a regular detail in the future. I cannot praise Marvin enough for his work on this vehicle. The people at Continental Imports also tried to make sure I would be able to get to where I live, which is not that close by, with their help and so forth, since the work being done took all day and half the next day to complete. It was a top experience all around. Marvin at Continental Imports is a car detailing miracle worker in Gainesville, Florida. read more

In my opinion, the advisor I got (Rob) and his manager (Jason) are compulsive liars. The worst part is, they don't get in agreement on the lies they tell. I have Mercedes Benz since 1989 and this service experience has been the worst. read more

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The service team is top notch, with special attention to a superb customer experience. They service my Euro and American vehicles and always complete the repairs on time and according to the conversation and instructions before work begins on the automobile. Continental Imports is the only shop I have used over the last 15 years. read more

Continental Imports - BMW 550i exclusively serviced by Continental. - Auto Repair Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Was not informed of the price for just having my breaks looked at. I feel 200$ is alot just to diagnose a breaking issue that you were already told what the issue was. Then quoted 1500$ to repair breaks. Took to another shop. Diagnostic was free of charge and the cost for repair was 700$ less. I feel I was vastly overcharged and received no value. Will not be visiting again. I recommend you advise customers of the cost of diagnostic before they agree to have your company look at their vehicles. I received no value at a high cost. Only positive is that the staff was very friendly. read more

My 2019 Alfa Giulia died after a Start-Stop switch failure, triggering a cascade of error codes. It took considerable diagnostic work, but the technicians at Continental came through, as did their Service Manager, Alex Kuhn. From the courteous and attentive front desk to the shop floor, this was a very positive first visit to Continental. I will be using Continental for all future work on my Alfas. read more

I had the oil changed that went perfectly. Normally, everything is left super clean. Unfortunately, on my butter colored interior, there was a dirty hand print on the driver's door panel and a couple of small dots of dirt/oil on the drivers seat bolster. read more

I was on my way to UF , when my car broke down on the road...I called my mechanic and the franchise in Gainesville do not work on BMW and they recommend me Continental Imports . The AAA tow service took my car to Continental Imports. The entire Team from the front desk girls to the service and Parts Departments were ready to help and listen, I left the car there and head back to Orlando Mr- Mark and Mr. Darren explained to me the conditions and cause of the break down and in a week they got the car Fixed. The pick up was so easy with their lock box's and I never had My car so CLEAN after a repair!! and they fixed all the sensors in the dashboard that no even the BMW dealer where able to fix before !! This people know about customer service and German cars for sure. Extremely satisfied.Highly recommend it! Thank you. read more

I won't even begin to go in the bad work this group did on my BMW. Just suffice it to say, they said I needed expensive repairs that I didn't. Dealership in town is much better. These guys are scam artists and even leave their own 5 star reviews. read more

I'm sure this is a great mechanic if you drive an expensive sports car, but they overcharge for everything. They gave me very steep prices for all repairs, including a $400 estimate to replace a battery. When I asked to get a second opinion, they tried to charge me $100 for diagnosing my car without telling me that beforehand. Of course this could just be because they saw I had boobs, because when I got my dad on the phone suddenly the prices dropped by a third of what I was told. Otherwise, very friendly staff. read more

I've been a customer of Continental Imports for years and service is always 5 star. Roberto and Thomas are amazing technicians and recently went above and beyond to make sure my daughter's car was serviced and safe. joy P. read more

My experience here was terrible . Let's start off with my issue was one headlight not working . First of all , my car sat in the shop for a week and a half before they even started looking at it . Which I had to keep calling to ask when are they gonna look at this . And to fix it they wanted to charge me close to 1800! FOR A HEADLIGHT I posted it so you can see for yourself . Stay away from this place . read more

Continental Imports - Auto Repair Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I cannot say enough great things about Continental Imports! I have been taking my Mercedes there now for almost 3 years and I always leave satisfied with my service. Heidi is amazing and always has been super helpful in the past, even going into the gate after hours to grab my garage door opener for me after I forgot it! Jason is very knowledgeable and personal when discussing the service needs for your vehicle. Definitely makes you feel like you can trust them in their decisions with your maintenance! read more

My oil and fuel filter change ended up costing over $700, even charged me nearly 4 dollars to fill my already full windshield washer fluid. I guess the service managers getting a big kickback on selling all sorts of inflated services. read more

I have taken my Range Rover to Continental Imports 4 times for the same issue since July, the coolant light being on. The repairs on Range Rovers are always expensive. Yesterday, to repair a hose was $500 (the lowest repair charge to-date). However, Heidi encouraged me that this repair was important to be done. My car was down for the entire week waiting on the part to arrive. When I spoke with her in the afternoon, after having serious conversations with her about constantly bringing the car in for the "Coolant light" being on, she said "I can't promise their won't be any more problems". Well, I am aware of that but I would not do a repair if I knew up front that the car would still not be operating properly to drive. After she had the repair done, she advised of further damage that needed to be repaired. I picked up the car, did not turn the curve before the "coolant light" was on again. A 3-minute drive, car ran hot, all of the coolant ran out. I have spent thousands in repairs since July on this issue 3 times taking it to Continental and once to the dealership in Ocala. I work down the street from Continental is why I started using them. I think Heidi is definitely about money and does not always tell the truth about the condition of a vehicle. She is good at talking and making money - but good car repair service includes being honest about the condition of the vehicle and rather or not a repair you think you need will make a difference in the performance of your vehicle. Don't tell me to "trade my vehicle" after, I complain to you about all the money spent for the same issue - let's have that conversation up front before you claim to "fix" an issue. I do not recommend Continental Imports unless you KNOW beforehand exactly what you want done to your vehicle - trust is a big issue for me with information received from Heidi. Remember, it is YOUR money, no matter how nice she appears to be - you decide rather or not to spend your money on a repair (even if it means getting 2 or 3 additional opinions from a trustworthy/reputable business). Read Sammy R.'s , David A., Jeremy C. - they said "I needed expensive repairs that I didn't". The only person I have ever talked to at Continental is? Yes... Heidi, an Owner. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS PLACE. #BIGMISTAKE read more

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Heidi was very knowledgeable and helpful in explaining the work that needed to be done on my daughter's Mini. It is comforting to have a car repair center you can trust when your daughter lives a 1000 miles away. Trust me. read more

This place came to my rescue again. I came in for a plug and patch for my tire the second time. The first time being a different tire. I guess I enjoy running sharp object...who knew? Even though they were busy they took the time to take care of me and I couldn't ask for more. Thank you all for everything. read more

I wanted to give a more neutral review until I get my car back. I talked with Mike from service and knowing I wasn't happy, went into great detail about everything with my car. I appreciate that and it tells me as a company, they care. read more

We have taken our BMW to Continental Imports twice now and have been very satisfied each time. Our girl has over 80K miles under her hood and she has needed some pretty costly repairs the past few months. I'm really glad CI was recommend to me by a close friend because we are going to continue to use them. The front office staff is very nice and helpful from the moment you call them to schedule to the moment you walk in their front door. The back service staff is very knowledgeable and professional. Heidi was in charge of our car and she explained things in a very easy-to-understand way. She was very patient with me and even called three days post-pickup to check on how the car was doing. I highly recommend Continental Imports for all your auto care needs. read more

THE OWNER, DARREN, was extremely pompous and self-centered as I tried to explain my dissatisfaction with the service I did not receive. He constantly cut me off and made nothing but excuses. This was the second time that I gave them business although the first time I was charged $3000.00 for what I found to be overpriced work. It appeared that what they did to my car October 2021 effected the problems that surfaced only 4 months later January 2022 which was another $2000.00 in a used 2011 Mercedes 350 ML with over 170,000 miles on it. Yes, that's right, I dropped $5000.00 with Continental imports in 4 months on a 13-year-old car and they had no problem charging me and tried to charge me even more with all the so called "recommendations." The serpentine belt snapped and my neighbor who is an import mechanic looked at my car and said the AC compressor was good, however. Well Michael the check in rep insisted that the AC compressor was bad but never offered to let me see what he was talking about. It felt very uncomfortable, and I wanted to pull my car, however, I figured they'd charge me over $200 to just assess the issues, so I left it there. I expressed to Darren that this was my son's car who is a college student and he whizzed right over that important point and was only concerned about what he wanted to say which was spending 100% of the time on the phone responding DEFENDING HIMSELF and never apologized. IN MY $5000.00 OPINION THIS PLACE IS A RACKET AND EXTORTION HUB! STAY AWAY! read more

Heidi and team at Continental Imports have earned my trust fixing my daughter's 2007 Mercedes over the last three years. They let me know what is wrong, what must be fixed, and what can be left alone for now (the splash pan she ripped off driving over a cone once). Highest recommendation. I had the car towed from Orlando so Continental could assess it when another shop wasn't forthcoming. Need someone to trust? Choose Continental. Wish they were local for my car! read more

My 3 week old Nissan Rogue showed signs of a faulty transmission, before I even made a payment. I dropped it off on a Sunday evening. RJ at Continental Imports was the main person I spoke with, and he was very accommodating. He was sympathetic to my situation but realistic when explaining the process of the warranty my car is under. He didn't give me false hope but told me it was going to take longer than I had hoped. Weeks longer. However, once the warranty company finished their inspection, he jumped right on it. They ordered the parts ( a transmission being the main issue) on either Thursday or Friday, 2 weeks after I dropped my car off. They called for me to come and pick my car up the following Wednesday! They finished all of the work in less than a week! There were 4 main issues in my new car, and thankfully Continental was thorough when diagnosing my engine. When I picked the car up it had been not only repaired, but they cleaned it for me too! The ladies working the phones and front of house are spectacular! All in all, the staff and service at Continental is top notch. read more

Hands down the best place in Gainesville to take your car for whatever you need done. I have seen them do incredibly difficult jobs with a wide range of foreign cars. Their skill set is highly impressive. I have a BMW and I trust them more than I do BMW Gainesville or Tampa, or for any other place in Tampa/Gainesville that does repairs. I had them install Performance calipers and rotors months ago. This was a long job that required a special software from BMW that they happened to have, and they completed it all in a day. They did an amazing job installing the performance kit and in addition clean the car well when they return it to you. Today they installed a new charge pipe in car and it is running better than ever. Heidi, Daryl and the staff are professional, friendly, and very knowledgeable. Always happy when I leave there. Thank you all!! read more

Heidi, and the rest of her team at Continental Imports could not have done a better job. From the first phone contact with Heidi, I knew I was in very competent and professional hands. She walked me through the entire process as I had never purchased tires online before, and made me feel very much at ease with her level of patience and knowledge. The tires were shipped out, and arrived the next day when I called and made an appointment for installation and alignment. When I arrived at Continental Imports, I was met by two gentlemen who greeted me and said that Heidi told them to be looking for me. Later that day, when my vehicle was ready, I was notified by a courteous phone call. They told where my completed vehicle was, and directed me to the office. The cashiers were practicing appropriate CDC suggested COVID-19 protocols as I made payment for the excellent work done, and I was also informed that my vehicle was sanitized as well. Heidi, the owner called and left me a voicemail as she was on a phone call and noticed I was paying, and wanted to meet me in person but was sorry that she was unable to do so. We talked later that evening and I told her how much I appreciated the way I was treated as well as the cleanliness of her facility and the staff's positive and friendly attitude. I cannot say enough positive about this wonderfully run business, and will certainly recommend my friends, family and associates to Continental Imports. read more

Continental worked with me through emails to get an appointment set up. They did excellent work on my Mercedes C250, with pricing that beat the dealer by a bunch. Service writers explained everything well. My car was ready when promised and was sparkling clean. I'll be back for more service. Two thumbs up! read more

The owners Heidi and Darren are good honest hard working people who have a passion for both automobiles and people. I used their services for the first time after clipping a curb with my Porsche. The wheel was damaged and the tire destroyed. They were able to confirm that the wheel was still true and that the damage was only cosmetic and not readily repairable. The new tire was installed quickly. A slight mishap in the repair bay resulted in some slight body damage that was then repaired and made to look as new. A free rental car was offered to me while repairs were being done. Once the repairs were completed they detailed my Porsche to a very good standard and handed back the keys to a very satisfied customer. Wayne M read more

This service shop is one of the best Mercedes Benz shops I have ever been to. They check all of the boxes for top service. I could not be more happy with their work. Thank you Heidi! read more

Continental Imports ranks up there with any of the luxury dealerships in terms of the customer experience. From the waiting room, to the shuttle service and loaner vehicles, they are top notch. The service also leaves me confident that my car, my baby, has been well taken care of. They have worked with me when I've researched and found an OEM part at a better price and taken the time to explain when I've had questions. Lastly, the car was supplied with service actually leaves my car at least close to how I would clean it. I'm a little obsessive. Thanks guys! read more

"My vehicle is an antique VW Vanagon, and CIG for over a decade has provided excellent work. Technician Kenny Rogers can do amazing things with a Bus. Above all I appreciate his forthrightness, and Continentals general attitude that there is never too much new tech information. Steve & Walter apparently made technical knowledge and strong positive interpersonal skills the cornerstones of this excellent shop and the new generation shares that attitude. They stand by the repairs they make. This paragraph says it all about the integrity and technical professionalism of of CIG " The character of the business was much a result of Walter's passion for people and the industry. It was carried into the future by a loving staff of 19 and a new partnership between Hannelore (Walter's wife) and Steve and his wife Lin. The future is also strengthened through youth with Walter's daughter Heidi." Senior owner Hannelore Bodendorf maintains a chill professional healthy positive corporate work environment - and in this day of bottom line at all costs world that is truly amazing. This company is set to maintain this reputation with Heidi and her husband Darren at the helm. I will always Recommend this shop." read more

I highly recommend Continental Imports. I own a 2001 Mercedes Benz S600 V12 that has been to several different Mercedes Benz dealerships and independent shops that could not resolve an electronic ignition problem. Steve at Continental Imports was able to access information that was critical in correctly diagnosing the issue. Steve asked questions to better understood my budget constraints and offered solutions I could afford. My previous experience with this specific car and other repair attempts were frustrating, expensive and disappointing. I would have driven a thousand miles past the other shops to Continental Imports if I knew about them sooner. Continental has all the special tools and electronics that modern cars require for repair and maintenance. The collective experience of the qualified technicians make them effective and efficient. I am grateful that I found Continental Imports. read more

I purchased my 09 650 back in 2016 along with an ext. warranty. Up until November 2017 I exclusively used BMW of Gainesville for maintenance. I needed a battery and was a little stunned at the quote from the dealer so call CI and got a much more reasonable price. Previous to the battery BOG fixed an oil leak at the alternator bracket and I was told my warranty co wouldn't cover it, which surprised me. I didn't get the sense the dealer worked very hard at understanding my warranty and pushed for the coverage. As a part of the battery service CI pointed out more oil/seal leak issues, and I had also been having some transmission issues. Long story short, I ended up having CI do a significant amount of work ($7000). They worked very closely with my warranty co, even to the point the warranty co required an independent inspection of the proposed repairs to verify the need. It all got affirmed and approved, and my bill ended up being $100. As you can imagine this took a couple weeks but CI's customer service was EXCELLENT! They came to pick up my car and dropped of a loaner at my work. When the work was completed they delivered my car to my work and picked up the loaner. My car was also very nicely detailed. ...I'm a very satisfied customer! read more

Continental Imports is, by far, the best car service shop I have taken my car to. I am very particular in general, especially when it comes to my car. Heidi has been nothing but professional and patient with my concerns and has always gone the extra mile to accommodate my scheduling requests. I drive a 2008 BMW 535i and have had extensive work done on my car. Never once have I had a bad experience. I am planning to move to Orlando and Heidi & Darren have both found a way to continue servicing my car. They have surpassed my expectations regarding service. I will definitely remain a loyal customer and refer everyone I know to their shop. Wonderful family business. read more

The best shop in gville (and maybe anywhere), I feel fortunate to have them in town. I normally don't love my repair shops, and have a healthy distrust for them, but at CI, it's different.They are experts, they are fair and honest, and they will take excellent care of your car. I have developed complete trust in them, as I simply drop my car off to them and let them handle it. It's a wonderful feeling. As a bonus, the owners and staff are extremely friendly and caring, and will go the extra mile to make sure that your experience is top notch. read more

Shysters! Told me my sin's Car needed almost $2000 worth of work. Took it to the Kia dealership and it was all made up lies!!

My family and I have been taking our cars to Continental Imports for over 20 years. Their knowledge mechanics and excellent customer service make them an easy choice. Heidi is dedicated to each and every customer and takes the time to explain everything and I do not speak "car." I recently was in the market for a used vehicle and considered buying one from them they were helping another customer sell and had peace of mind because they had maintained the car themselves after the vehicle's initial purchase. Also, I'd like to say, if you have an extended warranty of any kind, take it to Heidi, she's amazing! Heidi will comb through it and ensure that you receive the smallest bill, if any, possible. They never cut corners or use aftermarket parts. They will also be upfront with you about issues that need immediate attention and those that can be put off for an oil change or two for those people, like myself, who are on a budget. Darren is nice too. read more

In choosing a shop to perform a Dinan stage 1 upgrade to my BMW M235i, I read several reviews of businesses in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. CI's long history of quality service and expertise showed them to stand way above the others in their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. During the approximately 2 1/2 days required to complete the installation of the upgrade, I was given a new loaner car to use by Darren. Not being from the area, they recommended top quality restaurants and made reservations. They were concerned that my stay in the Gainesville area was a pleasant one by going that extra mile to make me feel welcome. On arriving at the shop, I spoke with the technician who would perform the work and felt totally at ease with him. I felt an instant feeling of comfort and friendship, which was shown by all the folks at CI. It was an absolute pleasure working with Darren and Heidi. It was a 4 plus hour drive for me to use CI but the knowledge that the work was performed by folks who are genuinely concerned with your satisfaction and are very committed to performing the highest quality work possible made it no question in my mind that they were the ones to go to for the work. I'm extremely satisfied with the work performed by CI and would highly recommend them for service on a vehicle. They are best in the business that I've found in my years of owning vehicles that require a high level of expertise to keep them performing at the high level for which they are designed. Thank you Darren and Heidi and all the great staff at CI. Carl S read more

My husband took his older Altima here for a diagnostic check. First of all the place had the car 2 days and couldn't figure out the rattling sound. Then decided to replace parts (with out calling or verifying with us). My husband called at the end of the 2nd. day since we had heard nothing, and they said they were charging us for a diagnostic and the part they re-placed. Even if we got the part taken out, they would charge us PLUS they still charged us for the diagnostic!! When you call there all you talk to is the lady at the front desk...never talked to a mechanic or someone who knew what they were talking about. She acted like she was doing us a favor by "charging less than she should" This place is a total rip off... NEVER take your car here. Can't believe they have been in business this long. read more

When our A/C shut down as we were leaving Orlando for a cross country trip, I began searching for a repair shop that can handle work on high end imports. My 1st call into the Gainesville area recommended Continental Imports. From my initial conversation with Heidi (co-owner) and throughout each step of the way, their professionalism, honesty and accuracy stood out. Should the need arise for you, I can recommend them highly. You can be confident that you won't be disappointed. read more