My last review was years ago, so this is an update of the amazing automotive facility that is Empower. Their technical expertise is without compare with BMW automobiles, and all European makes. They take the upset out of auto repair as opposed to the BMW dealers usual emotional and financial ordeals. James is the lead technician who is extremely perceptive, and is constantly updating his qualifications. He is also very kind and honest. I consider myself lucky to know James and the owner of this facility. And after owning many different European cars over the last 20 years, I would only bring my vehicles here for repair. Happy Motoring! read more

Mr. James and the whole crew at Empower are trustworthy and so knowledgeable! I appreciate the work they've done for me in these several years. read more

James and at Empower is a trustworthy, knowledgeable and expert mechanic. He brings years of experience to the job and is always communicative and accommodating. I bought my BMW used and brought it to Empower Group to get it checked out prior to purchase. James gave the car an honest, thorough assessment and offered advice on dealing with the seller. He left such a positive impression that after buying the car, I've continued bringing it to Empower for service ever since. Empower isn't the closest shop to where I live, but it's the only garage I'll go to. I've been to Empower a handful of times over the last couple of years, from the usual maintenance (oil changes, breaks, etc) to an AC issue to an unusual electrical issue caused by a rain intrusion through a failed seal. James brings his expertise to bear on all aspect of maintenance and repair whether it be mechanical, electrical or whatever. He gives the same attention and care to all issues; always taking the time to explain the work done or to be done. I can't say I'm always happy to have a car problem and have to go to the mechanic. But, I'm always happy to see and chat with James. Great guy, great shop! read more

Honest, genuine and professional! James has been such a pillar of support while addressing body work and mechanical repairs over the years with our BMW and Jeep! This is an an integral company that is a rare find these days! If you value your car, money and time, call James @ Empower! read more

Super nice and friendly! Didn't feel taken advantage of or ripped off. Highly recommend these guys.

Andy is the most honest and best mechanic I've ever had. He's helped me even when my car is not in the shop, advising me on misc car related things / purchases. Look no further than Empower! read more

I'm in love with Empower Group James is knowledgeable, professional and honest, very reliable place to bring my bmw. Excellent Service and friendly environment read more

I've brought my car in twice now and James has done a fantastic job both times. He's very thorough in explaining what issues he's found, how urgent he thinks they are, how much it will cost to fix, and what the breakdown of parts and labor is. He's been responsive, knowledgable, and friendly; not pushy at all. And the prices are fairly reasonable. I can't ask for much more in a mechanic. read more

Just found this place this year, car had been breaking down going too far to other shops. This BMW is from 2006, one previous owner, but had been breaking down for YEARS! After so much help since my mom found this place in late February on yelp, I cannot stress enough how helpful they are! James spoke with my parents and made sure I felt comfortable with how it was running - I told him what felt weird when driving, and he knew the answers!!! Definitely will always return here when necessary. read more

Empower is the best! Jose made sure to help me secure the best APR and made sure everything was taken care of throughout the purchase. Honest and straight up business. Highly recommend. read more

If you have a BMW, this is the shop you can trust! I first called and Andy answered every question about the repair I needed. Then I met James who not only repaired the problem on my car but also inspected and fixed other things every time I texted him.He repaired everything and made sure it was done right. These guys are honest and reliable which is rare these days. Thank you Andy and James. read more

Last month, after years without a car, I saw the Empower lot while out exercising, and I looked in to see what they had. Although I was not looking specifically for a BMW, Ken, who owns Empower, showed me a machine that was perfect for my needs, a mid-sized, black, 4-door sedan, one which I must say is zippy and a pleasure to drive. Most important for me was to stay in budget, but must say that what I got for my money far exceeds what I had been hoping to find. Beyond that, there was no hussle and no hassle, and Empower made the purchasing, registration, insuring, and all the rest of the the paperwork process painless. I highly recommend Empower. I doubt that anybody who is in the car market can do better by going elsewhere than Empower for a fine car at a good price. read more

I've been going to Empower for about 7 years, with multiple cars. James and Andy are knowledgeable, honest and overall good guys. They specialize in European cars, but hasn't stopped them from working on other imports. Highly recommended. read more

A very particular friend recommended Empower and I can see why. James is a class act. First of all, he knew about a common issue with the BMW X1 that was under extended warranty that Century West pretended to NOT know about (and would not honor even though I was 1400 miles over). He repaired it for far less than Century West quoted. I am very pleased with my car and the experience at Empower overall. They will continue to have my business as my car ages. read more

This business is honest and care about doing the job correctly, the first time. I would not trust taking my bmw anywhere else. Ive taken my car twice and james knew what the issue was instantly both times. Furthermore, James was kind enough to lend me a specific ratchet head in order to perform a job myself on my own car which is incredible. read more

James takes care of my classic e30 BMW and my day driver E46 BMW. Both cars are old and high in miles and extremely dependable thanks to James. I honestly would not still own these cars if he wasn't my mechanic. He's honest, extremely fair, knowledgeable, ALWAYS on time. He's saved countless parts without automatically wanting to replace it. He searches for the right parts, keeps me informed and is always an excellent and open communicator. read more

I was lucky enough to find this shop via yelp 5 years ago and have been going to James ever since. He's the most honest mechanic I've ever been to and goes above and beyond. I've been through 3 cars in that period and he even helped me out when I was car shopping by inspecting them and saved me from getting scammed by a private buyer. Would 10/10 recommend James read more

James at empower has a been a lifesaver. I started coming to empower a couple years back when my bmw broke down. He was extremely helpful in getting in done quickly, efficiently, and inexpensive. I was working long hours and had trouble getting down to pick it up during work hours, he was extremely helpful in working around my schedule. I have now used empower for about 3 years and they have saved me lots of money and kept my car running in tip top shape! Well, tip top shape for a bmw ;) Highly recommend. read more

Best auto mechanic experience I have ever had. Andy helped me get my 1997 M3 to pass smog. He knew the car inside and out and discovered exactly what needed fixing. Got me a great deal on used parts and didn't try to sell me anything I didn't need. Recently he also took time out of his day to read codes on my 2015 i3. Great service. read more

This auto shop is the real deal. This is the right place for new and old BMW's. If you own a BMW, look no further. I took my 1995 M3 here and they made it running better than before. They did the cooling job faster than I anticipated and it was priced very reasonable. James, one of the owners/head mechanics showed me exactly what was going on with the car and asked what I'd like to get done. He's a very personable gentleman that knows his stuff, and teaches me along the way. I trust this place with all of my BMW needs. read more

I called Century West BMW, Pacific BMW, and Center BMW to see how much an oil change would be. Average price = $360.00. And they all said I "probably needed an inspection as well" and wanted $640.00 for it. I told them, "Um, my car only has 35,000 miles on it and I had it inspected less than a year ago". They still said that I "probably should still have one". Ugh. I pass by EMpower all the time and stopped in. They changed the oil, reset the light, said I didn't need an inspection and changed the oil for less than a third of what BMW wanted to charge me! Oh, and the guy that helped me was really nice. I hate the shady, sneaky, money-sucking snakes at the BMW dealerships. Thank God I found EMpower. Enough said. read more

James is super rude and tries to intimidate you. Their prices are super high and there always seems to be something "ELSE" wrong wit the car. I have taken my car here about 3 times and every time I take it in for one thing, it comes out having more issues. Total lies. I have finally found another great BMW repair shop: 10423 Burbank Blvd North Hollywood, CA 91601 North Hollywood read more

I am from Vegas. Going to Los Angeles for them. So u know how good they are read more

Empower Group, Inc. - Best place for bimmer! - Auto Repair Near Me - Burbank, California

I worked with Andy from Empower, who sold us a 2009 sonata limited for 16k. The car had some paint damage near one of the wheel wells. Andy included re-painting the panel as part of the deal. Andy offered us another Sonata to use as a rental while our Sonata was painted. The paint job was great and I just took the car to Vegas and back to LA with no problems. Empower is a car lot not a show room. The cars sit outside waiting to be purchased and they get a once over when purchased from auction. Go to Empower if you know what car you want to buy, are looking for the best deal you can get, and you want the most simple buying experience there is. read more

This is the best BWM repair store I can find in 50 miles with very reasonable offer. I will give 5 stars for the excellent service here!

"Honest Car Dealer/Mechanic" seems like an oxymoron - but not in this case. I have consistently received excellent advice, service and purchases from these guys. I have both bought cars from there, as well as getting my cars serviced there, and will probably do so for life. Andy, the owner, and his staff treat you as friends, and they have always done to make sure I am satisfied (and I'm a rather 'finicky' customer, in terms of how and what I want). I can highly recommend Empower Group - for any BMW or import car needs. read more

I've been getting my car (2004 BMW 325i) serviced by James and Andy at Empower since 2008. My family has all their cars serviced here as well (Prius & Tundra). You will not, I repeat, will not find a more knowledgable mechanic and all around genuine guy. When parts are replaced, the old damaged parts are set aside and shown to you once the car is ready for pick up. The work is priced fairly as well. Appreciate you guys whole heartedly! read more

Anyone who would give this place a poor review on instinct, is in my opinion, very foolish. You're welcome to your opinion but unless you actually enter into a transaction with these folks, your opinion is just that. I on the other hand have been taking my 2004 BMW to this place exclusively since I purchased my vehicle (from a pre-owned BMW dealer) in 2007. It is rare that I am blown away by great customer service because it just so rare these days, particularly in the automotive repair industry. That said, these guys are rare. I've had lights go out and I've driven it in and they replaced them for free. You read that correctly, FOR FREE. The dealer would have charged me $50. I've had major body work done by these guys and the prices were reasonable and the results were flawless. Price-wise they were far less than the dealer... like 1/3rd. What prompted me to write this review however, is from an experience that I just had with them. My side-rolling garage gate malfunctioned a few days ago and closed on my car, scratching up the side pretty badly and ripping off the back bumper. It was a bummer and I was prepared for the expense to repair it. It will be indeed expensive (about $1400). However, they offered to put the old bumper back on and buff out some of the scratches so that I can drive it and have it look ok until I can raise the cash to pay for the full repair. And here's the kicker... they're doing it for free. Yes, you read that correctly. These guys have earned my business for life with every visit and I'm proud to write this glowing review.. they deserve it! read more

They are spectacular in every way!!! I used to take my 1995 BMW there and Andy helped me keep it in tip top shape. A few years back I traded it in for a new 328i and it was under warranty. One week after the warranty ran out, car had transmission problems - dealer wanted thousands..... Ugh! Andy asked me to have my car towed and he would look at it. It was actually a broken sensor - he ordered a new one and I was back on the road the next day for, wait for it..... $300!!!!! Can you believe it?!?!? They are honest and want your business. They value customers and customer service. read more

Besides BMW dealership service, it's difficult to find specialized service with the expertise to handle a BMW Diesel engine. When a valve began acting up, I was referred to Empower Group by a friend (friend with a BMW +15 years that was in incredible shape). The experience I had was convenient, efficient, and honest. I could have not asked for a better experience at Empower Group. I'm lucky my friend referred me to this place... I highly recommend this place for honest service for your prized car. read more

Have come here a few times and love the friendly service and knowledgeable staff. James, one of the Technician, is very informative and friendly. They will always give you the best honest price. Will come here from now on for all my services need. Thank you for all the help James. read more

I've been taking my cars here for 11 years and recommend them to friends. Fast and honest and the work is done right the first time. They recognize my voice when I call and are always so patient explaining what work they have done. Only mechanic I have ever used in LA. read more

If you are looking for an honest, German specified auto repair, I recommend this shop. I have owned various BMW's and worked with numerous shops over the years and James and his team are the most honest, trustworthy, detail oriented mechanics you can find in the area. I have a classic 3 series that the dealership will no longer work on, they treat that car as if it's brand new and keep it running as such. read more

James is AMAZING!!! I cannot say enough good things about him. Very knowledgable about BMW's. I typically hate going to the mechanic because I feel like an idiot but James will explain to me the functions of certain parts and why or why not they need to be repaired - he will even keep them to show me what shape they were in. James isn't here to take all your money he's here to fix your car and get you back on the road. Overall James is an honest mechanic with a love for cars - only guy I trust now with my Z3. Thanks James!!! read more

This auto repair shop is definitely the best group of people I've ever dealt with. Honest and dependable, James and Andy run a top-notch establishment. They are honest and forthright in presenting options to you whenever you need service (and Bimmers need service). I've had nothing but great communication and prices from them from small jobs to large. These are the kinds of people you WANT to do business with. read more

I've been taking my BMW's to Empower for 6 years, I can't say enough about James and his team. Both my BMW's were older ( hand-me-downs from my brother) which needed the normal repairs that BMW's need at 150,000. Between the 330ci and the X3 I've had almost everything repaired or replaced. I've always gotten excellent customer service, honest evaluation of what's necessary/what can wait and a fair price. James always takes the time to explain what's going on and truly cares about his customers. read more

Words cannot describe what an awesome job MPower does for our cars for years! We have an X5 and an X3...James and his crew know the ins and outs of BMWs down to the screws that our cars need. Every time we bring our cars for repairs or tune ups, we feel like driving a new car home everytime. Not only is the service outstanding, but they are very honest with their workmanship. Every owners of BMW or any other European cars should bring their cars here! Thanks James for everything you do! read more

I like to read reviews but rarely write them. But need to give a shout out to James at Empower. My 2013 328i recently had the 'drive train malfunction' error pop up on a Sunday afternoon. On Monday morning instead of my usual take it to the dealer, I decided to stop by Empower first. When I pulled in James was right there to see how he could help. He looked at the codes and asked me to leave the car for the day. It ended up not being a major issue and just needed some maintenance. The car was ready when he said and at a fair price. Unfortunately about a week later I started smelling oil. The next morning I went back to James. It was a Saturday. Again he was right there to take a look. He first said it's probably the valve cover but after a few minutes of looking he found it was the vacuum pump. He told me it's a bit bigger of a job to do on a Saturday and asked me to bring it Monday. He also gave me the price of what it would cost. What really surprised me was later that afternoon (still Saturday) he called and offered me another option of getting a used oil pump with a warranty at a lower rate. We discussed the options and on Monday afternoon the car was fixed and ready to pick up. Hard to always trust taking your car in for repairs but I trust James. I've only used him a few times but he really took the time to help me out including a few texts to see how the car was running. Highly recommend James and Empower. read more

I have to say I feel so lucky that I found this place! James is so knowledgeable about BMW cars and can often offer the professional service timely with a reasonable price! There are so many times I felt helpless with minor problems with my car, he is always available to help and willing to explain everything to me. This is my go-to place for fixing problems and regular services, and my favorite one! read more

Wednesday, 8/14/13, I drove to Empower in my 1997 BMW 328i. Two problems: "Brake Circuit Failure" was blinking at me from the onboard computer, and two days ago the airbag indicator lit up. I explained the problem to James who immediately diagnosed the first problem as a faulty brake pedal switch. He showed me the part on his computer screen and gave me a price for it and installation. He offered to do the airbag reset free. The whole thing would take an hour max, he said. How cool is that? I left the car and moseyed off to a coffee shop while the boys got to work. An hour later...finished. He explained that the airbag indicator lit up most probably because of a switch at the seat belt. "No big deal to change it out if it lights up again," he said. I handed him the debit card, he printed the invoice and I was on my way. Perfect. Five stars. They're good people. Thanks James! :) read more