I took my friend's Audi to Imported Motor Cars for extensive repairs on the engine and transmission. Pete Oraha was a great help. He was professional, courteous, and knew his business. I was impressed by Pete's skill and honesty. The work was done as promised and the total expense was reasonable- a lot better than I thought it would be. My hearty thanks to Pete and Imported Motor Cars, of Santee, for the great job. I a pleased to recommend them. read more

Phone disconnected when talking. Called back and I found out he hung up on me. Completely rude. Dont call if you need BMW work. he doesn't know how. read more

I found Pete by chance recently, and decided to have him diagnose my Audi. I immediately trusted him. He was thorough, and kept me informed every step of the way. He sent me pics as work was being done. and called/text as things progressed. He even called me a week later to see how my car was running. I would call him a master mechanic with foreign cars. He knows what his expertise is worth, and charges accordingly. Will be bringing my other vehicles to him for service, and he'll be caring for the Audi when time comes to service it again. I totally recommend him. read more

If you are in need of imported vehicle repairs, you have to read this!!!!! With this letter, I would hereby like to compliment, "IMPORTED MOTOR CARS," at 11421 Woodside Ave. Santee, Ca. 92071. Phone (619) 442-3922 for excellent service that the owner, Pete and his staff provided me with this week. Pete helped me out by fixing my vehicle that would not go into drive after placing it into reverse. I took my vehicle to a previous auto mechanic who charged me $160 and told me my transmission was blown and I needed a new transmission. I then called some new transmission businesses, which one of them in El Cajon. Referred me to Pete..., and thank God he did! After Pete's review of my car, he called and told me that was not the case that my transmission was fine. It just needed a transmission fluid exchange. After further review of my car, he found other issues. This is where this review will blow your mind!!!!! He sent me pictures and videos showing the problems he found. After confirming the go ahead to fix them, he proceeded with a pic/video of each old part and the new parts next to each other explaining the problem. After the replacement parts were installed he showed it done with a video. This type of professionalism is off the charts. I have never experienced such a perfectionist and customer care satisfaction in my life.... His personality, attention to detail, and great communication skills, made this experience even better than I expected. I am more than pleased with the service at, " Imported Motor Cars!" Hence, Pete's professionalism and enthusiasm to get to the root of the issue promptly exceeded my expectations. Once I received my car back it ran better than ever! To find my issues resolved and done the right way was so comforting that I would not have to worry about driving my car and breaking down. This type of professionalism and commitment to the highest level of customer's satisfaction has to be acknowledged. Having in mind such a pleasant experience with him and all his lovely employees, it would be my pleasure to continue doing business with Pete's company in the following years to come. You can be assured of another thing, that I will not hesitate to bring future customers to your establishment. Sincerely, Roxanne Fiehler read more

My wife was recently visiting a friend in Lakeside when she had issues with her 2006 Jaguar S-Type....she took it in, spoke with Pete, he diagnosed numerous issues with the Jag...addressed & fixed them all...the price was a bit more than I anticipated, but that's what we get for not keeping up with proper maintenance over the years. One month later we're very happy with Pete and his business as the car runs as good as it did when it was new. We would highly recommend Imported Motor Cars! read more

Pete is the best mechanic I've met. He is thorough and honest, and he knows everything about these cars. He's brilliant. My Audi is 15 years old but still drives like a dream thanks to Pete. read more

Two other repair shops told me that my 2010 Volvo XC 60 was not worth repairing. After taking my car to Pete at Imported Motorcars, it runs better than ever!! Pete did the research and hard work of figuring out what was wrong and then fixed it as reasonably as possible. I've been to many mechanics over the years, and I have never had such honest service. Pete will take care of your car like it is his own. I will continue to call Pete for any service on my car. Don't hesitate to trust him with your car. Thank you so much!!!! read more

Pete and his staff provided me with phenomenal service. The work performed on my BMW was fantastic. Best part he did not over charge me for his work. Highly recommend. read more

I have taken 4 cars to Pete ever since my wife and I moved to Lakeside, CA: my 2001 Volvo S80 T6(daily driver), our 2002 Volvo S40(grocery retrieval vehicle), our 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and our NEW 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I just have to say that I'm willing to take our BRAND NEW Jeep to Pete instead of THE dealership for everything, I only take it to the dealer for whatever is paid for under warranty. Pete has fixed numerous issues on both the Volvos when I first got them in 2013 and performed lots of preventive maintenance by way of giving each part extra attention (such as applying special grease to screws/bolts so they won't lock up later on, lubing-up hinges so they don't creak, etc) Over a year and a half now later after trusting him with our 2 old cars and the new ones, I've only ever taken the cars for oil changes. Here is a shop you can trust to worry more about your car than their monthly rent. Plain and simple, hats off to the work ethics that Imported Motor Cars actively provides to it's customers. read more

Pete is highly professional and does nothing less than quality work. He communicates all issues with the vehicle to the customer. He uses only OEM parts and shows the old parts to the customer along with explaining the issue with the bad part. Pete has repaired both of my kids vehicles, both vehicles are running like new after completion of repairs. I highly recommend Pete and Imported Motor Cars for any European car requiring repair. read more

Pete took car of my Jaguar like it was his own. He did fantastic job completely replacing my a/c system. He was very communicative, and is very fair with pricing. read more

Imported Motor Cars - Auto Repair Near Me - Santee, California

After I was told by Pep Boys I needed a new head gasket at a cost of $4,000-$5,000 or a new engine at a cost of $11,000-$14,000 I went to see Pete at Imported Motor Cars. He replaced 2 injectors, spark plugs and an oil change and I was back on the road in no time at a fraction of the cost quoted by Pep Boys. Happy customer. read more

My vehicle visited this repair shop twice. At my first visit, I was told that "my coolant was leaking. It was leaking on my Oil Pressure Switch causing the signal/ light on the car to go off, and losing power to the car. Also, the dealership that sold me the car, was using after market parts, they had left my drain pan unscrewed, they were using recycled motor oil and they were using after market filters and were not tightened." My thoughts exactly.... "Wow!" He proposed $650.00 to fix the switch and make repairs as recommended. Yesterday, my second visit there, Pete (same mechanic) tells me that "there is NO WAY that a pressure switch would do that to my car, it wasnt the coolant that was leaking it was the oil...." and a new list of items needed to repair my vehicle. I asked him to rerun the diagnostic and to please verify what he originally told me, versus the story he was coming up. Pete didn't bother to check my car. Pete left my car sitting in his shops parking lot for two days (leaving me stranded, walking and trolley bound) He never called me, he never bothered with me. Customer service, report and referrals is not something they value here at Imported Motor. Pete provides false information, he cherry picks the cars he feels he can make a buck out of. Better to take your car to Hans German Auto in Chula Vista. They work on the same cars. Offer free diagnostic. They treat you with dignity and respect. They answer all your questions truthfully and honestly and do not give you the run around or waste your time. I appreciate that they attempted to SAVE me money - versus RIP ME OFF like Imported Motors/ Pete attempted to do. Pete you really let me down. I hope you can work on yourself and be a more honest person. Karma will reward you for it. Good luck. read more

I highly recommend taking your vehicle to this shop! I have a Range Rover Sport that I've had all of my maintenance and other issues taken care of here. The service provided is fantastic! Pete goes the extra mile. He sends videos and pictures of diagnostics, shows me the parts that needed replacement, gives me a fair, honest quote, and overall gets the job done punctually. I appreciate you guys at Imported Motor Cars for taking care of my car as if it's your own! read more

Our family has taken multiple cars to Pete and he has always done outstanding service and affordable prices without taking weeks to finish the jobs!!! He's our forever mechanic for all our imports!!!! I even bought a vehicle from him when one of ours was totaled because I trust him that much!! Highly recommend his shop!! read more

Pete was recommended to me by a different mechanic who couldn't take my car when it broke down on the road. As a single woman, I'm always hesitant to trust mechanics I don't know. Pete not only took my car immediately, but he made me feel at ease with his constant communication. He made sure I understood-by sending pics and texts-exactly what work needed to be done. I also appreciated he used the manufacturer's parts, not cheap knock-offs. I had to leave my car overnight, but his work was thorough and I'm impressed! My car runs like new, I feel I got a fair price, and he even corrected my car clock. I recommend Pete and his crew. read more

I found Pete and Imported Motor Cars through another mechanic that works on another Classic Car I have. I bought an old Rolls Royce with a friend and we have struggled to find a knowledgeable and honest mechanic to work on it. My other mechanic found and suggested Pete for the Rolls Royce~~and I couldn't be happier. Not only is Pete an expert when it comes to Rolls Royce~he takes the time show you you and explain in terms you can understand what needs to be done. He doesn't try and run up the bill by suggesting you do all the work needed (and, trust me, on a Rolls there's always something needed). He prioritized things and told me what needed to be done now, what needed to be done later and what we could do if we ever 'wanted to'. I understand not everyone has a Rolls Royce~~but Pete works on other British cars (Jaguar) as well as European (Mercedes, VW, Audi) and some Japanese cars too. I would highly recommend Pete if you need work done on any of the cars he handles. I wish all mechanics were as down to earth and honest as Pete. And did I mention his prices are down right reasonable?! read more

I brought my Audi in for service and rear brakes. Pete completed a thorough inspection of my car and performed the services. I am very pleased with the quality of the work done and will be coming back for future services. Thanks again! read more

I brought in my 1993 Isuzu pickup because the motor need to be rebuilt. Pete handled the job expertly. He not only did everything in order to get my truck back on the road but he made sure to let me know about smaller issues he saw while rebuilding the motor. He made sure that there weren't going to be any issues later down the road. I've had my truck back for a few weeks now and it's running like a champ. Thanks Pete, you are the man!! read more

I was referred to Pete by a friend in 2012...I wanted to prevent any problems because my 2003 car was reaching 100,000 miles. Pete did a through inspection of my car and gave me a complete list of potential problems at no charge. At first I didn't take action because of the potential expense even tho the prices were very competitive...even $100. cheaper for a brake job. One of the repairs, Pete suggested that I change a part; Again I waited to replace it. My car would not start, I called Pete on a rainy day and he said he would come to my house in La Mesa to install the part. From that point on I took my car to his shop...I had finally found a honest and knowable mechanic. Pete not only saved me money, but he saved my engine by insisting that I replace my timing chain. I later learned that it would have broken less than a 100 miles and I would be paying for a new engine. Pete is a small business owner that will give you a honest estimate on your automobile...He has all of the technical knowledge and computer instruments to find potential problems. His shop is spotless and you will always find Pete with a big smile to make your day a little better. He's a Ten...Rich M. read more

Had an unfortunate experience with Pete. My wife took our Audi A3 to have the heater issue looked at. We were having problems in the morning getting the heat to properly distribute through the vents. Pete suggested we replace the thermostat as the is usually the issue he said. He also suggested we were due for a transmission service and tune up of plugs/air filter. We agreed to the additional services as we were ready to have our heater issue resolved. After repairs and maintenance were complete, the following morning the heater was still not working. My wife took the Audi back and Pete said we now need to replace the motor for the front distribution flap. I asked well wasn't that part of your diagnostics? He said normally 90% of the time the thermostat will fix the problem. I asked so the issue wasn't the thermostat and I just spent $1700.00 for nothing? (yes I got my transmission serviced and plugs replaced but the whole reason why we agreed to the other services it to get the heater fixed) Again I felt taking as he then wanted me then to pay for the new repairs and there was nothing he could do to help. I then made the decision to take it to the Audi dealership to have it fixed properly. Heater work great now. I was possible the unlucky one here but wanted to find a local mechanic I could trust and again Pete was not that guy... read more

I got a bunch of work done on my car and I still need work done. I'm not happy with some of the things that were completed. My brake pads and rotors were changed, but they still sound loud. I also got a routine tuneup, oil change, filters changed, and O2 sensor. I still needed a catalytic converter which Pete stated that he was gonna look for that part for me (at a junk yard) and never got back to me. He quoted me that a brand new one for a 2009 Nissan Altima would be $1900 for the part (not including labor). I found this to be off so I called Nissan myself and it was $690.06 whole sale. I don't know if he was trying to rip me off by triple charging me or if he was just pulling this number out of nowhere, which in my opinion is unprofessional. Not to mention when I left I did not receive my invoice for service or receipt for payment. After I took my car for a test drive, just before I was going to leave, he had forgotten to put an important part that helps with air to the engine back on my car. I've since tried to get in contact with Pete to finish the repairs on my car and he won't return my messages. I suggest shopping around before going to him because things seem to be kind of off if you ask me. read more

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Just moved on from dealership servicing to Pete. Honest friendly service. Provided pictures and complete explanations of what my car needed (Hyundai Santa Fe) read more

I wish I had the same experience of Christian H. I was told that the starter needed replacing and was quoted a parts fee almost THREE times the price that was advertised online. I also discovered through googling that the car merely needed some water in the battery. He declined to perform services if he could not do ALL of the services, to the tune of $1,407 although he did return a revised quote of $1,245. He had promised that the car would be secure in the shop, but when I went to pick it up, it was on the street and unlocked! Do your homework before trusting any mechanic, no matter how friendly and sincere they are at first meeting. read more

I want give Pete 5 stars, I love him, he honest and give better price ever.. I'm recommendation to everyone come to him... I trust him and will come to him always .. thanks Pete for doing good job .. read more

Pete and Imported Motor Cars was referred by a colleague of mine for my daughter's 1998 BMW. We have taken her car into Pete for repairs on two separate occasions. Both times we were treated extremely well and completely satisfied with the work and the price. Pete kept us updated the entire time and went out of his way to secure rims and tires especially for the type of BMW my daughter owns. We both feel we can confidently refer Imported Motor Cars to others without hesitation. read more

I stumbled into this business when my roommate met Pete, who is the owner of Imported Motor Cars on 11421 Woodside Ave, between Santee and Lakeside. He is so thorough, knowledgeable, efficient, and plain SMART and HONEST I would not take any of my 3 cars anywhere else. I have a once troubled 2009 Volvo X70 Sport, and my 2012 Kia Sorento has never run better after a $76 assessment and minor tune. read more

My husband and I drove our 2006 Audi A3 from North Carolina to San Diego to start a new life. I was lucky enough to be staying in Lakeside after finding that my recent oil change resulted in an enormous leak, making it impossible for me to bring my husband to work that day. Pete's shop was the closest to where I was. I had quite the sob story after having so much trouble with my car driving across the US (mainly due to mechanics in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma who haven't seen an imported car recently). Not only did he offer me a reduced rate as I wasn't employed yet, but his wife drove me back to my Airbnb and picked me back up when he finished with the car. Pete fixed my immediate problem, but scanned the computer to make sure everything was alright. He wrote down a few things that needed to be dealt with eventually, and even offered for me to pay off the repairs in payments rather than at once. I didn't feel like that was worthy of the kindness and generosity he showed me, so I paid him in full. I live in Ocean Beach now, but I would drive for hours to bring my car to Pete. It's one in a million that you find a mechanic you trust and who actually repairs your car to the point where you don't have to bring it back immediately. I also recently brought the car in for a new repair and it had to stay overnight. He reserved me a rental car and had them pick me up with zero hassle. That kind of service cannot be faked. Thanks Pete! read more

I had my car towed here because my starter went out and he was the closest Volvo mechanic. He recommended that I change my timing belt amongst a few other things. It was about the right time to change it so I agreed. After my car was finished he let me pay him in 3 payments since it was $1800 and I was only expecting to pay upwards of $600 for a starter. After driving it away it immediately began stalling at low rev. I told him when I came back in to make my second payment. He then began throwing all sorts of new things to fix and priced it around $600. That was when I began to feel swindled. I contacted my old mechanic to give me a recommendation for a new mechanic closer to where I live. I brought my car into the new mechanic and told them that I recently had my timing belt and some other things replaced. They found that the timing belt had been installed incorrectly and was 15 points off. That fix cost me $460 in labor and they said that I should contact Pete and he should refund that money to me. When I contacted him, he was very hostile and rude and since I didn't bring it back to him to fix it that it was my fault. He refused me any compensation. DO NOT TRUST THIS MAN! read more