My experience with Import Specialties has been consistently frustrating across multiple vehicles,…read moreand unfortunately, it reflects a pattern--not a one-time issue. LET IT BE KNOWN I WOULD NOT GIVE THEM A STAR, BUT THE REVIEW REQUIRES ME TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING.
brake-related
a nearby shop
I own several cars, and I trusted this shop with multiple projects. On my BMW 750Li, I paid to fix a check engine issue, yet the car was returned multiple times with the same problem still present. After installing new rims and tires, the steering wheel was off-center, and the car shook at certain speeds. Instead of properly diagnosing the issue, I was told the rims were bent and needed to be replaced. After spending money on new wheels, it turned out the real issue was a brake-related one.
Import Specialties worked on my Bentley GT Speed, and despite replacing five mass air flow sensors, the check engine light continued to come on. I was then told I needed approximately $25,000 in additional work, including catalytic converters and O2 sensors, based on a remote consultation. I took the vehicle to a Bentley dealer in Phoenix for a second opinion. They immediately questioned that diagnosis and explained that if those components were truly failing, the system would clearly indicate it. They identified and fixed the actual issue, and the check engine light never came back on. I drove the car to California and traded it without any issues.
I also entered into a major build with them involving a BMW 2JZ swap that was supposed to produce 900+ horsepower. I paid $40,000 in cash and another $10,000 on a credit card for the engine and installation, with additional work planned (rims, tires, paint, and PPF). Due to a lack of progress and growing concerns, I stopped the build and sold the car to a BMW specialist shop down the road. When I asked for my money back, I was told the parts and engine had already been ordered--but they were supposedly stored at the owner's house, not the shop. I was then told I would be charged a $5,000 restocking fee. That raised serious questions.
With my Range Rover, I paid over $30,000 for an engine replacement. I was told the engine would be completed in December, which it was, but it wasn't even picked up until late February. After multiple delays and additional charges (including $2,500 for parts that did not resolve the issue), the vehicle still stalled and had recurring check-engine light issues immediately after I got it back.
I eventually took the car to a nearby shop. They diagnosed and fixed the issue within a day. It was discovered that key components were either missing, improperly installed, or not connected at all.
While I was at Import Specialties, I also witnessed another customer who had been waiting approximately seven months for an engine replacement with no visible progress. The moment he asked for his car back, they suddenly said it would be done the next day--and it was. That speaks volumes.
Across all of my experiences, the pattern has been the same:
Poor or incorrect diagnosis
Repeated delays and missed timelines
Escalating costs without resolution
Lack of transparency
Communication issues
This situation has cost me a significant amount of time and money. In one instance, my son wasn't even able to drive his car during the holidays because the issues were never properly resolved. My wife has been back since October and still has not been able to drive the Range Rover I had serviced. As a result, I was forced to order a custom 2026 Range Rover, which came with a six-month wait and is only now arriving in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I had to purchase her a separate vehicle just so she could have reliable transportation while waiting for either the repair or the new vehicle.
If you're considering this shop, I strongly recommend that you think carefully before moving forward.
