Silvio's is a stand-alone operation where the person who checks you in is likely to be the owner, Jason. In my several years of going there with our two BMWs, I can say they are completely honest and happy to explain as much as you need and to go over options and accurately plan for future costs. No effort to upsell you on things! It's not a bargain shop - but that's not what you should expect of an excellent shop with excellent mechanics. Completely different (and much better) experience than at BMW dealers in my experience in Houston and in Austin over the last 25 years. read more

Shop is definitely not the same since Silvio and Ralph. Quality of repairs not there.

DON'T take your car to this SHOP! Car went in for one thing came out with a major leak. I believe they are just trying to make money a real CON job. Will never use this place again read more

I have been using Silvio's for a few years and I highly recommend them! I have used them for all my Mercedes maintenances and oil changes since moving to the Midtown/Montrose area and they charge a fair price and do quality work. They have a quick turn around as well - the one time it took a few days for them to get the part that my car needed, they offered me a loaner to use in the mean time. I just traded in my old GLC for a newer model and will continue to use them for all my future maintenance and any work I need done!! read more

Wow..talk about customer service, zero. I used to go here when Silvio owned the place and even when Ralph took over I still came around. Now I just avoid this place all together. There are better shops than this one. read more

I owned a 1982 320i BMW that Silvio serviced for years! On 1 occasion Ralph replaced the synchros and decided to use drywall screws to fasten the plastic face on the sheet metal. I was very disappointed and stopped talking my car to Silvio's. I would envision that now Ralph being the owner and all things have gotten a bit worse with his work ethic ...people you have been warned ! read more

I have been going to Silvio's for years on my last visit after Ralph passed I received the worst service every. I brought my SL500 to get a roof leak repaired. After they kept replacing the wrong roof seal. Jason is the new manager of the shop after multiple returns of my vehicle charged each time as well. I had to trouble shoot the issue myself and eventually getting the issue fixed. As you know leaks and Mercedes do not mix well and when your mechanic does have a sense of urgency and due diligence in regards to customer service there is a problem. I literally could have bought a used car for what I was charged in total. Not the same shop anymore. Beware plenty of other options with better reviews. read more

These guys went above and beyond for me and I'm very much appreciative of my visit and the level of expertise they provide at a very reasonable cost. This will be my new mechanic for years to come read more

I found my new mechanics! Great customer service, understanding/helpful, and very detailed with customer education. Jason and staff will get all of the preventative maintenance calls for my cars. They were flexible with scheduling, friendly yet straightforward with everything. No sugarcoating the problems with my vehicle. I like that quality. I'd recommend them to my family and friends. read more

I've been taking my cars to Silvios auto house for many years. It's been the only place that works on cars that I can trust will do the right job at the right price. I love the fact that they take time to explain an issue, provide options and discuss both short term and long term options. I have found their estimates to be fair and accurate and their service outstanding. Trust is the biggest factor to me. When my driveshaft had broken, Ralf suggested I take it to the dealer because there was a recall on that part that might have been the reason for the failure. Ralf suggested what was right for me versus what was financially better for his business and in doing so gained my trust for as long as I own my BMWs. read more

Silvio was my only auto repair place since 1995. I wrongfully assumed that Ralph would keep it up the good work as he was with Silvio for as long as I went there. Sadly, Silvio retired and Ralph is an incompetent, money-grubbing rip-off. It makes me sad but I'm sure he won't be in business for long. He's arrogant to say the least. Silvio was hands on. Ralph doesn't ever get out of his chair. AVOID at all costs! read more

I've been taking my Audi Q7 for the past three years. Always great service and Jason always gets the job done and on time as scheduled. Thank you always! read more

Great group of guys that are always able to fit me in to help in a pinch. They explained everything, and only fixed what I needed, and didn't try to push unnecessary items on me. Also they're way cheaper than the dealership. read more

These guys are great. Rolph and Silvi, know German, and their cars. Quick efficient repairs, honest time and labor billing.MUCH cheaper than the dealer (stealership) Free diagnosis, will work with you on repairs, give you honest answers to your repair questions and wont sell you anything that needless like dealer and other repair shops do. From simple oil changes to clutch replacement theres no better. Will do some performance work , supply parts, but basically repair. Takes warrantys Only thing to remember they only do personal referral marketing and they have plenty of customers they are almost always busy. You have to get there early around 7am to drop off your car. You must pick it up if it is done bye 6 as they do not want responsibility for your car in there lot over night. They take the last 2 weeks of the year off fyi. cutomer since 1994. read more

Silvio's Autohouse - Auto Repair Near Me - Houston, Texas

I chose Silvios Autohouse based on the his previous Yelp reviews and I wasn't disappointed! I called a Friday before lunch to inquire about the following: low oil, key battery replacement & coolant level low. Ralph picked up and without hesitation said, "Come in now, you shouldn't be running your car on low oil" He caught me by surprise as they only work by appointment only. A couple hours later at the shop, He informed me they didn't have key batteries there but said if I picked up one at Walgreens he would replace it, and he did. He checked my coolant for leaks and then filled it up after no leak was found. He did an oil change on my car and had my car ready at 3:00pm as promised. To my surprise my bill was under $100! I didn't see any charges to check my coolant or replace my battery and I've never paid under $200 at Audi for an oil change! I was impressed with their fair pricing but more so with their great customer service shop. I felt like they actually cared for the customer and it wasn't all aimed towards making money. I've recommended Silvios to all my friends. I've found my new mechanic. read more

Went for an oil and filter change it all went smooth. Giving it 3 instead of 5 because of customer service, the people that worked on my car were great and even informed me about my tire thread running low. Ralph, the guy I spoke to however was not very kind or welcoming. Came off as rude except for when a lady customer walked in and seemed to be a new person who has actual people skills and good communication skills. I don't know if he just didn't like me or something but the staff was great. Ralph however should work on being more customer friendly like the crew that works with him. Edit: I received a phone call and Ralph apologized, changed my whole opinion on this spot, will be coming again for future services. 5/5 read more

I have a 2013 Mini Cooper that started showing a Check Engine Soon light. I went to Momentum Mini Saturday morning, where I was told that they only have 4 of their 17 mechanics on board, and they're only doing maintenance work on Saturdays. They had no loaners (so I couldn't leave my car) and I would have to return Monday, and "they would take a look at it", with a probability of keeping it overnight. Ugh. After reading the reviews on Silvio's, I decided to give them a try. They're conveniently located in the Midtown area (I work downtown and live by Memorial Park) so it was easy to drop off. I was asked if I had an appointment. I didn't, but the service guy said they will still take a look at it and let me know. A couple hours later I got a call from Silvio, advising me of what needed to be replaced/repaired, along with the price. Very straightforward, which I appreciated. I authorized the repair and my car was ready 30 minutes earlier than promised. I drove away satisfied with my transaction. I will definitely be back for my future maintenance and repair issues. I like the "to the point" approach Silvio's gives without having to hear about 100 upsell parts and unnecessary services. I felt that the price was reasonable as well. Being centrally located and the fact that they squeezed me in on a busy Monday made me feel they really cared about my car issue. Thanks to Mr. Silvio and the mechanics team!! :) read more

Looking for other mechanics in the area, I noticed that Silvio's Autohouse had never been reviewed. IMO, I would consider buying a German car just to go back there! When I moved to Houston, I was cheap and naive, so I bought I VW Jetta. Good thing it came with a 4 year warranty, because that car was at the dealership more than a 1970s Fiat. "Fix it again Tony..." After four years, still college poor, I was dreading the future repairs. One Friday evening, I was driving down Bagby ready for the weekend when a funny smell came from my engine and the oil light was aglow. I pulled into Silvio's in the company of Porches, Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis. As my faded black (almost blue) Jetta pulled in, it was 5 minutes before closing time, and a husky Silvio greeted me in the parking lot. Within 3 minutes of looking under the hood, he had replaced a cracked plastic piece of somethingorother and the engine was running smoothly. The charge? Nothing. "Bring it back for a tune up some day" is all he said. I've never had better customer service from an auto repair facility. Amusingly, my Jetta did not fail to disappoint. I was able to replace air conditioning, alternators, heat exchangers, timing belts, and nearly everything that rotates in that vehicle. As a result, I think I put Silvio's kids through college and had the most highly invested VW in the city. I've since ditched the car to unsuspecting family in the Northeast, but I fondly remember Silvio's and the short-ish walk to the office downtown. The funniest story is when my front bumper was hanging off the front of the car due to faulty support clips that continued to break. Knowing I was low on cash flow, Silvio drilled a few holes in the frame and bolted the bumper in place. I asked him what am I supposed to say to people with these silver bolts protruding from the bumper? In his thick German accent: "Tell him they are German impact sensors" - worked every time with the ladies! If you own a German car, you may feel sorry when it breaks down, but you have Silvio to fix your car while depleting your bank account with a smile - just remember, you're the one who bought the car. I've since bought a SAAB - another remarkable mistake. read more

I came here after seeing such high ratings here on Yelp. From the reviews I thought Silvio would have no problem fixing my car. I do give it that Silvio is knowledgeable about his craft, but his attitude was cocky and really stuck up. As a good owner, I did some research online about what was causing the problems of my vehicle. Silvio got FURIOUS when I (trying to be of good help) mentioned that I had seen some people online having the same symptoms, and was wondering if it was the same problem. I was taken back wen he erupted in anger about me looking up stuff online... So I remained quiet. Silvio fixed something but the problem was not completely fixed and so I drove the car back the next day. After spending a few more hours on the car Silvio said it "should be" another part (but he didn't seem sure) .. And he wanted to charge me 400 dollars from the dealer. So I went online and saw the same part (non oem) selling for $30 shipped! So I called Silvio and was wondering if I could purchase this non oem part since 400 was over my budget.. I guess this was a huge mistake... This is when Silvio blew up, and criticized me for thinking I knew more than him. He said I need to get off the Internet, and that he was no longer interested in fixing my car. Wow, so I was shocked.. First time I got "dumped and rejected" by my mechanic... Silvio wants his old clientele who just blindly trust him.. Sorry, I just can't blindly trust a mechanic, when resources like the Internet are available. And even if your clients are naive and go on the Internet, that is not a warrant to get angry at your customers! read more

I race my car and, well, need things to be "just right." Despite several recommendations, I was hesitant to take my Mini Cooper to a non-performance garage. When I got-back my car, I was crestfallen. It wasn't "just right." When I went back to pay-off my balance, they told me to defer paying and that they'd check-it-out. They decided to replace a bearing and, well, it made the difference. They even dealt with the insurance company to re-adjust the claim. Also, he told me that the insurance paid for a new wheel (for it had been "curbed"). He showed me the damage, told me that he wouldn't have replaced it, and said that he had lightly sanded it. He'd replace it if I wanted or just refund the money. Talk about integrity. I like his pragmatism and willingness to "make me happy." So, if I need a new turbo or performance mods, I'll still trust the gearheads. For all of the "normal" stuff, I'll go to Silvio's. read more

Service B on Merc AMG completed with no drama. Price was ~$100 less than what the a-holes at Greenway Mercedes (worst dealership in the country) charge. I like the owner and staff. No bullish*t, reasonably friendly guys. They put up with all my questions (i'm an engineer/scientist). I will use Silvios again the future when needed. read more

I haven't used Silvio's- not because I didn't want to. After reading many reviews, I was very excited to take my Saab to a reputable import mechanic. But alas! They don't do Saabs. On the sign it says "BWM, Audi, Mercedes, Mini Cooper." So I don't know if those are the only kind they service, but definitely call as they don't do all euro imports. I saw some American cars in the parking lot, but I don't know if those were the employees... I saw the espresso machine though, and the interior is definitely one of the best for an independent mechanic! Very clean and orderly. As other Yelpers said, it makes me want to buy a German car just to go there! :) read more

This is the only place to take your German car. All the other reviews are spot on, Silvio is honest and knows how to take care of your car, a combination that is rare. As an anecdote, once I had taken my GTI to the NTB downtown for an alignment and new tires. They told me I had a leaking front strut (with the hope that I'd pay them $800 to fix it). I asked Silvio how much to fix, he told me NTB's diagnosis was BS, that they say it all the time, and invited me to bring it to the shop, where he put it up on the rack and showed me that the strut was fine. In fact, I have always had issues with the GTI eating tires (excessive and rapid wear on the inside edge) despite numerous alignments at NTB... once I had Silvio do the alignment, that stopped. read more

I've now been bringing my 02 vw jetta 1.8t here for a few years. I'm not sure really what these recent reviews are about as Silvio has always been extremely easy to work with(Probably karma looking over the users reviews....) Often times when I bring it in he'll find other issues I wasn't aware of, however he never forces work on you as these other people suggest, more often then not telling you to leave it and check on it again next visit. I think that's pretty fair. read more

Great place! My friends have been coming for over two decades and now that I have my VW it is where I will be coming from now on. These guys did excellent work on my car and fixed the problem that I have had for three years. I had been to multiple shops over the years but no one could figure it out and these guys did it with one try - they really understand German engineering and have a knowledge that is hard to come by. I highly recommend making this your shop and saving yourself the stress and hassle of going elsewhere. Go with the specialist and you won't regret it! read more

I would highly recommend Silvio if you have a German car. I've taken my BMW to Ron's Downtown Autoshop right around the block, but there were a few things that he actually recommended I go to Silvio for. He's done a great job in a timely manner and the prices are reasonable. Thankful to live so close! read more

Great prices, quality work, no frills, this place is a gem for your European car needs. Highly recommended. read more

My Mercedes S63 had a coolant leak in a tough to reach location and they gave an honest assessment, a fair price and did a fantastic job.

The reviews here sparked me to try Silvio's about a year ago and I cannot be happier with their service. Silvio knows Euro cars and may know how to fix all cars...I can only say he knows how to fix my VW and it appears he works on a ton of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. He solved a lingering problem that another shop was clueless on. He is not dirt cheap but he gets the car fixed properly and that is worth paying middle of the road for. The guys are courteous and helpful as well. It is somewhat convenientlhy located near a coffeeshop, Coffee Grounz so that if you wanted to you could wait there until someone picks u up or until your car is finished. A restaurant across the street as well. Good luck. read more

Great and honest service! These folks know what they're doing and are professionals. They will not overcharge or trick you

EXTREMELY happy with Silvio's Autohouse! Ralph provides outstanding service and answers all of your questions! Took my Mercedes C300 in yesterday for a very very minor repair. Mercedes Greenway quoted me nearly $1000 to make this tiny repair... while Ralph's team did it for $50! Thank you for your honesty and dedication to customer service!! read more

Took my CLS in for "C Service" - unlike other shops and the dealer, Silvio gave me an idea of what typically is done for this service. I dropped the car off at 7:30, and they gave me a ride home (downtown). They looked at the car and called me to tell me everything that was needed (oil change, air filter, pollen filter, wiper blades and fluids). They also told me that my brakes would need to be replaced. I told them that I would wait until the light came on - and they didn't try to oversell it. They also told me that my head gasket had a slight leak and would need to be replaced at some time in the future. The work was done as needed, without heavy pressure to sell extra services. They did highlight a few other things that would need attention, but could wait. The price was okay - a bit cheaper than the dealer, but not "cheap". Parts (oil, filters, wiper blades, fluids) was about $200, and labor was another $200. Only complaint was that I needed a state inspection, and they didn't tell me until I picked it up that they didn't do it. Apparently, they take it to a shop next door for the inspection, and they couldn't get it done. I will take my care back there when I do have to replace the brakes, and have other work done. read more

I usually give Silvio's 5 stars. Ever since I moved to Houston 3 years ago, Ralph and his staff have been nothing but HONEST and KIND. I am not sure what has happened. Ralph is still extremely helpful and professional. I am not so sure about his staff. I took my car in for a few simple processes (oil/filter change, air conditioner filter change/ top fluids off, etc..). When I picked up my car I had 3 system errors pop up on my dash. They handled that immediately (with no apology though). Over the weekend, my oil light came on. I checked the oil and it was at the minimum level. At the same time I decided to show my daughters how to check their oil. When I took my car in this morning, I misspoke and said that I saw the dipstick from my car. I was wrong, it was the dipstick from one of my daughter's cars. Either way my car system check said it was below the min and he checked and it was below where should have been. The mechanic still would not take responsibility and made it seems like I did something wrong. He found no leaking oil so OBVIOUSLY his people DID NOT put oil in my car. There seems to be NO QUALITY CHECK before customers pick up their cars. I am concerned that they didn't do anything they said they did at this point and to make the customer feel like they were lying is not good. read more

The employees (and managers) are extremely rude and very difficult to deal with. Asking a few simple questions was met with disdain and harsh condescension. The manager was impatient and brash. The dealer was only slightly more expensive than Silvio's, so I went with the dealer and will NOT be going to Silvio under any circumstances. read more

What a ripoff! I used to trust Silvio but the man is just a cheating mechanic no better than the dealer! At least the dealer is more courteous about it! When lowering my exhaust to get to the driveshaft he called and said both my O2 sensors were dead. Suspicious I said. He said he doesn't lie. Too much of a coincidence if you ask me. So I said ok change them. Then he said actually only 1 is dead. He then proceeded to charge for $250 for 1 o2 sensor and 2 hours of labor! BS! I found the same part for the passenger side for $50 on Amazon.com and changed the part myself in 15 min! What a liar! Now he is so rude even to returning customers! Avoid bringing your nice car here unless you are really keen to get ripped off like many of his senior citizen clients! I just don't trust this mechanic anymore and neither should you! read more

Folks: Not sure why there are any negative reviews here. Over the last several years I have regularly taken my three volkswagens here for service and repairs. What I have found is good service for a fair price. When you are talking about german cars, not everyone can work on them. Both Silvio and Ralf have always been straightforward and direct in their dealings with me. They have advised me of how I can save money a number of times and have always been sensitive to cost. They call me when something unexpected shows up. They explain things well. So, my only guess for any negative reviews is that the people who have a bone to pick are indeed the problem themself. I now drive an Audi and I will still use them when my car is out of warranty at 100K miles. read more

About the car: 30+ year old 300TD, of which I seem to be the 4th owner. When we took possession of it several years ago, it had obviously been used as a "beach" car and was the favorite place for footcare by the previous owner judging from the amount of sand and toenail clippings (ewww) I vacuumed out of it. It's not a showcase car by any means, but I try to keep it clean and tidy and wash and detail it myself. Took it here mainly because of Yelp ratings, and recently had several major things done: 1) Hatch door would not stay open during cold weather, which is a safety issue because it has the potential to crush a person's head. This was fixed (+1), however when I got it back, the plastic backplate of the inside latch handle was broken, and not all of the pieces were there to be able to reassemble it (-1). Really the only people who will notice this are me and my daughter who sometimes sits in the 3rd row seat. 2) A/C was fixed (+1, yay!). For the first time in a long time, I could have air that was so cold it would give me a headache if it blew directly on me! It lasted for almost two weeks, and while I still have cold air, it no longer blows out in a truly awesome way (-1/2). A second opinion has convinced my husband to just live with it or shell out over $1000 with no guarantee of a better outcome. 3) The suspension has needed work for a long time, going over railroad tracks was like dropping down a hill in a rollercoaster (this was not really a negative, especially for youngsters, and I was used to it) and even little dips and potholes were fun. It was fixed(+1). However I had to bring it back because of squeaks, and it turned out something had to be replaced, but it was under warranty, so there was no charge. Silly me didn't do a thorough check before I drove it off, and when I washed it the following Saturday noticed that the front license plate is severely bent out at the upper right hand corner and whatever caused it also scraped the front of the plate hard enought to scrape off the reflective paint. There is also a very small ding in the front grill that wasn't there last Saturday. (-1) Overall rating on work and satisfaction: +1/2, so adding that to rest of my experience=2. They do a lot of work on newer cars and really nice classic cars, and obviously the vast majority of posters like them and trust them. I just can't trust them. Also, don't count on a ride to home or work after you drop it off in the morning--line up a friend or a taxi ($30 ride home for me)--so convenient for me they are not. If you live in Midtown, they are. Since you have to make an appointment to drop it off, they must be busy enough that they won't miss my business. Hours are Mon-Fri, 7:30 am - 5:30 pm, so don't even bother calling if you have to have the work done on weekends. read more

Found my new mechanic to work on my BMW... Great service, less then the dealership but without sacrificing quality.

I took my Audi to Silvio based on the reviews here on yelp, and the reviewers could not have been more spot on, Silvio's is awesome! I took my car in because of a severe engine stalling problem and dropped it off at 7:30 AM. Silvio had the problem diagnosed and repaired by 4 PM the same day. He replaced the sparkplugs and a sensor for $231, about half of that being parts (damn $15 German sparkplugs). Then he told me that there might also be a problem with the ignition coils, but that he wanted me to drive the car and see if the problem was still there because he "[didn't] want to sell my something if I didn't need it"--that in and of itself is amazing for an auto repair place! Well, it turned out I did still have some problems, and since Silvio mentioned that the coils might be bad, I took it to Momentum Audi (the coils ended up being recalled by Audi and it was a Saturday (Silvio's is closed on Saturday), so I figured the dealership would replace them for free). The dealership told me the coils were fine, but the mass air flow sensor needed to be replaced. Repair cost? $560! With that I went back to Silvio's and told them what the dealership told me. Silvio looked up the part ($210) and told me he would install it for free since he had already worked on the car. So going back to Silvio's saved me a whopping $350 versus the dealership! Now, some might say that Silvio should have diagnosed the mass air flow sensor problem the first time and not replaced my spark plugs. But, truth be known, the car was at 45,000 miles and had never had the sparks changed, so I didn't mind paying to have it done. And more importantly for me, since he already worked on the car he was willing to install the mass air flow sensor for free. That was just awesome of him. I'll never take my Audi anywhere else, for sure! read more

I've been taking my cars to Silvio for almost 4 years. I've never run across a more honest, humble, and friendly mechanic. My BMW E36 M3 and E60 M5 are always in good hands with Silvio. He's NEVER tried to rip me off or make any unnecessary repairs. Highly recommended! read more