North Scottsdale
Owning a BMW is nice.....for a while. Then, you get out of your warranty and the maintenance costs start becoming like a second mortgage. This is where the fine folks at Babbitt Motor Werks come in. Sure, you have to drive all the way to Mesa, but it will save you HUNDREDS of dollars in repair costs.First things first, Babbitt is owned and run by BMW mechanics, many of whom used to work for Chapman's. The walls of their waiting room are adorned with awards they received during their years there. Nathan, who owns the business, and Erik, who runs the office, are both experts in BMW issues. I can call them with some symptoms and they will usually be able to tell me over the phone what the problem is and give a ballpark of the costs (they haven't gotten either wrong, yet). They will also walk you out to their garage, with your car up in the rack, and show you exactly what is going wrong. Once, they pulled a sample part out of their stock to better explain a repair they completed. Every time I am in there, I learn something new. And, I never, NEVER feel like I am being taken advantage of.Prime example: a recent leak in the thermostat housing. North Scottsdale BMW: $450. Babbitt: $280. Same authentic BMW parts. Same quality of work.For lengthy repairs, Babbitt has a deal with the local Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Enterprise picks you up at the repair shop and Babbitt pays $15 per day towards your rental. The only downside to Babbitt is that they don't wash your car, like the dealerships do. But, for hundreds of dollars in savings, I can wash my own car!