Desert Tech Import Auto

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Mark Clayton
4 months ago
While passing through Tucson on the way to California, the engine misfired and a warning light appeared on my MINI. I called Desert Tech at 11:00 and they had my car fixed by 2:00.While I watched, Dave diagnosed the problem by listening to the exhaust and verified the diagnosis using the computer. He answered all of my questions and gave me concise and intelligible explanations.After replacing parts for the ignition system he sent me on my way. $500 was a fair price for the parts, labor and convenience, not to mention courtesy. The ship earned the five stars.

  Daniel Apodaca
2 months ago
Trustworthy mechanic. Does great work. Good communication! I ve been taking my 2016 model X3 to Desert Tech for about a year, after the mileage went beyond factory/dealer warranty. Dave and his team do consistently great work to diagnose and fix issues at reasonable cost. Dave took the time to show what s happening with the vehicle, and presented a phased plan to address the highest priority items first, to get the best results for the money. They completed the work on time, or even earlier than quoted. Cost matched the estimate. Work was quality. Highly recommend Desert Tech.

  Patricia Garcia
a year ago
Honest, fair, and knowledgeable. I went in for a check engine light on my X3, and David straight up told me the car had a lot of codes and he didn't know which one was causing what. His experience told him it might be the throttle, but he was honest on how it might not fix the problem. He showed me the prices online and explained how BMW makes their money by selling a $5 plastic piece for $400. He explains everything in layman's terms. I'm just happy I've found an honest shop that specializes in BMWs. And so far my car has been driving fine and no warning lights! Win-win!

  Jeff Holsen
a month ago
David was happy to work on my 2001 VW Golf TDI. He went out of his way to help source an upgrade part for the car. My new SMF clutch has been working fine. He is super knowledgeable and was very happy to educate me and discuss the ins and outs of the job. Running a shop is a busy job, but he clearly enjoyed educating me about my machine.Before trying Desert Tech, I had been using a certain shop that will remain nameless. That shop does good work, but last time I took the car in they said it was "too old" ... Really? I mean, this golf only has 139,000 miles on it. What am I supposed to do? Throw it away?! (A stick shift ALH TDI Golf is special, at least for some of us). I'm glad I decided to try Desert Tech. I'll be talking to them about my next timing belt and other work soon.

  Lost in Foundtv
6 years ago
New update. Extremely fast service, professional, David is a car god. If you care about your ride, he's the one. This is no back job shop, respectful, expedient, knowledgeable, and WILL NOT SELL YOU SOMETHING YOU DON'T NEED.Successful repair: n55 vacuum leak solved.This.. THIS is the place you want to go. If you own a BMW/Audi or other car as specified by the shop (that they work on), this is THE shop to not get ripped off.The office is honest and kind, the mechanics are kind and knowledgeable, and the service is impeccable.If ever there were a car repair business that wasn't modeled after profit, profit, profit, this is it.You can see for yourself as your car is worked on, and David is a car wizard.You'd be hard pressed to find a bad review on this place that isn't compromised.Go here and see for yourself. Real, honest, work done by certified mechanics in a professional environment.Pictures and more in-depth review to come.

  Wayne Moore
a year ago
I went here mainly because of the 5 star reviews. I met with David on a Monday morning, the problem was ascertained immediately and my car was ready by noon the same day. I couldn t pick my car up that same day do David kept my car safe inside his shop. I picked up my car the next morning and it has driven great ever since. Just to see the difference in price, I asked the BMW dealer for a quote on the same work that David was doing. BMW wanted $1300.00 and David s price was $750.00.Please don t hesitate to bring your car here. David and his staff are great and you won t be disappointed.Great job for a great price!!!!Service: Auto engine diagnostic

  No Name
7 months ago
I brought my 2015 X5 diesel in for routine service. I drive on dirt roads daily and the rear hatch had developed a rattle and it didn t seal tight so a lot of dust was getting into the car. The shop I took it to previously did not resolve the problem. David and his crew fixed the problem and completed the maintenance at a fair price. In the 7 years I have owned this vehicle I have taken it to the dealer and two independent shops. David is the best.Services: Air & cabin filter replacement, General repairs & maintenance, Oil change

  Dwight Nwaigwe
2 months ago
I went to this repair facility to diagnose and fix a gas smell. The problem of a bad fuel pump seal was identified and fixed.The reason for my 1/5 rating is the following:After getting my car I noticed a bad oil leak which I had trouble diagnosing. I took the car to the shop to talk to them about it since I had a feeling it was a leak they introduced (more on this later). The owner and I looked under my hood together and at that point I realized oil was leaking from under the oil filter housing cap. The owner noticed it too and implied the issue was due to the oil filter housing being slightly deformed at the lip where it meets the cap, having a thicker lip in one area. He suggested I replace the oil filter housing, an expensive job. I decided to investigate the issue on my own and I felt that it was either a loose cap or bad seal between the cap and oil filter housing. So, I changed the O-ring seal and tightened the cap. With the engine on, I tightened the cap until oil stopped leaking from the cap- problem fixed. Perhaps just tightening the cap would have been sufficient.On my receipt for the fuel pump work, I notice they unscrewed the cap to access my oil filter. I figure they introduced the leak. What bothers me is that the owner suggested I do an expensive job ($1100) of changing the oil filter housing when all the owner could have done was tighten the cap to see if that would stop the oil leak (clearly oil was leaking from under the cap). This left me bewildered.Further, my receipt for the fuel pump replacement says, verbatim:"Oil filter housing is deformed for some odd reason. Has been removed and glued on at some point. Oil filter was smashed down, wrong, or not correctly installed filter?? Recommend to replace complete oil filter housing with new filter and oil. 1100.00"These remarks are untrue and use alarmist language to convince me of a problem that is not there. The oil filter housing is functional and does not appear to have any consequential defect despite perhaps having a slightly thicker lip on one side. Secondly, the oil filter housing is not "glued on". It is just silly to say otherwise. An RTV gasket (as opposed to a pre-formed gasket) was used to create a seal between it and the engine block, but that does not qualify as "glued on". This is a heavy piece of metal that is bolted to the engine block. Glue would not hold it on. Thirdly, the filter is fine. I took it out to verify (see photo). Youtube videos of used filters show it is fine. It is in no way "smashed".The owner also called me, speaking to me in a snake oil salesman's tone in an attempt to convince me my oil filter housing was "glued-on" and my oil filter was strangely "smashed".I am upset that this shop introduced a major oil leak which it did not try fix; suggested an unnecesssary and expensive repair to fix it; made untrue statements and used alarmist language to convince me to do expensive and unnecessary repairs.I do not have faith in the integrity of this business.

  Juliette Cowall
3 months ago
Been driving and getting cars serviced for 47 years. David is only the third mechanic I've trusted. Bonus: Brenda is a darling!

  Ben Ruscitti
a year ago
I ve been to multiple BMW mechanics in Tucson over the past couple years but if there s one that stands out the most it s Desert Auto, they fit me in right away to get my car towed there, gave me a full inspection and explanation of everything that needed to be done, and even when I decided to not go through with the repairs I was still shown the same level of kindness and respect as when I was a prospective customer. David even offered to see what he can do as far as selling my car since that s the route I chose to go. If I could give six stars I would, thanks again David! I would highly recommend this place to anybody who s looking for top notch service and a very knowledgeable team of mechanics you can trust.Service: Auto maintenance

  R C
a year ago
Was on a road trip and got a bewildering array of warning lights. Dave was able to help me and diagnose my car right away. Parts weren't available locally so they were ordered that afternoon. My car was ready before noon the next day! Thanks Dave, for getting my back on the road and for a fair price!Service: General repairs & maintenanceService: General repairs & maintenance

  Muhammad Chishti
a year ago
David is the best and most trustworthy mechanic you will ever find. I was a costumer 17 years ago when he first opened up and have since moved out of state. He always offered the best quality of service that I have not found anywhere else before or since. Really great guy, would recommend this shop as the only place to go for European repair in Tucson.Services: General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine diagnostic, Brakes, Auto maintenance, Oil change

  John Malozsak
2 years ago
David and his crew at Desert Tech are absolutely incredible! I've had them work on multiple cars in the past and they we're always fair with their prices and the work was done in a timely manner.David is honest in his evaluation of work needed and will not upsell you on things you don't need.I will only have him service my BMW's and will continue to refer everyone with a European car to him!

  Liam Wilson
a year ago
I did not end up going with David to do some work on my car, but by all impressions David is a stand-up guy who knows his stuff really well. Not selecting him had nothing to do with any impressions of anything bad, just a matter of circumstance, parts, and timing.I had a fuel leak on my 2006 Z4, and some minor handling issues that I figured were a product of control arm bearings (ultimately solved with an alignment). David told me he felt the control arms were mostly fine and probably did not need replacement, and immediately (and correctly) diagnosed the leak as a crack in the fuel sending unit (formally, on my car, this is the fuel "filter" and regulator pump). Unfortunately, backordered parts/getting the correct parts proved to be a bit of a headache. David was very helpful and accomodating with respect to dealing with this, but his schedule was a bit packed and there would have been a wait on the part shipment, so I ended up acquiring the part myself and working with my regular shop in Phoenix to get it resolved more quickly.I wouldn't hesitate to recommend David to anyone else, just be aware that his schedule seems fairly busy and that part availbility may lead to some longer-than-ideal wait times or inconvenience.

  Alex In Arizona
6 years ago
The reviews that you've read are true. David is probably the most professional mechanic / shop owner I've ever met. He has a way of making you feel like a VIP with his customer service skills. Desert Tech replaced a bunch of gaskets on my car and did a great job. I was really impressed how they cleaned the engine bay and all the old oil smudge from the previous leaks. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but I guarantee you many mechanics would not have done this. Little things like that, that go a long way. His prices are more than reasonable and he explores different avenues to ensure you don't over pay. You can tell that money isn't his only motivation. He truly gets satisfaction in helping people with his business and it shows. Thank you David!**Edit** I kept saying "David" over and over. Obviously David doesn't do all the work. His shop team is extremely competent, evidenced by all the positive reviews.-Owner of 2008 528i BMW

  Marlon Guerrero
9 years ago
David and Desert Tech are outstanding. They are very knowledgeable and courteous. More importantly, they did an outstanding job taking care of all the issues that BMW Tucson stated my car had (after verifying) and $1000 cheaper. My car runs fabulous. I waited 4 weeks to write this review to make sure no issues arose, and I am very pleased. I wholeheartedly recommend them.

  Adalberto Rodriguez
2 years ago
Words can t describe how great full I was with David and his team. I have custom BMW 750li Alpina B7 that I used to take to the dealership until my sun roof malfunctioned when I replaced the battery. The dealership said it was the two motors that needed to be replaced but I felt I needed a second opinion. I called Desert Tech and they accepted my car with no appointment, I live in Nogales so that was a big life saver. David called me back a day or two and told me my car was ready to go that I didn t have to spend the $2,500 the dealership said I need for the repairs it would only be a 1/5 of that because everything was working just took sometime to get it aligned and tested. Talk about honesty I was very pleased and know my check engine light is on so I m taking it to Desert Tech i wouldn t take my BMW anywhere else, thank you Desert Tech.Services: Electrical repair, General repairs & maintenance, Electrical, Auto engine diagnostic

  Blake M
2 years ago
David is one of, if not, the best BMW mechanic in all of Tucson.Not only are his prices reasonable compared to other BMW mechanics including the dealer, but his work is much better.3 time BMW owner: 528i, 535i, and X4.Services: Air & cabin filter replacement, Exhaust, General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine diagnostic, Brakes

  brandon christopher
6 years ago
I had just come from Desert tech taking them up on there special offer which was unbelievable in the first place but 100% true , I got a free oil change! Anyone owning a BMW knows that is a good savings. But after speaking with Dave and his Team I found that Being a loyal customer of Little Germany thinking that I was getting a good honest deal I found I was not. Dave was up front about the cost and in almost every case was cheaper but he was "Honest" and that to me has won my business for the future. At this point I will say to take your BMW Here and to stay away from Little Germany

  Brittney Walsh
a year ago
I will never bring my car anywhere else!!! The wonderful humans there are so sweet and genuine and I got my car in and out very quickly!!! My dad recommended me and several of my family members and friends here and I m so thankful for them!! Fast, easy and just the best :))Services: Exhaust, General repairs & maintenance, Vehicle Inspection, Auto A/C replacement, Air conditioningServices: Exhaust, General repairs & maintenance, Vehicle Inspection, Auto A/C replacement, Air conditioning

  Bianca
a year ago
Anthony is a friend of my husband, we called him one day after my window motor broke unexpectedly. Anthony was able to replace and repair everything by the next morning at a very reasonable price. I really appreciate how quick he was able to accommodate us.Service: General repairs & maintenanceService: General repairs & maintenance

  Nathan Cliff
7 years ago
I can't say enough great things about David and his team. I unfortunately had to take my car in for work a second time in just a two week span for two unrelated issues (why can't things break at the same time and be more convenient).The first time was my first trip to Desert Tech. David was amazing walking me through every step of the repair and how he diagnosed the problem. You can tell he really loves what he does and solving problems.The second time was unbelievable the level of amazing service. My car broke on a weekend, again, and I dropped my car off for repairs. David called me first thing Monday morning, from California! He got the repairs started quickly and when I needed to pickup my car a little earlier than expected he made sure it was ready so I could get back on with my work!I can't say enough great things about this shop. I will only buy car brands that they service moving forward!

  Steven Finnell
a year ago
It s a little far for me but worth it! Never going anywhere else. David and his crew did amazing work on my bmw at a great price. Also his shop is very nice!Service: Engine repairService: Engine repair

  Alexandra Ania Cole
7 years ago
The only auto-shop I trust with my 530I BMW is Desert Tech! When I have to take my car in, David takes the time to explain the problem with patience and a vast knowledge basis. David provides detailed explanations of the procedures completed and the prices are always honest and fair. I would recommend Desert Tech to anyone who takes their car maintenance seriously.

  H. A. Colon
4 years ago
I took my 2011 BMW X3 to David at Desert Tech, after two independent shops and even the dealership couldn't figure out why my car's Drive train Malfunction light kept popping up. David and his team figured it out in no time. I highly recommend desert tech, very honest, and the best auto repair experience I've had, never going anywhere else.

  nope nope
3 years ago
Man am I grateful I found this place! I can't rave about them enough! Extremely pleasent people, and that's just a bonus! David gave me the rundown of himself, every one of his employees, their impeccable capabilities and experience, his wonderful business model, and you can just tell he's being absolutely genuine and honest. His prices are completely fair and he's never going to try to take advantage. When I took my 2014 bmw 328i in just for an oil change he gave my car a thorough inspection just to see if there was anything else of concern that I should be aware of, and he let me watch! He really just wants you to be aware of the condition of your vehicle. He didn't make up anything to try to get more money out of me; he let me know that my car was in good shape and I was on my way in under 30 minutes. He uses all top grade factory parts/fluids so you don't have to worry about the quality of care given to your vehicle. If you drive bmw, audi, volkswagen, or mini cooper, don't take your vehicle anywhere else! They truly pride themselves on quality care for your vehicle, honesty and integrity, are extremely pleasent and great with communication, and to top it off in my experience they are very timely. But don't take my word for it: see for yourself!! And check out their special offers, as they are deals that might sound to good to be true, but from personal experience I can assure you that they are the real deal with no strings attached! Thank you Desert Tech Import Auto! I will never go anywhere else as long as the car I need serviced is one of the 4 imports that you will service, which I'm now inclined to purchase exclusively.

  Kyle Hayes (Stockholmgtr)
8 years ago
David and his partners/employees were kind enough to fit me in today for a last second oil change in my 2009 335i. He was very polite and professional and very accommodating. I also asked him a question about a fairly rare service (walnut cleaning the intake side of the motor to clean carbon deposits) and he was completely honest with me about his experience with it and said he could find a shop that would help me with that. I will be back in the future in addition to telling other people that have BMWs that this is the place to go.

  Brian
10 years ago
Dave is personable and has customer service at the forefront of his mind. Anytime I have an issue with my Audi I take it to Dave. He takes the time to sit down with me and explain to me what's going on. He explains his thinking and let's me know exactly what things will cost and why. Dave is extremely honest and upfront about everything. He might not be the cheapest mechanic in town, but then again you get what you pay for... This man knows his stuff!

  Earl Young
7 years ago
When you DEMAND the best service at the best price. Purschased a used BMW and had an issue with the key so I took he car to Desert Tech and was totally blown away with quality of service. Considering the problem was one that had to be taken to the dealership. They didn't even charge me. will be taking my car back next week and plan on updating with cost and service because I am an avid review reader! But so far IF you own a BMW you care about. It DESERVES to be serviced here!

  Danny Solano
8 years ago
Went to Desert Tech because I was having engine problems. David was extremely helpful in diagnosing my vehicle, even explaining how each component of my system works. He informed me of a current warranty extension on my vehicle and how I could save $1,000+. Not many mechanics would turn away business to save the customer money! I definitely recommend visiting this place when you need work done.