Shade Tree Garage

Reviews

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

  Sarah Elzawahry
a month ago
The absolute BEST car service. The staff here has extensive experience in BMW's and were able to complete my service in no time. They were super friendly and very detailed in their service. I cannot recommend them enough!

  Shon Newbern
a month ago
New to the area and looking for an independent service shop for my 2007 525i and 2009 X5. Great service and price! Speaking with Truett you can hear the honesty and passion for these machines being cared for the way the manufacturer intended.

  David Smith
a week ago
THE WORST! Do not waste your time with these clowns. They certainly want to waste yours.Absolutely the worst mechanic experience I've ever had. They should spend their time making balloon animals with their squeaky red noses on, not touching expensive automobiles.

  Ken Davis
5 months ago
What an incredible service experience! Truett and his team are absolutely amazing to deal with. If you have issues with a BMW that s out of warranty, take it to these guys! I drive 45 minutes one way to get to them and I d gladly drive double that if I had to. Thanks again for all your help Truett and staff!

  Justin Hunter
4 months ago
Super competent. Super honest. Very fair pricing. Super reliable. I ve been taking my BMW to Shade Tree for years. They ve been consistently great.

  Melyssa May
a month ago
Truett and Christopher s team have taken phenomenal care of six of my vehicles over the years. They love what they do and are the best in the area!

  World McCrea
3 years ago
I had the wonderful experience of visiting this shop today. I have been a BMW enthusiast for many years and have started slowly but surely collecting some of the older ones. I try to work on my cars myself for the most part, but at times I dont have the proper tools or knowledge to get certain things done. Especially important things like motor work which I have no experience.Today I stopped by to get a bit of help with a pesky window regulator issue on my e36. First of all for a BMW lover I was absolutely astounded by the amount of bimmers they had on the property. The most I can honestly say I have ever seen in my life. Shows and meets included.Either way, I had the pleasure of meeting with Dietrich who runs an independent Auto Repair shop right on the premises. He specializes in the older models. He was able to sort my issue out with just sheer experience alone. That's the beauty of this place. there are so many different shops on the land that specialize on specific types of bimmers. It's amazing in every sense of the word.I'm so glad I only live 8 miles away. It's like a dream come true to have a shop like this around me. I will certainly be back here again.

  Prakash Rangaraju
7 months ago
What can I say about Shade Tree Garage. I only wish I knew about them sooner. The BEST BMW specialized repair shop in Raleigh/Triangle area. The family operated garage is located in a very scenic area surrounded by trees and a happy place where BMWs can roam free!I took my daughter's car for a complete check before she took it to her college. Chris was kind enough to accommodate this request, did a complete checkup and diagnosis. Mr Truette was there to help too.They charge very reasonably and made me extremely comfortable with the work that needs to be done. If you have a BMW and looking for a reliable service center, I would highly recommend this place. Look no further than Shade Tree Garage! Your BMWs and Mini Coopers will thank you for that! :)

  Chaundra Cureton
3 months ago
Great place to take your BMW always willing to look and great prices regardless of what needs to be done

  Matthew Graham
8 months ago
I just got off the phone with Truett Ray (the owner of the shop) and he could not have been nicer and more helpful. Currently, my car is at Leith BMW who quoted me for some hefty repair bills on my 2015 i535 Xdrive model BMW from Ohio (where every winter a lot of salt gets thrown onto the roads).Even though my car is not at their garage (I wish it was, I'd love to give them my business!), he gave me some helpful perspective and advice I needed, and walked me through what is the most needed repairs I should ask Leith BMW to make. I can see why their shop is so popular. Wishing all the fine folks at Shade Tree well and I thank Truett for taking the time to be so considerate and helpful. 5/5 shop and people. Great service. I definitely recommend you take your car here if you can.

  CJ
11 months ago
If you have multiple, recurring issues with your car, I recommend taking your car to a dealer. Over time the cost at a bmw dealer might be cheaper than repeatedly going to this garage. The owner (older, white male) isn t the most respectful either. Overall, displeased with the customer service. Will consider reporting to the BBB.

  Tiffany Williams
a year ago
Great work but my car was driven obviously a substantial amount of miles. I left with a full tank of gas came back to almost a half tank and my mile counter reset.I will use the dealer next time as I didn't really save that much. Again I would recommend because Mr. Truitt does good work.Services: General repairs & maintenance, Auto brake replacement

  Keith Willis
a year ago
Been in NC since early 94 and have never been discriminated against as hard as I just was today at this place! I had an appointment with them to get my car fixed for two weeks at a place because they re supposed to be BMW specialists. I get there and an older man meets me at my car. Soft spoken, but not very welcoming or friendly. We took a test drive so he could confirm if what we d discussed over the phone could be the problem! Within five minutes my vehicle went from it s not what I thought it was to We can t do the job, my guys would quit if I gave them this car to work on . My icar isnt perfect (hence the reason I m there, to get it fixed) it s an 18 year old car with some clear coat peeling and a few tears in the interior but it s light worlds away from a basket case! Given an oil change and spark plug change I d drive it anywhere in a heartbeat! Turns out what he said was wrong was a rear end bushing. Not too hard of a job at all for the prices they charge for their work!! Im sure as BMW specialists they ve done planets of jobs harder than replacing a rear end bushing! So then I asked well what things do you fix on BMW s so if I need those things fixed in the future I can bring it here ? He gave no answer! I So I asked what if I need the lights that are on the dashboard looked into ? His response was not this car ( WHAT?!) So I made it simple and asked what if I just need a light replaced ? Again his response was not this car . The most time consuming and most difficult job to do on a car is an engine swap and I ve had that done on my car last year and when I inquired around about a monstrous job like that I didn t get the reaction from other mechanics that I got from this guy! It couldn t have been nothing but my skin color because he never gave me a solid reason for why not this car . I hate to go there , but all I know is I was denied service with no explanation!

  philip valente
2 years ago
Amazing depth of knowledge regardless of vehicle age.Blends solid mechanical knowledge with the newest technologies while servicing your bmw.They do not rush you out if you have questions about the operation or needs of your vehicle. The questions are answered in a non mechanical way if that is what it takes -no one we have dealt with pushes repair without the need for repair.They are always busy, give yourself plenty of time but worth the wait.I seldom give 5 stars.They earned it.

  Ruslan Mikhaylov
2 years ago
Thank you, Truett, so much! Truett quickly identified the problem in my car by sound and performance. Man with vast experience in BMW.

  Kate Daniels
a year ago
Called this shop to check my options. The person that answered was super knowledgeable and honest. He alerted me to what the problem with my BMW probably was. Really respected the honesty!

  Damien Gu
5 years ago
Asked around for local BMW service places and Shade Tree Garage was highly recommended by many people. They're so popular that they're often booked for 2-3 weeks. After getting my BMW serviced here, I can understand why. My BMW came out working good as new! Plus, they offer estimates beforehand and email you a detailed receipt.

  Marvin Kyle
2 years ago
I had what has been described by a few shops, as a Freak Occurance.. I'd just purchased my 2011 BMW X3 28i, the first week of June 2021... Since I've had some previous dealings with this father/ Son Duo at Shade Tree Garage and believe me, they do excellent work, I immediately trusted them to do a post inspection of my 2011 BMW X3, to further dispell any fear, stress, anxiety or any possible unforseen maintenance issues, that may rear its ugly head, whenever you purchase a used vehicle. I was pleases that I passed Shade Tree's post purchase Inspection, with flying colors, there was nothing negative to report. No Codes and or lights indicated on dash or I Drive, then comes the third week of July. It's only been a month and a half of owning the car and I haven't had the opportunity make my second payment... I'd also invested in a second BMW Key & Fob and the very next day without any warning, the computer inside my transmisdion frys, thus leaving my X3 locked in the "Park" position. Without any indication or any warning, at all. My prognosis was grim and everyone I spoke with scratched there heads and basically said the repair was going to be expensive one and almost to the point of possibly being more than what the car was worth. NOTE: At this point I still have not even made my second car payment on the vehicle, so I was stuck in a rock and a hard place cause I was already vested into the car at this point and Shade Tree came to my rescue and instilled within me, confidence that they could beyond a shadow of a doubt, fix the issue Si Shade Tree diagnosed the problem lickety split and got me back on the road in less than a weeks time. They even provided me with a loaner BMW, which saved me even more $$$ cause the daily price of rental cars have not been far from what most Pay for a whole month and I was also able to work some much needed OT. Shade Tree Garage is well worth going that Extra Mile to get to as gets my vote as the Best BMW Service Around. Thanks again for all you do and have done... It was very much appreciated. Keep Up The Good Work. I hope this review helps someone in need of a really good and professional shop that's every bit as good as the dealer but cost a lot less.#TRUSTMarvin Kyle

  Anthony Saad
2 years ago
Besides being incredibly nice and courteous, they genuinely treat you like family and look after you. I've taken my 3 BMWs there and they've been nothing but exceptional and really makes owning BMWs as they age very reasonable. I always leave having piece of mind it's been looked at thoroughly. More so, whenever I have questions regarding my vehicle or any advice on what to look out for, general knowledge, or good maintenance practices, they do their best to provide me helpful answers. It's always a great experience going to see them. On the off chance they aren't able to fix something, through no fault of their own, they openly inform me and do their best to provide assistance on where I can go to fix it. As someone with an engineering background and keen on working on engines, but not very familiar with BMWs, they do an exceptional job of explaining what's going on. They do the same exceptional explaination when talking to my family about their cars, who hardly understand cars. Ultimately, from the service you get, it reflects their passion towards working on BMWs with both exceptional quality and value.Services: Electrical repair, Air & cabin filter replacement, Tires, Steering & suspension repair, General repairs & maintenance, Electrical, Auto engine diagnostic, Auto engine tuning, Body & Trim, Engine repair, Brakes, A/C installation & repair, Battery, Oil change

  Orlando Hatfield
4 years ago
They are straight shooters. Their work is outstanding, and everyone seems willing to help. Mr. Trueatte is very informative and knowledgeable about BMW'S. And the icing on the cake is they let me hold a loaner while the work was being done on my vehicle. They will be my primary mechanic as long as I own a BMW, which I plan on doing indefinitely!

  Jon Peacock
2 years ago
I don t leave reviews online, but I m willing to break that pattern because Shade Tree Garage absolutely deserves praise!Before I even met Truett, we emailed back and forth about some possible work on my vintage BMW. Instead of offering expensive modifications like other shops had, he gave me a simple DIY fix that saved me thousands. Afterwards, he did routine maintenance on my car under what others quoted.Most recently, I was involved in an accident where I had to make a claim with another party s insurance. I asked the car to be towed to Shade Tree, of course. Truett went to bat with insurance for me, making sure we waited until the right parts became available - despite a pandemic shortage.Shade Tree takes their time, but if you can spare it you will be rewarded with quality work at a fair price. I am moving to South Carolina soon and am strongly considering driving back to Shade Tree just to keep them as my mechanic.

  Belinda Ellis
2 years ago
First off I was impressed when I called asking questions, I was not made to feel like a "dumb woman." They answered all my questions and I decided to bring my vehicle to them. I went to them because I had some diagnostic lights that were popping up. I bought my X3 used. Christopher inspected my engine, checked all the fluids and corrected reset the diagnostic lights, for my next service. I will definitely be back for all my vehicle needs.

  Ashleigh Nelson
8 years ago
This shop came highly recommended, and after my first visit I can see why. I am extremely happy with the service and attention to detail. Everyone I encountered here was friendly and helpful. I will definitely be back, and if you own a BMW I absolutely recommend you pay them a visit the next time you need service. You will not be disappointed.

  Dana Copeland
7 years ago
I can understand if you think all the glowing reviews are too good to be true, but I can assure the 5 star reviews are well deserved. There are other places to get your BMW serviced. We are a three BMW family for decades and we've tried just about every service option in the Triangle. Yes a few are terrible, but most are in the average range. None compare to the integrity, quality and fairness of the service at Shade Tree. Truett is one of those individuals who does what he does because of a passion for fine cars and a deep commitment to treat people fairly. I believe he works not to get rich but to just make a living helping people enjoy owning and driving their BMW.

  Phillip Boyd
6 years ago
I dropped my car off on a Thursday to be diagnosed. They called me the next morning to let me know the diagnosis. They were booked solid for two weeks but were able to work me in for my 1.5 hour job on the next business day. All the while they lent me a loaner car to get to and from work. They always kept me up to date during the whole process. Truett, Chris, and Steven were all a pleasure to work with. I will be taking my BMW there from now on and will send every BMW owner I know their way.

  M Mic
3 years ago
Installed remanufactured parts that did not last more than a few months. The shop told me to return the remanufactured parts to them, which would be impossible since the car had to be towed to a local shop and fixed again! Authorized BMW Repair shops do not return used parts unless you tell them to do so BEFORE the repair. I had no idea I had used parts and no need to ask for the parts back. I made ShadeTree aware of this in writing many times. Since the warranty was not honored, I will seek legal counsel for next steps. Unfortunate that this shop would mistreat a (now former)customer that had trusted them for years.

  Alfred Brown
11 years ago
I've been a proud owner of a few different BMW models over the years and have dealings with several different dealers and service departments in the US and Germany. After one visit to the STG I would have to rank this establishment as the very best for the services that they provide. Truett and his staff are true professionals. If you are looking for friendly, quick services with prices that you just want believe (compared to dealer service departments) give these professionals a try. Trust me you will not be disappointed.

  Mark Krogulski
5 years ago
I just moved from Chicago and was looking for a reliable locally owned BMW repair facility. I really liked the one I had in Chicago and wondered if I'd find one in Raleigh. As soon as I drove up I new I was in the right place. My first visit was to repair an SOS call failure. Ugo gave me the options and it turned out to be a moderate repair. I'll need some brake work done in 10,000 miles and I'll be back to Shade Tree to get the work done.

  Edward Thompson
4 years ago
Worst place to get your BMW serviced in the Triangle! Absolutely awful customer service. Most recently, I had dropped my 335i off for a simple service. Two days later, my car hadn't even been looked at. After two days, I spoke with Christopher again, who told me they will try to "get to my car when they can", and couldn't give me an estimated date of when my car would even start service. This follows a mis-diagnosis of a simple mech issue (spark plugs) on a previous BMW I owned, this is the last time I will waste my time and money at Shade Tree. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!!!

  Amada Bowers-Miller
8 years ago
This place is awesome. They came highly recommended from a client of mine. Steven was patient, honest and upfront. I didn't feel taken advantage of. He schooled me on what to look for in my vehicle and warning signs. To be a lone female entering a car garage, he took the fear being taken advantage of away in 10 seconds. Awesome awesome awesome place for bmw owners