Vanguard Motors

This is my long overdue, complete endorsement of Vanguard Motors. I first took my 1986 535i to Gary and Paula in the early part of its major refurbishment several years ago, as a few issues remained unresolved after an initial (and actually quite thorough) "going over" by another independent shop in San Jose (which shall remain nameless, although I did leave a positive review for that establishment a few years ago as I and my family have taken our other BMWs there for years).

Fast forward 6+ years. Small problems continue to surface periodically with my E28, as would be expected for a 35+ year old car. Paula and Gary have maintained a superlative level of trustworthy, courteous and efficient service throughout. At this point, since they know my car so well, it's almost like taking a child to a trusted family doctor who knows the complete medical history. Vanguard has honored two warranty repairs on work performed or defective parts already, no questions asked. This past week Paula told me the brakes on my E28 were fine, which is not only reassuring for my peace of mind regarding driving safety, but also very refreshing to have an honest appraisal informing me that another expenditure is not needed right now. I have also taken my E36 (of which I am the original owner) to Vanguard, and will again to when the next issue inevitably arises (although hopefully not too soon).

As a 20+ year BMW CCA member, I also greatly appreciate that Paula and Gary offer a small labor discount to keep the club going for enthusiasts of the marque, like myself.

I have not yet had a chance to take my 911 to Vanguard yet, but it's a great comfort knowing there is also an option for friendly, trustworthy and quality service in San Francisco for my Porsche.

I don't know why anyone would go to the dealership for service when Paula and Gary are in the middle of the city and frickin phenomenal. They know their stuff, put extra effort into telling me what services & parts I really need, and are contagiously friendly.

Super knowledgeable, reliable lead times, excellent service all around. Also it's fun to look at the exciting cars they always seem to be working on :)

Gary and Paula are clearly experts at what they do. But their prices are the same or slightly higher than the BMW dealership...unfortunately without the nice car loaners and extended hours and other full service amenities that BMW dealerships offer. Those types of amenities are not important to me. But saving money and getting the best value is a top priority to me.

I found another local BMW repair shop to do the majority of my repairs, which Gary and Paula helped identify....at half, yes half, the pricing at Vanguard. But with the same warranty and other offerings as Vanguard. I literally saved $$ thousands of dollars and my car is fully repaired now. I am posting this to state that Vanguard is clearly excellent at what they do....and will do it at roughly the same pricing as the pricey dealerships. As a consumer I chose to shop around...and I found an excellent other repair shop option at half the price. You may want to shop for competitive pricing, as you make your auto repair decisions.

I was referred to Gary & Paula by a good friend of mine who is also an E30 enthusiast. What stands out about this shop is that 1) they are genuine people, 2) they do great work, and 3) they care about their clients. They are experts on BMWs and car enthusiasts in their own right!

I went through a few different shops/mechanics only to experience poor work and/or dishonesty. Even another supposedly reputable BMW shop in SF (who shall not be named) up charged me for unnecessary work. This was not the case here as Gary showed me the broken parts he replaced and how to look for signs of wear in those parts. Their professionalism is top notch.

Needless to say, I will ONLY be coming here for my automotive needs. I even referred my parents to come here - I don't think I can give any higher praise than that.

Gary and Paula run a top notch business. I've been using them for over 20 years (and 2 cars.) In fact I won't buy a new car because because I don't want BMW or anyone else to touch my car. The only people I trust is Vanguard. They're like doctors from the Mayo Clinic.
They are honest, fair and by far the best garage I've ever used.
The people who work for them are great, friendly and professional.
I could not recommend anyone better than Vanguard.
Vanguard is the best kept secret for BMW owners in San Francisco.
They know their business and treat their customers like family.
Thank you Vanguard for always being there for me.

So have you been going to mechanics feeling ripped off by some mean dude? Felt like the dude behind the counter was just ripping you a new...........whatever!
I just went to Vanguard and was in a bit of a hurry. Had a headlight go out the other night after hitting a pot hole with the new Mill Valley street improvements? I called Bonnie; She told me to come right over. Fixed the headlight on the spot and boom! I was on the road feeling grooooovey!!!!
The thing about Vanguard: You feel totally honored for your time, money, work and car. You feel totally respected and supported. When do you get all that from a car repair? Oh and you get great work, prices and easy in and out!!!
This Place Rocks on every level. Love Vanguard!!!!

Gary and I became acquainted many years ago in a completely different environment. I'd brought my BMW to another shop before remembering Gary and that he specialized in BMW. One night, my BMW mysteriously began overheat and left me along with child stranded on the highway. Very infuriating. So rather than the first shop, I remembered Gary and made an appointment with Paula. After a brief discussion about the problem, my car was towed there. Paula seemed confident and assured me they'd get to the bottom of it. After a few days, Paula informed me of the complexities causing the issue which as all true due to my knowledge of the car's maintenance history.

I was reacquainted with Gary and it was nice to see him in his element. He presented all the old parts removed and went beyond the basic functions which was easy for me to understand since I worked on my old cars back in the day. The invoice was a lot more than hoped, but quality comes with a price. It wasn't just factory parts, but the knowledge and quality of the work you'll be paying for. If you love your old BMW like do, try this shop. Gary and Paula were very easy to work with.

2001, E45 325ci Coupe, M/T

They were nice and let me use their restrooms even though I want a customer. The next door shop didn't...

Honest and Dependable work. I can't think of two more important words one wants to hear about a shop in which they are entrusting to work on their car.

I've known Gary and Paula since my E34 5 Series BMW went out of warranty...and I haven't looked back since.(roughly 17 years ago) They have serviced my BMW's and will soon be working on my new Porsche. Why? Because I trust them explicitly and their work is above reproach. I recommend them without hesitation when asked for a mechanic referral for a BMW or Porsche.