thanks for the recommendations guys!

I have also fixed alot of issues from this site already, but now i have two things that look a bit over my head that needs to be fixed.

One that just happened after i got an oil change at bmw seattle, is that my engine is making a squeaking noise. I think its either a belt or the tensioner. I have a video of it but i searched the forum and it sounds the same as everyone elses issue with cold starts.

Second issue is driver side CV boot is cracked.

3rd is steering line is leaking, which the dealer also found. I may try this one myself but i dont know which line is what in the engine bay :)

I have warranty direct and i they will cover the belt and tensioner but not the CV boot. However, they dont pay the same amount of hours as BMW so i'll end up paying anyway.

I'll check out those indies and see how it goes!

Pat

Strictly BMW prices are very similar to dealer when called them for quotes too. I had to buy new components for a melted lamp socket and strictly BMW parts guy was not as sure about the replacement process as the dealer parts guy who was very helpful. Parts price was the same.

I moved to Seattle from Portland two years ago and still get my car serviced at the dealer in Portland as their prices are the same as aftermarket shops in Seattle. I have heard a few good things about Eastside Bavarian however I never used them.

I paid about $1000 for both CV boot replacement plus bushing. (Kuni BMW in Portland). Most of the cost is the labor (75%)

Stay away from these assholes like the plague. Anyone who goes there is simply paying to support their racing team. They wanted to charge me $3k to remove my heads, test my injectors, check for carbon issue, blah blah blah for a terrible idling issue and my car not being able to rev past 2k. After I they gave me this obnoxious quote and broke my hood release handle, I demanded my keys back and hopped onto the forums. After telling my syptoms to other members, I got all kinds of suggestions. The best suggestion I got was to remove the pre-cat 02's to see if I had a clogging issue. I'd already replaced one of the original cats due to it rattling, but the other one I hadn't replaced because it had been done before via the factory recall. I pulled the precat 02 from the recalled cat and the car fired right up!!! I drove it to the exhaust shop and $200 later I had a new cat installed. These guys had absolutely NO PROBLEM asking for this obnoxious amount, and I can GUARANTEE they never would have touched the 02's or cats w/ their grocery list of "ideas".

Eastside Bavarian in Issaquah isn't much better. I had my car towed from Everett all the way to their shop because they guaranteed me they'd work w/ my warranty company. My warranty company agreed to pay for an aftermarket LSD from www.diffsonline.com for the simple fact that it was actually cheaper to get a 3.64 LSD than replacing my diff w/ a stock unit. After not getting a single return phonecall for upwards of a week from these guys, they finally call me and tell me the car is ready. I let them know that I was on my way immediately. Once I get there, my car is still on the lift, covered in a film of dust (how long has it been done for?!) w/ a dead battery (parking lights left on) and my radar detector broken from it's mount to the left of the rearview mirror (WTF did they even need to touch it for?!) After having a few choice words w/ Ken, this ass decides to break the news to me that they would only install a factory diff in order to offer any kind of warranty!! Where was my phone call asking what I wanted?! They somehow were able to get the stock diff down to the same price as the LSD (how much markup was added for them to use stock parts and make a profit, on top of the installation charge?). 3 days after I left, I had a clicking noise everytime I turned. Took it back to them and they never filled the diff to full!!!!!! God only knows how little fluid was in there beforehand.

After owning my M5 and buying parts from the stealership, I RARELY took my car to anyone else but who I trust....ME. So far I'm my best customer, and I'm sure it's been done right and cost me 1/4 what ANY Indy or stealership would have charged.

Define broke down...what's it doing? I was born and raised in Edmonds, and I've still got friends in Kirkland and Medina that I stay w/ when I come and visit. I'm not adverse to road trips and I'd honestly be willing to come out there and do the work for you at $35 per hour. Last time I was there was probably about a month and a half ago to replace the fuel pump and clutch in my moms 328ci...took me all of 7hrs for everything from beginning to end. I do this on the side out of my home www.boisebimmer.webs.com - it's WAY overdue for an updating and reformatting, but it'll give you an idea of my capabilities.

Eastside Bavarian
 

I'd vote for Eastside Bavatian in Issaquah - quick trip down 90 from Seattle.

Prices are only marginally cheaper than the dealer but they've done great work on a series of old and newer BMWs for me. They also were great with communication, at least for me.

The absolute best service you will find is at Signature BMW in Kirkland.

Prices are cheaper than any shop I have been to and they don't assume you are an idiot from the start.

The owner (rick) walks you through the shop and works on all of the cars- they are a NO BS place and I can't say enough positive things about my experience there.

I've never been to Signature and so far no one has said anything bad about them, so maybe you should try them Brock.