State of the Art Equipment - That other shops only dream about or don't want to spend the money to get. So we can get your car fixed faster!. If your car breaks down on the road and you want to tow it to our shop, you only get charged what the tow guy charges us- no mark-ups. We worked out a deal you so it's cheaper than the regular rates they charge other shops. We would rather help you than make money on tow jobs!
Services
I remember 1988, Over 30 years ago ("Wow time flies when your having fun!") when the idea first hit me to open my own shop. I remember thinking how incredible it was going be having my own business. The idea seemed bigger than life itself. After all, instead of repairing cars at someone else's shop, I'd have hundreds or even thousands of cars to repair and be responsible for.
Reward Dollars: With every purchase, earn a percentage of your invoiced amount added to your Rewards Card to use towards future purchases. Community Outreach / Charitable Giving: You may donate a portion of your Reward Dollars to local and national charities. Watch your email for your opportunity to donate.
We challenge you to find another Twin Cities auto repair shop that is this thorough, even among the dealers!. Before we even start working on your car we'll listen to what you have to say about what's wrong! Our experience lets us ask questions that help narrow down what may be wrong, even if it's over the phone.
Reviews (31)
Debbie Blesi
Jun 21, 2022
Sarah Reid
May 23, 2022
Lydia Felice
Mar 18, 2022
Took my 2011 Volvo S60 to Uptown Imports for a cooling module repair. I went to another shop first for diagnostic & due to interaction with staff & price quoted I went to Uptown Imports for second opinion. I got my car fixed for half the price quoted from other shop! I was given a loaner car for the few days they had my car. Dana is amazing, on top of everything. Clean professional space. Great customer service. Highly recommend!
Afolabi Runsewe
Jan 18, 2022
Uptown Imports has a very knowledgeable staff that will explain exactly what's wrong with your vehicle. If you have a BMW, don't hesitate to bring it to UI. They did a great job of replacing my oil filter cap. The reason I brought my vehicle to UI was because another shop did an oil change and transmission flush on my X5 and when I picked it up and paid the check engine light was on.
The other shop said the light was on when I dropped it off, which was incorrect. After UI found out what was wrong and fixed my car (oil filter cap) the other shop took ownership and reimbursed me. Like I said, everyone I talked to at UI was able to explain exactly what the issue was and they did a great job repairing my vehicle. Thank you for the professional and honest business!
The other shop said the light was on when I dropped it off, which was incorrect. After UI found out what was wrong and fixed my car (oil filter cap) the other shop took ownership and reimbursed me. Like I said, everyone I talked to at UI was able to explain exactly what the issue was and they did a great job repairing my vehicle. Thank you for the professional and honest business!
Andrew Cummins
Jan 07, 2022
Logan Clabaugh
Jan 05, 2022
Won't be returning to this shop. Brought my Volvo in after hitting a curb. They inspected the damage and ultimately I paid to fix a bent wheel and for an alignment. When I received the car back the steering wheel was off-center and there was a humming sound. Both are issues I had when I brought the car in initially. I take it back to the shop and they say the wheel bearing needs replaced.
Somehow this wasn't caught on the first inspection. Needless to say I was without my car for longer than expected. The staff were kind and accommodating but after having my car improperly aligned and damage missed on inspection, I don't have a lot of confidence in this shop.
Somehow this wasn't caught on the first inspection. Needless to say I was without my car for longer than expected. The staff were kind and accommodating but after having my car improperly aligned and damage missed on inspection, I don't have a lot of confidence in this shop.
Ty
Dec 28, 2021
Sam Ibes
Nov 25, 2021
Absolutely love this place! I know when my e46 is there that it's in good hands. Dana is always on the ball with getting my appointment made and keeping me updated and the mechanics (shout out to Clayton!) are the best around. Having tried a few other BMW shops around town it feels good to have found the place I can rely on and trust. Services: Auto engine diagnostic, Tires, Oil change, General repairs & maintenance, Engine repair, Steering & suspension repair, Wheel alignment, Brake service & repair, Auto engine tuning
Y. Walker
Oct 31, 2021
Louis Ling
Jul 30, 2021
The circulating fan in the dashboard was not working for mysterious reasons and while it has not yet been fixed, it was diagnosed and a reasonable estimate was made and hopefully it should be easy to fix once the part arrives. The process has been smooth so far. Follow up is that the dealer no longer had parts BU Dana and Nila hunted around and found another supplier. They called me and it was fixed pronto. These guys deserve six stars.
Tyler Clayton
Apr 27, 2021
Excellent customer service. No BS quotes and they give rock solid advice. Been keeping a 2007 Saab alive with their shop for a while now - practically nobody knows how to work on those anymore. John is a no nonsense business owner & very knowledgeable mechanic. This shop has NO local competition in my mind. Dealership style service for corner shop prices. 10/10!
Mike A.
Mar 31, 2021
Joe
Dec 01, 2020
I brought my subi in for an oil change and asked that they check out the dash codes. My first call back included $300 of work to investigate concerns. I'd prefer that they had called and let me know about a bill that high before moving forward with the work. What is more concerning is that they provided an estimate that had several unexpected items to fix marked as "severe" indicating that they would need immediate replacement.
The total cost of these repairs would be over 3k. I decided to pick up my car and get another opinion at the Subaru dealership where they provided a thorough estimate and overview of what should be replaced and what was simply showing some general wear and found that Uptown had marked 3 repairs as "severe" that Subaru did not feel was necessary at all.
A positive experience with Uptown was that Dana was fantastic on the customer service side. The drastic difference in the estimates is more than enough to tell me that I can't trust bringing my vehicle here.
The total cost of these repairs would be over 3k. I decided to pick up my car and get another opinion at the Subaru dealership where they provided a thorough estimate and overview of what should be replaced and what was simply showing some general wear and found that Uptown had marked 3 repairs as "severe" that Subaru did not feel was necessary at all.
A positive experience with Uptown was that Dana was fantastic on the customer service side. The drastic difference in the estimates is more than enough to tell me that I can't trust bringing my vehicle here.
James D.
Jan 05, 2020
I took my old Swedish car to Uptown Imports several times over the last couple of years. This last year they completely redid my brakes and my exhaust (as well as some other things). 1. Breaks: left and immediately heard some faint screeching and whirling noises at low speed. Took it back the next day--they couldn't hear anything. Picked the car up, drove down the street, heard it again. Took it back as soon as I could.
They still couldn't hear anything.maybe the dust flaps? they suggested. This went on two more times. I would give them VERY specific details. It can be heard at low speeds; it seems more noisy on colder morning; if you're in a parking garage, it is quite loud; roll down the front passenger window and drive below 20 MPH. Still, they claimed to not hear anything. Friends were commenting on the noise as we drove down the street; people in other cars would look over; but still they couldn't hear a thing.
They never did fix the noise. I gave up on them. It was obvious that they didn't want to fix whatever they did. I eventually just sold the car with the noise. FYI: this brake job cost me about $3k. 2. Exhaust: had them replace exhaust and muffler. Everything seemed ok, but soon realized that my exhaust was leaking when the person to whom I was selling my car pointed it out.
That job cost me a could thousand dollars. 3. Three years ago they wanted to charge me $1000 to fix a steering fluid leak. Went to Jerry at Foreign Auto Specialties: $400 (if only Jerry didn't speak to everyone like they were stupid a-holes!) 4. And on top of this, they charge you for a diagnostic EVEN when you come in based on their recommendations for repairs! WTF?
They tell you explicitly what needs to be fixed, and then charge you over $50 to diagnose AGAIN what needs to be fixed. These guys are over priced, they nickel and dime you, and their work is shotty at best. If you own a European car, just put up with Jerry's attitude at Foreign Auto Specialty. He's horrible to deal with, but he's honest and he won't try to screw you over.
They still couldn't hear anything.maybe the dust flaps? they suggested. This went on two more times. I would give them VERY specific details. It can be heard at low speeds; it seems more noisy on colder morning; if you're in a parking garage, it is quite loud; roll down the front passenger window and drive below 20 MPH. Still, they claimed to not hear anything. Friends were commenting on the noise as we drove down the street; people in other cars would look over; but still they couldn't hear a thing.
They never did fix the noise. I gave up on them. It was obvious that they didn't want to fix whatever they did. I eventually just sold the car with the noise. FYI: this brake job cost me about $3k. 2. Exhaust: had them replace exhaust and muffler. Everything seemed ok, but soon realized that my exhaust was leaking when the person to whom I was selling my car pointed it out.
That job cost me a could thousand dollars. 3. Three years ago they wanted to charge me $1000 to fix a steering fluid leak. Went to Jerry at Foreign Auto Specialties: $400 (if only Jerry didn't speak to everyone like they were stupid a-holes!) 4. And on top of this, they charge you for a diagnostic EVEN when you come in based on their recommendations for repairs! WTF?
They tell you explicitly what needs to be fixed, and then charge you over $50 to diagnose AGAIN what needs to be fixed. These guys are over priced, they nickel and dime you, and their work is shotty at best. If you own a European car, just put up with Jerry's attitude at Foreign Auto Specialty. He's horrible to deal with, but he's honest and he won't try to screw you over.
Jacquie T.
Nov 05, 2019
You know a shop is solid when you have a $3000+ repair bill and you leave happy. Long story short, my girlfriend bought a used 2006 Mini Cooper. It worker for about four hours, we knew it had a leak in the sunroof but didn't know to what extent it damaged the vehicle. Well, it was a LOT. We checked out some online reviews of Uptown Imports and I knew some people who had their vehicles fixed here and decided this was the best pricing for severe repairs on an import. Uptown Imports specializes in repairing BMW, Mini, Volvo and other imports.
We towed the car from like 40 miles away and they were able to check out the Mini right away and give a rundown about the numerous issues. We had issues from neglect, water damage, and plain old Older Car syndrome (it's a 2006). We got a call back SO QUICK from Dana who explained all the issues it was having and also what needed to be explored to rule out other common car issues.
When you have a totally dead car you've only had a couple hours, the mechanic really is your only insight into the vehicle's issues. With imports, you have to pay to play. It's a fact. But having a mechanic who explains *why* the fancy computer that controls half the stuff on your vehicle absolutely cannot be an aftermarket part eases the pain of paying for authorized new parts. [In cause you are wondering, Minis are super fine-tuned when it comes to electronics and buying a used computer pulled from another Mini means you have a part that will never be comparable with your car as it cannot be reprogrammed.
So that saved us the ass-ache of trying to fix it on the cheap and failing, which would have happened.] If you're a woman, you'll be treated with dignity and respect here. The owner is super friendly and took the time to show us what was wrong with several parts to the suspension we had replaced. I appreciated the notes the mechanics put on your paperwork.
They include part numbers, diagnostic reports complete with any error codes found. They work with trusted parts suppliers, and indicate if further diagnostics are required to get a repair plan for your concerns. You never truly know what you're getting when you buy a used import, but when you have your vehicle looked at by Uptown Imports, you know they're going to fix it right the first time.
We towed the car from like 40 miles away and they were able to check out the Mini right away and give a rundown about the numerous issues. We had issues from neglect, water damage, and plain old Older Car syndrome (it's a 2006). We got a call back SO QUICK from Dana who explained all the issues it was having and also what needed to be explored to rule out other common car issues.
When you have a totally dead car you've only had a couple hours, the mechanic really is your only insight into the vehicle's issues. With imports, you have to pay to play. It's a fact. But having a mechanic who explains *why* the fancy computer that controls half the stuff on your vehicle absolutely cannot be an aftermarket part eases the pain of paying for authorized new parts. [In cause you are wondering, Minis are super fine-tuned when it comes to electronics and buying a used computer pulled from another Mini means you have a part that will never be comparable with your car as it cannot be reprogrammed.
So that saved us the ass-ache of trying to fix it on the cheap and failing, which would have happened.] If you're a woman, you'll be treated with dignity and respect here. The owner is super friendly and took the time to show us what was wrong with several parts to the suspension we had replaced. I appreciated the notes the mechanics put on your paperwork.
They include part numbers, diagnostic reports complete with any error codes found. They work with trusted parts suppliers, and indicate if further diagnostics are required to get a repair plan for your concerns. You never truly know what you're getting when you buy a used import, but when you have your vehicle looked at by Uptown Imports, you know they're going to fix it right the first time.
Linda W.
Nov 16, 2018
Dishonest and disorganized! Took our Volvo in for a check engine light. Waited a day and a half to hear back on what was wrong. We never heard so I called. Gave him my email address 3 times but couldn't seem to get me an estimate. He told me he'd found $1800.00 in repairs, many of them minor issues. I explained when I called that this was a car for a college student, not an expensive sports car!
He made me pay $150.00 in diagnostic fees just to get the car back. I then took the car to another, more honest mechanic in the Minneapolis area who said it just needed an oil change and that the car was in excellent condition!
He made me pay $150.00 in diagnostic fees just to get the car back. I then took the car to another, more honest mechanic in the Minneapolis area who said it just needed an oil change and that the car was in excellent condition!
Wendy R.
Feb 13, 2018
Lorraine R.
Sep 14, 2017
I'm so glad I brought my car here. I drive an older lexus SUV and even though the car started after it was towed here, John the owner worked meticulously to figure out what the problem was with no help from any diagnostic codes. I was so glad he did as he figured out it was the air sensor and I felt very comfortable driving it back to Chicago than Louisville! The car is still starting up like a charm.
Paul L.
Jun 07, 2017
I had just moved to town and my Volvo needed regular service. Found Uptown Auto by chance and made an initial visit to check things out. I was used to dealing with an independent mechanic as opposed to a dealer so I think I knew what questions to ask. Andi was just great and set up an appointment. During the harsh winter ( I know you guys think this winter was easy) I had a few alerts come up on the car. Called Andi and she said bring it over.
They looked at it over lunch time and voila, the issues were resolved. Same thing a few weeks later when the alert came on for bulb replacement. Again called Andi, she said bring it over. Went over during the same day and they pulled it in, fixed the bulb and discovered another one out. Fixed that too. In my opinion, they are the go to guys (and ladies.yeah Andi!) for honest repairs.
They looked at it over lunch time and voila, the issues were resolved. Same thing a few weeks later when the alert came on for bulb replacement. Again called Andi, she said bring it over. Went over during the same day and they pulled it in, fixed the bulb and discovered another one out. Fixed that too. In my opinion, they are the go to guys (and ladies.yeah Andi!) for honest repairs.
Elga T.
Apr 28, 2016
I get my car serviced and maintenance completed at uptown imports. I need synthetic oil changes and their prices are very fair. I actually drive from Uptown, to their new location, which isn't too far away, but I definitely pass a multitude of other shops on the way. I actually tried a shop much closer to my house, and they left my oil cap off, and needless to say, it was a disaster, so I decided never to stray from Uptown Imports again.
I drive a Subaru, and I want a repair shop that uses Subaru parts and will care for my car well. Everyone is professional and organized. John the owner seems to really care about his business and the quality of the work performed, which is not always the case.
I drive a Subaru, and I want a repair shop that uses Subaru parts and will care for my car well. Everyone is professional and organized. John the owner seems to really care about his business and the quality of the work performed, which is not always the case.
Jernell M.
Apr 24, 2016
Love this place! I've had my Mercedes-Benz serviced here twice and each time we've gotten great results. They are always timely, reasonably priced and very knowledgeable about import cars. Because this location is fairly new, I'd never heard of Uptown Imports until they moved the this north side location. I was a tad bit reluctant, but after giving them a shot, I wouldn't go anywhere else for service. The staff is also very friendly too! I will be calling Monday to schedule my routine oil change.
Jake D.
Jan 11, 2016
Super professional and straight forward automotive mechanic shop. They diagnosed an ABS problem on my 2013 Subaru Crosstrek, showed me a multi page print out of all that was done and what error codes were showing with repairs done. Very transparent and no upselling me on further work, other than some suggestions on the automated printout. Met the owner John, seemed like a really nice guy, so was dave the service attendant, and even the guy who did our service came out and told us what he did to the car, definitely made me want to come back and make this my go to shop from now on.
I am perpetually reading reviews and read some of the other reviews for this shop, especially the one with the woman who said they gave her too much information.lol Really? You can't please everyone obviously! I used to work for car dealers, this is better service than you would get at the dealer any day.
I am perpetually reading reviews and read some of the other reviews for this shop, especially the one with the woman who said they gave her too much information.lol Really? You can't please everyone obviously! I used to work for car dealers, this is better service than you would get at the dealer any day.
Erling A.
Jul 16, 2015
Ryan J.
Jan 24, 2015
Upon my first visit, mar car ran noticeably better, but that's not the best part. For the next month, I was discovering small things they'd fixed or corrected without charge, or even mention. They 'unstuck' my hatch lever, re-set my clock, fixed a remote issue I was having, and a few other small issues. What a month! I've returned multiple times since, and always treated with excellent service.
Sean N.
Sep 11, 2014
The worst aspect I will mention: THE JUNK MAIL! Don't ever become a customer or, wherever you move, they will send you JUNK MAIL like no buddy's business. The tone of their mails is also annoying and demanding: "We're waiting for you." Are you serious? I've since moved to Los Angeles and they continue to send me mail saying my car is due for service.
I don't know how they got my address, but obviously they feel as though you're married to them for life if you get one service. I'll just give 2 stars because I thought the service was ok and thorough (though I'm suspicious, like a few other reviews), that too many repairs were encouraged.
I don't know how they got my address, but obviously they feel as though you're married to them for life if you get one service. I'll just give 2 stars because I thought the service was ok and thorough (though I'm suspicious, like a few other reviews), that too many repairs were encouraged.
Stephanie B.
Apr 13, 2014
I brought my Saab to this place on blind faith. Bad idea. Over $800 later and a fresh scrape on my car, I was told by them my car needed a new engine. (I was told by my next mechanic, the person I should have taken it to in the beginning, that they did some shoddy work. And he was appalled they charged me $800 plus to say the car needed a new engine.) I am very familiar with the body of my car.
I hand wash it often. That scrape was not there when I dropped the car off. They were not apologetic nor happy about fixing the scrape. But, they did fix. It took 2 weeks to have that repaired. Overall, it was a bad experience. I feel like I got ripped off and that the man I dealt with was less than honest. They told me they would put a new engine in for $7000. I got the job done for $3500 by a Saab expert. Never again will I step foot in Uptown Imports.
I hand wash it often. That scrape was not there when I dropped the car off. They were not apologetic nor happy about fixing the scrape. But, they did fix. It took 2 weeks to have that repaired. Overall, it was a bad experience. I feel like I got ripped off and that the man I dealt with was less than honest. They told me they would put a new engine in for $7000. I got the job done for $3500 by a Saab expert. Never again will I step foot in Uptown Imports.
Blake L.
Apr 03, 2013
It's not easy to find a mechanic that you can actually trust but I honestly feel like the guys at Uptown Imports are as genuine as you are going to find. In all of my experiences they have been extremely professional, diligent in explaining the repairs and reasonably priced. I have no reason to bring my car anywhere else.
Shana W.
Nov 21, 2011
Uptown Imports came recommended from a friend and I can see why. I made an appointment there to check out a used car before purchasing, and they spent about 2 hours going over every inch of the car. They take OCD to an entirely new level. I have to mention Matt. He is like a walking wikipedia when it comes to cars (except he seems to always be correct).
He answered all my questions, and even coached me on haggling and it was a total success. He also gave me a free travel mug and a bottle opener keychain, too :) The downside, if you could call it that, was the $100 charge. But that's comparable to similar shops in the cities and it did come with two hours of testing and the peace of mind of knowing my car isn't going to fall apart like a looney tunes car. Looking forward to seeing them for other services. Now I just have to get over my buyer's remorse. (I have to pay what for how many years?)
He answered all my questions, and even coached me on haggling and it was a total success. He also gave me a free travel mug and a bottle opener keychain, too :) The downside, if you could call it that, was the $100 charge. But that's comparable to similar shops in the cities and it did come with two hours of testing and the peace of mind of knowing my car isn't going to fall apart like a looney tunes car. Looking forward to seeing them for other services. Now I just have to get over my buyer's remorse. (I have to pay what for how many years?)
David P.
Apr 03, 2011
I have used Uptown Imports many times through the years and I can speak to their abilities and service as I've had several cars serviced there. Pros: John (owner) - very smart and has a keen eye to keeping the customer happy through surveys, promotions, etc. (both mail and online). Good, knowledgeable staff - knows what they are doing. Thorough explanation of what is wrong with the car and options to fix it.
Fair pricing Cons: John (owner) - can get testy and has been on more than one occasion. I usually just mark it up to the charm of the shop but it does get annoying. Overbooks - Have had several occasions when my car wasn't ready on time. On one occasion (my last) after I explicitly said I needed it *that day* following a minor repair I was told it wouldnt be ready until tomorrow (it was my only car).
So my review is decidedly mixed. While I won't take my car here again, John and his crew on the whole are good, talented folks that just seem to suffer a bit from their success.
Fair pricing Cons: John (owner) - can get testy and has been on more than one occasion. I usually just mark it up to the charm of the shop but it does get annoying. Overbooks - Have had several occasions when my car wasn't ready on time. On one occasion (my last) after I explicitly said I needed it *that day* following a minor repair I was told it wouldnt be ready until tomorrow (it was my only car).
So my review is decidedly mixed. While I won't take my car here again, John and his crew on the whole are good, talented folks that just seem to suffer a bit from their success.
Libby J.
Jan 02, 2011
I really appreciate this group of mechanics - they are honest, practical, reasonably priced, and won't try to upsell you (except for their car care club card, which is easy to decline). While I do most of my oil changes elsewhere to save $$, I take my Honda here annually for maintenance. They are great at explaining exactly what they found, why they recommend certain repairs, and what services/repairs are immediate needs versus things that can wait a bit.
Once they recommended a couple maintenance services that I had already had done by them in prior visits, so it helps to keep your own maintenance records as well (and compare them to your car's maintenance manual). The only downside of this shop is that their hours are bit more limited than other places that I've gone, which can make picking up your repaired car tricky if you work a strict 9-5 away from Uptown. But their location is convenient to bus/bike to, so it's easy to get around when your car is being worked on.
Once they recommended a couple maintenance services that I had already had done by them in prior visits, so it helps to keep your own maintenance records as well (and compare them to your car's maintenance manual). The only downside of this shop is that their hours are bit more limited than other places that I've gone, which can make picking up your repaired car tricky if you work a strict 9-5 away from Uptown. But their location is convenient to bus/bike to, so it's easy to get around when your car is being worked on.
Julie K.
Oct 29, 2010
Thank God I found these guys! They are everything other mechanics are not: Friendly, smiling, incredibly fast, and cheaper than Kline or Borton. In fact, they got the job done in half the time Kline quoted me. I have found my new mechanic for life! And yeah, they have free bottled water and K-Cups just like the fancy dealers.
