San Diego Mini Cooper Independent Garage

Feb 22, 2024

Came into this shop to get a quote on my car leaking oil. Owner was rude and commented how i was leaking car oil in his shop. He ended up lookin at the car less than half an hour and quoted a higher amount then another mechanic that i previously talked to. Ended up getting charged a couple hundred bucks for a quote. Save your money and avoid this scumbag.

Jan 22, 2024

Mack and his team were so professional and thorough. I saw the reviews before I brought my car in for coolant issues, and I can say they deserve their high rating. When I got my car back it was cleaner than when I brought it, Mack went over everything with me in layman's terms, and I will definitely be back when the time comes for me to get services done.

Nov 22, 2023

Great job!

Nov 22, 2023

Purchased an R53 recently and immediately brought it to Mac and his team for a full diagnostic and repair. Ultimately, I was sold a beater but Mac and his team was able to get everything fixed and running like new. Their knowledge of MINIs and usage of high quality OEM parts makes working with them an obvious choice. It is common knowledge that these platforms are money pits once their age gets up there, so my only advice is acknowledging the costs associated with maintaining your MINI so Mac can work with you to find a deal that fits you. I can now drive my car like I stole it with confidence. Thank you Mac and the team!

Nov 22, 2023

This shop is amazing! They fixed my car after I had exhausted all attempts to fix it at the dealership and several other shops. The owner is full of experience and knows his cars. After the repair was done, they also recommended the past due services which was pricey, but after finding out what all was done I realized it was actually a super good deal and now my car runs like the firtst day I purchased it. I highly recommend this place for any Mini Cooper repairs.

Nov 22, 2022

Based on my experience, I would highly recommend just going to the dealership and avoiding these guys. I have a 2017 Mini Cooper S and move to the area about 3 months ago. I have some extensive maintenance coming up (spark plugs and fuel filter) so I was looking for a new shop to hopefully avoid dealership so I just called this place to ask about resetting my oil change interval light. I had looked at a YouTube video and it seemed really easy but I couldn't get it to work. After some lame beating around the bush I finally asked him directly and he specifically said he CAN'T (won't) give me that information over the phone! Told me to go to a dealership.. Extremely rude! Literally 10 second explanation (I finally figured it out before you start the car tap the trip button twice then hold to bring up maintenance interval options!) But wanted me to drive my car in 50 miles before he would utter two sentences for free. Anybody this greedy and desperate for your money you need to stay far away from. I have never experienced anything like it in my life and I have had a lot of vehicles. Just go to the dealership!

Nov 22, 2022

I have a Mini Countryman and the turbo went out. Replacing the turbo and a list of other parts associated with the turbo was a couple grand less than the dealership was going to charge me for just the turbo. San Diego Mini Cooper Independent Garage explained everything about my car and the repairs in detail and in a way I could understand. They also took pictures along the way so I could see what they were doing with my car. They offered to give me the broken parts at the end of the job which I thought was very professional. That action assured me they were not hiding anything and ripping me off. The shop was very quick to get the job done, easy to work with, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who has a European car. I am very happy with the quality work they did. They even steam cleaned my entire engine compartment. I’m so glad I found them and I will definitely be using this shop again for future maintenance and repairs.

Nov 22, 2022

Mack is by far one of the most honest mechanics I've ever been to. He is a straight to the point, no BS kind of guy and I dig it. I purchased a used R56 at 132k miles (only put 1k miles on it so far) and did a lot of work on it myself (timing chain, heat exchange gaskets, etc.), but I went to him for a coolant flush because I was just done and I wanted an expert eye to pretty much do an overview. The previous owner put yellow coolant and I was not in the mood to do a full coolant flush/replace to oem blue. After Mack was finished, he told me everything I needed to do to keep the R56 running in tip top shape, how to not burn as much oil, replacement parts I shouldn't worry about unless there are clear signs they are needed, etc. We chatted for a bit and I can tell he's a good guy. I would recommend him for any Mini/European car repair. My sister has an R56 as well, so if I'm not in the mood to work on it I will direct her to him.

Nov 22, 2021

Fabulous. Owner manager Mack is 10 out of 10 stars.

Nov 22, 2021

I am new to San Diego and had just bought a Mini Cooper before moving. When it started having problems I had no idea what to do as a first time mini owner. I am so glad I came to Mack! He was very thorough in explaining what was going wrong and had a no bs attitude. As a college student I was worried about what I was going to end up spending but he kept the cost low and made sure to break everything down for me. I couldn’t be happier with the experience! He was extremely helpful and had everything fixed for a great price! He was very friendly, getting to talk with him while my oil was being changed was a bonus! I will be returning for all my needs as long as I’m in San Diego, absolutely recommend!

Nov 22, 2021

I had a painting done two years ago in this place. Recently my car got some damage on the same spot and went to a different body shop. The technician there showed me how poorly the painting was done before. Not sure how to describe it though.

Nov 22, 2021

I have been taking my Mini to Mac for a few years and I’m so happy I found him! I appreciate that he is a fellow veteran and is trustworthy in his pricing. I was very frazzled over a major engine issue, but he took the time to show me the parts that went bad and thoroughly explained the work that was done. Mac educated me about my car and ensured I knew how to check the oil properly. Oil changes are performed quickly and COVID guidelines are adhered to. It’s always stressful when you have a car issue, but I always trust that Mac will have my back!

Nov 22, 2021

I recently purchased a 2002 Mini Cooper S and wanted to have a proper shop take a look and see if anything needed immediate attention. Mack was very knowledgeable and took the time to properly explain each and every part that needed repair or replacing to give me a better understanding of what needed to be done and why. He was very straightforward and gave me good suggestions on repairs for the car instead of just telling me to fix everything to get more money out of me. They were quick to diagnose and repair any problems and I was able to get back on the road in no time. I was very impressed by the service and their helpful approach to fixing what was absolutely necessary on my car compared to other shops who just want to replace everything and get your money. I will definitely return to the this shop for anything that needs to be done on my Mini Cooper.

Nov 22, 2021

I'm shocked to find an honest garage. Most people going here are enthusiasts, and I fee like they have forgotten more than I will ever know about my Mini. This place is a rare find.

Nov 22, 2021

Professional knowledgeable quality work

Nov 22, 2021

The best service I’ve ever received in any mechanic. They were sincere, fair, upfront, and actually cared about me- something that seems rare of service places these days.I’m going to keep going to them from now on for my car needs. I Absolutely recommend this place, and the gentleman who helped me- Mack. Total life saver!!

Nov 22, 2021

This is by far the most honest and fair mechanic I’ve seen throughout any state. He not only explained everything to me in layman’s terms but he also offered to show me with pictures. Don’t waste your time taking your Mini to a dealership to get ripped off. I got my timing chain fixed and a few other gaskets replaced and would never dream of going anywhere else again. Ask for Mack.

Nov 22, 2021

This is the best, most honorable, and knowledgeable shop. Highly recommend you take you car here. I am thankful for their service.

Nov 22, 2020

I have taken my mini there a few times now and every time I’ve received great service. The owner is very knowledgeable and sincere. He’s even done extra work at no charge because he wanted my car to be the best it could be. I will definitely continue to take my car there.

Nov 22, 2020

I just called to get a quote and Mac told me this business is not interested in customers who are “shopping around”, that they have enough customers already. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I told him that was awful customer experience and he said they were too busy. When I asked for his last name he said “you’ll have to live with Mac”. I didn’t get to experience their actual service because they’re not interested in my business, but definitely do not recommend their customer service. I’m pretty bummed out because they had great ratings on yelp...

Nov 22, 2020

I've taken my mini here multiple time and Mac takes care of me every time. I came here because I bought a mini off of craigslist and it stalled 4 days later on a freeway exit. Immediately he knew what the problem was and was able to fix it with an oil change. He make sure to have me come in at 500 and 1,000 miles to make sure the oil wasn't getting eaten up. The first time it was so he put an additive to slow it down. My car is running so much nicer. I am and will continue to come back here for service on my car

Nov 22, 2020

I’m so happy with my experience with these mechanics. I was at my last straw with taking my car to other shops and finally I was able to find these guys who did honest good work. They were super funny and welcoming. They communicated well and did things in a timely manner. I thought I was going to be without a car for weeks but within days my car was fixed and is still running great. I’m super satisfied with my service and highly recommend them. I know I will definitely go back if I have any issues in the feature.

Nov 22, 2020

Mac fixed my Mini after someone hit it in a parking lot. He did a great job. Was a nice guy. I tried to continue my business with him. He mocked me. Tried to tell me how much a Tech makes an hour, when I was requesting a maybe 10 minute install. Then, proceeded to mock and tamper with what I was requesting. And finished off with, "ha ha you didn't even leave me a review." Well, here it is. Very unprofessional. Very derogatory. Very dismissive. Very misogynistic. Will not return.

Nov 22, 2020

Mac is the most trustworthy and reliable mechanic I have ever had the opportunity to meet. Sadly I have had bad experiences with catching crooked mechanics taking advantage of me and my family in the past. Mac is the kind of mechanic that if want to see the parts they replaced, he'll have them waiting for you. If he says hes going to fix something at a price. He is going fix that issue at that price. He is straight to the point and completely honest in everything he does. If you have a mini cooper or any other car this shop works on, go here.

Nov 22, 2020

Mack and the techs there are extremely knowledgeable. They sorted my mini perfectly as other shops were not able to. Car drives and feels like new now.

Nov 22, 2020

These guys helped me so much with my Mini Cooper. I have struggled with my car for so long and had a previous mechanic who was highly recommended but my car kept breaking down. Finally I was able to take it here out of desperation and felt as if it was my last attempt trying to fix this car. When they started on my car and the work they put in it I could tell the solid knowledge. I knew I was in good hands. I realized that the job they were previous doing was not professional work compared to these guys. I can’t thank them enough.

Nov 22, 2020

Took Mini Cooper country man here due to engine malfunctioning and car wouldn’t start. Mechanic had diagnosed the issue and fixed the car within a week. Very reliable and trustworthy. Would definitely bring my car back.

Nov 22, 2019

Mack is the man!

Nov 22, 2019

Superb customer service and brilliant mechanics. SD Mini not only has the experts of experts but also do it right. Hands down the best shop experience in my 20+ years of owning vehicles. Mack is genuine, honest and an all around car enthusiast. He cares about the vehicle bumper to bumper. I took a Mini and a Honda to this place, both which are at least 10 years old and have 100k miles and were looking a bit worn. Mack and his crew did their magic and I was floored! It was like love at first sight when I saw my vehicles. They looked brand new, inside and out and run like a charm. My family (of 5) and I spent nearly 30 minutes admiring the detailed job they did. Folks, don't go anywhere else with your car but here. Invest in your car at SD Mini and your mind will be at ease. Thanks a million times to Mack and his crew!

Nov 22, 2019

I brought my 2005 Mini Cooper S (R53) in after I had a mechanic much less familiar with Mini Coopers than I would have liked service my car to unsatisfactory results. The kind folks at the Independent Garage took time out of their day to examine what I was concerned with on my car, and instead of taking advantage of my situation, they provided me with advice and reassurance pertaining to my vehicle, which in their opinion, wasn't exhibiting the issues that I thought it was. The peace of mind was well worth it. In the future, although it may cost a little extra than other shops, I know for a fact that this shop is experienced with these peculiar little cars, whereas other shops claim to be but seem to be full of hot air.

Nov 22, 2019

This is the best repair shop for MINI Cooper and all European cars. I've been taking my MINI here since 2012 when I needed a clutch replacement on my 2004 MINI Cooper S. The price was so much lower than the dealers quote. Since then, I've had all of my service completed here. I've also referred all of my friends to come here including BMW owners and even Toyota owners. They'll take great care of you.

Nov 22, 2019

Wonderful, helpful and they will let you know what needs to be done - They are honest and trustworthy. They do a wonderful job and I will continue to take my car there for service.