BMW Repair Portland
MINI Repair Portland

Ten years ago, in the summer of 2010, we had the pleasure of being the reception hub for the Z8 Club’s annual driving tour. Members had their e52 BMW Z8s shipped directly to Pacific Motorsports, where we received, inspected, stored and serviced them prior to their owners’ arrival in Portland. Articles were written and published about this event in both the BMW Car Club of America’s January 2011 cover issue of Roundel Magazine and in the (International) BMW Z8 Club e. V. Magazin (German language only). It was a great honor for all of us here at Pacific Motorsports to have been entrusted with so many rare and beautiful cars. The confidence that our clients place in us is greatly appreciated.  

As with everything we do at Pacific Motorsports, we believe in answering the question of, “Why my BMW AC isn’t working” with a proper diagnosis. The air conditioning system contains a number of components, routed together with hoses, valves, and fittings, none of which are inexpensive.  There are many opportunities for something to go wrong in an air conditioning system, regardless of age. So, if you are experiencing a lack of sufficiently cool air, or worse. Let us properly diagnose why. Some of the most common reasons BMW and MINI air conditioning systems don’t work include: A/C Leak There is currently an insufficient amount of refrigerant in the system, sometimes noticeable as a hissing sound in the dash area of your BMW or MINI. It may have leaked out to the point where the system is incapable of functioning as designed. The cause may be a leak ... read more

We have people stop by to admire our clients’ classic BMWs all the time. These cars evoke nostalgia and pleasant memories of days gone by, and they’re just not as common as they once were. They also reached the bottom of their respective depreciation curves years ago, and have been steadily trending up ever since. This upward trend has been particularly dramatic with the 1983-1992 (in the U.S.) e30 chassis 3 series cars. What were once plentiful used cars in the $1,000-5,000 range are now $7,000 to $30,000, and up aspirational and collector cars. With BMW’s original M3, the now-iconic e30 M3, going for $75,000 to over one hundred thousand dollars now. Due to our long-time expertise with these cars, Hagerty Insurance called to interview us about them for their, “Your Definitive 1982-94 BMW E30 3 Series Buyers Guide” published last year. After all, we’ve done ... read more

Owning and enjoying vehicles 20 or more years old on a regular basis has its own charms and challenges. Higher mileage due to use is the obvious situation but isn’t necessarily a negative. These are some of the things that one can expect from those that service these cars.  First of all, they’re fun to drive, as you actually drive the car. We fondly refer to them as “analog cars”, as electronic aids and systems are, for the most part, absent. Steering and road feel, for example, are greater than most new cars, too (electric power steering, anyone?). The fun-to-drive factor, in addition to style and personal preference considerations, are the primary reasons we hear from our clientele about why they own and drive the cars they do. As I often say, cars are all about emotion, they don’t make rational sense, so drive what brings you pleasure. These cars present a differe ... read more

We finally closed on our building in October 2004 and needed to establish utility service. Since we were coming from a Pacific Power service area, we needed to open an account with Portland General Electric. As I had renewably sourced power at home since the inception of that program, I asked for it for our new shop, presuming it to be a simple procedure. After all, it is the right thing to do for our environment. The response from the PGE representative at that time was that we couldn’t have it because they didn’t have such a program for small businesses. Was that an acceptable answer? Of course not. Doing the right thing sometimes requires pushing through inconvenience and persevering. I told the representative that even though such a program wasn’t currently available that I still wanted it. “You and I both know you’re going to have a renewable energy program for small businesses one of these days, so why don’t you go to your boss and tell them ... read more

When I think of customers I think of commercial transactions where someone is trading money for something in a brief exchange, like buying candy. You may not buy your candy at one place exclusively either, nor be willing to drive across town in order to acquire it. The transitory nature of the exchange, coupled with a focus on convenience as a primary determiner, are hallmarks of the customer mindset. Additionally, the vendor may not interact much, if at all, with the customer, as a purely commercial transaction doesn’t require any kind of relationship. A client is someone with whom a long-term relationship can be forged, and one that includes shared history and knowledge. Doctors and accountants are the kinds of vendors or service providers that are often associated with such a long-term professional relationship. We purposefully choose to see the same doctor and utilize the same accountant because history and knowledge of a situation are valu ... read more

Current Condition, or Post-Purchase Inspection So, you've recently acquired a car and it is making a noise, or a light has come on, or you otherwise wonder what condition its in, what can you do?  At Pacific Motorsports we offer our clientele the opportunity to have their vehicles inspected by our BMW and MINI factory-trained Level 1 Master Technicians. These thorough inspections, similar to Pre-Purchase Inspections we perform for those looking at purchasing a used vehicle, provide everyone with the knowledge of the vehicle's current condition.  If the quality of your driving experience, as well as peace of mind, is something you value, give us a call and see why our exclusive specialization ... read more

“Consumer Reports members reported greater satisfaction with independent mechanics, overall, than members who took their cars to most chain auto repair stores or local dealerships,” is how the Consumer Reports Member Survey titled “Auto Repair Shop Rankings” in the February 2019 issue begins. “Customers who had their vehicle repaired at local, independent repair shops had the most positive experiences.” These are not new findings to us and our clients here at Pacific Motorsports. It underscores the gulf between the service and professionalism offered by those whose reputation is bestowed from a corporation above and those of us who have to earn it every day. Come see why the focused specialization on BMW and MINI vehicles allow us to provide A Higher ... read more

Would you go see your neighbor the dermatologist if you were having migraines? They’re convenient and went to medical school, after all. Is that a Best Practice approach to life? It’s amazing how many people engage in a similar thought process when it comes to their automobile, thinking that any mechanic can repair any car. It’s possible, given enough time and trial and error, that that could happen. But, with all of the specialized knowledge, tools and computer diagnostic equipment required to properly service today’s complex vehicles, the chances aren’t great. We believe in specialization here at Pacific Motorsports, because we don’t believe that everybody can do everything in today’s increasingly complicated world. Everybody doesn’t have the training, experience, information, equipment, facility or orientation to do everything. That’s why up ... read more