Talk to Us!

Okay. You’ve looked around and decided that we’re your “go to shop”. 

We couldn’t be more pleased. Honest. But to make this as easy as possible, it will be really helpful if you’ll actually talk to us about what the issues with your car are. You could just come in and say that your something-or-other is making a funny noise. Or you could say that when you’re driving around you smell something. Since we’re not actually in the car with you at the time you notice these things, the more specific you are, the better.

Don’t be afraid that you’re sounding neurotic or over-specific. (Life doles out neurotic moments for all of us, it seems.) Give us all the details you can muster. Just say that the smell is sweet, or like something is burning. A sweet smell could indicate a coolant leak. A burning smell could be from your brakes, or your clutch or an electrical short, or a few other things.

The funny noise. Is it a click or a squeal? Where is it coming from? Does it sound as if it’s inside or outside the car? The front or back, the right or left? This isn’t like that old TV show, “My Mother the Car”, but your car is talking to you. It’s telling you that something isn’t right. It could be coming from your transmission or the engine or the brakes. It could be something as simple as your parking brake being engaged and you didn’t notice. It could be your alternator or that something under the hood isn’t mounted correctly. The more information you can give us, the faster we will get to the problem.

If you don’t fully understand automotive technical terms, just tell us your problem in regular speak. You might unwittingly be sending us in the wrong direction if you try to dress up your complaint with jargon. Just lay it out for us, and we’ll get you fixed up.

We have been serving the Hollywood District and greater Portland-area for almost 30 years. We offer professional automotive service specializing in Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Acura, Volvo, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Audi, but we’re happy to take a look at whatever you’re driving. If we can’t help you, we’ll help you find someone who can.

We have the best mechanics in the business. No kidding. We’ll explain everything to you – in regular speak - and we’ll try to stay within your budget. We know all too well that car repairs can sometimes feel like a shock to the system. We’ll do what we can to sidestep that one.

We’ll always be here when you need us. Call Broadway Imports at 503.282.0817 if you want to schedule an appointment. Go ahead. Schedule an appointment today!

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Bring Your Car to Us or a Dealer?

In an earlier post we told you some ways to choose the best mechanic for your car. But we keep hearing that a lot of people don’t know if they should use an independent shop like ours, or go to a dealership. We’re on it!

Consumer Reports writes on its website, (the italics are ours), “Our annual survey of Consumer Reports subscribers found that independents outscored dealership service once again for overall satisfaction, price, quality, courteousness of the staff, and work being completed when promised. With few exceptions, the entire list of independent shops got high marks on those factors. The same couldn’t be said for franchised new-car dealers. The one automaker that outscored the independent shops was the electric car-maker Tesla, which earned high praise for its on-time repairs, courtesy, price, quality, and overall satisfaction.” We heartily applaud Tesla, a car that we actually don’t service. In case you were wondering.

If your car is new, or fairly new, and is under warranty it’s only natural to take it back to the dealership. Once the warranty expires you can feel free to look around. When you start to look at independents you’ll almost always find places that are more personal, less expensive, and that will work harder to keep your business. At dealerships the service managers make a commission on the parts and labor. We don’t work that way. We’ll tell you what your car needs and why. And that’s it. And since we’re not a dealer, we can sometimes use parts that might save you some money. We know what we’re doing, or we won’t do the work.

When you come in to an independent garage you’ll likely meet the owner and the mechanic(s) if you’d like to. It’s not like waiting in line at the dealership, for however long it takes, and only meeting the person who set your appointment. We like to think that we’re friendlier. And if your car starts making a noise while you’re out and about and you drop in on us with a little bit of terror in your eyes, we’ll do our best to take care of you. On the spot. That’s what friends are for.

We have been serving the Hollywood District and greater Portland-area for almost 30 years. We offer professional automotive service specializing in Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Acura, Volvo, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Audi, but we’re happy to take a look at whatever you’re driving. Except for that Tesla.

We have the best mechanics in the business. Our goal is to fix the problem the first time, and we want to do it right. We’ll explain everything to you and we’ll try to stay within your budget. We know all too well that car repairs can sometimes be a not so great budget surprise.

We’ll always be here when you need us. Call Broadway Imports at 503.282.0817 if you want to schedule an appointment. Go ahead. Schedule an appointment today!

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Get a Look at this Wreck!

This is what can happen when a high performance car and an 18-year-old driver hit the road. The driver was out street racing with his dad’s M3 and got a little behind on his coordination, you could say. Hot tip for wanna be race car drivers: There are really nice places called race tracks. They have lots of room and far fewer things to hit. Go there to drive fast. It’s what they’re made for.

So what do car guys do when a lower mileage hot rod like this becomes available? Well, we snatched it up and thought “what can we do with this?” After tossing a bunch of ideas around we decided to swap this into a station wagon. We did a little internet research and made our plan. This wreck would become the donor for a sleeper family wagon.

We found a suitable wagon and got to work. This was basically a bolt in swap. We used a 2002 BMW 325 wagon that will take all of the M3 hardware. Due to the genius of German engineering the chassis platforms are an evolutionary type and sports models are descended from run-of-the-mill cars/platforms. So in short, you can bolt all of the hot rod parts into a standard grocery getter without having to reinvent the wheel.

You can follow along here:

• We removed the motor and transmission.
• We serviced the M3 motor while it was out, and then slipped it right in where the old motor used to be.
• Then we sent the ECU computer out to have it coded to the car, including having the instrument cluster and light control module coded so that everything works like it came straight from the factory.
• We swapped over the rear differential drive line and installed a rear sub-frame reinforcement kit. 
• We swapped over the bigger brakes from the M3, since with more “go” it’s always a good idea to have more “whoa”.
• Once it was all buttoned up, we hit the key and IT CAME ALIVE!

The car runs and drives. The performance is amazing and it has great power and handling. Compared to the original configuration the throttle response power and handling are way over the top!

This swap was incredible. All of the options and accessories work exactly the same as if it came off a factory floor. There are no odd noises and no check engine lights.

This is the best of both worlds with serious performance and exceptional functionality. It can haul a load of gear and haul some serious butt in the process.

We have been serving the Hollywood District and greater Portland-area for almost 30 years. We offer professional automotive service specializing in Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Acura, Volvo, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Audi, but we’re happy to take a look at whatever you’re driving. Feel free to bring in your own wreck!

We have the best mechanics in the business. Our goal is to assess and fix the problem right the first time. We will explain everything we worked on clearly and concisely.

We have the best mechanics in the business. Our goal is to fix the problem the right the first time, and we want to do it right. We’ll do our best to explain everything to you and keep the price down.

We’ll always be here when you need us. Call Broadway Imports at 503.282.0817 if you want to schedule an appointment. Go ahead. Schedule an appointment today!

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It’s Probably Time for Your Auto Maintenance

We all like to think that we’re organized and get things taken care of in a timely fashion. But life gets busy and deadlines come and go, and sometimes you have too many balls in the air to take care of even the basics. One thing you really shouldn’t let go of is regular car maintenance. It’s not sexy and it’s not a riot of fun and it probably won’t set your heart atwitter, but it’s as important as just about anything else on your “to do” list. Maybe the best part about it is that it will save you money down the road if it uncovers potential problems. And everyone likes to save money. And no one likes to be calling for roadside service on a dark and stormy night.

All cars come with an owner’s manual, so dig yours out and take a look. It will tell you how often to have your car serviced. (If you can’t find the manual, you can look for one online or call the dealer.) It is generally recommended that all vehicles should be serviced at least once a year and/or every 12,000 miles. Some authorities recommend that it be serviced twice a year. If you don’t put that much mileage on your car it still needs to be looked at yearly. Think of it as a trip to the dentist. You might not eat that much, but you still have to have your teeth looked at.

The non-profit Car Care Council recently posted that:

• 25% of cars had low or dirty engine oil. 
• 13% had low or contaminated brake fluid.
• 18% had dirty air filters.
• 17% had inadequate cooling protection or low coolant levels.
• 16% needed new windshield wiper and 27% had low or contaminated washer fluid.
• 18% needed new belts.
• Overall, 89% of vehicles were in need of at least one service or repair.

Owning and operating a car requires a lot more than keeping gas in the tank. To give you a taste, here are some of the many things that are looked at during a yearly maintenance check-up.

• Automatic Transmission Fluid
• Battery and Cables
• Belts
• Brakes
• Cabin Air Filter
• Chassis Lubrication
• Dashboard Indicator Light On
• Coolant (Antifreeze)
• Engine Air Filter
• Engine Oil
• Exhaust
• Hoses
• Lights
• Power Steering Fluid
• Steering and Suspension
• Tire Inflation and Condition
• Wheel Alignment
• Windshield Washer Fluid
• Wiper Blades

You’ll be able to do some of these yourself, of course, before your bring your car in. And you should always keep an eye on the dashboard lights and tire inflation and your wiper blades.

April is National Car Care Month. What are you waiting for?

We have been serving the Hollywood District and greater Portland-area for almost 30 years. We offer professional automotive service specializing in Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Acura, Volvo, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Audi, but we’re happy to take a look at whatever you’re driving.

We have the best mechanics in the business. Our goal is to fix the problem the first time, and we want to do it right. We’ll do our best to explain everything to you and keep the price down.

We’ll always be here when you need us. Call Broadway Imports at 503.282.0817 if you want to schedule an appointment. Go ahead. Schedule an appointment today! It’s nice to check things off that “to do” list.

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How to Find the Best Auto Mechanic

It would be easy to tell you to not bother looking around for an auto mechanic once you’ve found us. Because we really think that we are the best. But we want you to be happy and satisfied from the start, so here are some things to do when you need a new mechanic and a place to take your car.

• Ask around. Ask family, friends and neighbors for recommendations.
• Keep your search local. Unless you need a restoration for something like, oh, a 1925 Bugatti, you want a shop you can get to in a hurry. Or one that’s simply convenient.
• See if your local newspaper does a “best of” series. Many times auto shops are covered. 
• If you belong to a car club, all the better. The same recommendations will show up again and again.
• Check online. Take a look at Yelp and Angie’s List and Google. It’s good to see the negatives (should there be any) as well as the positives.
• Stop by the shops you’re interested in. Take a look at the cars on the lot - have they been sitting there forever? - and talk to some of the mechanics, or the owner. Is the place clean and orderly? It should be.
• You can check with the Better Business Bureau for complaints, and to see how they were resolved.
• Will they let you watch while they work? Are they patient with you if you have questions? Will they give you some options that might save you some money? If there aren’t any options, will they explain this to you? 
• Attitude matters. Auto shops are in a service industry. They aren’t doing you any favors by taking care of your car. Don’t let anyone make you feel stupid or ill-informed. You want to have a relationship that works for everyone. 
• If you still can’t decide, start with some small work. See how an oil change goes, for example. If you’re satisfied with the price and service, you’ll want to try a larger job next time.

We have been serving the Hollywood District and greater Portland-area for almost 30 years. We offer professional automotive service specializing in Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Acura, Volvo, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Audi, but we’re happy to take a look at whatever you’re driving.

We have the best mechanics in the business. Our goal is to fix the problem the first time, and we want to do it right. We’ll do our best to explain everything to you and keep the price down.

Come on in and say “hello” and let’s get started on building that relationship. We’ll always be here when you need us. Call Broadway Imports at 503.282.0817 if you want to schedule an appointment. Schedule an appointment today! Or just stop by.

Find us at 3001 NE Broadway St. in Portland, OR 97232.

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Is Your Head Gasket Blown?

When you were a kid and begging for your first car your parents probably warned you about the price of insurance and gas and maybe even upkeep. It’s doubtful anyone ever mentioned a blown head gasket to you. By now you’ve probably heard the expression and you might be wondering what it is, since what you do know is that it practically screams the word money. You’re right about that part. Replacing the head gasket is ranked third on a list of the four most expensive car repairs. Taking first place is a blown engine, following by replacing a transmission, then the head gasket, and then replacing the air conditioning compressor.

Okay. So what is this thing? A head gasket is vital to an engine’s running right. Aiding in the compression process, the gasket seals an engine’s cylinders and stops coolant and oil from leaking. A blown gasket is often caused by problems with timing, cooling, and sometimes manufacturing errors. When a head gasket blows, it’s so not good within your engine. Coolant may leak, the engine can overheat, white smoke may come out of the exhaust pipe, and the oil may become discolored with a milky look.

You might think that the white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe is the major clue that you’ve got a blown gasket. But it’s not, and there are others. Your engine could be running oddly, with hesitation or skipping or a lack of power. You could have excessive pressure in the crank case which would cause an extreme blow out by the oil cap or engine oil seals. You could have exhaust gases in the radiator. If you think you may have exhaust gases in the radiator, the gases would be accommodated by constant bubbling in the radiator.

Not everyone is comfortable enough to open the hood and take a look. You just know that something is really not right with the way your car is running. This is when you should bring it to us. We’re very comfortable taking a look and then fixing the problem. We mentioned earlier that this is an expensive procedure. It’s not so much the parts as it is the labor. We want to do it once and we want to do it right. We’ll do our best to keep the price down and get you back on the road with confidence.

You might be able to skip a carwash, but you can’t skip a problem like this. Call Broadway Imports at 503.282.0817 to schedule an appointment. We’ll also take care of an oil change or tune-up, or whatever else your car needs. Schedule an appointment today! Come by and see us at 3001 NE Broadway St, Portland, OR 97232.

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Get the Stains off your Garage Floor!

It doesn’t matter if your garage is clean and organized and beautiful enough to be featured in Architectural Digest or Better Homes and Gardens, or such a mess that you can’t stand to look at it. Either way, nothing will harm it more than grease stains on the floor. They’re both common and unattractive and we’re going to give you a few options to clean them up.

1. It’s best to clean the stains when they’re fresh. If that’s the case, try powdered laundry soap first. Professional race car associations such as NASCAR have been relying on this for years, and they must know something! First blot up as much of the oil as possible. Mix a large amount of laundry soap into a bucket of warm water, and get it nice and soapy. Pour it onto the stain. Next, pour extra detergent (right from the box) directly on the stain. Let it set for a few minutes. Scrub the stain using a nylon brush with stiff bristles. When you’re finished, hose everything off with a garden hose. The higher your water pressure, the better.
2. Do you have any oven cleaner? Use it to spray the stains, then let it sit there for 5-10 minutes. Use a stiff brush to scrub away, then rinse it with a hose at the highest pressure you have. If you don’t see a big difference, don’t give up. The stains may very well need a second application. 
3. A lot of people swear by WD-40. Spray it on heavily and then wash it away with the hose. Highest pressure.
4. Do you have any mineral spirits? Pour some on the stains and let it sit for about 3-minutes. Then scrub with the stiff brush. To dry it, put newspaper over the area. Once dry, wash the stain with one cup of bleach and one of laundry detergent, mixed into one gallon of warm water. Spray away with your hose to get it all clean.
5. Have you heard that cola can clean your toilet? Or take the paint off your car? It can also clean those oil spots. Here’s what you do: you’ll need cat litter, a few cans of cola, a bucket, a stiff broom, laundry detergent, bleach, eye protection and rubber gloves. (A lot of stuff. You might want to try this remedy last.) Cover the stain with a thin layer of cat litter and brush it in. Sweep up the litter and pour cola to cover the area. Work the cola in with a bristle broom, and leave the cola on for about twenty minutes. Mix 1/4 cup laundry detergent with 1/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon of warm water and use it to clean everything up.

If none of these works, you might have to call in a professional. But we have great confidence in you. Get your supplies and your elbow grease and good luck!

Call Broadway Imports at 503.282.0817 to schedule an oil change, tune-up, or whatever else your car needs. And if your car is leaking, you definitely need to see us! Schedule an appointment today!

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Come see us at 3001 NE Broadway St in Portland, OR 97232.

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