Mercedes, BMW and Audi group cars are all we work on. We read them on the manufacturers' own systems, and the owner is a master technician with 33 years' experience on German cars.
Most garages really know one German make. We work across all three groups, with the manufacturer's own software for each, so whatever you drive gets read properly.
Airmatic and ABC suspension, SBC braking, transmission work and the faults other garages send away.
Mercedes work →VANOS, timing-chain faults (N47 and others), xDrive and the electronics dealers charge a fortune for.
BMW work →DSG / S-tronic mechatronics, Haldex, quattro and the diagnostic faults that leave cars in limp mode.
Audi / VW work →Manufacturer names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners, shown to indicate the marques we service. MBA is an independent specialist, not affiliated with or authorised by any manufacturer.
We start by finding the real cause. From there we handle the hard repairs most garages won't touch, and the everyday servicing to keep the car right.
Warning lights, intermittent faults, limp mode, and misdiagnoses from other garages. We read them on ODIS, ISTA and Xentry.
Key programming including some all-keys-lost cases, and immobiliser work most independents can't legally do.
In-house rebuilds, including from complete failure, plus manual and automatic transmission work.
Air suspension, Airmatic, ABC and SBC, Haldex and transfer cases. The systems most garages send away.
Roof mechanism and sunroof repair for German cabriolets, SL, SLK and the rest. Done properly.
Servicing, Class 4 MOT, cambelts and chains, brakes, clutches and air-con, all for German cars.
"We're not just part swappers. Our aim is to not replace parts we don't need to."
That's the whole difference. We find out why a fault code is there before we change anything, so you don't pay for the wrong part twice.
Same software, genuine parts where they matter, and warranty-safe servicing, at roughly half the labour rate.
| MBA Car Specialist | Main dealer | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer diagnostic software | ✓ ODIS · ISTA · Xentry | ✓ Yes |
| Choice of genuine or OEM parts | ✓ Yes, your choice | Genuine only |
| Servicing keeps warranty valid | ✓ Yes (block exemption) | ✓ Yes |
| Master technician on every job | ✓ Owner-led, 33 yrs | ~ Varies by branch |
| Finds the root cause | ✓ Diagnostic-first | ~ Often part-first |
| Typical labour rate | £ Independent | ££ Premium |
| Spread the cost (Bumper) | ✓ Pay monthly | ✗ Rarely |
If another garage has told you it's a "dealer-only" job, it's probably on this list.
Split servicing, repairs or MOT into interest-free instalments with Bumper, so a big diagnostic job doesn't have to land in one go. Ask us when you book.
Genuine reviews from our workshop's Google profile. MBA is the dedicated German-car brand of the same workshop, team and master technician.
"My Mercedes had a starting issue that even a big name like Sytner couldn't sort out. They kept it for 2 weeks and still didn't fix the real problem. These guys found the actual fault."
"I've had them work on my tuned Mk7 Golf R, but nothing was too big or too small for them. They discovered in hours something 2 other specialists couldn't in Bristol."
"Excellent service from a professional reception and technical team who really know about Mercedes, and at reasonable price. The owner and master engineer really knows his stuff when it comes to Mercedes."
Yes. ODIS for Audi/VW group, ISTA for BMW and Mini, Xentry for Mercedes. The same systems the franchised dealer uses to read and code these cars.
Yes. We're SERMI-authorised, so we can do key programming, including some all-keys-lost cases, that most independents aren't allowed to.
No. Under block exemption rules, servicing with genuine or matching-quality parts keeps a manufacturer warranty valid, at an independent price.
German only. Mercedes-Benz and AMG, BMW and Mini, Audi, VW, Škoda and SEAT. Porsche, ask us. For anything else, see our sister workshop Van & Car Repair.
Tell us the car and the symptom, and we'll book you in.