What to Expect When You Bring In Your European Vehicle
We’ve built our process around one goal: no surprises. Here’s exactly how a service visit works from start to finish.
- Step 1 – Schedule: Book online or call us at (616) 739-6096. Let us know what you’re experiencing so our technicians can prepare the right diagnostic tools for your vehicle.
- Step 2 – Drop Off & Diagnose: Your vehicle is checked in, and our ASE-certified technicians get to work using manufacturer-equivalent equipment specific to European makes.
- Step 3 – Digital Vehicle Inspection Report: We send a DVI report with photos and videos directly to your phone, documenting exactly what we found and what we recommend.
- Step 4 – Review & Approve: A service advisor walks you through the findings. You can approve work through the DVI link or by phone, on your schedule.
- Step 5 – Completion: Most repairs are completed the same day. When parts availability or the scope of the repair requires additional time, we’ll schedule accordingly and keep you informed.
1. Schedule Your Appointment
Whether scheduling online or over the phone be sure and let us know what you're experiencing so we can provide fast and accurate service advice.
2. Diagnostics and Inspections
Drop off your vehicle and the shop will get to work with inspections and diagnostics using the same equipment as the manufacturers to determine issues and next steps.
3. Digital Vehicle Inspection Report and Estimate
Following the diagnosis we will text you a digital vehicle inspection report, containing pictures and videos of our findings and recommendations.
4. Review and Approval
A service advisor will reach out to walk you through the findings and recommendations to determine how you would like to proceed, or you can approve work directly in your DVI.
5. Work Performed or Scheduled
Most work can be completed immediately, or scheduled based on parts and customer availability.
No Time to Wait? We’ll Drive You
European vehicle diagnostics and factory-scheduled maintenance can take longer than a routine oil change. Our Free Shuttle Service means you don’t have to rearrange your day around a repair. Drop off your vehicle, and we can take you where you need to go. When the work is done, we can bring you back. After-hours key drop-off is also available if you need to leave the vehicle outside normal service hours.
European Makes We Service & What We Cover
Not sure if we service your vehicle? Here’s a full list of the makes we work on in Grand Rapids, along with the services available for each.
We service a wide range of European makes at Christian Brothers Automotive Cascade Township. If you drive an ultra-luxury or exotic model such as a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, or McLaren, please contact us before scheduling so we can confirm the right level of service is available for your vehicle.
German makes: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, MINI, Porsche
British makes: Land Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin
Swedish makes: Volvo, Saab
Italian makes: Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Fiat
European Vehicle Services We Perform
Our scope of service covers routine maintenance through complex repairs. European vehicles often require manufacturer-specified synthetic oils with particular viscosity grades and manufacturer approvals such as BMW Longlife or Mercedes-Benz 229-series specifications. We use the correct fluids for your make and model, not generic alternatives.
Brake service and ABS diagnostics on European vehicles require brand-specific scan tools to reset and calibrate electronic brake management systems. Our technicians use OEM-compatible software to read fault codes accurately and explain what they mean before recommending any repair.
Modern European vehicles carry multiple interconnected control modules, and diagnosing them without OEM-level software frequently produces misdiagnoses. We read codes the way your manufacturer intended, then walk you through the findings in plain language.
Additional services we perform for European vehicles include:
- Engine and transmission repair, including turbocharged and diesel engines found across German and Swedish makes
- Suspension and steering inspections, including adaptive and air suspension systems that require specialized diagnostic access
- Timing belt and water pump replacements, which are service-interval-critical repairs on many European engines where failure can cause severe engine damage
- Factory-scheduled maintenance and tune-ups performed to manufacturer service intervals
- Check engine light troubleshooting using OEM-level diagnostic software
Your Local Christian Brothers Amenities
FAQs
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Q. "Do you offer a warranty?"As part of our Nice difference.® commitment to providing our customers the best auto service experience possible, we also offer a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty on all the work that we do. We offer this warranty at every Christian Brothers Automotive nationwide, and it will be honored at any location, regardless of which branch did the initial work.
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Q. "What is a Digital Vehicle Inspection?"With a complimentary Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI) on every visit, you’ll see firsthand photos of your vehicle from under the hood. We’ll let you know if everything is functioning properly or if there are any areas of concern. You can even approve or deny our service recommendations, all straight from your smartphone, or you can, of course, give us a call and we’ll explain our findings in further detail.
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Q. "Can you provide service under my extended warranty?"Yes. At Christian Brothers Automotive, we work with all major extended warranty providers to make needed repairs for our customers. If you have an extended warranty, you can discuss your carrier with our team when scheduling an appointment and confirm that the work will be covered. You can find a partial list of the extended warranty companies we work with here.
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Q. "My car is make x and model x. Can you help me?"Yes! Christian Brothers Automotive has been providing reliable car maintenance and repair for over 40 years. Over that time, our professionals and ASE-certified technicians have handled a vast range of makes and models, and they continue to navigate the forefront of the auto industry’s technologies. If you own a vehicle from a major American or foreign car maker, we are ready to service it.
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Q. "Do you offer loaner vehicles or a shuttle service?"We understand you have a full schedule. Whether you need to get to work, school, or need to attend to other responsibilities, we can take you where you need to go and even pick you up and bring you back.. Just select the shuttle service option when scheduling or let the service writer know when you call to make your appointment. For more information on our free shuttles, click here.
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Q. "Can I bring my own parts?"Yes, although we will not be able to offer our 3-year/36,000-mile warranty on these parts. Please reference this in your appointment details in the scheduler or when calling to make your appointment to ensure the shop is aware of your plans.
Have more Questions?
Our friendly auto service experts have the answers.
Call your local Christian Brothers Automotive car shop today
Hear What Our Customers Had to Say About Us
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"I became a customer a few months ago shortly after purchasing my Van. It is great to have found an auto service that i can trust. Parts that i thought needed to be replaced were still good. Thank you for the convenient shuttle service too"
- JK