About Us

Expert Auto Repairs for Peak Performance

Our History

Import Specialists is a family-owned business founded by a seasoned BMW technician in 1996. A change of ownership in Dec 2023 allowed founder Tony Garrels to assume a less demanding role, but he remains a vital resource for our technicians. Joe Deters, a former accountant turned serial entrepreneur from St. Louis, took over and immediately saw opportunities to grow the business while maintaining the shop’s culture as a friendly, low-pressure workplace dedicated to providing technical expertise, quality workmanship, and serving loyal, passionate customers.

Ted Downes was recently promoted to General Manager and is responsible for the business’s day-to-day operations. Ted has 40 years of automotive experience managing parts and service departments for brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Toyota, and more. He manages Logan, our dedicated Service Writer with ten years of experience, and Susan, our administrative assistant. The repair team is anchored around multiple techs with 30-plus years of experience (Tony, Roger, Riki, and Scott), blended with conscientious young techs (Matt & Josh) who desire to learn. Additional hiring is planned to help build out the team.

Our Estimates

Our estimates routinely save customers hundreds of dollars compared to those given by their local dealership, and we can get your vehicle serviced and back on the road much sooner! Plus, we provide a 24-month / 24,000-mile nationwide warranty on parts and labor for our work as a TechNet network member. Give us a call and check us out!