Machine Shop Recommendation in Southern CA

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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Yojedi
Posts: 235
Joined: Oct 18, 2016 1:42 AM
Location: Orange County, CA

Machine Shop Recommendation in Southern CA

Post by Yojedi »

I recently acquired a M30B35 and am looking for machine shop recommendations to recondition the short block. I am in Orange County, southern California so I would really prefer a shop local. But any recommendation of a reputable shop in So. Cal would be appreciated.
anpk05
Posts: 87
Joined: Mar 14, 2017 11:35 PM
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Machine Shop Recommendation in Southern CA

Post by anpk05 »

Good to know places everyone uses.
LarryM
Posts: 1222
Joined: Feb 01, 2008 11:40 AM
Location: SoCal

Re: Machine Shop Recommendation in Southern CA

Post by LarryM »

I've never had the need for BMW-specific machine work but I have been researching CA machine shops and/or engine builders to do some work on my small block Chevy. From the recommendations I've gathered these are supposed to be some good ones:
JMS Racing Engines in El Monte
Dougan's Engine and Machine in Riverside
Pettis Performance in Hesperia
Joe Jill at Superior Automotive in Anaheim
Mike Lewis at Lewis Racing Engines in Laytonville (in NorCal; highly regarded)

If I were looking for a local machine shop that specialized in BMW engines, I'd contact a few well-respected SoCal BMW service shops for their recommendations.
For example:
Carl Nelson at La Jolla Independent
Bullet performance in Costa Mesa
Bruce Barthel at Barthel Motoren Werke in Chatsworth
Marc Norris at Bavarian Workshop in West Hills

After calling and interviewing a variety of machine shops, use the one you feel most comfortable with even if it means making a longer drive than you'd like. Don't choose a shop based primarily on convenient location.
Nebraska_e28
Beamter
Beamter
Posts: 9027
Joined: Apr 13, 2006 11:18 PM
Location: Council Bluffs, IA
Contact:

Re: Machine Shop Recommendation in Southern CA

Post by Nebraska_e28 »

Bimmerheads does good work.
85eta
Posts: 2
Joined: Apr 13, 2015 10:58 PM
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Machine Shop Recommendation in Southern CA

Post by 85eta »

Yojedi wrote: Jun 10, 2020 1:26 PM I recently acquired a M30B35 and am looking for machine shop recommendations to recondition the short block. I am in Orange County, southern California so I would really prefer a shop local. But any recommendation of a reputable shop in So. Cal would be appreciated.
Did you ever figure out what you want to do with your M30? I too am in OC and in search of a great machine shop!
Philo
Posts: 2166
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Long Beach, CA

Re: Machine Shop Recommendation in Southern CA

Post by Philo »

Call Ron at Coast Motor Werks in Huntington Beach. He does all kind of restoration work and is an e28 Turbo owner. He recently restored an M1.., epic !
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