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Your German Car Specialists in Chicago

About VFC Engineering

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No one else is better qualified
To service your german import

There’s a good reason German automobiles are among the most beloved vehicles in the world: German manufacturers design their cars with a no-compromise standard. Only the best will do.

And that’s the philosophy we live by at VFC Engineering. We take a no-compromise approach to keeping your Audi, BMW, Mercedes, MINI, Porsche or VW running like new. There is only one proper way to service these vehicles, and that's exactly what we live and breathe. Anything short of perfection is failure.

Since opening in 2006, we’ve built a stellar reputation for delivering long-lasting, high quality repairs because we are thorough and precise. We take the time to handle each vehicle with care. Unlike many repair shops, we don’t have a “get ’em in and out” mentality. You simply can’t think that way with German cars.

When you do, you’re subtracting from the greatness of a German car. All the little details within a German car sum together to make a great automobile. We respect that and go to great lengths to preserve that integrity.

We are so confident in our work that we stand behind all repairs with a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty. That’s as good as it gets in the auto service business. And it reflects how confident I am in our capabilities and the quality of the OEM parts we use. In fact, in the past year we’ve only had two instances—out of 625 repairs - where a customer needed to rely on that warranty.

I, along with my son Zach, who acts as service manager at VFC, spend much of our free time in the auto racing circuit with the National Auto Sport Association. We’ve built and raced BMWs, Porsches, VWs and Audis. In the five years we've been racing together, we’ve competed in five national championships. We've been on the podium four out of five times—outright winning the championship twice and finishing third on two other occasions.

Why is this important? It goes to our ability to properly repair and maintain your daily driver. You can't be a successful racer and not be detail-oriented and quality driven. If we can make components like brakes, suspension, cooling last in extreme racing environments, then we can most definitely make your vehicle run properly for you.

That said, here’s our commitment to you: We will always do what's in your best interest. We'll go the distance to educate you on your car’s maintenance and repair needs. We'll never recommend a repair unless you absolutely need it. And if the cost of repair is going to exceed the value of your car, we will lay that out for you. We understand that to earn your ongoing business we first need to earn your trust. This is all part of how we do that.

Doug Hillmann

Founder, Owner & Master Technician

Zach Hillmann

Service Manager & Master Technician

Carlos Escobedo

Master, Factory-Trained Technician

Doug Hillmann

Founder, Owner & Master Technician

Doug's heritage has everything to do with why we service only German cars. "I was raised in a very German household," he says. "I get how Germans think. Germans only know one way, and that's the proper way. Everything else is foolishness because you're wasting your time. It's hard to describe, but it's the way I was brought up."

After 15 years as a financial trader at the Options Exchange, Doug knew it was time for a career change. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do next, but he'd been racing cars for a number of years. He took in a couple of friends' cars, fixed them and they referred more friends. Before he knew it, he had a business. In 2006, he made the decision to go full-bore into the business and used a loan from his Godfather to build out the shop we're in today.

Fun Facts

Favorite Movies
Star Wars (the whole series)

Dream Vacation
A Trip to Germany

Zach Hillmann

Service Manager & Master Technician

Carlos Escobedo

Master, Factory-Trained Technician

Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Are Saying

I've been taking my car to VFC for nearly 4 years. Zach and his team have always been extremely communicative, make complicated car issues easy to understand, and decisions easy to weigh...I trust VFC WAY more than I ever did the local Audi dealership in Chicago. I genuinely believe they have my best interests in mind.”

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Katy L.

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Great shop for German auto repair. Prices were fair and the work was completed on time. Zach took the time to fully explain how and why The repairs were necessary. I Highly recommend this facility for repair and maintenance. I will be returning for future service."

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Rachel H.

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Finally had some time to rate and review. Was having issues with my 3 series and was anticipating bad news. Zach and Carlos diagnosed and repaired my issue. Now the car drives like new. Amazing! Plus the 3yr/36k warranty on the work- you just can’t beat that. Honestly, that’s just confidence behind their work. I’m bringing in my fleet. Thank you guys!

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Garo G.

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Bought a used 2014 x3 as an extra with 2 new/young drivers. VFC was great on the prepurchase inspection AND normal maintenance and minor repairs since then. I trust that they manage what needs to be done - not just looking at a list and doing/charging me. Trust matters and the value is good!

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Chris N.

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Questions? Contact Us Today!

Call Us 773-275-4832 Book Appointment