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.
Sincerely,
Doug
Owner & Founder
Email Me
OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS
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.
Doug Fun Facts
Favorite Movies: Star Wars
(the whole series)
Dream Vacation: A Trip to Germany
Zach Hillmann
Service Manager & Master Technician
Zach initially pursued a career in music production. But once he started racing cars with his father, Zach's career goals changed. He realized there's a lot of value in helping our clients with their vehicles. And because he knows what it's like to be on the other side of the service counter, Zach understand your concerns and frustrations. That's why he also uses his role as Service Manager to educate and inform.
“We are all about transparency with our servicing," Zach says. "We have a large window in the waiting room so customers can see their vehicle being serviced. They can ask any questions and we’re happy to answer them.”
In his free time, Zach enjoys spending time with his wife, playing the drums and listening to music. Like Carlos, he's a fan of craft beer.
Zach Fun Facts
Favorite Food: Mexican or seafood
Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings
Carlos Escobedo
Master, Factory-Trained Technician
Carlos joined the VFC Engineering team in 2012 as a Master Technician. He's always been intrigued by cars, and after high school, earned an Automotive Diesel degree from Universal Technical Institute. Although he's an expert in all German cars, Carlos admits that BMWs are his favorite among the German brands.
In his free time, he enjoys cooking--finding online recipes to put to the test for himself and his wife. He is also an aficionado of craft beer.
Carlos Fun Facts
Favorite Food: Italian
Dream Car: E30 M3 BMW
