Precision and Excellence
The experience, knowledge, and expertise to properly care for your BMW or Mini
We are a specialized shop that focuses on technical excellence and unparalleled customer service. Outfitted with the latest high-tech equipment and precision tools, we offer the best service for your BMW or Mini. Our technicians have been serving the North Valley for over 30 years. Rion left behind his 10 years as a BMW Dealer Master Technician in 1989, to start his independent BMW (only) service and repair business. Having more combined BMW experience and BMW-specific training than any other service facility in Northern California, we offer you service that stands out far above the rest. Please ask to see our credentials – they are based on fact – not “hearsay” or wishful thinking. Based on our reputation, even our name has been “imitated” locally, but of course, our level of service, knowledge and expertise has never been “duplicated”.
Meet our Staff:
Rion Groh (Founder/Master Technician)
- The top ranked BMW Master Technician in the U.S. by BMW for two consecutive years (1985-1986)
- University of Hawaii honors graduate of:
- Automotive Technology/Mechanics Training program (1977), and
- Automotive Technical School (over 1336 hours), and
- U of H’s “On-The-Job” training/apprenticeship program
- ASE Certified Master Technician since 1979.
- Completed 432 hours of BMW-specific training and BMW technical and engineering seminars in the U.S and Germany (starting in 1980 thru 1988)
- One of the original 53 BMW Master Technicians of the U.S. in 1983
- Journey-level Master BMW technician since 1983
- Appointed as one of the eleven original members of the BMW Master’s Guild District Master winners in the 1987 and 1988 BMW national competitions
- Founder of the international BMW technician and also the international MINI technician networks: the “Bimmer Tech Group”* and the “MINI Tech Group”*
- Continuing Education through BIMRS.ORG, WTI and Autologic (40 to 60 hours per year).
- Continuing Education with BMW Factory ST Training Courses, Online: ST-
- BMW ActiveHybrid Service and Technology (2014 – Arlington, VA)
- BMW Fuel Trim Operation and Diagnosis (2014 – Arlington, VA)
- BMW CIP (Coding, Individualization and Programming) (2014 – Arlington, VA) BMW/Mini Information Systems (3G, 3GIO, ISTA/D/P/AIR) (2014 – Arlington, VA)
- BMW NG Naturally Aspirated Engines (2014 – Arlington, VA)
- Framework for Complex Testing and Diagnostics (2014 – Arlington, VA)
- BMW and Mini 3G Information Technology (2014 – Sunnyvale, CA)
- BMW and Mini 3G Hands-on Diagnostics (2014 – Sunnyvale, CA)
- BMW Turbocharged Engine Technology (2014 – Orlando, FL)
- BMW Motorsports III (2014 – Orlando, FL)
- BMW Body Electronics 4 (advanced systems) (2014 – Orlando, FL)
- BMW Brakes and Suspension Systems (2014 – Orlando, FL)
- Intro to BMW F10 Series (5 Series Vehicles) (2013 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- Fuel Trim as a Diagnostic Tool (2013 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW Chassis Dynamics (2013 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW ActiveHybrid Intro and Service Guidelines (2013 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW MOST, Byteflight and ISIS Bus Systems (2013 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW/Mini Information Systems (& Multi-gen DME Codes) (2013 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW Power Management (2015 – Orlando, FL)
- BMW Advanced Engine Testing (2015 – Orlando, FL)
- BMW Autologic AssistPlus 2015 & Beyond (2015 – Orlando, FL)
- BMW Turbo Valvetronic/ Direct Injection (2015 – Orlando, FL)
- Mini N16/N18 Engine (2015 – Orlando, FL)
- Mini N14 Timing Chain & N16/ N18 New Technology (2015 – Orlando, FL)
- BMW Information Systems – ISTA-D, ISTA-P, ISTA-AIR (2016 – Arlington, VA)
- Mini F56 Complete Vehicle (2016 – Arlington, VA)
- BMW Fuel Trim (2016 – Arlington, VA)
- BMW Energy Management – Efficient Dynamic (2016 – Arlington, VA)
- BMW Hybrid Vehicle Technology (2016 – Arlington, VA)
- Mode $06 (2017 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW/Mini Bus Advanced Systems (2017 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW/Mini Fuel Trim & Misfire Diagnosis (2017 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW Chassis Dynamics (2017 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW SMG & DCT (2017 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW Diesel II (2017 – Scottsdale, AZ)
- BMW iCars (2018 – Dallas, TX)
- BMW/Mini Energy Management (2018 – Dallas, TX)
- BMW Intro to G-Chassis Vehicles (2018 – Dallas, TX)BMW Motorsports 4 (2018 – Dallas, TX)
- BMW New Engine Technology 6&8 Cyl. (2018 – Dallas, TX)
Kyle Groh (BMW/Mini Journeyman Technician):
- AS Degree – Automotive Technology, Butte College
- ASE Certified Technician (2016)
- BMW/Mini Maintenance and Service (June, 2020 – online)
- 6 Years of BMW and Mini Experience
Kenny Groh (Manager/ Director of Operations):
- AS Degree: Aviation Airframe; Aviation Powerplant; Aviation Air Traffic Controller; Aviation Dispatcher; Aviation Flight Technician
- Certification in Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
- Certified A & P Mechanic, Aircraft Dispatcher, Helicopter Pilot, Advanced Ground Instructor, Instrument Ground Instructor
- Seven Years Experience with BMW and Mini Automobiles
- “Building a Winning Culture (Oct 2018, Spartanburg, NC)
- “Strategies for Effective Leadership” (Oct 2018, Spartanburg, NC)
- “Why price Doesn’t Matter, the Truth about Labor rates” (Oct 2018, Spartanburg, NC)
- “Increasing efficiency” (Oct 2018, Spartanburg, NC)
- “Fishing for Millenials, attracting them with SEO” (Oct 2018, Spartanburg, NC)
- “The Future of Social Media Marketing” (Oct 2018, Spartanburg, NC)
- “Team Coaching” (Oct 2019, San Diego)
- Service Management – “Management is Dead” (Oct 2019, San Diego)
- “Becoming a Talent Magnet” (Oct 2019, San Diego)
- “Wages and Hourly Laws” (Oct 2019, San Diego)
- “Your Path to Profit” (Oct 2019, San Diego)
Devin Hight (BMW/Mini Journeymen Technician):
- BMW Master Tech with extensive experience and training (too much to list here now)
Bryson Groh (BMW/Mini Apprentice Technician):
- 6 years of BMW and Mini Experience (exclusive)
- Introduction to Engineering Design (Inspire School of Arts & Sciences)
- 3D Modeling w/ Computer Design (Inspire School of Arts & Sciences)
- Principles of Engineering (Inspire School of Arts & Sciences)
- Basics of Civil and Mechanical Design (Inspire School of Arts & Sciences)
- Computer Science Engineering (Inspire School of Arts & Sciences)
- Programming and Coding (Inspire School of Arts & Sciences)
- Electrical/Electronic Diagnosis (4 years study, Inspire School of Arts & Sciences)
- Digital Electronics (Inspire School of Arts & Sciences)
- BMW and Mini ISTA-D (2019 – San Diego, CA)
- BMW Turbocharging Systems (2019 – San Diego, CA)
- BMW Fuel Management Systems (2019 – San Diego, CA)
- BMW Body Electronics (2019 – San Diego, CA)
Our facility maintains the latest technical information on BMWs and Minis: BMW Web-ISTA, ISTA/D, ISTA/P (full-time/365 days per year), BMW AIR, all BMW factory repair instructions and service bulletins (including TIS & WebTIS), parts catalogs (EPC/ETK & WebETK), and other BMW/Mini-specific CD and web-based information systems (EBA, KSD2, WDS, ETM’s). We have an elaborate collection of BMW/Mini special tools and state-of-the-art test equipment, including the BMW/Mini DIS+ system, Multi-Mode ISTA, along with four other BMW/Mini diagnostic module interface systems (ICOM A2+B+C and ICOM NEXT A2/A3 – A+B+C). In other words, we offer dealer-level diagnostics and programming. European Motorsport was the first independent BMW service facility in the US to subscribe full-time to the BMWTIS website. Our estimates, work orders, extensive parts inventory, customer service history, and customized maintenance schedule/checklist forms, are all fully computerized for increased operating efficiency. We use comprehensive service inspection checklists that follow BMW/Mini’s recommended maintenance schedules.
* European Motorsport is an independent BMW service facility and is not affiliated with BMWNA or BMWAG. The Bimmer-Tech Group, Mini-Tech Group and BIMRS.ORG are international resource groups for BMW/Mini technicians and have no direct affiliation with BMWNA or BMWAG.