Bernard Import Bodyworks

For all the years that I was a claims adjuster (1989 through 2012), Bernard Import Bodyworks has been one of the most high quality, reliable and professional automotive body repair shops serving the greater Seattle area.
Jerry, Tom and their whole crew continuously provide the best customer service experiance possible.
Twice now my own vehicles have been repaired at Bernards. The work was amazing, on time and on budget.
They are simply the best!
Len Hodges.

4÷28÷16
I had the unfortunate luck of finding my driver’s side-​view mirror shattered while parallel parked on a narrow street in Fremont last weekend. I stopped in at Bernard’s on a whim (after my insurance company recommended a shop miles from home) due to Unilocal reviews. James took a look at the damage, went straight to the computer to look for parts, and handed me a quote in less than 10 mins. It was reasonable (and under my deductible… you’re welcome insurance), so I asked him to go ahead and order the part. He called me back two days later and I scheduled an appointment for the following day. I happened to be in the area about an hour early, so called to see if I could come in before my scheduled time. I drove over, pulled my car up, and the work was done in under 15 mins! It’s working perfectly and I couldn’t have been happier about the customer service at Bernard Import! Thanks James!

Sincere thanks to Tom, Jerry, James and everyone else at Bernard Import Bodyworks. Several months ago, someone vandalized my new car. It took a while for me to work out the logistics of leaving my car someplace for 3 full days but they did the work, as promised, timely, and for the amount estimated. The work looks great and they made it as great an experience as it could have been given the circumstances. I’ve already suggested two other people request estimates. Although body work is never «inexpensive», the cost was reasonable and it’s such a relief not to see the ugly damage every time I get in my car :)

Total sweethearts. Did a great job on my car after I was hit; were easy to work with and went out of their way to make things easy. Stored my rental car when Hertz wasn’t able to pick it up in time, dealt swiftly with the insurance company and adjuster and were as nice as they could be. When you’ve been in an accident, it helps to know you are dealing with honest, nice people.

I sent my 80 year old Mom here with 2001 300 e for a front end ding. after they finished it was impossible to see any evidence that there was damage unless you knew where it was, they even made a previous «repair «by Metro Imports go away. They do excellent work !!

I sell insurance for a living and have been referring my clients here for years.
The are reputable, do fine work and believe in customer service. Most of my insurance carriers (I sell for 9) have them on their «preferred provider» list.
Juanita
Partner/​Broker
Belltown Insurance Group

We have been customers of Bernard’s since the early days, they have always been great and I confidently recommend them to my friends as I do to you. Back when I was an insurance adjuster it was well known that Bernard’s was «the» shop to have your own work done — and because I was in the industry saw many examples of fantastic restoration-​quality work. Well that is still the case today, and having been a long-​time customer as well (a family with kids in high school and college — and four vehicles) we know first hand that Jerry, Tom and the entire crew are real pros, you simply will not find better quality work for the price anywhere in Seattle.

Our brand new Fusion was scraped on the back bumper by a woman in a hurry to pick up her daughter. She was very apologetic, we exchanged information and i reported the accident to my company. After an almost seamless experience with insurance, both my own and the woman’s.
I went to Bernard Import Bodyworks to get an estimate. I had not intended to get the work done there but at another place in Ballard that was closed for the weekend and I needed an estimate and both insurances recommended Bernard and they were close to our house.
After i got the estimate i decided that it seemed fair and I liked the way they handled the estimate even though they intuitively understood i may not be coming to them, so I decided to use them for the repair. They did have a nice jar of candy on the counter and that always helps reel me in.
This shop was thorough, the work was impeccable, they finished earlier than they said they would and called me immediately. i found our car brand spanking new-​they had even washed and vacuumed the car.
The final price came in little lower than the estimate. They had already billed the insurance. They gave me my keys and sent me on my way, but not before i grabbed one more handful of bit size snickers.
i would use Bernard again in an instant if I had to again. As it turned out, i did, as 3 weeks later someone left a good portion of paint from their car and left it on ours as they either turned or bumped into our car when my wife had it parked and was getting her hair done. Of course they left no note.
We immediately took it over to Bernard and the fellow behind the desk (I am sorry i cannot remember his name but he was on of the estimators,) came out and looked at it and asked if we were going to claim it and I said «no» as we had a $ 500 deductible that i think would have come into play.
He examined the damage and said he thought he could deal with it, went back into the shop, came out with a solvent and rubbing compound and rags and within 5 minutes had completely restored our bumper to its original condition. i asked how much and he waved his hand and said just remember us. We drove away so elated that i forget to get another candy stash.

I have been going to Bernard’s to get my car repaired since I started driving. Tom and Jerry are both great and always available to do an estimate. The work has always been done well and if it’s not up to my standards, they say I can come back.

I was involved in an accident a few weeks ago and in the midst of some issues with how the insurance company was handling my claim, Tom and James at Bernard were a much-​needed calm oasis. I received excellent communication and patience from them while we waiting on the insurance company, and they put me at ease letting me know they were going to get my car back in order as soon as possible and gave me confidence (I’m a natural cynic) that they were going to do a great job.
When I picked up my car it looked brand new and I can’t thank these guys enough for not only doing a stellar job, but more importantly providing the peace of mind I needed in a stressful situation. I’ve already recommended the shop to everyone I know. Thanks!

Fantastic. But note they have moved north to 927 N 128^th, Seattle. Courteous, on time and helped me shepherd my insurance claim. Tom contacted Mutual of Enumclaw for me and coordinated my rental car. It was a very satisying experience.

I was referred to Bernard’s from some car guys. Jerry and Tom were both very nice to work with and most importantly, the work they did was seamless. I am totally amazed that they could repair damage that other shops told me would need total replacement. The paint job is impeccable. The whole process was so easy and hassle-​free. My car is now looking better than ever!

Great Service!!!
Jerry is a great guy. Really honest and helpful. They fixed our car while we were out of town, and they let us keep the car there until we got back at no extra cost. Very appreciated. They also guarantee their work for as long as you have your car.
Definitely going back to them in the future.

Jerry and his crew at Benard did an excellent job on a scratch and dent job on my driver’s door. The work is seamless. It only took 3 days and they did a great job. Very easy to work with and guarantees their work.

I am clueless when it comes to car repairs and when my headlight was bashed in, I had no idea who to call. After asking around at work, a trusted surgeon recommended Bernard Import Bodyworks and described how they handled a similar headlight problem for him. It was a Wednesday and I needed my car back by Friday, so I called them right away and I’m so glad I did. The guy I spoke with on the phone several times is NOT friendly. Each time we talked, he sounded like he was in a huge hurry and really didn’t want to be bothered. That said, he immediately went to work researching prices of new versus used headlights for my car, and called me back within 15 minutes to sort out a deal. He had found a cheap, used headlight assembly for me for about ¹⁄₆ the price of a new one and then set a price for how much it would cost, including labor, up front. i really appreciated that because not only was it affordable, I knew exactly what I was getting into before I even brought my car in! I dropped my car off late that afternoon and it was ready by noon the next day.
I would definitely do business with Bernard Import Bodyworks again, even though they aren’t the friendliest with customer service. Don’t let the short, blunt phone conversing deter you. These guys are being honest and getting shit done quickly. Also, judging by the name of the place, I assumed that they might not work on American cars. They totally do, at least for headlights.

AMBIENCE — B (Clean shop and waiting area)
(paid street parking on and a pvt. lot)
SERVICE — B– (friendly front desk guy, but he should have hooked me
with a idea of the problem to get me to stay with him rather than making an appt. for 2 days later just to diagnose the problem)
So, can’t really rate on how good the workmanship is…
PRICE — B+ ($ 50/​hr service fee)
My trunk latches were worn out and the trunk lid was stuck open. So, I was recommended from my auto mechanic to go here.
I took the car in early afternoon to have a look, The front desk guy looked briefly at the problem, but just didn’t have anyone «tech» available at the moment to give me a idea of the problem. So, they were very busy and would need an appt. which would have been 2 days later just to diagnose the problem.
I guess I was a little impatient in wanting this diagnosed and fixed sooner.
So, I found another body shop on Capitol Hill which immediately diagnosed and already in the process of getting parts ordered and fixed in the next 3 — 4 days.
Bernard Imports must not need the business, as they seem pretty booked and busy.
They were recommended, and I might try these guys out again, (the rates are $ 50/​hr) but I’ll go back … when I have time.

In April 2012 I was rear-​ended. Thankfully, the damage wasn’t major — scratched lift gate on my SUV, scratched bumper. The insurance for the other driver (State Farm) has Bernard as one of their preferred body shops, meaning they will handle all the paperwork. Bernard’s is located close to home, so I agreed to take my vehicle there.
As with most shops nowadays, you need to make an appointment to get an estimate done. They fit me in two days after the accident (which was fine since I was hit at night, so I was dealing with insurance the day after), and were ready when I arrived. I don’t remember the guy who helped me, but he was very professional and gave me straight answers.
I made an appointment to drop my car off a week and a half later (they are apparently a busy place). I dropped off my car on Monday morning. Enterprise wasn’t there yet, so the manager drove with me in my car to their office and then took my car back. Two days later, as promised, my car repairs were finished.
Due to traffic after work I was going to be late and thought they might close before I could get their car. Instead, they waited for me to get there. Enterprise was closed so they put the rental car in their secure lot, and said they would call Enterprise in the morning and have them come get it. That alone is why I am giving them 5 stars. I was annoyed at the wait time to get my car in, but anyone who stays open late for a customer and makes life easier is awesome.
My car was clean, looked as good as new (they even buffed out another small scratch that was not caused by the accident), and I was given a bottle of touch-​up paint. I highly recommend them.

These guys are the greatest when my 2005 CLK convertible got smashed by a giant SUV while it was parked they not only handled the insurance headache for me but made my car look as good as the day I bought it (if not better). They have my 1974 MGB right now and I couldn’t be more pleased with the progress.

I had various damage to my 2007 BMW 335i. The biggest damage was due to someone hitting my rear bumper and causing it to buckle. Bernard Import Bodyworks quoted me at around $ 1350 for the rear bumper, two places in the front bumper, another ding in the grill, swapping out front reflectors for different ones I had, and painting my grill black. The quality was amazing. When I looked at my car after their work, I didn’t even notice at all that damage had ever occurred. I purposely waited at least one week to write this review so I can re-​evaluate their work. Their fixes still look great and I am thoroughly impressed.
At another nearby place, I got a quote for the rear bumper, one of the places that got damage in the front bumper, the ding in the grill, and swapping out the front reflectors. This quote was around $ 1500 and did not include the other damage to the front bumper (we didn’t know about it at the time) and painting the grill (I didn’t consider it). This place also wanted to replace my rear bumper as opposed to Bernard that fixed the existing one. So this quote was less work for more money.
Yet another nearby place quoted me for the rear bumper, one of the damage point to the front bumper, the ding in the grill, and swapping out the front reflectors. This place wanted to replace my rear bumper with a reconditioned, factory rear bumper. This quote also did not include the other damage to the front bumper or painting the grill. This quote was also around $ 1500.
Overall, I was very happy with the work Bernard Import Bodyworks did. Bernard, I presume who was the owner, was the one I spoke to throughout the process. He is super friendly and pleasant to talk to. He was actually the one that suggested I just paint the grill for $ 50 rather than spend $ 300 on an aftermarket black one. If I ever need any bodywork done in the future, I’m going to definitely take my car back to Bernard Import Bodyworks.

Taken my car in to get dent fixed. The quote was reasonable.
Along with the Dent, Tom the Manager agreed to check on the electrical window panel, track, motor system, since the window has been acting finicky since being hit.
While looking over the estimate, I read on Bernard Import’s estimate that they DON’T save or show any broken parts unless specified in writing. I asked for any parts replace/​broken to be saved/​shown to me and wanted it in writing. Manager Tom agreed to do so, but very cagey and all but refused to put it in writing. After asking three times, he showed me where he had wrote a post-​it note in the work folder. He still would not put it in writing to give to me.
The pickup date was also pushed back three days, over a weekend. They are only open 8 – 5:30 so it can be difficult to pick up if you work during those hours.
That said on first inspection, my car looks pretty sweet. They did a good job. The ugly dent is gone. The body looks sleek and they matched the paint without ripples in the surface.
They included a small jar of touch up paint, Nice touch. They checked my window track, found a bolt had come out. And their estimate was pretty low and they stayed on budget.
It was parked (by BIB) on the street for over an hour in a metered area without proper payment, but Tom assured me that if they ever get tickets the shop pays them. I hope so!
UPDATE 3 MONTHS LATER
RE: the body work they did on the door — Great Job! I waited to wax (as recommended) to let it cure. but now that I got it waxed my car looks excellent. Totally matches with zero flaws. Bernard Import Bodyworks did a beautiful body job at a reasonable price. Doesn’t that earn sainthood within the Auto Body kingdom?
And I didn’t get a parking ticket, from them leaving it on the street.
Based on final outcome, I would «up the stars» all but for a little snag.
After getting my car back, I would try to lock my door and the locks would jam. The lock buttons would eventually move partly down and I assumed it was locking. Then I got to be «that guy» who sets their own car alarm off, not once but four times.
I took it back in for BIB to look at what was amiss with my locks. One tech was friendly, bright and capable but he was in the middle of another project. The other tech looked angry, ornery, and shoddy. The shoddy guy heard me out, but only with frequent huffing and spitting. In short, he was rude and condescending. He said there was no way the lock problem could have happened from them removing the door (for body work)
The problem started the day I got my car back from the body shop. Shoddy guy put me off when I asked him to check my door panel for the lock hook up.
The capable guy came over and made it happen but then delegated to the shoddy guy… Oh Noes! I asked if the capable guy would do it. He was already doing something else, but assured me shoddy guy could handle it.
Shoddy guy pulls my car part-​way into an empty bay. He parks it ½ –way under the open electric garage door. I notice the big red garage door button and drive over activation cable and asked if they could pull it in further? Tom came by and said, oh it will be fine as long as no one hits the garage door opener. Hmm. Well they do, do Bodywork here.
Um… Shoddy-​guy then locks my keys in the car. Bof! Then he pulls out a rusty blade which he was about to attempt to shove into my car window. Unclear how THAT would work but he looked determined. I stopped him mid-​lunge and opened the door with my spare key (on my person, thank you!) Capable guy then came over to briefly supervise repairs.
Turns out Bernard Import Bodyworks forgot to reconnect my locks in the door panel, when they put the panels back together. In fact, I had been leaving my car unlocked (with alarm activated) for a week on the mean Seattle streets.
I asked Tom the owner if I could bring it back for free repair if the car had any more door lock issues.
Tom looked at me funny and said «He fixed it.» I said, «Yeah, sure. But IF. the problem continues, I will bring it back.» Tom agreed that they would make sure it works properly.
My car locks now and I don’t get to fake unlock my car and set off the alarm anymore. HOWEVER, my locks are still kinda quirky, and don’t always lock on the first go. There is still a loose connection in the locking system. When I have time, I will bring it back. But again, their hours are limited.
UPDATE
4 years later — I have had a continuous sticking problem with the locks which started when BIB forgot to hook up my door panel correctly. I live out of state now, so I had to pay to get it fixed. For body work this place is good, but not entirely competent. The better body shop in Seattle (locally owned and operated) is in Madison Valley.