RJ's European Garage

RJ's European Garage RJ's European Garage is a performance based shop in Grand Blanc Michigan Highly skilled mechanic with expertise in most German vehicle platforms.
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Platforms I know the best include MQB, B8/8.5 A4/A5/S4/S5, D2 A8, B5/B6/B7 A4/A5/S4/S5, MKV, C6/7 A6 and MK3 Cabrio. I enjoy doing primarily performance mods, but also can handle all the usual maintenance and mechanic work. The only work I will turn away is internal transmission or engine work as I don't have the shop setup to handle such labor intensive jobs. Most jobs are quoted flat rate but when labor rates apply I charge $100/hr.

Just wanted to share a couple quick jobs, and a sweet GTI, from this weekend. 🔥🔥First up for the weekend was our usual s...
11/17/2025

Just wanted to share a couple quick jobs, and a sweet GTI, from this weekend. 🔥🔥

First up for the weekend was our usual suspect, the B8.5 S4 gang. This one was just a quick DSG service and an exhaust noise diag. Found a broken weld on an exhaust hanger that was added on and made quick work of fixing that as well. The client was all smiles after getting that rattle squared away. Inside the car I'm sure it was super annoying. 😅😅

Next up we had a beauty of a GTI in the shop. This one was in to swap from a billet 034 trans insert to a less harsh poly insert. While we had in the air we did a brake fluid flush and bleed and a good once over inspection. Michael will be back for some new pads and rotors soon based on our findings. We out here just keeping all our people safe. 🙏🙏❤️❤️

Just some minor updates from what we've been working on in the shop as of late. Enjoy and happy holidays incoming y'all!...
11/14/2025

Just some minor updates from what we've been working on in the shop as of late. Enjoy and happy holidays incoming y'all! 🎈🎈🎉🎉

A couple of weeks ago the wife hit some kind of metal road debris in her '18 S5. Unfortunately it somehow managed to perfectly hit the transmission cooler and rupture it internally. I only knew this after I made a full check for leaks, and seeing none, gave it a rip. However, once the low coolant light came on I knew we were cooked. Trans oil mixed in the coolant loop and coolant mixed in the oil/transmission. Had to replace the trans cooler, drain, flush and fill coolant and trans. No more milkshakes and we have been golden since. 💪💪💥💥

A little different job last week on the docket as well. We had a Mercedes on the lift, maybe for the first time. This big thing needed a new driver's axle and it's making some really strange noises while turning full lock. Unfortunately it was worked on previously so I'm having the client take it back so they can make it right for him. 🤔🤔

Lastly just some bonus shots from my fall vacation in the UP. 😎😎🔥🔥

We're still on the grind over here in the shop. Things have slowed a bit for fall, but I still have some updates for y'...
10/08/2025

We're still on the grind over here in the shop. Things have slowed a bit for fall, but I still have some updates for y'all. ❤️❤️

First up we had a B8.5 S4 in for a full lower control arm swap. Job went super smooth and the car rides a ton better for our client. 🚗🚗

Next up (not pictured), a former car of ours, 2011 A6 with the 3.0t was in the shop for oil consumption. We replaced both valve covers and preformed a B12 piston soak. We will continue to monitor the oil consumption moving forward. 🙏🙏

Lastly over the weekend we have some love to a higher mileage but beautiful C7 A7. We knocked out front axles, inner and outer tie rod ends and front springs. The old spring had broken and rolled itself right off the shock absorber. One of the more wild things I've seen. However, she's all good now and back on the road. 👌👌

Just because my updates here have slowed doesn't mean RJ's shop is slowing down. This is a little update of what we've b...
09/19/2025

Just because my updates here have slowed doesn't mean RJ's shop is slowing down. This is a little update of what we've been up to the last couple weeks. 🔥🔥

First up we took a B8.5 from basically stock to an absolute beast on dual pulley stage 2 jackal sauce. We did both pulleys (187/57), an upgraded big throttle body, plugs/coils and test pipes on this baby. After we of course added the jackal TCU and ECU tunes. 😎😎

We also knocked out some work on a nice Q5 S-line that was previously in for an inspection. This time we replaced all the upper control arms and did a front rotor and pad swap. The only issue we had on this one were the caliper pins on the 4 pot calipers. It took copious amounts of penetrating oil and some crafty work with vice grips to get those babies out, but we made it happen. 😂😂

Finally to round out the pictured jobs we finished up on the B6 Avant we put the pink subframe in a couple weeks ago. We swapped out the leaking steering rack and lines with new parts and it should be ready for alignment and driving this weekend. I know my client is stoked on getting this one back on the road. 🙏🙏

Not pictured we also did an oil change and diagnostic for overheating on a BMW 328ix manual car and an oil change on an 8v A3 cabrio. 👌👌

No slowing down in the shop this weekend. This one was one of the more involved jobs we've done so far. Fully removed a...
08/25/2025

No slowing down in the shop this weekend. This one was one of the more involved jobs we've done so far. Fully removed and replaced the rear subframe and all related components on this B6 Avant.

Subframe (powder pink) ✅
034 solid subframe mounts ✅
New upper control arms ✅
New rear lower control arms ✅
Newer front lower control arms (and bushes)✅
New calipers ✅
New rear sway bar (034) ✅
All new hardware ✅

The only parts reused were the rear uprights and axles/differential. When I say this thing feels like a new car (suspension already done) it truly does. I want to do the same on my B7 now. ❤️❤️🔥🔥

Back to the grind this weekend in more nearly unbearable heat. I'm so ready for fall and I never say that. This month ha...
08/17/2025

Back to the grind this weekend in more nearly unbearable heat. I'm so ready for fall and I never say that. This month has been brutal. 🔥🔥

This weekend we were back to our most familiar of friends, the venerable Audi B8.5. We did an absolutely massive amount of work on this thing. It all started with a new alternator, but after that we went on a rampage refreshing this beautiful 2014 6 speed with 212k on the odometer. New Bilstein's all 4's, new ceramic pads on all 4's, all new shock mounts, new bumps stops and bellows in the back, all new front control arms, a JXB extended slave cylinder and an oil change. We still are attempting to get an SC pulley on and have to replace a cracked coolant crossover pipe but all in all for the mileage of the car, the job went super smooth. 💪💪

Quick inspection on a really nice Q5 S-line with the 3.0t. Was pleasantly surprised to see it when I popped the hood. 🤣I...
08/15/2025

Quick inspection on a really nice Q5 S-line with the 3.0t. Was pleasantly surprised to see it when I popped the hood. 🤣

Inspection looked pretty great other than needing some front brakes and upper control arms. 👌

Bonus pics of my Audis at Golden hour. 🔥🔥

08/13/2025

Just a couple quick jobs this week here in the shop. First up was a Q5 that had a very bad acceleration shake. Once I got it up in the air, it wasn't hard to find. Next up we had another B9 in the shop for some spark plugs, new air filter, ZF8 fluid service and an oil change. 💪💪

I will say these B9's have been a learning curve to work on, but I think I've done most all basic services and bolts ons at this point. I think they are easier to work on than the B8s for most things but the verdict is still out to be honest... 🤣😎😎

Back at it again this weekend in the shop! 😎😎On Friday we knocked out the brakes on the S6 that we needed the larger 400...
08/03/2025

Back at it again this weekend in the shop! 😎😎

On Friday we knocked out the brakes on the S6 that we needed the larger 400mm rotors for. You want to talk about some massive brakes...things are ridiculous and the rotors weigh a metric s**t ton. 😂😂

Yesterday we finished up the weekend early by knocking out a turbo swap on a B8 A4 with the WILDEST turbo failure I've ever seen. The compressor shaft broke in half and then proceeded to embed the exhaust turbine half into the cat. We installed a brand new IHI turbo with all new oil lines and hardware. After smoking out the neighborhood from all the oil left in the exhaust, she was running great. Big win for the client in the end and a good story for us. 💪💪

We've slowed down a little as the summer heat rolls on, but we are still out here working in the shop! Last week we had ...
08/01/2025

We've slowed down a little as the summer heat rolls on, but we are still out here working in the shop!

Last week we had a really nice B9 S5 sportback in the shop. This new client needed some help with a hpfp fuel pump upgrade kit. We knocked that out and got him one step closer to more power. 💪💪

This week I did an oil change on a super sweet Volvo X60 cross country. I wish I would have gotten pictures because in all honesty, I may be in love with it. Then again I've always loved wagons, especially the old square Volvos. 😎😎

Bonus shots this week of my new obsession. I started collecting vinyls a couple weeks ago and I was stoked to get these in a couple days ago. ❤️❤️

It's been far too long since I posted any updates! Hear me out though, I did have my reasons. 😂😎The wrenches keep turnin...
07/17/2025

It's been far too long since I posted any updates! Hear me out though, I did have my reasons. 😂😎

The wrenches keep turning here in the shop. We did some more TDI things, timing and sway bar links on a TDI Passat. We also knocked out a couple rear wheel bearings on a C7.5 A7. Finally we did some work on a gorgeous S6 but unfortunately had the wrong parts so we had to put her back together and make another order for parts. 😭😭

Now for the "out of the shop" content and the reasons the page has been quiet lately. First on the docket I FINALLY bought a new heart for the wagon. I got a beautiful lower mile 4.2 from Reid Coe. Thanks my friend! Now the wagon won't be burning a quart of oil every 300-500 miles. 😬 After the motor purchase I took two weekends off for the 4th and went to my families cabin in the UP. It's truly my favorite place on earth. ❤️❤️

This week in the shop we learned the valuable lesson, you win some and you lose some. Read below for the full details. 🤬...
06/17/2025

This week in the shop we learned the valuable lesson, you win some and you lose some. Read below for the full details. 🤬🤬

First up we had an MK6 Volkswagen GTI in for a full inspection and plan of attack for repairs. That will be finished up later this week. 😎😎

After that we were back to the Audis and our usual 3.0t content. Unfortunately not a great resolution for this one. Had a client who's 207mm crank pulley bolts loosened up and broke off in the crankshaft snout. I hate when I can't get something done, but this one has me defeated. Yes I tried heat, and lots of it. 3 broken extractors later not one bolt would budge... There's nothing worse than having to tell a client I can't get a job done, but it's part of owning a shop.😭😭

Thankfully the weekend ended on a brighter note and we knocked out an axle job on a B9 A4. 👍👍

Address

5448 Thrush Drive
Grand Blanc, MI
48439

Telephone

+18103089360

Website

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