Mission Statement
We at Hill Country European first and foremost dedicate ourselves to providing precise luxury car repair, diagnostics, and maintenance in a holistic, long-term relationship. Our highly trained technicians will educate and empower drivers to become more responsible owners while nurturing a trusting relationship with them. Hill Country European is dedicated to sustainable growth and green business practices, all while maintaining a proactive local community relationship.
Native Texans both, Rafa and Brent arrived in Austin nearly simultaneously to begin work professionally in the German car field way back in 1996 when they were still in college. Practically connected at the wrench, they swept floors, disassembled junk cars, and began repairing them as a team. Air conditioning system installations on vintage BMW’s accelerated into two comprehensive careers that still hum right along today. With over 33 years of combined experience helping get people back on the road, Rafa and Brent have honed their skills at each step of the car repair journey. At Hill Country European you won’t communicate with a snazzy salesman as service writer; a Master Technician will thoroughly explain, via phone or email, your potential repair and all the possible avenues available to get you back on the road.
Native Texans both, Rafa and Brent arrived in Austin nearly simultaneously to begin work professionally in the German car field way back in 1996 when they were still in college. Practically connected at the wrench, they swept floors, disassembled junk cars, and began repairing them as a team. Air conditioning system installations on vintage BMW’s accelerated into two comprehensive careers that still hum right along today. With over 33 years of combined experience helping get people back on the road, Rafa and Brent have honed their skills at each step of the car repair journey. At Hill Country European you won’t communicate with a snazzy salesman as service writer; a Master Technician will thoroughly explain, via phone or email, your potential repair and all the possible avenues available to get you back on the road.
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Rafael Garcia
Rafael “Rafa” Garcia was born into a family that embraced mechanical knowledge and learning. The son of an Army Officer/Teacher, Rafa explored mechanics from a very early age. His love of disassembling and reassembling (virtually everything) naturally led him to repair his own cars. An old, but still-reliable, 1969 BMW 2000 Sedan introduced him to the Ultimate Driving Machine. Along with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Texas A&M University, Rafa is certified as an ASE Master Technician, ASE L1 Technician, Bosch Master Technician (one of only 27 nationwide and the only one in Texas), and has a strong background in electrical and mechanical system diagnosis. Rafael is focused on professional development, quality and craftsmanship, and how this leads to better automotive repair and customer experiences. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Austin Community College, Automotive Technology where, in his spare time, he’ll get to teach the best and brightest future automotive technicians. Rafa was named the 2015 Bosch/ASE Master Technician of the Year and was recently elected to ASE's National Board of Governors. ase.com
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Brent Christensen
Brent “BC” Christensen spent much of his childhood in Houston helping his brother fix automobiles. Years of shade tree wrenching led to a long career in Austin, Texas, dealing with all aspects of BMW and Mini Cooper repair and modification. Brent is also an ASE Master and L1-certified Technician. He, like Rafa, holds numerous credentials in the German car field. Brent also holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin and is a certified ESL (English as a second language) Early Childhood through Fourth Grade Teacher. Brent’s career in the automotive field began with sweeping floors but quickly progressed through general repair to months-long, custom modification and racecar preparation projects. He prides himself on attention to detail and precision and, like Rafa, values continuing education in the complex field of luxury car repair. Rafa and Brent have spent more than the last decade and a half not only repairing German vehicles in Austin, but also helping explain to customers what they’re spending their hard-earned money on.
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Lazaro "Laz" Monroy
Laz was born and raised in Cuba surrounded by vintage machines. With a natural curiosity for understanding everything that contained a mechanism, he grew up working with his hands and learning to fix things.
The shop's first apprentice came to Austin in 2008 and quickly made it his home. Here he attended and graduated from Austin Community College's automotive technology program before expanding into the world of German engineering. Eager to learn from some of the best technicians in Austin, Laz has grown to love and appreciate these luxury machines and the attention to detail that is required to keep them operating at peak performance. Continuing education classes and ASE certifications are part of his ongoing education and Laz has not hesitated to take advantage of every opportunity to grow. Being a part of the Hill Country European team since 2016 has been just one step in the process of learning to provide the best service possible. |
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