Import Vehicles - Why they are different!

Place your import in the most capable hands.

We proudly specialize in all years and models of vehicle brands such as:

Al's D&I Repair

Acura, Audi, Honda, Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Mazda, Toyota, Mini, Kia, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Volvo, Nissan, Saab, and Land Rover.


No other shop in the Rapid City area is able to care for your foreign vehicle like Al’s D & I Repair. From dash light diagnosties to engine work, trust the professionals to promptly diagnose your problem and get to its root cause immediately. Al’s D and I is Black Hills’ exclusive user of Autologic diagnostic scanners for dealer level scanning and programming updates.

Al's D&I Repair

Our business name includes both domestic and import. Since we have been repairing and servicing imports for almost 40 years, we have to research and buy the best equipment tailored for import repair. Without having the proper equipment, it is difficult to diagnose and repair import brands. Many shops use scanners/computers to diagnose vehicles that are good for domestic diagnoztics but not capable of gathering critical information to repair the unique needs of imports. Several years ago we had many instances where customers went out of town for repairs so we purchased the Autologic. This scanner is “the scanner of choice” for high end import specific repair shops. It is at dealer level of sophistication and allows us to find and learn things that other scanners don’t. We now have two Autologics, as well as the Snap On, OTC, Tech 2, and Assenmacher.

We recently added a DrewTech computer system that allows us to perform updates from car manufacturers, and to flash/code parts to the cars. Sometimes a problem is fixed by performing a computer update and not replacing parts. Now days, just installing a part does not necessarily fix it until you “marry” or “flash” that part to the vehicle. This business is getting very complex and without having the right equipment, shops are sending cars and customers away to a dealer or us! We handle just about anything in the house!

All of our technicians have extensive training in sedans, SUVs, sports and luxury import models so that your vehicle gets the level of care it requires to keep it running its best long-term.

How Imports Are Different from Domestic

The import car manufacturers were more proactive and a bit ahead of domestic car makers. They pioneered front wheel drive, fuel injection, turbocharging, and getting more horsepower out of their engines.

Asian car companies were offering four wheel steering on the Honda Preludes 30 years ago! Europeans were the fuel injection gurus in the 30’s, and they have been turbocharging for years. To have been working on the Audi’s, Mercedes, BMW’s, Volkswagons, Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus, Nissans for 40 years has been fascinating. The differences between the European thinking and the Asian engineering is also amazing. Their engineers have different ideas on how to design cars. As we have worked on these various car lines for years, the cars have evolved into some incredible technological machines.   We now have vehicles with up to 40 or more computers that are “talking” to each other. They call this CAN communication(Controlled Area Network) which reduces the amount of wiring needed to control the many cool features. The current vehicles are so incredible, it takes major talent and expertise to understand, diagnose, and repair these cars. We are proud and also thankful to be able to purchase the equipment needed, and to have the right peopl that are capable and proud to work on these machines.

These aren’t our father’s Chevy’s anymore.

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