Tim Chakarian

Tim Chakarian, better known as “High-Octane Tim,” is the COO and owner of Bimmer PhD Motorsports in Pasadena, California.
Born in Beirut and raised between New Jersey and Southern California, Tim grew up with his hands on anything mechanical. Dyslexia and ADHD didn’t slow him down—they pushed him to see systems, patterns, and solutions in a way that made him a natural problem-solver. He spent his high-school days surfing before class and his afternoons buried in auto shop, eventually joining the ROP program at a local hot-rod shop.

In his late teens, Tim moved to San Diego to help his uncle run a family restaurant on the water before landing in Los Angeles, where he married and started a family. With two young boys at home, he knew he needed a stable path, so he leaned into what he always loved: cars, engines, and electrical diagnosis. He enrolled in community college, earned his ASE certifications, and soon landed the job he had dreamed of—working for BMW.

Tim spent over a decade at the dealership level, mastering BMW and MINI systems and earning his BMW Master Technician status through sheer determination and a thirst for training. But over time, he saw a gap in leadership, culture, and customer care. He believed the industry could do better—serve people better, educate customers better, and build teams through real leadership instead of fear and hierarchy. When he was told to “just do your job,” he knew it was time to build something of his own.

In 2009, Bimmer PhD Motorsports was born. What started as a small operation with Tim turning every wrench has grown into a high-performing BMW and MINI specialist known for “Quality without compromise.” His belief that people don’t quit jobs—they quit people became the foundation of how he led and scaled the business. Leadership, culture, and systems came first. The results followed.

Through mentorship, ASCCA involvement, and a commitment to continuous learning, Tim developed a five-step meeting framework—blending accountability, education, KPI transparency, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. This structure has become a model for shops across the country and a major driver behind Bimmer PhD’s consistent performance.

Today, Tim serves on the ASCCA Chapter 48 Board of Directors as the Chapter Representative and Membership Coordinator. His involvement keeps him closely connected to legislative updates, industry advocacy, and the statewide effort to elevate and unite automotive professionals. He also sits as the Vice President of BIMRS.org, an international network dedicated to BMW-specific technical excellence, leadership development, and advanced training. Both roles allow him to give back to the industry that shaped him while helping other shops strengthen their teams and systems.

Tim continues to support the next generation of technicians by staying active on the advisory boards of Pasadena City College and Citrus College. For him, there’s nothing more rewarding than helping a young person find their passion and launch a career that can change their life.

Tim speaks across the country, teaching shop owners that the real breakthroughs don’t come from fixing cars—they come from fixing the culture. His energy, humor, transparency, and lived experience make him one of the most relatable and impactful voices in modern shop leadership.

And Tim is the first to say this:
Had it not been for the guidance, coaching, and leadership of the Institute for Automotive Business Excellence—and its founder, Cecil Bullard—he wouldn’t be standing where he is today. The Institute challenged him, redirected him, sharpened him, and ultimately gave him the opportunity to speak in front of more than 300 people at their summit. Their system of intentional coaching is now something Tim carries into his own organization, passing on the same legacy of leadership, accountability, and personal growth that changed his life.

And through it all, he’ll tell you the same thing every time:
“I’m blessed to work with my amazing wife and my team. They give me the freedom to pour into the industry I love. Once you experience the difference we make as a team, you’ll feel why our approach is something you can trust.”