Got my transmission serviced here and saved big bucks. Great guys, honest service, and fair pricing!

A-1 was always my go to place to service my European car! Friendly, honest and reliable! So sad to drive by what use to be their lot in Inwood and see it completely empty! read more

First visit here. My BMW 328i needed new tires. I looked up online for tire reviews, picked a set of performance all seasons from Tire Rack and they referred me to A-1 All German Car. The tires were delivered in 2 days and I called A-1's John to setup an appointment. He asked me to come the early next morning (7.30-8 am) but I had other commitments. I then called him again to ask for another appointment later that day and he asked me to come-in immediately if I was free - very accommodating. I was told that the tire installation and balancing would take 2 hours. John and his wife told me cool stories about the establishment while I waited and made the whole experience fun. Paid the exact amount tire rack promised and walked out in 1.5 hours. This business seems straight and honest. I'll definitely go back for my oil changes and preemptive conditioning. read more

I have been going to A1 for all my repairs.. My car is 23 years old and they treat my car with kid gloves..my car has never run better! They are VERY busy! but they are great and have been in business for 60 years!You can trust them which is a great thing to have .They are real experts! read more

Used to take my old 2003 BMW there for regular service. Excellent. Took my newer BMW there, it took 4 weeks to diagnose and change a part. Then they claim that another part went bad. Close to $4000 in repairs, not including the rental cars that I had to pay for out of pocket. I often felt like I was annoying them when calling or stopping in to check on the status of my vehicle. They were clearly irritated that I'd ask; often times ignoring me and continuing to do whatever they were doing (sweeping, spraying license plates, feeding the dogs, etc.). Treated me as if they were doing me a favor by fixing my car and not a business transaction. Complaining to me about how long my car is occupying their lift - who says that to customers. Fix the car right the first time and it won't occupy the lift. I had to do my own research on the internet, reading forums to actually tell them what's wrong with my vehicle. I thought they're the German car experts? John even mentioned to me that it's a learning experience? Yeah, learning on my dollar. I used to be a diehard customer, but I have to admit, they've lost my business. Oh, and the inconvenient house with anybody that has a day job is just icing on the cake. Closed weekends, at 5 on weekdays. read more

I had two choices to get my 2008 Mini Cooper's heat repaired: 1. The dealer in White Plains (20 miles away) 2. A-1 German (a mile away) I chose A-1 and I'm never going back. I dropped the car off on a Monday morning. At 3 that afternoon I called for a report. The owner explained that the heat repair would cost $545. 59. But, he told me that lots of things in our car needed repair to pass our imminent inspection. He called in about another hour and put the bill to $3,450. I told him to just fix the heat! On Tuesday at 11 he called me to pick up the car. He gave me the itemized bill of his dreams and invited me back when I was ready. The bill for the heat was $791. 78- $245 more than his initial cost. He billed me for a computer scan. I drove right from there to get the car inspected. It passed without a peep for $37. A-1 had declared that my breaks were shot. That was not the case. The owner, Van was not honest with me. I'll never go back there. read more

Yeah, you may be able to find a cheaper shop to take your car, but when you take your car here you can be sure you're getting it fixed the right way. Ever since I stumbled onto this place a couple of years ago, I've been bringing my GTI here. They've been able to keep my car running great, and they can usually get it back to me pretty quickly. Another plus is the employees... they're all knowledgeable and will put up with my stupid questions. read more

Adding an extra star to my previous review. Yes, they are still an expensive auto shop. At this point, I just don't care. They are the only mechanics in New York that I've found who do the work properly, explain the issues to me thoroughly, treat everything with honesty and professionalism, and are nice, good people who take care of business. I live in Queens, and while Inwood is pretty out of my way, it's worth the trip. My car runs well because of these guys. read more

Just dropped my Mini Cooper there this morning, all the way from West Orange, NJ!!! I've been a customer of A1's for about three years now. As some others have stated, they are VERY, VERY, VERY Expensive, but that's a small price to pay considering the job is done correctly, on the first visit. Van, John, Keith and the rest of the staff are great guys - very friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer your questions. (Keith is a seriously funny guy!). The quality of work they provide is what makes paying their high prices so easy. Their trustworthy, honest, and very accommodating. Their hours (M-F 7:30-4:30ishpm) aren't necessarily the best for 9-5'ers, but they're willing to wait a little while for you if need be. I highly recommend A1!! read more

Brought my Countryman for touch-up on the rear bumper and got an excellent and friendly service! The best part was being taught a trick on how to do it :) read more

In sum: one of the worst car service locations I've ever been to. May be one of the most shoddy small businesses I've paid. My first experience with A1 took place a few months ago in the fall of 2019. I was fully satisfied with the service work they did on my VW Passat 2006. I had no reason not to go back on January 7, 2020, when the car had a coolant problem as well as a few other minor issues. To start, it took them 9 days to import a required part that they purported to cost $295 (later found to be worth $240 less at the VW dealership). When I came to pick up my car, a wait of a "few minutes" turned into close to an hour, after which I was asked to pay more than $1000 for the service. Reasonable so far. After the payment was made, it turned out that it was impossible to drive the car due to another issue cropping up. After another payment of $523, the owner informed me that the problem was fixed, only for me to realize after driving for a bit that the car was still indicating that same issue. Out of the long list of repairs they claimed to have made, few had actually been undertaken. To verify this, I had two other mechanics run software tests on the car. I came back to inform the owner about my disappointment with the service. While he wasn't there, I did get a chance to speak with him over the phone. He took the complaint without any incident. Unfortunately, his son who was also there overheard the conversation and acted extremely aggressively. As I recall, he shouted "get the f*ck out of here" after I mentioned the possibility of legal action. Suffice to say, the place was extremely unpleasant, extremely unprofessional, and run by incompetent scam artists who are unable to do their job (even to a bare minimum standard) and incapable of honest communication. I will never be going back here again and I strongly urge you to do the same. There are far better mechanics out there: ones who won't scam you and then act like mobsters when confronted about it. It boggles my mind that this place still exists. Biggest scam I've ever seen. read more

I've been taking my cars to A1 for over 10yrs now, both von & John are great knowledgeable mechanics, and they are even better people, from my first experience here, I've been coming back, I only have good things to say, they do very good work, no cutting corners, it's a family atmosphere there, a lot of people complain about the price, but, you'll get what you pay for, they have a sign hanging in the office, over the entrance door to the work area, and it says "THE BITTERNESS OF POOR WORKMANSHIP IS LONG REMEMBERED AFTER THE SWEETNESS OF A CHEAP PRICE IS FORGOTTEN" I've never forgotten that, if that ain't the truth, I don't know what is, take your car there. O.MARSH read more

I used to go here long long ago when Willy owned it. Not exactly a contemporary review, though... Mar 2018 add: i just looked at the pictures on top. As i recall Van is the man who bought this business from Willy when he retired. That was a long time ago. Years later when i was working around Jamaica, Queens i got to know some other good German mechanics, Werner, the owner, and his assistant Lothar. Then they retired too. Then i becane friends with a wacky Romanian mechanic, also in Queens. But now i am far away. If you want to know an honest auto mechanic in Tucson, Arizona ask me and I'll tell you. Honest mechanics in NY-NJ are extremely rare though, and that's why i liked A-1 and the others. read more

If you're looking for reliable, trustworthy mechanics who go above and beyond look no further! I had been searching for a specialist to work on my 1983 Diesel Mercedes and was struggling to find a mechanic that I could trust. These guys are the best! It truly shows the reason they have been around for 50+ years and are still family-owned. They not only fixed all the stuff I needed but really paid attention to detail and fixed other small problems I was having. John and his team are so skilled and really great at what they do. I couldn't be happier :) read more

Just wanted to share with you, had a major problem with the auto locks on my car over the weekend, took it into A-! on Monday, they quickly diagnosed the problem as a fuse. They didn't charge me for anything. They are very honest and reputable, it's like taking your car to a family member (if they knew how to work on cars). I have been a happy customer for 5 years now, hope that continues many many more! read more

**SCAAAAAMMMMMMM ********* I have taken my car four times in this past two weeks to this location for drivetrain malfunction light and each time I'm being told that the problem is fixed. !!!! The first time I paid over $2000 and the very next day the light came back on. I had to get it towed to them because the light engine light also came on. The very next day I got the car back and buy the very next week the light was back on. I picked up the car yesterday after being told that it was a turbo and it was fixed and the leg came back on!!!!!! I don't think they have a clue what they're doing here read more

Great family business. Very good pricing. Fixed my X5 fast. John treated me right. Will keep going back. Would highly recommend.

A-1 Auto, has been nothing but a rip off. My daughter who is a full time student in CMU was studying for two weeks in New York, unfortunately, her Honda died and was towed to A-1 Auto It was finally determined after they charged her $731 for repairs that didn't happen. Since she was stuck there and on a tight schedule, she needed another car as soon as possible, Van sold her a 2002 Audi A6 for $3500.00 which was in such poor condition that it should have been taken off the road. This was in July 2017, by the time she drove home she experienced nothing but problems, even thou Van assured her this car had a new engine and was in great shape other than a few scratches and stuff. Its Now November 2017 and we have no choice but to trade it in for something that works. The suspension was shot, the axel had a crack and ready to break, muffler had to be replaced, and the list goes on and on. Upon arriving at a car dealer to look for a newer vehicle with more reliability, they felt so sorry for my daughter because this Audi was not fit for the road and offered her, (no charge that is) a rental vehicle until she found something else. Plus the most that was given to her for this Audi was $200.00 - Yes you read it right, four months after paying $3500 for it, it was worthless and they only gave $200 just to at least give something. I spoke to Van several times since we are from British Columbia and worried about our daughter in New York without a vehicle and on a tight time line, Van assured us that he understood and would take very good care of our daughter. In actual fact he screwed us BIG TIME. Since he knew she was living in Michigan so returning to New York to have him take care of these issues, was not feasible, so he took total advantage of this situation. He also promised to order two rear review mirror to replace the broken ones and he guaranteed to mail them to her in Michigan. This did not happen, but when he wanted the registration of the old Honda he was calling her all the time, even thou here in Canada we don't have registrations but only insurance registration, I suggest, to anyone to watch out dealing there as if there is a chance they will take advantage. I can't believe he took advantage of my daughter to this extent. She is a full time student in Michigan and we all know tuition is expensive, this was the last thing we needed. read more

The quality has fallen off considerably since the son took over. I was a long time customer, over 30 years. They knew me when I was expecting so I never expected the careless treatment my son and I received last year. We brought a car in, more than once, to be inspected for my son prior to purchase. They took forever and then gave a small list of what the car needed. Nothing urgent they said. We purchased the car. We had the car 2 days before the axle went and it had to be towed out of a parking space. Suddenly the car needed a power steering pump, wheel bearings, etc. The initial bill over $2000 not counting power steering pump and a few other things replaced a month later. The tires that were ok on recent inspection needed replacement or no inspection sticker. More repairs were needed. Ok it was a used car but why have a mechanic inspect it if he won't tell you these things. Then the crowning glory. The power steering pump that was supposedly replaced by A1 in June of 2016 leaked just out of warranty and the steering locked. I took the car to a very reputable shop that friends use. They said it must be replaced again. must have been a bad part. I fear to take it back to A1 after this mess. Friends of mine will not use them. We have been in the neighborhood most of our lives. We are very disappointed we really trusted them and considered them friends. read more

I brought my 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman to A1 because my car went dead on me. John, his Wife and Pap were were very nice to me although I was a little impatient. I felt very confident in there work and they made me feel welcome. The process to get my car back was a little long but they were assertive once they found out what was wrong... I am a tough cookie when it comes to feedback because I truly feel like no one is genuine in there work place, specially being a women, people try to take advantage...but I honestly can say that they are Genuine and very professional with me. They have officially earned my loyalty... THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING...Asia and BOOSKI! read more

If you have a German car and it needs repair, take it here. People here are experienced, knowledgable and caring. They know these cars. At a dealer you'll likely have your car worked on by a teenager with little experience. This is a family operated shop that has been around for many years. Only a few minutes from the "A" train. read more

This is the VERY WORST mechanic shop I have ever been to. The owner (Van) has the personality of a wet sponge. He is one of the worst person that I've ever met, just a terrible human being overall. 1) Asked Van the charges to install a part (which I purchased from dealer) & he refused to tell me. 2) According to Mercedes dealership, this part usually takes around 30 mins or less to install. Van charged me a $130 for the job. Keep in mind Mercedes charges $169 per hour for service... 3) After completion of the job the problem was still present so they suggested pulling back into garage to diagnose any additional issues. Computer showed problem with sensor that regulates the amount of current that the battery produces. Van got on the phone to order the part from Mercedes of New Rochelle. Dealership did not have the part in stock so I suggested picking up the part myself from Mercedes of White Plains to which he refused. Dude would NOT divulge the name of the part even with me suggesting I would buy the part myself without using his shop's discount...he still refused. Dude eventually got ready & left for the day without telling me. **This is the worst automotive shop I've ever had to deal with!** I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE, NOT EVEN TO MY WORST ENEMY! They need to be investigated by the Better Business Bureau. This was the most unpleasant business transaction that I have ever experienced. read more

SHORT STORY - EXPENSIVE SERVICE The crew is very professional and patient with their customers and they know what they are doing (very knowledgeable about cars). However, I'm rating this place with 2 stars because they over charge for their services and its way too pricey. I have a 2002 Nissan Maxima (NOT a luxury German car like BMW, Benz, etc) and it was still pricey. I went to fix my heater issue and coolant flush which was a little overpriced when i compared prices to other shops after the service was done and the issue was NOT resolved (I still had a minimal heat flowing into the car). I was told to bring it next week which was going to required ANOTHER charge. Recently, I had a serious power steering leak issue that required immediate attention. Even though they were busy, they were able to accommodate me to check and repair right away but their pricing was way too high. I check with another auto repair shop and was able to save nearly 300 bucks for the same services they were going to provide me (Power Steering pressure hose installment, labor, flush and etc). I do really like this shop but its too expensive for the services. I have several more work that needs done to my Nissan Maxima but unfortunately, I will not be returning to this shop for any of further services i need. read more

I have heard about this place from good people I will definately try them , my family and I used a friend of the family mechanic . But he's place is so far in Long Island. But to find a good mechanic thats close by to your home is so valuable, especially nowadays. Will give you guys my review when my family and I go visit. No doubt it will be positive!!! God Bless read more

I've been taking my car here for many years. Always first rate service. This family business treats you like family. They get it done fast and right and I have the utmost trust in them to always do the right thing by me. That's rare in this business. I wouldn't trust my car to any other shop. Thanks, John, Van and Keith. read more

When servicing your car it is all about the confidence in the people doing the work. Van , John and Keith are great to deal with. They offer high quality service at a fair price. Would definitely recommend to everyone. Joel A read more

I have been going to A1 for many years already and have had pretty bad experiences with other mechanics regarding my 1993 BMW 740il. A1 has been excellent diagnostically and fair with regard to the work done and needed to be done and the price. A good thing about them is that if they have any questions about a particular problem, they call experts from all over the country and get the correct information quickly, rather then guessing and possibly making expensive mistakes, as other mechanics have done with my cars. I wholeheartedly recommend A1 to anyone who wants the right job done. read more

I have to say, this crew is the most professional and courteous people around. I took my car in with an issue, which they inspected for free, and then provided me with a free quote for parts and labor. As they worked on the car they periodically called and let me know where they were in the process and just kept in touch, which is kind of a rare thing from my experience. The car was delivered perfectly and on time, what more can you ask for. Trust the great reviews here, they are the best and I will recommend them to all my friends! read more

I've been using this shop for 20 years. They had just two inside and one outside lift back then. They have been successful and have come a long way since then, but the integrity of the shop remains. I have owned a lot of cars in that time, and they have worked on them all. They always use original parts and don't do unnecessary work. to Yoav E who was unhappy: What year is your Jeep? Pre 1989 models had a closed cooling system, but no matter the year, the cooling system has to be flushed to remove and replace the sending unit. The battery, ignition and charging system all had to be checked to isolate the problems. Say the battery and thermostat is $160. Labor at this shop is not cheap, I think they are up around $90-100 per hour, so that's like 4 hours labor, plus tax, etc. You should have asked for a thorough explanation of the charges if you thought the bill was too high. read more

I had them install tires from Tire Rack. When I called to ask if they could accommodate me on short notice, they happily agreed. When I showed up they were all filled up. They had me out in just over an hour. The car runs great on the new tires. I will absolutely be back next time I need service of any kind. These guys are absolutely fantastic. read more

I went to this shop a couple of times and it has always been a bad experience the second time will be my last. First time I went for oil change on my Porsche and they didn't replace the washer to the oil pan plug and oil was all underneath my vehicle due to leaking oil from drain plug. Second time I went to them for a complete wheel alignment on my BMW and tire balance and they messed my car up. Alignment was way off after I paid full price. I was so frustrated I took a lost dealing with these guys I didn't want to take my vehicle back to them to fix the problem so I went elsewhere and they fixed the problem for less money than A1 German Auto charged me. STAY AWAY you will be better off going to the dealer or finding another shop that can serve you better. John is the worst don't let the smooth talk sway you. They will mess your vehicle up. Just a total rip off. If you have light colored interior you better cover before going in this place they are very sloppy see pictures for yourself. read more

A-1 All German Car - Auto Repair Near Me - New York, New York

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This is a fantastic garage. Wonderful customer service and honest pricing. I have never had such a pleasant experience in an automotive repair shop. If you are in the neighborhood and need a good and honest repair man try them. read more

A1 doesn't have room within their fenced in lot for all the cars they work on, so some are stored on the street after the work has been completed. When I came by to pick up my car it was parked across the sidewalk, right next to the driveway into their premises with the hood just inches from the fence; anyone walking down the sidewalk would have to squeeze between the front of my car and the fence around A1's lot in order to pass by. The first thing I noticed when picking up my car was that someone had keyed my car, both across the entire hood, and behind the passenger door, scratches that were not there when I dropped the car off that morning. The owner offered to get touch up paint and try to mitigate the damage, but he never got back to me. I have a working headlight (the repair) and two huge scratches on my car. read more

An enthusiast run shop. These guys know cars, and you want them to get to know your car.

No! thank you. We went with them because we really needed a fast turnaround. They told us the car would be ready in 1 day, it was ready in 4. Their hours are for people who do not work and they're not accommodating at all to work with you make adjustments for pick-up. The guy John is nasty on the phone. I will never go there again, no way, I'll give my money to a business who provides outstanding customer service along with their job. YUCK!. NEVER AGAIN! read more

Kept my car for one whole week just to replace starter then charged me $700 to install new one. These guys are too expensive, wont return. Also charged me $800 to fix problem causing Check Engine Light to come on. Two days later light came back on. Im so frustrated!!!!! read more

I found this place a couple of years ago on my way to another mechanic. I didn't yet own my Jetta, but I really wanted one and decided to check it out as soon as I got my dream car. I bought the Jetta last summer and I've been taking it to the dealer for oil changes. I vowed to take my car to the dealer to keep it running as good as new. That is, until Open Road VW in Manhattan charged me almost $400 for a battery back in March. $400. So when I hit 40,000 miles I wanted to do the VW recommended 40,000 mile maintenance. On the Open Road site, the maintenance was described as pretty much an oil change and spark plug change (tune-up). Instead of taking my car back to those crooks (who quoted me $995 for the parts, not including the labor, for this service), I took it to A-1. I'm so glad I did! They did the services I requested and all the things that the service department at the dealer would have done. When the technicians were working on my car, they realized that my air filters were restricted. They replaced them (after checking with me first), and I can already feel the difference in the way the air conditioning performs. The staff was kind and made me feel welcome. I also didn't feel like I was being taken advantage of because I'm a woman (extremely important when looking for a good mechanic). The service was expensive, like the other reviewers pointed out. However, it was less expensive than taking the car to the dealer. I'm pleased with the way my car is running and I'm excited to take my car back to A-1 for the next scheduled service (especially since the shop is only about 10 blocks from my apartment). Highly recommend this shop for caring for your German cars! read more