I am extremely satisfied with the level of service. New to the Bay Ackerman's has been godsend. I continue to return and know my car is with very capable technicians. read more

Bruce and crew keep my 2011 in super shape. In the last service I mentioned an issue, that I thought might be a money crunch. They took care of it for small change. Bottom line, great service and good work. read more

Excellent experience, throughout. Ackerman's really saved the day, for me, starting with a much-needed free second opinion/inspection in a case where I was not confident acting on the recommendations given by a previous mechanic. I'd been given a Volvo, a nice but older family car; the goal was for me to sell it and use the money toward the purchase of a new car of a type more suited to my needs. I became a first-time customer at Ackerman's in the process of trying to make sure this car would be in good shape for sale. Ironically, Ackerman's free second opinion was more thorough than the $230 opinion I had just paid for elsewhere, and also caught some important things which were not even checked for by the prior mechanic, which I believe represented Ackerman's going above and beyond what they'd promised to do under the umbrella of the basic "free inspection" offer. I'd like the folks at Ackerman's to know that the free second opinion really paid off, for me and hopefully for them as well, since I decided to go ahead and have them do the work they designated as most immediately pertinent and necessary, based on the things they found in their evaluation. For me, putting down $230 with multiple mechanics just to figure out if it made sense to repair the car, and if so where to have the work done, just wasn't feasible. It turned out to be sheer good fortune that the one shop I found which offered a courtesy second opinion was also the kind of place I'd hoped to find in the first place; from the outset, I felt that these were folks one could trust. Bringing a car to Ackerman's was a positive experience, from beginning to end. They were clear, polite, patient, responsive, and respectful. They listened well, and came up with an easy-to-understand list of priorities which directly reflected my needs. They didn't over-promise in any way, nor on the other hand did they inflate costs or repair recommendations. Instead they began by being reasonable and then quietly provided even more than expected. One additional thing I appreciated, which may seem small but which I feel is indicative of their overall approach: When trying to compare what Ackerman's recommended for the car, to what the previous mechanic had recommended, I realized that Ackerman's writeup was designed to make it easy for the customer to quickly and easily see what was recommended, as well as what those repairs would cost. No hidden costs, no need to go from column to column to make sure one had caught all the fees that would add up to a single repair. Just clear, straightforward, honest, and simple to understand. Which was descriptive of the entire interaction with Ackerman's. In the end, Ackerman's helped me prioritize clearly and reach the positive outcome I'd hoped for, to make sure the car was safe to drive and ready for sale. And, to add even more value to the service provided by Ackerman's, Bruce Ackerman then offered to drive the car to the neighboring smog check station, which was super helpful. The car passed that inspection right away, and is now certified and ready to go. Thank you, Ackerman's! read more

Amazing mechanic. Had the best service here despite a mix up in communication. I trust them and highly recommend this place.

Excellent service, knowledgeable staff, friendly, most help and accommodating.

I am very pleased with the work done on my Subaru Outback '07. Ackerman's diagnosed my car, determined the radiator had "blown out", (luckily the head gasket was spared), and the work was all finished in one day. The new radiator and attachments looks very good, and my bill was lower than quoted, including extra work done complimentary. The thoughtful and trustworthy work makes me feel reassured and I'll definitely bring my car back for the next round of work. read more

Bruce has been taking care of my gf's car for over 2 years and we are very satisfied with the work. He's honest and I trust his team to not take advantage of my gf who knows nothing about cars.. I would recommend this garage to anyone and there are many reasons why she drives from SF to have Ackerman's service her Volvo.. Thanks Bruce and team! read more

Great, friendly service for my Impreza!

Don't bother. Ackerman's has a pleasant enough atmosphere for a auto shop, but that's about all I'd recommend besides the friendly mechanics. They're quite expensive and Bruce, the owner, has forgotten what customer service is. My husband and I brought our '06 S40 in for a 75K service and mentioned that it was making a weird "bump-bump-bump-bump" sound, mainly heard on the freeway. They took the car out for a test drive and did the service, including the "33-point inspection" and somehow missed that our shocks were completely blown. Shortly after the service we took our car into a tire shop for some new tires and they told us that our shocks have been blown for a while and had caused our rear tires to wear unevenly which caused the noise. We were confused why Ackerman's hadn't noticed that issue so when I brought the car back in to have them take another look the friendly mechanic, Adam, confirmed the problem. I asked Bruce why they hadn't caught that issue during the 75K service, especially after we brought it to their attention. Bruce's excuse was that the mechanic had told him during our first visit, but he didn't believe the mechanic so he didn't pass the information on to us. So I asked how I could trust that the 75K service was done accurately and how he could compensate me for the extra time it took for me to deal with his mistake. All he did was hand me a free car wash voucher with a brief apology and didn't offer to make sure the service was truly completed as it should have been. When I asked him for some sort of assurance that this wouldn't happen again all he did was lower the car, drive it to the street, leave the car running with the door open and walk into the office without a word. Guess we'll be finding another shop. I can't trust that Ackerman's accurately does what they say they'll do. And it's clear Bruce doesn't fully understand how to deal with customers. read more

I used to take my car to Auto 280 in San Francisco. They are an independent Volvo exclusive service shop, and my family has worked with Gary (the owner) for over 15 years. When I moved to Emeryville three years ago I was sad that I had to find a new shop for my 1992 240 Sudan, but after searching the internet, I cam across Ackerman's and thought it would be similar to Auto 280. I was wrong. Ackerman's is overpriced and pushy. They wanted me to do all sorts of work that wasn't necessary and Bruce (the owner) didn't explain the problems to me sufficiently. Maybe he doesn't know much about mechanics, thus relying on his staff to do all the work. When I pay top dollar for service, I expect to get a detailed explanation of what the hell is going on with my car. On top of this, I took my car in MULTIPLE times due to a grinding sound I was hearing, and every time they told me it was nothing. Wrong again. The brake pads that they put on the car wore down to nothing less than a year after installation; and I don't drive rough or a lot. I asked Bruce why he thought this happened so quickly, and he did not have an answer. After shelling out $600 to him, he wouldn't even guarantee that these new pads would last. So I told him I was taking my business elsewhere, which is exactly what I did. I am trying out Montclair Auto Tech in North Oakland today to replace the bearing...crossing my fingers! read more

First time having my Volvo XC90 serviced at Ackerman's this past week. Very professional and personable staff. They had done the service quickly as well. Upfront and fair pricing. Complimentary Lyft ride from and back to their shop is a huge plus. I'll definitely be taking my Volvo back here for servicing from now and on. Thank you! read more

I took my used beat up Volvo here a year ago. All I got was attitude. They were clearly not interested in helping me. I got the impression that unless you are rich and have a nice new Volvo they don't care about you or really want your business. My car was not starting sometimes. They couldn't figure out why. Later when poking around under thew hood I discovered that if I took a screw driver and connected two wires near the starter is started right up every time. I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to cars but if I could figure this out why couldn't they? Their solution was for me to junk the car and buy a used one from them for 6K Bottom line - over-expensive, pretentious and snobby. read more

Last year, my old mechanic, Roger's Autoworks, sold their business. I was always loyal to Roger, but now felt like I could look for a mechanic closer to home, and found Ackerman's on Berkeley Parent's Network. In that amount of time, Ackeman's has fixed a botched brake job and helped me pass smog. When I brought the car in for service today, I asked Bruce if he could do a "trip check"... something Roger charged for. "That's part of the regular service," Bruce replied. Ackerman's also has a few nice touches. They have a jar of Semi-Freddi's biscotti and Peet's coffee, for when you skipped breakfast rushing to bring your car in. They also have a complementary shuttle service when you drop your car off. When I dropped my car of the first time, they asked me, "Do you need a ride anywhere?" My jaw dropped open. I had never been offered that by an independent mechanic. Also, every time I've brought the car in, they've called me back to make sure I was satisfied. That's the true sign of an honest business. A dishonest business wants to take your money as quickly as possible, forget about you, and go on to the next customer. Here's the biggest surprise for me: after my first time getting my car back from Ackerman's, my wife commented, "Thanks for cleaning the car, honey." "Are you high?" I am thinking! I'm not the "clean the car" type. It turns out Ackerman's had cleaned the inside of the car before I picked it up! Amazing. Please, don't anyone tell her! I'd also like to counter a couple of points here: First, someone mentioned that they only care about you if you're rich with a new Volvo. My volvo is nearly 20 years old. When I first came to Ackerman's this year, I expressed an interest in maintaining the car as long as possible. Bruce was very positive about that, and encouraged me to keep it going. After all, that's why people buy Volvos. Also, once when I was shuttle home, there was another customer who told me how Bruce resurrected her Volvo from the dead, and has kept it running for years. I find it less than credible that a good Volvo mechanic would shun that market opportunity. Second: With regards to long waits, I was disappointed when I had to leave my car 1 1/2 days when I did not pass smog. However, when I came to pick up the car, they had already taken it to the smog test to make sure it passed, so all I had to do was grab the certificate and go. I've rarely had to leave my car over night over my lifetime, and only once at Ackerman's. I chocked it up to the circumstances of requiring a new part that had to be delivered. On the other hand, today's service only took 90 minutes. I wouldn't count on Ackerman's being characteristically fast or speedy, there are too many factors at play. Third: Someone said Bruce was "expensive". I've taken my car to 2 other of the best Volvo mechanics in town, and his prices are comparable. "Comparable" definitely means the higher end of the "mechanic" spectrum. Once I took my Volvo for a brake job at a non-Volvo mechanic, and it was MUCH cheaper, but then, it had to be re-done. I've never wanted a dealer to get their claws on me, so, I can't speak for the dealer experience as better or worse. Regardless, keep in mind that while Volvo's are expensive to maintain, there is also some savings in their longevity. My 1992, acquired in 2005 cost me $3,000 and is running AWESOMELY. My 1981, which I bought in 1995 for $2K lasted 10 years. In 15 years, even with expensive mechanics, i've probably spent $12,000 total on comfortable safe cars. So, I factor in the cost of my mechanic in the ownership equation, and it really pays off. My friends are always surprised at how cheap I am when it comes to cars... I'd rather pay for iDevices and bandwidth. read more

I've been taking my Volvos to Ackerman's for years. Always professional, honest, reasonably priced and prompt service. I also love that Bruce will write a donation check to your kid's school for 5%. Highly recommended! read more

I went a appointment on this past Thursday. Over the phone I explained to Bruce what I needed done. Bruce explained that he was short staffed, and only had one guy. I gave him the key, and ask worse case scenario regarding time 3-5 hours. That was my only means of transportation and Bruce wasn't very accommodating with regard to me just sitting there so I ended up leaving and just walking through Berkeley.I just decided to get a hotel because I was just walking around aimlessly. My previous dealings with this shop before have always been pleasant and professional. Bruce called around 2:20 said Don your car is ready. I ask him how was the tune up. He then brought to my attention that it wasn't a form that there was a service performed to find out what's going on with the vehicle and what needed to be addressed. So no tune up? I ask him if they could do the tune up being that they had my car from 9 am to 2:20pm Bruce explained that There wasn't enough time left in the day to do my car and that I would have to schedule another time. I gave him the days that I can do it which are my off days which are Tuesdays and Thursdays for some reason Bruce kept bringing up Mondays and Wednesdays which are not my day off. When I Cornick this out to let him know that he doesn't seem like hes trying to accommodate the timeframe that I need he fired back with your not the only customer we have theirs 8 other customers and you're being selfish. Of course after hearing this I couldn't believe it so I fire back with selfish I'm a paying customer I can't believe that you wouldn't try to figure out how we can get this done after you've had my car all these hours. Bruce told me he had to go and hung up the phone. So I got off the phone thinking oh my goodness what is going on walked all the way back to his shop and when I got there there was no one in the front so I stood there for about 7 minutes waiting for them to a dress that I was there Bruce comes out finally move my car to the front and then gives me some paperwork of the service that they performed. I told him I didn't in preciate him being indignant with me over the phone and he said look the service is free and maybe you can go elsewhere. I will not be going back there maybe he was having a bad day but I felt like the race card was definitely in full effect. He just want to get rid of me he didn't even charge me for the service which is like a $190 charge. I walked out with my tail tucked between my legs feeling like I should have said more but decided to just leave because I could really do anything and I was just grateful that I had the information so I can go elsewhere and see if I get my car serviced I'm never going back there. read more

Bruce and his crew are everything a repair shop should be: knowledgeable, friendly, and well priced. It doesn't hurt that they are also community friendly and seem to always go the extra mile for customer service. I dropped my 93 Volvo wagon off for repairs before the holidays and Bruce met me on NYE day, even though they were technically closed. My car was waiting warmed up and toasty right when I said I'd be there. Turns out one of the repairs was a little trickier and I found the same problem still occurring after I picked it up. I took it back the next day and they repaired it for free and even had the car washed and detailed as a kind gesture for not getting it the first time. I understand that cars are tricky and even experienced mechanics make mistakes. The car is driving like a dream! read more

I left the dealer a couple years ago and looked for a AAA approved Volvo auto shop in Berkeley. I am so glad I found Ackermans Volvo- I get my AAA discount at each service- The quality of auto repair & maintenance service has been outstanding and customer service superb. Bruce runs an excellent shop. He is an incredibly honest professional. I give Ackermans 5 stars especially after they took care of my brakes and rotors a few days ago. The car started to screech last week. I had a minor service previously scheduled; but, they managed to replace the brakes, too. I am safer now. Thank you so much! You guys Rock! Cris G. (El Cerrito) read more

Ackerman's is excellent! Both in regards to customer service and car servicing. I highly recommend. I brought my 1996 Volvo in for a checkup (I'd just bought it from somewhere else and wanted to make sure it was ok) and they did a thorough job of checking it out. I'd had some problems with the car not starting, and after looking at the car there were two potential issues/repairs that were needed. Though they could've easily up-sold me on the more expensive repair, they didn't. They suggested repairing the cheaper one and said only if that didn't work would we look at the more expensive option. I appreciate their honesty and integrity, as many car shops wouldn't have done this. Adam, Miguel, and Bruce were all excellent. Again, I HIGHLY recommend Ackerman! read more

I am so glad to have discovered Ackerman's for my Subaru Forester - professional, friendly, honest, and efficient at reasonable rates. I had a failing axle and brought the car in to have it replaced recently, but it started acting up within a couple of weeks due to a flaw in the part - Ackerman's took care of it right away and replaced the part on warranty at no cost and I've had zero problems since. I also got my AC fixed there, and they offered a follow up free recheck to ensure there were no leaks that needed to be addressed. Very happy with the service - highly recommend!! read more

We used their service for the last 2 years, and were quite satisfied with the service. As far as I can tell, the work was done reliably and thoroughly. What I particularly liked was the promptness of the service and free shuttle service to work. Were their sometimes things to fix I wasnt aware of before - yes. But that I is what I expect from a car coming up on a 2-digit age. Also when their pointed out items to be coming up to be fixed in the future, it was usually about 6 months or so, when they really needed to get changed. I do appreciated a honest opinion on what has to be changed and what does not, and I felt receiving this here. read more

We had excellent service here today! We didn't actually have an oil leak after all as we were told by another place... and they took a good look at everything and charged us only $5. We will be regular customers from here on... read more

I brought my secondhand 1983 Volvo here a few months ago and was impressed by the honesty, thoroughness and respect I and my car received. Bruce, Miguel and Eric really know their stuff and will do the extra little maintenance checks and small repairs that cars need to keep from needing big repairs, something not all mechanic shops do. Since they specialize in Volvos, rest assured that your Volvo, be it "vintage" or brand new will receive the very best inspection and repair service around from Ackerman's. Bonus perks: shop newsletter; Chez Panisse dinner drawings; you can even ask them to donate 5% off your repair bill (at no extra cost to you) to the charity of your choice. read more

My '97 Volvo got the "check engine" light and so I assumed I was in for a multi-thousand-dollar kick in the teeth, because Volvos are the most expensive cars to repair on earth. Last time it needed brakes it ended up costing me $2K for all sorts of crazy shit, like a broken turbo. One time. the dipstick rotted and the dealership told me it would be like $300 - $500 for a new one, because I have the "short" one they don't make anymore, so they have to install the new "long" housing, but they have to special order it from these elves in Europe and blah blah blah. By the time the guy got done talking I realized he had actually taken my wallet out of my pocket... Anyway, I just bought a long dipstick and cut it with tin snips, and I resolved that the next time the gd car even needed bake pads I was going to trash it. But the car is loved by a member of my household, and so when the light came on I was on the hook for fixing it. I heard that bad gas caps were actually a frequent cause for this in Volvo's, so I bought a new one, but no luck. So I took it here. I was really concerned they were going to pull some mechanic shenanigans, because I am mistrustful of all mechanics. I was pretty clear "just diagnose it, don't fix it, don't check the turbo, don't look in the engine at the frothy, milky blend of oil and water that is grinding the pistons away, etc..." but I was still pretty sure I was going to get socked. But, hey, I didn't! They sent me to the nice cafe next door and 20 minutes later some guy came in and was like "yeah, it was probably just the gas cap. Keep it closed tight." Nice! I assure you, these guys knew I was never going to be a long term customer, and they could have easily screwed me, but they didn't. Thumbs up! read more

Fast, accurate, and reasonable on the wallet! Very helpful with a tricky diagnosis from other mechanics that had previously quoted me double what I paid at Ackerman's. The other big surprise was they had my car ready for pickup in hours. Huge plus, thanks! read more

I take my old Volvo 240 there. They seem trustworthy and have fair prices, and seem to work on the older Volvos quite a bit.

Okay - so here is the thing ... I took the car in last Monday - replaced the spark plugs (almost $400, ran some diagnostics, and in theory fixed the AC by replacing a belt - another $100-plus dollars - I was out just under $600 - super expensive for what they did) -- but my car is old- and I had checked the Yelp reviews - and so I thought it was fair enough... The parts were only part of the bill - the "thorough inspection" a significant charge. Bruce assured me the car was OK to drive and we talked about the timing and sequencing of future repairs. Tuesday it was back in the shop because the mechanics "forgot to check" to see if the AC repair they did actually worked. You know the drill - me, single mom, missing work.... However, Ackerman's provided excellent customer service- it was sloppy not to check and then to try to charge me for both repairs - I asked and they discounted the first repair and charged me for the second- almost $300. Bruce assured me they had done a thorough diagnostic on the AC. Again- pleasant customer service just poor service on the car- but I figured it was a fluke - and the customer service part was really responsive. Because I am naive- I assumed they fixed the two complaints I took the car in for - especially since I asked Bruce about it specifically. So I wrote a good review. Fast forward to this Monday (I don't drive a lot so I hadn't taken the car anywhere but home) - we are on a road trip and the AC (repaired twice at least in theory by Ackerman's) starts pouring white smoke/steam/coolant into the car - I have my two young kids in it and we are on a road trip..... the car is suddenly running rougher than it's ever run.... I called Ackermans - but it's a holiday week - nada! I leave a few messages. The car continues to run poorly... but its a holiday weekend and I am out of town- so mechanics are far and few between - I take it in to shop bc its shaking so bad on the road (the other thing I had taken it in for) - that mechanic finds out the back brakes and drums are shot - something the hundreds of dollars worth of inspection that Bruce charged me for - overlooked. Today the car is rougher than ever and then dies in the middle of nowhere after hiking ... stuck out of cell range - I hike back to a landline and call Ackermans and Triple AAA. Triple AAA is great, but the response from Ackerman's to my questions about why my extremely reliable and old car no longer runs - are met with what amounts to essentially an FU from Bruce. The two problems with the car are tied to the two things Ackerman's worked on - which are now worse than when I brought the car in. However Bruce's response to my queries about remediating the issue - "your car didn't run well when you brought it in - it has a lot of things wrong with it " which is actually not true and counter to the written assessment that Bruce charged me for and provided me with last week. And also does not match what we discussed- and I documented... My car is old - it may not have run perfectly- but it was reliable before I took it into Ackermans. I have gone from having a car that started daily, got me where I needed to go reliably, to one that needed a tow truck following servicing by Ackermans. I am out several hundred dollars to Ackerman's alone, my car is inoperable after being worked on at Ackermans, we are having to rent a car to get back to Berkeley, I am having to pay another mechanic (Bruce's recommendation -"find a mechanic familiar with Subarus" - um, thanks???), and I will miss an epic amount of work to travel back to the central coast to get my car- and to top it off - Bruce was snarky and rude. Of course- I will pursue this when we finally get back to Berkeley- but hope this review saves someone else the real heartache and potential hazard we faced. I took my car in to make sure it was safe for a road trip, got assurances from Bruce it was, spent a lot of money on an inspection that missed something as basic as worn back brakes and paid for repairs that actually created new and significant problems. I should have heeded the other one star reviews Ackerman's has racked up - fully 25% of their reviews are 1-star - my bad for not doing that math before I took my car in. read more

Bruce and crew are incredibly knowlegeable and helpful. They have been keeping my 1993 Volvo 960 running and happy for more than twenty years. After a service the other day I discovered that one minor part (a mirror) was defective, and when I drove down there they replaced it on the spot. Good people, great knowledge, you can't go wrong with them. read more

Last week my mom brought in her 2001 Volvo to Ackerman's for a battery problem. They installed a new battery and did a full inspection for $550. They said there were a few oil leaks but sent the car out and everything seemed to be fine. Two days later, the red oil light came on and the car started leaking oil very very badly. We put in more oil and it went straight through the engine. We brought the car back in to Ackerman's. The three mechanics there hoisted the car up and found that the camshaft seal in the engine had popped out and needed to be replaced. How did this happen?!? The car did not have anywhere close to these problems when we brought it in. Bruce and his team claimed that it was a pure "coincidence" that this happened right after we took the car in and that the "timing looked bad" all while assuming NO responsibility whatsoever. They they asked for another $2500 to fix the car again. Yeah right! Evaluate this story for yourself, but I think it's clear their poking around in the engine must have triggered the massive leak. Ackerman's name may still ring out in Berkeley because they have been doing this for a long time, but it's gotten to their heads. Their work product no longer deserves that stellar reputation. Not once did Bruce act like he cared at all about the car, and it seemed like he could have made even just the slightest gesture by reducing the gargantuan bill for no work, by a few dollars. Instead, he took a very self-righteous tone that they'd done all they could and it was all on us. read more

Absolutely fantastic service! Very clean and welcoming waiting room with coffee and biscotti, classical music (although I think that may be the choice of the owner, Bruce. Who is a very very nice man) They were very responsive, giving us updates and making us aware of costs and actively working to get us the best deal and not make us pay for more than we needed to. Afterward we receive a phone call thanking us for our business and a thank you card in the mail. So adorable. If I lived in Berkeley I'd never go anywhere else. read more

2008 Volvo S60 AWD. I had the car for close to a year before experiencing a terrible time diagnosing an engine that was losing power. It took months from November 2019 to March 31, 2020 to find an answer. Upon researching a few repair options in mid-March, I finally found a solution. Ackerman V&S listened to my experience, tested a few things and quickly diagnosed the actual problem that might have even been happening prior to my purchase of the car in 2018. Now a car I thought I had to almost abandon for a new car and payment was "brought back to full life" under their care and professionalism. I am a new fan and customer for the life of this car, no question. read more

Not Impressed. Possibly more expensive and slower than the dealer with less convenient hours. I wanted to love Ackerman's because it is close to home, independently owned and a certified green business. However it was really expensive, the owner acted like it was beneath him to discuss price and I really shouldn't be there if I can't afford to fix every little light bulb and other non-safety thing. Also he had my car for a really long time and was not too bothered to tell me when it would be done. Lots of attitude there for some reason and swell coffee and biscotti are not enough to make up for it. Update Boo on Ackerman's! After taking the car to Frank's for a tune-up they told me whoever worked on the car last didn't put it back together right and some bearings were grinding! Also they failed to notice that the brakes were completely shot. read more

My XC90 has 180,000 and I plan on getting 300,000 from it thanks to Ackermans. Ron the Volvo mechanic is back in Berkeley at Ackermans. They are friendly, knowledgeable, reasonable and honest. read more

Ackerman's is very considerate and helpful. With two children, I need service that finishes on time and respects my limitations. They are very accomodating and polite. They even send a thank you note after servicing the car. Honest estimates too...just when you thought they were merely starting figures. Needless to say, this level of service does not come cheap. But they are independent, and I find they deliver on the premium charged, whereas many dealerships take advantage. read more

Had my 1968 volvo P1800 taken here to have a starter installed and have a full vehicle inspection. Got the starter put in without any issues but the vehicle inspection was anything but accurate! I paid $280 for them to overlook so many obvious issues the car had including a major fuel leak that could easily have started a fire! To make matters worse, when I called Bruce on it, he got snotty with me and said "well your in NYC so what can I tell you". What is that supposed to mean? Since I'm in NYC I don't matter as a customer? It was all smiles when I had the car there and was paying top dollar but now that the car is home in New York, he can care less. Lesson learned, should've went to Montclair. read more

My battery died and needed to be replaced. The AAA driver who came to help me mistakenly broke the hose on my radiator while removing the battery. AAA fully covered the cost of repair and recommended Ackerman's for the job. They were extremely accommodating, and even did a little extra work for me. I was running late to pick up my car an the owner waited after hrs for me which is very kind. The work they did was clean and i will go back to them next time i need anything done Thank you Ackerman's!! read more

Ackerman's is absolutely amazing. Bruce at the front desk is very personable and knowledgeable, and their mechanics have been working Volvo's forever. Plus they have their own racing team! I'll make it simple: They do quality service and do not fix what is not broken. The charges are reasonable. I was taking my XC-90 to a dealership before, and after 2 years with Ackerman's can say with confidence; this is better and more affordable service. Plus, Bruce gives great referrals to local shops for tires, radio or body work. Truly 5-star service and it's in the heart of Berkeley, where people love Volvos! read more

Friday morning took off work and went to service my Volvo, upon arrival, greeted by Mr. Bruce. I was quoted $75 for diagnostic over the phone for engine dieing intermittenty. Mr. Bruce told me $175 in the office to when I try to calmly tell him what I was told over the phone. RANDOMLY & COMICALLY, without explaning anything , he sent me home!! Thank you Mr. Bruce. Thanks for my wasting my time and maybe I was kicked out because of my skin I thought. Now the world knows about it so you should not do it again to others.God bless your little soul. read more

I've been very frustrated with my check engine light in my 2001 Volvo V40. I've been using a great mechanic but they really specialize in Mercedes, so I interviewed a Volvo shop in San Rafael CA and Ackerman's in Berkeley. I ended up going with Ackerman's: fast, efficient, gave me a AAA discount and 5% of my repair donated to my favorite charity. But the most important part was I felt I could trust Bruce Ackerman. I am a 65 year old woman and have been ripped off by the dealer; even though I live in Novato, Ackerman's is now my new mechanic and I am happy. Thank You Bruce and crew for your integrity and high level of excellence. read more

Bruce managed to fit me in to have his mechanic take a look at the car the moment I dropped by. It was fixed days later. Good service, fast. Highly recommend. read more

I'm writing another review because we are about to have Bruce and his crew check out a 20 year old Volvo we want to buy. My husband lost his job two years ago so we have to be very careful with our money and we never question price or worry about being ripped off here because we absolutely trust them and our old car runs better since they've gotten their hands on it. I'm really surprised at the comments about snobbiness from other posters here, the car we take in looks like crap and is OLD and we've never felt that ever, they even wash it for us! read more