Berkeley Motor Works

(556 reviews)

Stand up guys at this spot, fast, easy, and you feel like you gettin' taken care of WHICH U ARE …read more Dope spot, good folk, good service what more could ya want ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

For years have been going to another place but they recently closed for good so I found this place…read morein the area and decided to give it a try. Workers friendly, helpful and service was fast.

Yen's Auto Service

4.7

(100 reviews)

Love these Guys and their " Old Fashioned INTEGRITY " !!!…read more My Accord Battery is only 14 - 18 months old. However it died unexpectedly @ a ' ' Refueling Stop ' in Berkeley @ the GAS STATION on Shattuck @ Ashby. Luckily they have a Mechanic Shop in there, and the fellow in there obliged me with a " Jump Start ". Mysterious why it had died suddenly then was ' back up ' Performing Beautifully !!!! Despite which I needed a Battery & Alternator Check to Satisfy Myself Fully that All is Well. Called Mr. Hamza @ Yen's Auto to explain the situation. He suggested I bring it in ASAP for a " Charging System Check " - which I did the same day about 4 weeks ago. Him and his Assistant Mr. AFSAND , who I'd dealt with previously , had me pop the hood to connect their Meter Etc giving my Charging System ' A CLEAN BILL Of Health. Nice to have " Honest Mechanics in the Vicinity " !!!!!!

1 star only...because 0 isn't an option…read more I booked an 11:00 a.m. appointment for an oil change in advance. I wasn't a walk-in. When I dropped off my car, I was told it would be ready around 12:30-1:00 p.m. and that I'd receive a call when it was done. I decided to stick around the area. At 1:00 p.m., after waiting two hours, I walked back to check on the status and found that they hadn't even started working on my car. When I told them I was leaving, the employee suddenly asked if I could wait another 10-15 minutes because he could "start it now". So frustrating. My scheduled appointment meant absolutely nothing until I complained and I was not interested in a rushed oil change... If your business can't honor appointment times, don't offer appointments. Respect your customers' time. I would not recommend taking your business here. I certainly won't be back.

Oil Changers

3.0

(20 reviews)

I have been coming here for years! Very good service! And very fast! These guys are hard workers!…read moreAlex, Tak, Ajay, and Sai and the rest of the guys! A+

This review is for Toc/Teck. His customer service is very POOR and UNFRIENDLY. He never has a…read moresmile on his face, and when asked a simple question, he acts as though it is a bother. However, the other staff members are helpful and kind. Other than that Oil Changers do better !

Midas

4.1

(147 reviews)

I've been going to Midas for years. It's an authentic neighborhood garage. Paul and his team are…read moreknowledgeable, but also super kind.

I routinely get my Oil Change on my Older 2006 Accord EX @ Jiffy Lube on University Avene near…read more10th. St. in Berkeley where I've always found the Staff to be Very Polite & Professional. Plus - they had an online Coupon for $ 12.00 this time to round it down from their new higher price of maybe $ 72'ish. However - MIDAS seemed to Advertise a Great $ 39.99 Deal Online. Upon Googling the ,' Nearest Location to Albany ' - I found a Store in El Cerrito near to Central Avenue on San Pablo Avenue about 3 weeks Ago. Mr. Paul , the Store Manager, was Polite on the Fone - Informing me that he could handle my request the same day if I reached there within about 30 minutes which I did. Upon arriving- I was greeted by Mr. Mirani who seemed an old hand @ the Trade having owned a Midas Store himself in the Past. S..o..o I decided to sign ' The Work Order '. I may've reached the store around 1:30 - 2p.m.'ish. Was informed there would be a wait as they had other vehicles ahead of me. I had only had 1700 miles since my last change around 04/25, but Of Course most Shops I've talked with Inform me that there is yet another ' consideration ' involved ' which is ' Oil Viscosity Breakdown ,' from Car sitting in Park Mode !!! As it's an Older Vehicle I toil hard to maintain - I will usually bring it in for an Oil Change as soon as the 15% Oil Life lamp on the Dash lights up. Since it was my first visit for an Oil Change - I asked the Staff present what brand and weight of Oil they use. To my ,"" UTTER SHOCK & Chagrin," the STORE MGR., Mr. PAUL retorted : " @ the Price you are paying it shouldn't matter !!! To this comment I retorted : " I shall remember that " !!! The above " Unprofessional'ism " put a " Bad Taste in my Mouth " !!! That comment was Unexpected & Uncalled For - Especially as the same Indovidual had been Very Polite & Professional thus far. In fact about a week prior - I had called as ' An Acquaintance ' stated her Muffler needed Replacement, and Mr. Paul had offered a hassle free ' Fone Quotation ' !!!! Whilst there , a Shop Hand ' had approached me to know where my wheel lock key was placed in the Car that indicated to me that a Tire Rotation might be Included with the Oil Change. S..o..o the next time I saw the Store Manager , Mr. Paul , in the Front Office where I was offered to wait on the Couch. He confirmed that ' Yes it is '. I shared I'd gotten my Newer TIRES quite Recently from San Pablo Tire & Wheel on 23rd. St. quite recently. Mr. Paul ,: " Oh U mean ' One Of those Places ' - whatever that means !!! Been goin' there forever, and the New as well as past owners have always been Very Honest & Reliable for me sans " SARCASTIC Comments " !!!! I had Good Luck @ a MIDAS Store in Sunnyvale on El Camino Avenue during Covid - 19 on July 4th. 2020 whilst attending a Wedding in Santa Clara. I remember they'd worked on my Brakes & Struts since I'd found the Ride ' A tad Bumpy ' !!!! The Owner-Operator was Awesome applying various Coupon Specials and Driving me to Grab some Lunch as Promised. I'd like to be able to Return to My Neighborhood MDAS due to Nice Promktuonal Rates, but DO HESITATE !!!!

R & R Towing & Auto Service

4.2

Called to have a car towed locally. Not only did they answer the phone, the tow truck arrived in…read moreless than 30 minutes! The driver expertly navigated our narrow street and carefully unloaded the car into our driveway for storage. He was very friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this company! They are worth every penny.

The best in Albany! They were quick, gave me a very reasonable rate to the dealership. Highly…read morerecommend.

Tires Direct

(67 reviews)

My prior experience getting a new tire here was positive so when I needed my tires balanced I…read morereturned here. However, they didn't do the job correctly and wouldn't take responsibility for it. I know they didn't do it correctly because when Tires Direct balanced the tires it did not resolve the mild steering wheel vibration I was experiencing at speeds over 60 mph. When I took it to another shop (after Tires Direct supposedly balanced the tires), they reported that the RF wheel had an irregular weight pattern and was .75 oz out of balance and the LF wheel had no weights at all and was 2.75 oz out of balance (which is significant). The other shop balanced them with road force balancing and that solved the vibration issue. When I called Tires Direct to let them know about my experience, they became defensive and told me that the balancing numbers at every shop will be different and they did nothing wrong. Perhaps the numbers can vary, but the point was that whatever balancing they did, didn't actually fix the issue - so I wasted my money by going to them.

Stopped by last minute and they were able to take care of me right away. Super chill environment…read moreand really friendly staff. As a new customer they made me feel welcomed and took great care of my car for sure I'll be coming back and recommending them to my friends and family. Keep up the great service!

Paul 777 Auto Care

Always great service. Honest, knowledgeable and affordable. Highly recommend!!…read more I have gone in for both regular maintenance and more specific needs. Always satisfied with their work.

Good quality work at fair prices. He worked on my dad's 1989 Nissan Maxima and made it run well…read more Also repaired my daughter's 2012 Toyota Camry bumper that was literally falling off.

Paul 777 Auto Care

Always great service. Honest, knowledgeable and affordable. Highly recommend!!…read more I have gone in for both regular maintenance and more specific needs. Always satisfied with their work.

Good quality work at fair prices. He worked on my dad's 1989 Nissan Maxima and made it run well…read more Also repaired my daughter's 2012 Toyota Camry bumper that was literally falling off.

Star Alignments

5.0

(24 reviews)

I highly recommend Star Alignments! I recently got a new set of tires from Costco and needed an…read morealignment. You can get an alignment check here for just $39.99, which can be credited toward a full alignment. The shop is in a great location, within walking distance to 4th Street for coffee, food, and shopping while you wait. Kia has over a decade of experience repairing vehicles and is genuinely a nice person. He is honest, professional, and up-front about the whole process. I'll definitely be back!

Today was my first time at Star Alignments. I went in for an alignment since we had installed new…read moresuspension and the appointment was quick and easy. I walked around to a few local cafes to grab a snack and by the time I returned, the car was ready! What I appreciate is that the shop is clearly run by a "car person". There are fun pictures and other cool car related memorabilia around the shop that make it feel welcoming. Not to mention Kia is very knowledgable and provided great customer service. I recommend Star to anyone in the East Bay who wants a no stress, good quality alignment experience.

Just Brakes

5.0

(188 reviews)

My brakes started squeaking a bit a couple months ago. I made an appointment with Asim to take a…read morelook, and even though he had a good idea that there wasn't going to be an issue with the brakes given my car was a hybrid and the mileage, he still did a thorough inspection explaining what to look out for in the future to keep the brakes in good shape. Asim is a total pro, super friendly, knowledgeable. Will definitely be coming to Just Brakes for any future work needed on brakes!

I brought my 2022 BMW X3 to Asim at Just Brakes for a full front and rear brake replacement, and I…read morecouldn't be happier with the experience. He completed the job in about 2 hours as promised when dropping off the vehicle. Once my vehicle was on the lift, Asim took the time to show me exactly what needed to be replaced instead of just telling me. He explained everything clearly and gave me options, including using either aftermarket or OEM parts, without any pressure. Throughout the process, Asim kept me informed, including letting me know about a brief delay while waiting for parts to arrive. I appreciated the communication, and there were no surprises. His pricing was very reasonable, and the quality of the work was excellent. The shop has two lifts, so be sure to arrive on time for your scheduled appointment. That helps him get your vehicle inspected and into the shop without delays. If I could give more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. I'll definitely be recommending him to all of my family and friends, and I'll be returning for any future brake work.

Take 5 Oil Change

4.8

(58 reviews)

I brought my own oil and filter for lincoln navigator 2019…read more Love the staff, very fast. did exactly what I wanted! they also cleaned my windshield and top off other fluids.affordable price.

United Transmission

See more unrecommended reviews

(49 reviews)

Fixed my hard shifting van transmission quick and efficiently. Great service. I have used them…read moremany times in the past and they are always consistent and reliable.

I have had United Transmission take care of all my transmission needs for many years now, and even…read morethough I have moved out of the area, I still trust them to take care of our automotive needs. Our recently purchased diesel truck developed several issues, but Ray and his team got everything working just like new and right on schedule. Highly recommended!!!'

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Morty O.

18 years ago

I've been a customer since Oct, 2006. Mike and company came highly recommended so after i bought by first BMW, a 1998 Z3 2.8, I took it in for a big checkup. They found a few things wrong with the waterpump, etc which is unfortunately a problem with Z3s. They gave me a heads up on other things that may need work in the future but they never tried to tell me i HAD to get something fixed immediately. I always have my oil changes and maintenance done by these guys. Its always fun talking to Mike, Ilya and Tony cause they explain what they are doing to the car and I don't feel that they are pulling my leg to make a buck. I've also had so many upgrades on this car and they have done UNBELIEVABLE work. Mike has helped me with so much of the research on the upgrades. They have upgraded my steering wheel, exhaust, performance chip. In addition, they let me bring my own parts (some off ebay), I brought in a new after market front bumper cover, and Mike had it painted and installed for about $600. So the total, including what i paid for the bumber ($350) the total was $950. That was $450 CHEAPER than German Motor Collision in San Francisco was going to charge me and they wouldn't even let me get my own parts! GMC was going to charge me $700 alone for the painting! WTF? The whole staff is super friendly and they always get me in right away. As far as price, sure, they are cheaper than some, more than others. But their work, knowledge and experience on BMWs is amazing. Not only do they work on BMWs, they all own BMWs and Mike races them! So if my mechanics have Bimmers themselves, and obviously work on them themselves, its obvious they know what they are doing. I'm not sure whats up with a couple of the other recent reviews, but i have never had a bad experience with them and HIGHLY recommend Berkeley Motor Works. Im a customer for life as long as I have a BMW! Bottom line, Berkeley Motor Works is a great family owned small business that keeps my car nice and happy. They may be a little more expensive than other shops, but you know what.............you get what ya pay for. Get it done right the first time and go to these guys. read more

R H.

157

17 years ago

For the past eight years, I have been taking my BMWs for service at Berkeley Motor Works...which has been phenomenal. Mike and his team are not only very technically savvy, but also have excellent customer service. Berkeley Motor Works has saved me countless times, always taking the extra steps to help me out and make it easier for me. A few situations that stand out the most: * When my first BMW was totaled after a truck hit it when the car was parked, Mike and Carol (whom we shall always miss) handled all issues related to the insurance company...and helped assess my choice of my next BMW * When my BMW broke down on the freeway after the fan split to pieces, Mike and Carol immediately called for a towing truck to come get the car and me...and everything was fixed within a short few days. * When an old woman banged into my new BMW leaving a long crack/dent, again, Mike and Carol completely handled the insurance issues, everything down to going back and forth with the claims adjustor...and Mike in particular, helped me out tremendously to connect with the body shop he recommends and personally made sure that everything was back to normal with the car. * On the night of the presidential elections, when the results came out and I was stepping out of the house to join friends, in my excitement I managed to lock the only key to the car in my trunk...now, breaking into BMWs is pretty hard; AAA couldn't get in either...I left a message for Mike that night and within the next day or so, he was able to get me a brand new key This of course, is all in addition to the usual servicing, oil changes, diagnoses drives, holiday cards, and other offerings. I highly recommend Berkeley Motor Works, not just for the excellent care of cars, but also for their care of customers. read more

Berton W.

11 years ago

This my first /only review, of anything. I am a life long DIY mechanic. third BMW, brought my second(540i) to Berkeley Motor Works five yrs. ago for special trans service. Mike did me a big favor. Let me bring shell auto trans. fluid instead of expensive BMW fluid that I was told only option. Special adapter needed,car up on rack, engine running to refill trans, test drive. I was only charged for less than an hour labor. Never had any problems.So third BMW, 325i wagon I bought In Jan. 2015. Took to Mike for code diagnostics reading. Mike offered post purchase inspection. $150.00, this included ,on rack inspection,detailed codes printout, and detailed observations/recommendations, all accurate. Just what I wanted. Then,in April, after a 650 mile trip with no problems. Service engine soon light came on. Anyone who has this knows I can be bad (ccv valve) or easy (gas cap) I checked for obvious signs then decided to trust Mike at Berk. motors. Diagnostics said fuel mixture to lean/rich. I authorized up to 2 hrs. for smoke test for air leaks, fuel pressure/system check and possible ccv valve which are all known problems on high mile 325i. Mike found two cracked air intake boots that could not be seen without test or removal. Had Currier deliver new boots, installed, re-ran codes, test drove, cleared codes and provided detailed printout. all for $221.00, one hr. labor and parts. Although I was happy with the car before/after the light came on, mike thought it could be better preforming. After this repair it runs smother/stronger. After three hrs. in the shop and unexpected parts, I was expecting $400.00 +. Thank you Mike ! If you own an old or new BMW, talk with Mike before any dealer, and screw Weatherford! read more

Michael B.

17 years ago

I have been bringing my 1999 BMW 540i here for a couple of years now. I have always been satisfied with their professionalism, attention to details, and service that is hard to find these days. Eeven, on a few occasions, a ride home while my car was in the shop for a few days for repairs. The owner has always made a concerted effort to explain fully what was the problem, and even took me out in the shop so I could see firsthand what part had failed on several occasions. This made me feel more comfortable knowing exactly was going on with my car. Most importantly, I should make special mention about how Mike stands behind his workmanship and warranty for a past repair performed at their shop. I needed to have the radiator replaced and quite some time later, the radiator began to seep along one of its sidetanks. I called Mike up, he said bring it on down right that same day, and he would address the situation. When I arrived late that day at his closing time, he was waiting for me and confirmed that the radiator was apparently defective and he took my car in and drove me home. The next day, he called me and said he would be picking me up and that the car was repaired, the radiator was replaced free of charge. Now that's service at its best in my opinion! Great shop, knowledgeable staff and mechanics, great service, and a great guy! Thanks Mike for all you do for us busy BMW owners! I will be sure to tell everyone I know who owns one to come pay you a visit the next time they are in need of service! read more

Steve B.

9 years ago

Mike and his team at Berkeley Motor Works (BMW) are absolutely great! BMW has been my exclusive repair shop for my 750Li repairs for more than 8 years. I trust Mike and his team to give me the very best service available at a fair price. We discuss the details of my needed repairs ahead of time and estimated cost. One recent example was a shifting problem with my transmission while i was more than 100 miles from Albany. I called Mike and was able to give him a detailed description of the symptoms and messages on the display. That along with my drive-ability and personal assessment helped Mike with a pre-diagnosis and plan for repair. After several attempts to reset the system, I was finally successful. This gave me the confidence (along with Mike's coaching) that allowed me to drive the vehicle back to Albany where the diagnostic codes were downloaded. The problem was an internal transmission shifting control module malfunction and seal. All were replaced within a few hours (at a fair price) and the vehicle was back in service. Very satisfied! Well done once again to Mike and the crew at BMW. read more

Luisa C.

17 years ago

My husband and I have taken both of our BMWs to Mike and crew for almost ten years and have always had a great experience. They are knowledgeable, thorough while being conscious of price and value with these cars that are notoriously expensive to maintain. Recently, I wanted to surprise my husband with a new stereo for his 1999 BMW and Mike took the time to help me find and buy the right one online because I wasn't sure what to look for and then have it shipped to him so that he can install it in my husband's car. I thought that his responsiveness and wililngness to take the extra time showed great customer service. It is not hard to find a knowledgeable mechanic who knows how to work on BMWs. The trick is finding one that is both knowledgeable and offers good customer service and reasonable pricing. If Mike and crew continue to do this, they will certainly always have our business and I would absolutely recommend them to anyone out there who is frustrated with the experiences they have had going to other mechanics or worse to dealerships! read more

Amy L.

9 years ago

We have a 1981 BMW 320i that was not passing its smog test due to high nitrous oxide emissions, from which we learned that it was running lean, with too much oxygen in the fuel air mixture. Our first two mechanics found the fix to be beyond their expertise, since many of the usual culprits were not causing the problem. We then returned to Berkeley Motor Works, where our car had received years of service, but was not as conveniently located for us. Mike and Scott were both super-nice on the phone and in person, and were confident that their technicians had 1. found the problem - a faulty computer! - and 2. that they could replace it with a good used computer unit. They had our car fixed the next day, and Mike kindly took the car for its official smog test, so that I didn't have to return for a 3rd test, the thought of which was quite depressing! I was floored by this kindness and generosity. Their prices were quite fair for the time and work they put into the car. We are sooooo happy! Thank you Berkeley Motor Works! read more

Thomas F.

17 years ago

Mike and Jane at Berkeley Motor Works have been working on my porsche for years now. They do all the service work on it. Mike has driven with me and recomended that i get a roll bar just in case! It is a convertible. They ordered the right roll bar and installed. I feel much safer and more confident driving my Porsche. After reviewing my bill i realized that Mike hadn't charge me for delivery and told him so. That was one hundred dollars. I'm not sure what Chi is talking about but i have never exprienced this with mike or this business. Everyone can make a mistake, it's how they deal with it. I would high recomend them any day and you can personally call me at 510-774-0000. They care! read more

daniel n.

18 years ago

My 328i broke down at jack london sqaure with my wife.The radiator broke off at the top neck.I found these guys in the yellow pages.They took my car in monday morning with out an appointment. My wife and I walked to go get something to eat and called a couple of hours later.They said it would be ready in 30min.We showed up back at the shop and the car was ready.I got back on the road and we were back home in the lake tahoe area that night.They were very kind to take me in so I called them just to thank them again.No issues,car runs just like it did.If I lived near them I definitely would go back but too far. P.S. I have been a bmw owner of many BMW's for 30 years,Very Very Happy read more

Kristin K.

16 years ago

I have recently purchased a 1974 BMW 2002 and got a recommendation to bring it to Berkeley Motor Works to have it checked out. They have been just great from the first inspection to all of my visits so far, from getting parts, fixing it up in a timely fashion, changing the seat belts in the back due to a special request... (even though, I don't hope to have to go very often). They offer great friendly service (I love chatting with Paula) and my mechanic (Mike) seems to have grown up on cars like mine. I am really happy that I found them as it made my decision to buy my car a lot easier. I love having it. I highly recommend them as my car and I feel very well taken care off! read more

Gary R.

17 years ago

i have taken my bmw's to 3 different shops in the area and was not very satisfied with there service. so i tried out berkeley motor works 9 years ago, and have been so pleased with the professional courtesy and excellent workmanship that they have done, there shop is extremely immaculate which gives me peace of mind. this is a family run business where customers always come 1st! as a high performance driving instructor it is very important for my cars to be tuned to perfection and to be inspected thoroughly. The owner Mike is a hands on car enthusiast with whom i trust to keep my cars safe and running at peak performance. read more

Alvin M.

18 years ago

I Have been doing business with BMW for around 20 years.Never a problem that could not be solved.Honest and all original BMW parts used only.I have a 1974 2002 Tii and a 1999 M3 that have only been serviced by this shop.I would advise anyone who wants there BMW to continue to run as it was intended to have there car serviced by Berkeley Motor Works.I am always happy to stop by the shop and have my car looked over from time to time,this insures that there are no surprises for the most part.By the way neither of my cars have ever stopped on me in all of these years. Thanks BMW read more

Ruth P.

15 years ago

Mike Scwharzbart's shop advised on my original BMW acquisition at Weatherford, handling follow up inspection and subsequent required maintenance. This shop has superb customer service, extremely knowledgeable mechanics and the work performed is always top tier coupled with timely and direct communication/ recommendations thru the diagnosis process. As auto makers design vehicles with increasing sophisticated technology, Mike is constantly on the go researching latest repair data for his customers. I would not consider taking my car anywhere else. read more

Marc L.

17 years ago

I have a 2002 BMW 325i which i was recently having serviced at Weatherford BMW under warranty. I was tired of their prices and their attitude. I have switched back to Berkeley Motor Works where i have been a client for over 15 years. Mike once rebuilt an engine in my 1974 BMW 2002. It ran great for another 6 years and I never considered another mechanic for that car while in the Bay Area. Although i moved out of town, i am now proud to put my trust in them once again with my newer Bimmer. They do excellent work at fair market prices. read more

S X.

17 years ago

They did a front control arm bushing job on my wife's 2003 530i. I picked them based on the yelp reviews. Since it was under a third party extend warranty, I just paid the $100 deductible. So the quality of the work was more important to me than the price. If I did not have the warranty coverage, the total cost would have been ~$330 ($190 labor and $140 parts). Everything went smoothly. It has been 3 months and ~ 2k miles, so far so good. BTW, they offer drop-off and pick-up from UC campus which is very convenient for me. read more

jessi j.

15 years ago

I went in to this shop just the other day to have them take a look at a problem I was having with the fuel cap. When I got there I was greeted with polite smiles and was made to feel very welcome. On top of the incredible customer service, they checked my car out very quickly and came to the conclusion that it was a dealership problem and wouldn't be worth the money I would be spending. I have a family of four imported cars and everyone of them is going to be taken to Berkeley Motor Works from now on! read more

sonia o.

16 years ago

A couple weeks ago i took my car because of a coolant leak. The staff is very friendly, being my second time going to them i was confident that my car was in good hands.They found the problem and were very prompt in letting me know what was wrong with my car, that same day i got my car back and problem solved. I would highly recommend this shop because they know what they're doing unlike the dealers who have rookies working on these expensive cars and misdiagnosing problems. read more

Rob D.

16 years ago

Couldn't get my M3 in at the dealer last week and decided to try a local shop near work. I'd heard good things about these guys from a co-worker so gave them a call. They were great! Got me in straight away, the service advisor was knowledgeable and friendly, the techs did a great job fixing my problems, they washed and vacuumed the car. The owner of the business, Mike, even gave me a lift to work! Great place, great people, definitely my new BMW Service Dept! read more

Jane S.

17 years ago

If you drive a BMW they can fix it. I've been driving my BMW's since the mid 80's and having Berkeley Motor Works fix my 320, than my 535, and than my now 323. I like their attention to detail when my car is in the shop and know I'm not paying dealership prices. They are honest with what you car needs and leave the decisions up to you on what you what to fix at that time. Thanks guys I know I'm safe on the road. read more

Bill M.

17 years ago

I have been taking my 1993 BMW 740i to Berkeley Motor Works for the past several years. Mike and his team won me over by fixing an unfixable transmission problem at that time, Since then I have gone out of my way to bring my car to Berkeley Motor Works for all regular servicing, tuneups, and repair and maintenance. I would highly recommend the shop to BMW owners looking for a honest auto mechanic. read more

Berkeley Motor Works - autorepair - Updated July 2026

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4.4

(94 reviews)

If I could give 10 stars, I would! I bring my beloved VW Bug (affectionately known as Buggy) in for…read morewhenever she needs some TLC, and let me just say, she comes out perfect every time. The team here is not only professional and skilled, but they also treat Buggy like the vintage queen she is. They always take the time to explain everything clearly, never try to upsell me on things I don't need, and have worked some serious magic on her performance. I can tell they actually care about the cars they work on, and the people who drive them. The pricing is VERY fair, the service is prompt, and they are just genuinely kind human beings. If you've got a car you love, do yourself a favor and bring it here. I always leave with peace of mind! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You've got a customer for life

My first Audi (an A4) was originally serviced at an official Audi dealership, and later at a repair…read moreshop near my office. Over time, I got tired of hearing excuses--things like, "we fixed this part, but that wasn't the actual issue," followed by a bill for parts and labor that didn't solve the root cause. Eventually, I decided to try Auto Plus--and that's when I met Ali. What immediately stood out was their transparency and how clearly they explained everything. They walked me through what the issue was, what they had done, and what they recommended next. When my first Audi had a major issue--a leaking water pump--they didn't just fix it. They also suggested replacing another part that's usually swapped out every X,000 miles, since it shares the same labor. I looked it up, and they were absolutely right--it saved me money and hassle in the long run. Now I'm on my second Audi, and Auto Plus is the only repair shop I go to. I trust them to do things right the first time.

Bavarian Professionals

4.7

(271 reviews)

Consistently great experiences here across multiple employees. Fair and insightful service!read more

I've had consistently positive experiences with Bavarian Car Professionals. They are reasonably…read morepriced and I trust them. Eric in particular has been incredibly helpful over the years. More than once, the dealer told me I needed a repair, and Bavarian inspected the car and honestly told me I still had multiple months left before I needed to make the repair. Highly recommend.

Ackerman's Servicing Volvos and Subaru

4.3

(113 reviews)

I recommend this shop to all my subaru friends. I originally took my subaru outback to another…read morereputable shop in livermore when there was oil in the coolant reservoir and that mechanic told me the car was toast. Thankfully I decided on a second opinion and read that Bruce was the go-to guy for subaru knowledge on a reddit forum. I gave him a call and told him what was going on and he immediately said " sounds like you have a bad pcv valve" and he was right! Im so grateful I found Bruce! If I would've trusted that livermore mechanic's diagnosis I would've retired a car for a cheap valve part...

Bruce and his team are always friendly, professional and take great care of my Subaru Outback and…read moreme as a customer. My son referred me to Ackerman's a few years ago. All work is completed as requested and on-time. Thank you...Chris

Wise Auto Tech

4.1

(91 reviews)

The coolant expansion tank on my E46 -- and if you know, you know: the E46 is arguably the best…read more3-series BMW ever made, the last one built before the brand decided that every car needed to look like it was designed by an angry PlayStation -- exploded in the parking lot of the Oakland Whole Foods. Not overheated. Not leaked. Exploded, in the way that E46 cooling systems eventually do, because BMW in its infinite German wisdom decided to make critical cooling components out of plastic that becomes brittle after fifteen years and then shatters without warning while you're deciding between organic and conventional blueberries and wondering why "baby" bok choy here were the size of my fist. AAA towed it. The dispatcher pulled up the list of nearby shops and Wise Auto Tech had the best ratings and could look at it that day, which on a Friday afternoon in the Bay Area is the mechanical equivalent of getting a same-day dermatologist appointment. It also happened to be blocks from my Berkeley pied-à-terre, which felt like the universe apologizing for the parking lot coolant geyser. Not much to say beyond the basics, and in a shop review the basics are everything: they were friendly from the moment I walked in. They finished the job the next business day. The bill came in at the low end of what I'd been quoted online by other shops, which in 2026 -- a year in which every dollar has been asked to do the work of about a dollar forty -- matters more than it should. I felt slightly guilty asking about the 10% AAA labor discount, the way you always feel slightly guilty asking for a discount from people who are clearly already being fair, but they didn't bat an eye. Here's the detail that stuck with me: when I picked the car up, I noticed they'd plugged in a loose fog light wire -- something that had come undone during an ill-advised encounter with a parking block weeks earlier, something I hadn't mentioned, something that had nothing to do with the cooling system. They saw a loose wire and they plugged it in. That's the kind of thing that tells you more about a shop than any Yelp rating ever could. It means someone under that hood was actually looking, not just fixing the thing they were paid to fix and closing the hood and moving on. Quick, friendly, honest, reasonably priced, and fastidious. That's the whole list of things you want from a mechanic, and most shops manage two or three of them on a good day. Wise hit all five. Recommended.

I can't believe I haven't yet reviewed Wise Auto Tech. I've been taking my car to Wais, owner of…read moreWise Auto Tech, for about 15 years now. My car is 25 years old, and still running like a champ, thanks to the expertise and quality work consistently performed by Wais and his team. Wais and his team are knowledgeable and well-versed in all things automotive, honest, and their pricing is fair. You don't have to worry about being ripped off here or sold on things you don't need. My partner and my partner's neighbor have also been loyal customers of Wais for years. I spoke with another customer while waiting one time who has been a customer for nearly 30 years. Wais has a loyal following, and for good reason. On top of being a great mechanic, Wais is also a genuinely nice, stand-up guy, and always pleasant to talk with. My car is my baby, and I wouldn't trust it to just anyone. I am confident entrusting it to Wais and his team, and recommend them for all your automotive needs.

Paul 777 Auto Care

Always great service. Honest, knowledgeable and affordable. Highly recommend!!…read more I have gone in for both regular maintenance and more specific needs. Always satisfied with their work.

Good quality work at fair prices. He worked on my dad's 1989 Nissan Maxima and made it run well…read more Also repaired my daughter's 2012 Toyota Camry bumper that was literally falling off.

Argonaut Garage