Brought my car in for the big 100k-mile service. It was a full laundry list: engine inspection, hoses, fluids, spark plugs, the whole deal and they handled it all smoothly. Dropped the car off in the morning and had it ready the same afternoon. Everything was explained clearly when I picked it up, including what was done and what to keep an eye on for the next service. The pricing was extremely fair, especially compared to what you'd expect elsewhere (read: stealerships). Will definitely be returning to these guys! read more

Though I came for a brake pad replacement, I left with new rotors/pads and derusted rear drums I dropped my car off at 9:30a and got it back around 4pm. I had a day off and really have been needing to replace my brake pads. The shop I initially wanted to go to was closed and needed to find a shop that accepted walk-ins. Lum greeted me at the office and was friendly and approachable. He gave me a quote for the service and I handed over my keys. A few hours later, Lum called me and said that one of my rotors couldn't be resurfaced and needed to be replaced. As a disclaimer, my car is a 2011 and was previously a rental car so I am unaware of it's past service history. Not only did they assess my brakes but also my shocks and struts and recommended I get those replaced as well, but didn't try to sell me on it right in that moment. He even let me know how much it would approximately cost. Though I ended up paying more than I had expected, I do feel this shop is honest and reliable. The invoice was broken down to me before I paid. I'm glad that I have another mechanic I feel comfortable taking my car to. Now it just time to save up money for other repairs. read more

I got the typical recommended 45k mile service needed with a fair price! I would highly recommend them to those new on the area and need someone honest to do good work. They were also accommodating with the days I was available. read more

I've had my cars serviced here twice. This most recent time was for an oil and filter change and rear brake pad replacement (rotors were resurfaced) on my 2029 Audi q3. Good service, friendly, and fair pricing. I will be back. read more

Not the best communication, the guy seems nice enough but it ended up being about $700 just for the back breaks. Two days later my check engine light is on and my car is making crazy noises. read more

I needed a battery for a Mercedes so I called my regular mechanic. He was not able to take my car in for a few days so we headed to AutoZone and they said they couldn't put it in but I could buy it and go to auto repair shop for the installation because they had to program it. He recommended Blanding auto repair and I'm glad he did. They are very helpful, I was there about a half an hour. They were pleasant and I had every confidence in them today. I think I found a new mechanic today, thanks Victor! Thank you Auto Zone Alameda and Blanding Auto Repair you both rock! read more

You won't find a more honest and hardworking car repair crew. Mr. Lum has brought my 1996 Camaro back from the dead 2x now. Yah, one time the oil gauge was broken and I didn't know. So, I was driving it with NO OIL. My dad has passed so thank goodness I missed killing him with that bit of news. ouch I took it into Mr. L and he worked his magic. There's really no one else I trust, not even AAA as they've given me less than accurate info, e.g., on the need for a new battery. Mr. L replaced the alternator and advised me to drive a bit more so I wouldn't require a new battery. He IS the best, and he is a truly good guy. *BTW, if you have AAA, he will give you a reduced price on parts.* read more

They did a great oil change on my Porsche Macan I would definitely return. I was able to get an appointment for the next day which worked great for my schedule. read more

On Saturday the brake warning light came on, on my car. I'd been using another local repair shop in Alameda, but they told me that they couldn't take my car in until December 6th. I like to keep my car in top top shape, so December was too long to wait. I called Blanding Auto Repair and spoke with Lum and told him the make and model of my car. The car is a BMW 328i and I don't just let anybody work on my car. No matter if it's a Chevy, Chrysler or whatever. He assured me that they KNOW BMW's. Lum told me to bring in my car the next day! I took it in at 9:30 and he was done by 2pm. He did a great job. He was honest and the BEST part was that Blanding Auto Repair was reasonable. We always think that BMW's (break my wallet). They're affordable. I've found my new go-to auto repair. Thank you Lum! read more

Excellent service and value. I take my car here regularly for maintenance and the mechanics are always helpful and informative when it comes to diagnosing any issue that arise. 5/5 would recommend. read more

Quick same day repair for my battery terminal. I called the day before to ask how much it would cost and dropped off my car the next day. They were done by the EOD. No hassle and friendly service. Thank you! read more

AAA referred me to Blanding Auto, and I couldn't have been happier with the recommendation and my service experience. The diagnosis of my exhaust repair was on-the-money, and they helped me source a non-OEM part that saved me literally thousands on an expensive repair. read more

Very pleasant to work with! A nice independent shop with a rental car company just a block away-this place was great! Also the cute downtown strip is very close if you want to wander around. I feel very confident leaving my car here. read more

Absolute amazing service from Lum . My cars check engine light was on and I didn't know why. Lum helped me fix it, did an oil change, and helped me with the smog test. Absolutely amazing service and good price for the work he's done in a timely manner. Would 10/10 approve of blanding auto service for my future go to repairs. read more

Excellent auto repair shop! Mechanics are true professions at automotive diagnostics and scheduled routine vehicle maintenance. In addition, they have good consultation service and pricing, fast turn around and reliable service. Highly recommended! read more

Lum was very professional and patient with me calling about updates. AAA recommended him to me, and Lum kindly provided a AAA discount. He got a pretty catastrophic situation under control and me back on the road in a few days. My car is now purring again like a happy kitten. read more

Last week my wife's car died (luckily on our drive way). Nearest dealer said they could "look" at it in "maybe, a week" (no actual promise date). Called CSAA for tow and they recommended local shop, Blanding Auto Repair. Called Blanding and owner said the could check it out that day. Had it towed mid-afternoon and they diagnosed as bad starter later that evening. Explained diagnostic approach taken, eliminating causes. Replaced starter and did general check of entire vehicle by close of business next day. Reasonable recommendations on other quick maintenance without (as expected at dealer) hard up-sell. Support the local shops! read more

I have an above average knowledge of auto repair and customer service as I have a relative that owns an auto repair shop out of state. And I had taken issue with my engagement with this shop. What happened after that was exceptional. Mr. Lum called me PERSONALLY on the phone to have a conversation. He was attentive, gracious, and humble and resolved my dispute in a way that was more than fair. He took the time to get to know me and my situation, and I was able to get to know him and his situation. And I was more than thoroughly impressed. You will read a bunch of good reviews here that speak to the mans character, and how he has repeat customers and is very community driven. As someone who lives in the area and has had a very real interaction, I can verify that as true. He went above and beyond to address my issues and settled my dispute amicably and fairly. If you have any concerns about anything with him, take the time to talk to him, he will give a very fair and honest assesment - which a lot of auto repair shops won't - assuming you don't know a lot about cars or the process. My ending engagement with him speaks a lot to this man and shops character. And if he was willing to go above and beyond like that for a stranger that he had never did business with? That is something that speaks VOLUMES in todays climate. Highly recommended read more

I always (and only) go to Precision Auto Care in San Leandro for my oil changes and tune-ups, but since I was about 2,000 miles overdue for an oil change, I wasn't sure my car would make it the 20 miles out there, so I searched the internet for coupons. That's how I found Blanding. The owner and head mechanic, Lum, was very kind and friendly. I called in with a $24.99 coupon for an oil change, to which he said he would add $5 in taxes. When I got there, he said it would be an extra few dollars to top-off all the liquids (which Jim at Precision Auto just includes in the price of the Oil Change). I told Lum that I thought it was a hidden cost, that I asked him what the price would be over the phone for a reason, and he told me that he thought it was fair price for a fair service. All in all, I trusted him, as he explained that they have to buy the liquids (coolant, etc.), so in the interest of not arguing, I let him do the work, but next time, I am headed to Precision, where a $30 oil change is really a $30 oil change - no strings attached. read more

Blanding Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

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Awesome, I didn't even have to 'CHECK IN' to get a discount. Quoted me $69.99 over the phone, offered a $10 discount on the spot. Got in and out in less than 30 minutes for less than $70 including the smog cert. NICE. Watch out for the super sketch driveway. But there is a decent waiting area with 3 chairs and outlets if you need some extra juice for your devices. Happy days!!! My baby passed. Thanks BAR!!! read more

Always efficient, always working hard and always ready to help. I got a tune up, some tires and a Smog test. They sent the info to the DMV, got the car ready by the end of the day. The next week, I had a flat tire! I called and they got me a new tire pretty fast and at a discount because the warranty wouldn't cover the chunk of metal I'd driven over but they did what they could which was very nice. read more

Took my 1991 Honda Civic in for a tune up. First time here. Saturday service. Same day service. No frills. No non-essential extras. Honest mechanic. What's not to like? Would have been five stars except I had to make calls to inquire as they didn't call when they said they would. All in all, I'll go back. read more

Decent business, customer service and employees were nice. Went to get my ac fixed, but the next day it didnt work again. Brought the car back in because I was unsatisfied and they helped me locate the problem again this time with no inspection fee and now its running. Just hope it stays that way. Overall I'm satisfied. read more

Great customer service. I brought my car in for a transmission fluid change, and they noticed my tire pressure light was on and was able to reset it! The place that I normally go for an oil change couldn't figure out how to reset it, and had told me that the sensor might be broken - so that was a plus! I was able to use the 10% labor cost discount from yelp. read more

ReLly nice people!!! There is sumone nearby that can do detail repairs but i just wAnted to have the engine checked out and thay found that my spark plugs were in really bad shape! they repaired them and some other small things. Also while i enjoyed my rental car i had my car stored there for a week it was nice! my boyfriend crashed my car and it upset me but the service here from Laam (sp?) made things better read more

Blanding Auto Repair - thanks so much you guys! i forgot to redeem my ten percent off voucher but i bet i will be back with a better car soon'nn - Auto Repair Near Me - Alameda, California

I tried this shop based on a recommendation from a friend and I was very happy with the outcome. It's a small shop (sometimes just 1-2 mechanics) but I didn't have to wait too long and Lum was able to get it diagnosed and fixed while I waited. The waiting area could be better but I'm more interested in a good fair price from a trusty mechanic and this shop fits the bill. The best part is after he repaired it, it remained well-running (which I can't say for some other experiences with other shops). read more

Blanding Auto Repair has treated me well and done right by me and my small fleet of vehicles for years. Just scheduled 2 more smogs today. Fair and does as much as can be done. As a former line Tech at a dealership, this place has my endorsement. read more

Had to get my car serviced last minute so I looked around and found this place. Called the shop and the owner was able to take me in the same day! Got my car in and out quickly and the owner was very knowledgeable when I asked questions about my car. Definitely coming back again! read more

Oh man, I really wanted to like this place, I really did! I originally came here because of their hours, so I could drop the vehicle off after work. When I got back from a trip to Tahoe, my truck's check transmission light was on. There was practically no fluid in the transmission. I told them I just wanted to make the car reliable for the winter, so look it over and let me know all suggested repairs. They flushed the transmission and the front and rear differential, and I had to ask, well what about the transfer case too? Let's get everything addressed if we're going to replace fluids. $1000 later I drove it out of the place and the check engine light came on. I took the car back to have it re-inspected. I told him I needed to take it to smog. He found a plugged up vacuum hose, something with the egr valve. Then he found the radiator hoses should be replaced -- how didn't you see that the first time? So the next day, I take it into smog and it fails visual inspection because of two leaking fuel lines in the front. I know I should have looked under the hood but I was in a hurry and I have many other projects. When I opened the hood, the fuel lines are staring you right in the face, drenched in gas. I ran over to the auto parts store and replaced them for $2, then went back and passed smog. I just couldn't believe that this was missed on inspection. It couldn't have been a very thorough inspection if I'm being told radiator hoses need to be replaced but not a work about obviously leaking fuel lines. Customer service was very nice, kind people. The language barrier was a bit tough, but not too bad. But jeez, they missed a lot of stuff. Total cost for everything was around $1700. read more

Lum is the best. Honest, quality work. I bring both my cars and my girlfriend's car here exclusively. He even stayed open for me until I got there to pick up my car after work. I will be back. read more

Great work by Lam. They have worked on both my Subaru and Mini Cooper. Very fast, thorough, reasonably priced, and I trust the work. Also nice to get 10% off of labor costs because Blanding Auto is AAA approved and I'm a member. read more

1. A small local family business. Great customer service. I called ahead to make sure they are able to change the oil for my car on the same day. Always give them a call to check. Depends on how busy they are, they may or may not be able to accommodate you on the same day. 2. Oil change service was completed on time as specified. I dropped off my car during lunch and picked it up after work before the shop was closed around 5:30pm. 3. I used the discount from Valpak. The discount included free shuttle service. Because it is a small family business, the son used his own car and drove me to work after I dropped off my car. Friendly and hardworking family. read more

Blanding Auto Repair has taken care of my vehicles since 1996. They are adept in diagnosing cars. Lum is very patient. He properly explains your car's issue, then offers solutions so you can make an informed choice. On occasion, Lum is required to go above and beyond to resolve a repair issue. (like the organic brakes and warped drums a tire company installed). He quickly and efficiently found the correct products for my car so I could drive with confidence. Within the past month, I referred two separate Senior female neighbors to Blanding Auto Repair for their car care needs. Both, returned from their servicing experience glowing with satisfaction. If you are experiencing car troubles or simply require a SMOG certificate, I would definitely take your car to Blanding Auto Repair. read more

I had a front bearing and oil change done before going on a drive to Seattle and back they seem to have done a good job. They have a discount for AAA members 10% off labor really nice fellows I would recommend them read more

I've been ignoring a lot of maintenance on my car, so I've seen these guys three times in the last few months. In all three cases they have taken very good care of my car and me. Women are often the target of shady mechanics who insist that the flobbernozzin needs immediate service for $ALLTHEIRMONEY, but I've never gotten any of that from them. If you can't live without a car while yours is in the shop, the Enterprise across the street gives a discount if you mention the shop. read more

Wonderful family shop. Got the job done in the time promised. It is wonderful to have an alternative to the dealership shops. Very personal service. read more

Made arrangements for Lum to work on my 86 Nissan for over a week. I get there and he says he's too busy to work on my car and has no place to store it and his machine needs to be re-calibrated. He can't get it to work. He suggested I go down the street. What a waste of time for me making arrangements and driving all the way over there. His loss! read more

Quick service, very reasonable cost. On Thursday late morning, I called and asked for a quote for replacing my A/C condenser. Lum confirmed the details, gave me a quote, and offered to work on the car the same day. When I dropped off the car in the next 30 min, he already ordered the part, and it would arrive in time to complete the work the same date. Before 6 PM, I was able to pick up the car, with the factory condenser installed, A/C fully functioning again. It was cheaper than the dealer and much quicker! read more

Trust me, this is THE shop. Whether it is an oil change or to some major engine problems, this definitely is my go-to shop for my car. Being a frugal college student, I definitely needed a shop that was great in price without sacrificing service. The owner of the shop is excellent and very honest. He did not beat around the bush and told me exactly what I needed and didn't need. Service is always great and my car continues to run without any problems! read more

I brought my car in for what turned out to be major engine repairs. First, his communication is quite poor. He never called me to give me a status report -- I had to call him several times. In the end, he had my car for SIX WEEKS! I picked up my car on Friday. Sunday the power steering went out. I took it to a different mechanic and told him the history of the car. It turned out the power steering belt had "shredded" because the pulley from the engine wasn't aligned properly. The alternator belt was on the verge of failing also (the alternator had just been replaced as part of the work done at Blanding). He also documented several missing bolts, not only from the most recent work, but from some work Blanding had done a few months ago. So if you want shoddy work that takes a long time, be sure to go here. Oh, and the guy I took it to at 8 a.m. had it ready by 1:30, including a thorough inspection and documenting all the problems. Edited to add: Lum's timeline is conveniently fuzzy. My car was parked there through November. The estimate was over $2,500 and I wasn't sure if (a) I wanted to put more money in the car, (b) I could scrape together the money to put into the car, or (c) if I should take it somewhere else. I did feel guilty about leaving my car parked there so long, but at no time did he call and ask that I make my decision or remove my car, so I assumed it was not a problem. According to my call log, I authorized the repairs on the morning of November 29. At that time, he did not tell me I wouldn't get my car back until January -- if he had, I would have taken it somewhere else, since I'd already been researching other shops. After that, there was no communication until December 18, when I called to ask about the status of my car. At that point he told me it wouldn't be ready until January, because of the holidays. I was unhappy, but since he's already sent the parts out, it was too late to take it somewhere else. On January 2, I was excited when he called. Instead of my car being ready, we had a very confusing conversation about the fact that my alternator light was coming on (it hadn't been when I left it with him). He recommended that I replace the alternator while they were already working on the engine, because it would be more expensive to do it later. I reluctantly agreed. I called him on January 9 to ask about the status of my car, since I needed a car that weekend. He told me it would be ready by the end of the next day (Thursday). Yay! I went in before work on Friday. Lum wasn't there, but I spoke to him on the phone. My car was not ready. I finally picked up my car after work on Friday. It was six full weeks between the time I authorized the repairs and the time the car was ready. So yes, my car was parked there for an extended period over the holidays -- because he was working (or not working, since he told me he went to Utah for the holidays) on it. As for being concerned about my safety -- I feel very lucky that my power steering did not fail two minutes earlier, since I might have lost control of my car if it had failed on one of the 25 mph curves on Hwy 92 instead of a city street in Half Moon Bay! The report from the second mechanic: Crankshaft pulley position incorrect (causing tearing on the power steering and alternator belts) Radiator missing top side insulator (Blanding had done work on the cooling system last summer) Center motor mount bracket missing 1 of 4 bolts Timing cover broken and missing bolts read more