Oh, my God... Max (owner of Circle Star Motors) is the BEST!!! Max began taking care of my beloved Mercedes nearly twenty years ago, and has not only always taken great care of my car, but has saved me from issues that I didn't even know I had. He is THE ONLY mechanic that I trust to touch my car, and in all these years, he has never let me down, proving his amazing character and brilliance over and over again... Recently, Max brought my aging car back to life after it had sat, wasting away for a few years, (having needed a lot of work after my son had run it into the ground), and now, thanks to the best Mercedes Mechanic in life, it is a "Happy Car," back on the road, once again!!! If you want a Mercedes Mechanic who really KNOWS HIS STUFF, and who is truly HONEST and DEPENDABLE, don't pass up this wonderful guy and his great assistant, Nick!! SO GRATEFUL!!! Circle Star Motors ROCKS!!!! read more

I wanted to take a movement to give a shout out to these guys! Max and Nick were EXTREMELY EXTREMELY patient and helpful with me and my OLD OLD car. I was in a tough spot with an old car and they saved the day for sure! I am so sorry grateful to them for their solid work and bedside manner. Thank you!!!! read more

Max (the heart and soul of this biz) is the kindest, most knowledgeable guy I've met in the bay area when it comes to Mercedes. Hes patient, will explain things in detail if you want and even provide photos. Hes over the top. I have had two diesel mercedes, both rare, and have struck out with so many other mechanics in Santa Cruz and beyond between poor diagnosis, repair and outrageous pricing. The amount of respect and transparency he provides is unreal and far beyond anything I've ever experienced as a customer. He is a total pro and self-proclaimed nerd on all things mercedes and provides exceptional value, especially considering his expertise. I feel so grateful to have finally found a trustworthy mechanic (prior to meeting max, I had accepted that was an oxymoron) that i can trust with my car. I highly recommend. Thank you !! read more

Here's the deal. Owning an older Mercedes is great in so many ways, but it sucks when it comes to repairs and service because parts are so expensive. But the guys at Circle Star help soften the blow. They are quick, they do excellent work. They are transparent and don't try to upsell you. Highly recommend. read more

Saves kittens trapped in cars. 5 stars. And is able to keep a Rover operable. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

I retired to Aptos 4 years ago. When I moved here I knew I had to establish a relationship with a good independent benz shop - or go to San Jose or Monterey. I have 2 mercedes vehicles - a 2012 C63 sedan and a 2017 C300 4matic coupe. I started going to an independent MB service in Santa Cruz and found them to be ok. Nice guys. But the shop was messy and it always seemed chaotic... Recently have had an issue with my c300 and crankcase ventilation valve. Seems its an MB issue and a LOT of cars are involved. After sort of begging the guy I was going to to get an answer... I called Max at Circle Star to set an appointment for routine service and to ask about the crankcase ventilation valve that I had been wait 3 months to resolve. First call to Max he spent about 15 minutes discussing my issue and why it was taking so long. He spent more time on one phone call than the person had spent 3 months trying to work with. I'm a car guy - so appreciated both Max and Nick and the professional and friendly exchange on that level - they know MB vehicles of all ages - Today I dropped the car off at 9:30 - Nick said maybe 3pm latest. At 12:45 car was done and when I got there They had washed it... I mean.. come on... If u live in 831 and own a benz - just go see these guys for next service.. All I'm gonna say.. read more

I was having trouble with my car and found out about this shop through my daughter, and I couldn't be happier with my experience. I would like to thank Max, Nick and the rest of the crew for the quality of service they provided me with. I highly recommend this location for anybody who is experiencing car trouble with their Mercedes. Many thanks, Nader read more

Just have to say Circle Motors in Santa Cruz is top notch ! Nick and his crew go out of their way to explain and fix the problems with your Mercedes. They've been helping people there for over 20 years. Thanks again Nick and they are the nicest guys you'll ever meet !! Bill Yeo read more

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Needed a small part this morning. Nick answered the phone politely and we drove right up to friendly, honest extremely reasonable service. This will be our service center for our new Mercedes going forward. Thanks Nick!!! You rock!! read more

Max and team took great care of my 350 AMG SLK - why I sold it and bought a jag is now beyond me. Think seriously before making a switch away from a benz, Id gladly go back to Mercedes just to get Circle Star back - they are that good - no need to go anywhere else. read more

Max at Circle Star has been my go to mechanic for my C230 since 2009. He always been fair and he and his employees are upfront in informing me of my options and the costs. Circle Star is a local Santa Cruz business and very convenient for us local residents. I am leaving Santa Cruz to live out of the state and hope my review helps you in using Circle Star to service your Mercedes needs. read more

Mercedes Benz Service By Circle Star Motors - 2007 C230. Always serviced by Circle Star Motors since 2009. Happy owner and grateful to have Circle Star as my only trusted mechanic. - Auto Repair Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The guys here are Mercedes experts and they take excellent care of my ML 350. I wouldn't go anywhere else.

Best service by good people I always get my car serviced here and they don't shy away from doing a great job, always top quality from them

Excellent service the other day(replaced shock absorbers). They took care of some other things as well. The car being washed when I returned to pick it up was a nice touch. read more

Max and Nick at Cricle Star recently repaired my 1985 Mercedes 300D Turbo Diesel. I am the second owner of this car and have owned 3 different models over the years. They are my favorite car to own. I have worked on many items on these cars and follow all the W123 clubs and repair gurus on these cars constantly. I have always been handy, but I know my limitations both in time and money. I was referred to Cricle Star by another local W123 owner I knew. I wanted to do a AC conversion to R134 and didn't want to mess with this myself. I also wanted to do a coolant flush and replace cooling system components, again a messy job and didn't have the place to do it myself. Max is not cheap $$. But after taking my car to him, I will never let another mechanic in this area touch my car again. He is the most knowledgeable, experienced, detailed mechanic I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Him and his tech Nick, fixed things on my car I didn't even realize weren't working properly and did so at a reasonable cost considering the results. My car feels like new! It is 30% faster and runs smoother than I ever thought possible for a Merc diesel. They even fixed my bumper moldings and rear sway bar links just as a courtesy since they noticed how clean my car was and how obsessed I was about maintaining it. I can't thank Circle Star enough for being so committed to these old classics and for the level of professionalism. I truly believe that "you get what you pay for!" especially when it comes to Circle Star Motors.If you want the best look no further. read more

Mercedes Benz Service By Circle Star Motors - Auto Repair Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

The individuals at Circle Star Motors take care of your car and truly care about their customers. The repairs were delayed by an unforeseen issue, but the individuals at Circle Star Motors called me, explained why, and went out of their way to answer additional questions I had about the car. They took good care of my C230 and I was quite happy with their service. Would recommend. read more

It's refreshing to have my car worked on by such a great guy of integrity and honesty. Max performed excellent work and charged me a fair price, for which I'm grateful - he could have charged me more, no doubt and I would have almost expected that from anyone else. Max is a standup guy, running a great business -- one I can highly recommend and endorse! Janet G. read more

I was considering a used Mercedes GLE but the way it drove concerned me; I could feel it pulling to the left ever so slightly. I took it in to Max who diagnosed it for me within the hour (!) and found that the entire subframe had been replaced with used, non-Mercedes parts. He wrote up a report and even sent me pictures to show the seller and gave me irreplaceable advice. I'm so happy that I'm not stuck with that particular car and all the headaches that may have come. Thank you, Max! So very, very helpful. read more

So nice and professional! The owner is incredibly kind, results-oriented, and trustworthy. Very positive attitude overall. Great customer care! So glad we have them in Santa Cruz. I will come here again for sure, highly highly recommended!! read more

Very satisfied with work I had completed on my 1998 C 230. Rates are reasonable and quality of work is excellent. The communication was very forthright, professional and honest. They took the time to listen and explain to me the different options I had. I will certainly return for all my Mercedes service and repair requirements. read more

Just had my rear brake pads replaced at Circle Star. Nick as always was upfront about the cost and they did a great job. The Cost was very reasonable. I have used Circle Star in the past and they have always done a good job. It certainly beats having to drive to a Mercedes dealership far away. Don't take your Mercedes anywhere else in this town to be repaired. Great job. Thank you! read more

I've been bringing my C300 to Circle Star for a couple of years now after I fired Precision from my life (they are terrible - service in particular). Max is amazing! He always remembers me and Sven (the Benz) and is willing to explain what he is actually doing to my car - even over the phone when I call from Sacramento panicked; you won't get that at a dealership repair shop...or Precision. Let's be honest, I'm kind of an easy target when it comes to knowing what my car needs, but I have never felt like I was being sold something unnecessary. Prices are fair (you do own a Mercedes) and the part-ordering and maintenance are quick. read more

I highly recommend Circle Star Motors for Mercedes service. I recieved extremely professional customer service, quality work, very reasonable pricing and left feeling like they truly care about me and my car. I brought it in for a once over and a couple small concerns which were all addressed very efficiently. The owner even showed me the underside of my car and explained many things to me, which allowed me to understand my car better and make clear decisions on what work might need to be done in the future. You can trust them. read more

Mercedes Benz Service By Circle Star Motors - Mercedes service at it's best - Auto Repair Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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A few years ago I started collecting older Mercedes and happened to find Circle Star-I wouldn't take my cars anywhere else. They are honest ,fast and provide expert repairs at a fair price.When i took my latest acquisition in for a fluids check before a road trip they went thru the entire car and gave me a list of everything I might want to address, changed some burned out bulbs and even put in new windshield wipers. They always go the extra mile. read more

Brought my 2003 CLK here. Unfortunately, the news wan't good. But I so appreciated Max's professionalism and honesty. The shop is IMMACULATE and the service is wonderful. Too bad about my Benz, but it was a design defect of Mercedes which has been well-documented on the internet. Max spotted the problem right away and gave me straight-up advice. Highly recommend this business. read more

Wow, all i did was call to ask a question about my Mercedes and get a quote on a repair and the man that answered the phone was extremely rude!!!! Acted like i was bothering him and he refused to email me an estimate. I will never take my car to this place. Precision Mercedes is the best. They are always nice, they do a great job and they are honest. read more

Circle Star has always been the BEST Mercedes Benz shop in town! Max takes the time to explain whatever needs to be done, parts ordering is quick and prices are fair. Honesty and integrity go hand in hand with great service and a big plus...my car is shining when I pick it up! read more

Max and Crew did a great job with my ML 320! My son had borrowed my car for a trip to Santa Cruz only to have problems with it losing power going up hills. I had him drop it off at Circle Star Motors on a late Sunday night and by Tuesday the car was fixed to perfection! I was quite impressed with the diagnosis and the attendant repair. I wish I lived in Santa Cruz because they're the best!! read more

This shop is super clean; in fact they had washed and waxed our car before we picked it up. The transmission work was done for a reasonable price and very quickly. Very professional and honest. read more

0-stars, stay away! Don't be fooled by all the 5-star reviews of a shop run by a shabby crook. In my very first time at Circle Star, Max, the owner, quoted $189 for an "A" service. At pick up, the bill was $223 with nothing extra done. When I inquired about a possible mistake, Max said the total included sales tax. Since that was listed as $8.22 on the bill, the total should have been about $198. I reminded Max of his quote and the mismatch with $223. At that, he got irked that I even dared question his bill, denied the earlier quote, and insisted that I pay. As it was a petty $25 overcharge, I let it go and paid up. My next . . . (and LAST) time at Circle Star was two weeks ago when my car again needed service. Because of the good reviews, and because it was possible that back then maybe Max was just having a bad day, I thought to give him another chance. I saw on the Circle Star website a Special for "B" service for $189.50, but did not notice its 2015 expiration date (why it is still there? Check it out). So, on Thursday I called, cited the Special, gave my name and set up an appointment with Nick for the "B" service on the following Tuesday at 12 PM. On Monday, I called again to confirm my appointment for the next day. On Tuesday, just as I handed Max my key, he says that the expired Special is only valid for new customers; as I am not a new customer, the charge for the "B" service is $365. Now, Max and Nick had my name from Thursday to Tuesday and knew that I was not a new customer. An honest man would have called me at least before 12 PM on Tuesday telling me so. Instead, Max was just lying in wait for the bait and switch, betting I wouldn't waste the trip . . . seriously, it doesn't get shabbier than that. This time, it was an easy walk out of a trap set by a seedy crook, who had already stooped so low as to cheat me out of a paltry $25. read more

Circle Star exceeded all my expectations! Knowledgeable, informative, honest, fair pricing, and great customer service. Owner Max and right-hand man Nick are both superb at communicating exactly what needs to be done and how much it will cost. Work is done promptly, usually finishing earlier than expected, and they drive me to work when I drop off in the morning :) A couple of times I just dropped by with a question and the guys have come right over to check it out and provide an answer. I am thoroughly impressed and wouldn't think of going anywhere else. read more

Max and Nick are the best. I chose to buy a new Mercedes because of these guys. Integrity, honesty and fairness is how these guys roll. You will not find anyone more precessional and proficient to take care of your Mercedes in Santa Cruz. read more

Have taken my 2011 GL 450 here a few times, one for service and another for a blown air bag on the suspension, both Max and Nick have been great in explaining what needs or should be done, service has been quick and they dont try to upsell any extra services just what your car needs. They have a pretty quick turn around as well. Have been pleased so far even recommended this place to my dad to bring his older Mercedes. read more

I called Circle Star Motors this past week to request a quote to have my brake fluid renewed and the slide rails and slide shoes on my sliding/pop up roof cleaned and lubricated. These are both standard service items on my vehicle, a 2005 Mercedes E320 W211. The dealer in San Jose charged me $166 for my last brake fluid renewal 20,000 miles ago. I have never had my sliding/pop up roof serviced. The man who answered the phone at Circle Star Motors responded to my request for a quote by telling me he doesn't usually quote prices over the phone. WTF? Their Yelp website page has a box to click on to request a quote. This isn't some obscure service on one of these vehicles. Both of these items are listed in the Mercedes maintenance manual as standard service, service items 9 and 10 respectively. When I pressed Circle Star Motors for a quote, I was told the cost to renew the brake fluid would, "Probably be a couple hundred dollars for parts and labor." I did not receive a quote for the sliding/pop up roof service. This was outlandish and I will never take my Mercedes to these shysters for any service. Are you kidding me? They want you to take your car in so they can look at it before giving a quote on a standard service item so you are all but committed to having them perform the service? I can understand their response if I had called and described s problem that required a diagnosis to determine the service that was required, but I asked for the cost of a specific service that is standard on all Mercedes vehicles and I expected they could provide me with the cost of the service without the runaround that I received. I was only trying to shop local and save myself a trip over the hill, but at least Mercedes of Stevens Creek will be straight with me and not jack me around about the price for service. I will never have Circle Star Motors touch my Mercedes and you shouldn't either. read more

We have had a long history with our benz. Our mechanic from home never seems to quite fix anything, which pisses us off. Anyway, needing an emergency repair, we took it to circle star. Maxamillian was one of the friendliest, upbeat and down to earth people ive ever come accross. I was sure that this was going to be a good thing. We got our car back with a very low bill (YES!) and our car is working flawlessly. Its never run like this especially for such an inexpensie repair! And there are bus stops right there so if you need to pick your car up it is super easy. I highly reccomend circle star for anyone who has a Mercedes. read more

I highly, highly recommend this Mercedes service!! I have been bringing my car here for years. Max and Nick are truly great in what they do!!! They are soooo helpful and professional!!! They don't tell you you need things like the local "stealerships" do. They tell it like it is. They're very honest and trustworthy and their prices are very reasonable. So glad that I found them all those years ago read more

I've been taking my Mercedes to Max for many years now and have NEVER been disappointed! Max and Nick are professional, straight forward and, as many others mentioned, honest. It's true, parts for the Benz are not cheap so it REALLY pays off to have a skilled mechanic who really knows their craft and is not going to take advantage of customers. read more

I have a 10 year old Mercedes ML, and am totally confident when I take it to Circle Star that any problem will be corrected properly the FIRST time, and that the prices are fair. Above all, I feel this shop is HONEST. I never feel like I pay for repairs that weren't necessary. It's also nice to support a small, local business where the owner is onsite, and WORKS! read more

Max and his crew are the only ones I have service my Mercedes. They are a large part of the reason my car is still going strong after 300,000 miles! Their work is excellent and they're friendly and take the time to discuss any questions I have. read more

For the last 20 years Max has taken exceptional care of my 2 Mercedes. He is the most honest and fair auto mechanic I have ever dealt with. He has actually has saved me money. I would not trust my vehicle with anyone else. read more