This place went from 5 stars to 2 stars and now zero star if there is such a thing. It has been going down the hill for a long time and their customer service is none. I just called to see what was done to my car before bring it in for a major tuneup. A guy by the name of Ali or something told me he was "really busy" and "have other things to do" to look for my paperwork because I couldn't remember whether I brought it in a year ago or 2. They only keep the record for 2 years and no digital system. He said "that's why we give you a copy." We are in 2018. They still have hard paper? Ok fine. How hard is it to goto the file drawer, look under the last name, and pull the paperwork??? I mean, its not like I brought my car in million times in 2 years! When I first came here, Chris the owner was the only person who picked up the phone. He should continue to do that since it is his business and he will never tell anyone he is too busy or have other things to do. If that is their choice of language, their customer service is no where to be found. Chris has not been answering the phone for a while. Perhaps the business got sold and if not, perhaps he just doesn't care anymore because he made his money. What ever the reason, their customer service sucks and last few times we brought in the car, they didn't get it right and kept the car for way too long and I was the one who kept calling to see what the status was. They never called me like they said they would. They ordered the wrong part. Yup. Going down... read more

Chris is amazing ! Sadly, I dont know his team but I am sure they all are. Chris does his best to help figure out the problem with my car, whats an emergency or not. If I have a question and call but I'm still paranoid he'll have me come in for a quick look. I am do for an oil change soon since, I drive so much. :) There prices are reasonable compared to other shops and I trust there work. read more

I'm writing this review because I relied on the positive Yelp reviews in choosing this place. Was looking for an independent shop to bring my Audi when it came out of warranty. Called these guys and was quoted approx $250 for the 55K mile service. That's a couple hundred less than the dealer charges, so I brought it in. I will say that everyone I engaged with here was very pleasant. But that's where the positives end. The first problem was price. They charged me just under $400 out the door, considerably more than what I was quoted on the phone. Then, when I brought my car home, it immediately started leaking oil in the driveway. I brought it back. They blamed a "defective oil drain bolt washer." Yeah, right. Next issue. These guys somehow figured out how to reset my Audi's service notification alarm to go off at 5000 miles, rather than the factory designated 10,000 mile interval. Trying to drum up business for themselves I suppose. Very annoying to have the "service due" alarm go off every time I started the car for six months, when it was not in fact due for service. Any way, I went back to the dealer for the 65K service. They informed me that the shop which had done the 55K service (these guys) had (i) installed a cheap aftermarket oil filter, and (ii) used an "improper oil drain plug." Needless to say, all future service will be done at the dealer. read more

Last time I was at the Audi dealer, they told me I needed new brakes and quoted me $1,800. I called German Auto just to get a comparison quote and they told me it would be about $700. Then I brought it in and they called an hour later to say my brakes were fine and I didn't need to replace them for another 10,000 miles. So glad to have found an honest mechanic! read more

We have been going to German Auto Service for a couple of years now, and this place is the best. The people here are friendly and helpful, and they do an excellent job keeping my twenty-year-old Mercedes in such great shape that it looks and runs like new. When I ask questions, they listen. When I tell them my concerns, they do their best to accommodate them. This really is the best auto service around, if you have a German car. The shop is sparkling clean, and they bend over backwards to make their customers feel welcome. I can't recommend German Auto Service highly enough! read more

Impeccable customer service! I went here after getting rejected by a several mechanics who were reluctant about working on my smart car. The mechanics here fixed my trunk in a timely manner. The service was very customer oriented and professional. I would definitely say these mechanics have vast expertise and are reasonably priced. I left satisfied as a customer and plan on becoming a returning customer. read more

Came here once when my check engine light came on and they did diagnostics and reset it for free. Came back months later for 50k service/oil change and it was much cheaper than dealer. It ended up being even $50 cheaper than what they quoted and they washed and cleaned my car and cleaned the throttle body sensor for free when I mentioned check engine light was coming on frequently. I was happy they made every effort to fix the problem cheaply before resorting to replacing parts! When I was running late they stayed past 5 and called to confirm I was coming I stead of just closing. Very happy with the service Ali provided and will come back again!!! read more

Had my 2nd visit to this mechanic a few weeks back. I had actually planned to stop in to schedule my 03 Mercedes cigarette lighter to be repaired. Spoke with Chris about not getting power and he suggested I leave the car for a hour. He even offered to drop me off somewhere if needed. I was a little apprehensive to do this fearing a return to a $500 bill but I am glad I did. Not only did Chris fix the lighter but he also adjusted my washer jets. When I asked for the bill Chris just said "happy hollidays and no charge". I have to say that I have owned many German cars over the years and even sold BMW's for 7 years. In this period I have never been comped with anything. These guys are a rare breed because they not only care about customers but have knowledge that in my opinion exceeds the dealer level. They even stock Swepco lubricants which are by far the best for any German cars. A++ for Chris and this shop. i never thought I would say this about a mechanic but I actually look forward to my next visit. read more

Brought my 745li here for an estimate. I told them that I pretty much just wanted the estimate to take back to the dealer with me. Chris was super nice from the get-go. I got a ride to and from work. The explanation of what needed to be repaired was thorough, and I felt he was genuine with his concerns and suggestions. I had also asked for an estimate for one of the roll-up vinyl screens - when we found out it was about $900 he suggested used, or better yet, to just get them tinted. I thought it was nice of him to suggest the cheaper routes, knowing that it wouldn't put any money in his pocket. The estimate wasn't cheap - $110 - but for the convenience and customer service it was worth it. Bottom line: good service, worth the price read more

I've brought my 2008 VW Touareg here a couple times after first having tried VW of Oakland and finding their prices to be outrageous. My first visit was for for a new set of spark plugs and coils (diagnosed by VW of Oakland, but about double the price of German Auto Service). My second visit was to diagnose air conditioning water leaking into the cabin and a coolant leak. Despite spending several days trying to reproduce the problems, they couldn't -- but since they couldn't find the problem, they didn't even charge me for the diagnosis! Customer service is always good and friendly, and communication is clear. Thanks, guys! read more

They replaced my clutch using old parts. My car's original clutch lasted me around nine years; the clutch they put in barely made it two years before going out again. I took it to a reputable mechanic in SF who couldn't believe what a shoddy job they'd done. He showed me the parts... they were bent when he took them out of my car. Oh, and this shop charged me about $250 more than the original quote. When I confronted him about it, he paid me back the difference and made an excuse about how he was going through a tough time, like that justifies tacking on an extra $250 for no reason. I love my car and it still makes me sick that I trusted this shop with it. Before this happened I also had them replace my power steering, and to this day my steering wheel makes weird sounds when I turn it. If you love your car don't go here. They are not trustworthy!! read more

Took my 2001 SLK in and Ali was great. Fair price and clearly explained what was wrong. Picked up the ride later that day and it was driving better than ever. German Auto Service has earned my future business! read more

German Auto Service is the way to go!! Chris and his crew are honest, trustworthy and extremely knowledgeable. This is the only place I take my Volkswagen to get serviced. From oil changes to any major work that needs to be done, I always walk out feeling relieved and confident that my car is in great hands. read more

Wow, I really liked you guys until my last visit. Our car developed a slow leak in the cooling system. It took two weeks before we could get the car in. After waiting two weeks, they kept the car for nearly another week. All that was needed was to replace a leaky flange.The flange was replaced along with upper and lower radiator hoses, a vacuum pump, and valve cover gasket for what we was told, was an oil leak. The sum total for a small leak was nearly $1500.00. Yikes... We had the car for only one day before it started missing. Again, another few days without the use of our car. I spoke with the sales manager, and let him know that the car had not missed prior to the service, and that I did not want to pay for a problem that they created. Nevertheless, we were told that the oil leak caused the coils to foul, so the coils and plugs were replaced at the cost of another $400.00. I am sure that the fouled coils were a result of the valve cover gasket change, and their fault. All-in-all, 3 weeks and $2000.00 to fix a simple leak. You have lost my trust, and my business! read more

I can not say enough good things about Chris and his crew at German Auto Service here in Alameda. Our family have been customers for about 17 years and Chris, his late father Oskar, and their crew have always gone the extra mile for us in every way possible. With over 37 years of driving experience and car ownership under my belt, I have found that German Auto is by far the most professional, honest and dependable shop I have ever taken a vehicle to. Whether it's routine maintenance or a time sensitive emergency repair, they have always come through for myself and my family. Alameda is lucky to have such a great family owned business. read more

I had a great experience bringing in my Porsche Cayenne for her 80k miles service as well as a cleaning to the A/C tube that's was clogged. Ali was very helpful and explained everything that needed to be done to my car as well as for the up coming services that I will need. This is my first Porsche that I've owned and I'm glad I brought her here. She drives so smooth and they even cleaned her from the inside and out . I definitely will be returning for future services. They are a little pricey but it cost to be a boss . read more

Brought my car in when I was worried it was having some mechanical issues. Ari took great care of me and kindly informed me that it was actually just a very simple user error on my part and that no mechanical maintenance was needed. They changed my burnt break light and had my car washed, all without charge! Honest mechanics. They could have made something up and charged heavily for it, but they were honest and trustworthy. I will definitely be bringing my car back here the next time I need a service done. They did change out my license plate frames for ones with their company name on them which I thought was kind of weird, but considering how pleasant my experience was I just let it slide and I don't really mind it. Thanks Ari and German Auto Service! read more

This place is a Mercedes godsend. Excellent service, pricing, and timing. Even a car wash! I will definitely be back.

Finding a competent service provider for a SAAB has become extremely difficult since the demise of the brand. I recently found myself abandoned by an East Bay dealer when I had planned to have my 2010, SAAB 9-3 serviced. I got on the phone and went through about four different garages. Either they were too busy to see my car or they simply were not dealing with the brand anymore. Then I found Ali and his team at German Auto Service. Not once, but twice, they have taken care of my car. I have to tell you that it has not run so well in over a year! And, I have never had such an education as to why this is the case until I learned from this firm. If you are a SAAB owner, and you want a new home for your SAAB vehicle, I could not recommend German Auto Service in Alameda more highly. Five Stars. Yes, you will definitely get them from this company. read more

I was incredibly impressed by the service at this shop. I brought my vehicle here because another shop that I really like down the street did not have the specialized equipment required to understand some of the diagnostic codes my GTI was spitting out. German auto service identified and took care of the problem for a price that ended up coming in 20% below the original quote. They also provided a fantastic service and brought my vehicle over to the autobody shop to get estimates on body repair. They can also do very easy after hours pick up in coordination with the gas station next-door, which is great for working people. There is absolutely no need to go to a dealer if you have a German made vehicle with this shop in town. I will definitely be back as a customer! read more

what a waste. I went there on a friends recommendation and would never go back. Don't expect your estimate to be what you actually pay because apparently tax and a $20 clean up fee are too hard to calculate when writing an estimate. That was the explanation I was given. Went to get one thing fixed and another unrelated thing mysteriously broke. Having wrote estimates before I know that can happen, but not supplying a customer with a proper estimate is a horrible practice. Screw you Oscar. read more

I'm not sure what to think yet.. I've been calling to find out if they will service my 67 Beetle.. Each time I call, it's "talk to Oscer, he'll be in tomorrow." I call back and it's "he'll be in next week.." We'll see... read more

I dropped my '87 Porsche 924S off on a Monday and Chris said he was not going to be able to see it until Wednesday of the next week, which was fine with me, because it's a 2nd car, and I was not in a hurry. He said he'd call that Thursday and let me know what would be needed and how long it would take. Thurs rolled by, no call. Friday passed with no call, so I called at the end of the day. He said his vacation ran long and he'd look at it the following Tuesday and let me know by Weds. Again, Weds came and went, then Thurs, so I called Friday morning to find out what the story was. He said he was backed up and would look at it that day and call me back that afternoon, which he finally did as promised. I had brake squeal that comes on consistently after about 5 minutes of driving. He said he didn't hear it, the brakes were fine and he'd spray a solution on it to quiet them. I have clutch chatter when the clutch gets hot, and he didn't get that result either and said the clutch was fine. To be fair, it does take time, hills, or stop and go traffic to show the effect, but the clutch pedal is also very soft comparatively, so I was skeptical that everything was in order, but trusted his judgment on that issue. I also needed some minor work like an oil change, throttle pedal, and wiper motor and blades, so I told him to go ahead with that. He said he needed to price the wiper motor and would call me Monday morning. Not "next week" or "Monday" but the very specific "Monday Morning." Monday passes, Tuesday passes, again no call back. I called Weds and was on hold for almost 10 minutes and he came on to say he'd just priced the motor that morning, though honestly, my impression was that he just googled it when I was on hold, because by this point I really doubt he'd spent any time on it, though that's just speculation on my part. By this time, I was pretty peeved that he'd failed to call when he said he would on 3 separate occasions, so decided to just pick up my car and try elsewhere. He seemed sarcastic and irritated with me because I was upset about the missed contacts. I tried to explain that I didn't care about how long it was taking, but didn't appreciate him flaking three times on the call back. It's not the time, it's not following through on commitments. If you are busy and backed up, just be vague like "next week" or ask the owner to check in with you at a certain time, or get a desk calendar and a pen and make a note, but don't say things you aren't going to deliver on. If you don't intend to call on a certain day with an update, then don't say you will and then blow it off. It takes 2 minutes to pick up the phone and say "Hey, I've been busy, haven't had a chance to get to it yet, I'll update you in a week." or whatever. I would have been completely cool with that, because I was not in a hurry. Instead I was left with the impression that he felt nagged because I was checking in with him each time, even after politely allowing a day or two for him to be late before checking back. Some people would have been on it the same day and had a lot less patience. It also didn't help that he mistook my car for a 944 when I brought it in. I understand that from a layman, but when you specialize in German Autos and have a Porsche logo on your building, the lack of flared fenders should have been a big clue. When I went to pick it up, he did it again, saying I was there to pick up the "944." I was prepared to pay the hour for diagnostics with no hassle from me, since a deal's a deal. To his credit, he waived the fee without me bringing it up, and said "Sorry you had a bad experience" with his back turned to me while walking away. Like during the phone call it came off like a veiled "FU" rather than sincerity. I wiped all the dust off that had been accumulating from my car sitting there for 3 weeks and drove off. Ironically, the brakes squealed right out of the their lot, though they'd been unable to reproduce the problem. I'm sure if you catch them at the right time and have a car they are interested in working on, they can do a great job. They obviously have a lot of business, and I have no reason to doubt the positive reviews, since the impression I got is that YMMV from experience to experience. Chris seems friendly and easygoing for the most part, but in my case I would've preferred organized over friendly. In my business, I couldn't tell a client I was going to call them on a certain day, flake three times, and expect to keep them as a client though, so that was the driving factor in my negative review. read more

I had various problems with my GTI, potentially some of them stemming from incomplete or careless service from some other German garages in the area. Albert was great to work with and solved them all; it runs now like the day I bought it. I was ready to sell it, so this is saying a lot. Glad I've found a reputable and reasonable garage! read more

Two different repair experiences. First I had $3000 of work done on my Passat and that worked out okay although I was quoted $3000 which is too round a number to begin with and then the owner tried to charge me $3300 for the exact work. The only reason I didn't flame them on that is that the work was flawless. The car has been running for five years with only oil changes and tires. Then my wife goes in for problems with her X5 and just got the worst service ever. First, their hours should have a reality check. 8-5:30 is just too limited. Second, they kept her car for over a week. Then they messed up the repair...twice. She ended up spending over $4000, having her car in the shop three times over 4 weeks and they did one repair to fix part of their prior screw up without her authorization. Plus no phone calls to update us on progress....until they could tell we were annoyed. Plus they NEVER offer to save the failed parts for us. No BMW diagnostic machine on site either and that extended one repair by 2-3 days. Never again we promised ourselves. Only reason I didn't give them 1 star is because they are good mechanics...sometimes. We just never felt we were getting a straight answer from them on her car. My wife felt taken advantage of...old school. read more

Osker quoted me an estimate of $850, and charged me $50 just for the estimate. I got the repair done elsewhere for $150. What more does one need to know? read more

On Saturday a window regulator in my BMW broke with my window stuck in the door, I wasn't sure if the glass was broken or not. I brought my car here Monday and it was done Monday evening, although I couldn't leave work and ended up picking it up this morning instead. It was pricey, as everything with a BMW is, but it was a bit cheaper than expected and the glass was fine. They also washed the outside and cleaned the inside of my car. Quick job and easy pick-up. read more

Chris and his team are awesome. I first sought a second opinion on estimation for work on my BMW Z4. I was estimated that the work NEEDED to be done and would cost $1400. Chris told me that there was NO NEED to do the work. I respected his honesty. I have brought my car to him since this time. Very happy with their work. FABULOUS customer service. Recently I asked Chris to inspect at a pre-owned Audi I was interested in buying. He did so on his day off and without charging me anything. AWESOME customer service. GREAT team. Declan read more

I'll keep this short and sweet. Do not bring your car here. I had a 1999 BMW Z3 2.3L that I was selling and it had a few warning lights on, like the airbag light and the check engine light. I brought it to German Auto SVC and they diagnosed that the seatbelt buckle sensors needed replacement, and the check engine light was an error and could be reset. The seatbelt repair was $500 and within a week the airbag light came back on. They claimed that there was one part of the original job they neglected to do, did it, and that seemed to fix the problem. Then, a within another few days, they check engine light came back on. They diagnosed that the clutch sensor needed to be replaced, estimated the job at $75 and I told them to go ahead and do it. I picked up the car and the bill was more like $118. "That's just how much it turned out to be," they told me. Guess what? A few weeks later the check engine light came on again. What the &*!%@ I thought, brought it back, and this time they said they found the gas cap was loose, and reset the code. I then was able to sell the car. But guess what? Within a month of sale the check engine light came back on. The new owner was not very happy, as I had assured her the car was in good condition. I called German Auto SVC and spoke to Oscar, who I believe is the proprietor, and we agreed that the new owner could bring in the car and they would fix the issue without cost to her. She brought the car in,and they fixed the problem and charged her $400. She was, of course, unhappy. I agreed to split the cost with her, and am still trying to get Oscar on the phone to ask him what happened and to attempt, however fruitlessly, to get my money back. We'll see. But if you want honest, dependable mechanics do not go here. read more

I love this place! So friendly, didn't know me from adam but fit us in. And even washed the car. These guys rock!

First time working with these guy and they were great! They keep a nice clean shop and have a very professional customer service. Took my 2003 BMW Z4 to get serviced and they communicated updates and pricing very clearly. I got my car back washed and well taken care of. I will only take my BMW here for service. read more

My daughter took her newly-purchased used BMW to Chris at German Auto Service several years ago, and he was always great to deal with and very good taking care of her and her first car. I drive a very elderly Volvo, and my usual mechanic has not been available recently. My car failed its smog check, and as usual, the Volvo mechanic was AWOL. In a panic, I crossed the street just to see if Chris knew of any other good Volvo mechanics in town. He asked what the problem was, and when I explained my old Volvo had failed its smog, he said they would do the fix for me, even though they specialize in German cars. I came back in an hour, and not only had they fixed the evaporation leak, they also had driven my car across the street to have the smog test done again. So, when I returned, it was already being retested - and passed! Courtesy, efficiency, and extra kindness - I can't say enough about this place - except that I hope they begin to specialize in Swedish cars, too... read more

Last year, German Auto Service serviced my VW Jetta for its 50k mile service. Recently, the check engine light came on, so I stopped by another European auto mechanic on my way home from work. My VW only has 52k miles now, so, not knowing that my VW already had its 50k mile service, the other auto mechanic provided an estimate for the 50k mile service that had more "fixes" than what is required from VW, and was $400 more than what I had paid the German Auto Service 1 year before! That made me go running back to Chris. Their professionalism and reasonable prices have won my loyalty, so I always go here for my oil changes and maintenance. Plus, they have amazing German music playing when you're holding on the phone! :) read more

Very trusted shop, but very busy. Appointments needed a week in advance. Had appointments Thursday, brought the car in Wednesday. They got behind and didn't work on the car until Monday, which I was not happy about. Car was serviced for 10,000 miles, air conditioner and wipers were not working. Air was recharged and wiper motor was de-greased. Dealer I am sure would have put in a new wiper motor and charge much more. I was happy with the service. read more

These guys are honest and offer excellent service every time I go in. They always offer options and don't just try to sell you on the most expensive solution. They are more invested in the long term upkeep of your car than short-term money-sucking fixes. I trust them with my car (and have gone to them for 7 years now) and would recommend them to anyone who asks. read more

Great auto service! Ask for Chris! Fast and inexpensive repairs/service! Cons: Kind of hard to find, especially their secret parking lot in the back! haha read more

German Auto Service quickly diagnosed a few nagging issues I was having with my car and fixed them quickly. Other garages were unable to pinpoint the issues. German Auto Service was great about working with me to pick up my car. Service was professional and cheerful. I highly recommend this place! read more

First time I hired this service for my wife's car ( 2011 Jetta) this morning. They did an excellent job. No only fixed the problem with a good price , they clean the car like new (no. Charge) here is the most amazing part. They might don't know,, but delivering the car to my house was a life saver for my busy day. I run a business and customer service is the most important. This guys deserve more than 5 stars.... read more

Can't recommend German Auto highly enough. Great to work with and they keep our VW in top shape, and hopefully running for many years to come. Nice surprises like getting a clean car back or having the car dropped off at our house. It's nice to have a quality neighborhood shop. read more

When the engine light on our 2009 VW Tiguan came on, we took the car into Royal Motors VW dealership in SF. We were charged a $180 service fee to look at the car, then were told that the intake manifold needed replaced to the tune of $1500. We were outraged that such a new car should require such an expensive repair, and they told us, "Yes, it's a fluke. But the catch is it's no longer under warranty." Hoping to find someone who could do the work for less, I started calling around. We had taken our car into German Auto Service once before for a standard oil change & service. When I explained the situation, Chris was surprised that our car needed such a major repair, and even more so that this part wasn't under warranty. He told me to bring the car in and he'd take a look just to verify that this work was required. A second opinion sounded good to us. Chris and his team verified that, yes, the part needed replacing. However, he didn't just stop there and quote us on the repair. He called his VW contacts, gave them our VIN, mileage, etc. and asked them to please look into our warranty. He found out that the part WAS in fact under warranty and arranged for us to take the car into a different VW dealership to have to work done for free. Wowee!! Talk about above and beyond! Chris charged us nothing to look at the car, managed to uncover that we were entitled to a free replacement, and gave us the ammo we needed to get our $180 refunded from Royal Motors. Mechanics don't always have the best reputation (Royal Motors, case in point), but Chris and his team were astonishingly proactive, honest and just plain helpful. German Auto Service has just earned itself a family of loyal customers. Thank you!! read more