I initially took my 1969 VW to Germany's Best in August 2025 because my vehicle was stalling and seemed to be experiencing electrical and fuel issues. Paul had my vehicle for three days, quoted me $2200 and listed several issues with my vehicle (many of which I was expecting). When I went to pick up my vehicle, my bill totaled $2900 with no explanation for the extra $700 in extra charges. Also, the bill did not list an hourly rate for labor. To add insult to injury, Paul gave me a laundry list of other issues with my vehicle to bring it back in for further service (keep in mind this is a humble Beetle). This should have raised huge red flags and caused me to question this shop before I took out my card to pay for Paul's services. However, I was glad to have my vehicle running and paid and made a mental note of these questionable things. I drove my car for two weekends without an issue. Two weeks later, my car failed to start. I called Germany's Best, and one of their junior mechanics, Luis, agreed to take the car back in to re-evalute the car for things they may have neglected during service. Two weeks went by with no news. Two months went by, then five months... Keep in mind, my husband and I called and even went by to check on the car to see what was going on. After five and half months, I had AAA go and attempt to tow the car. Luis--who is a very nice and conscientious young man--informed my husband that the vehicle had water in the fuel tank when he went by with AAA the first time. My husband was going to have the shop service it, but after this whole rigamarole; we decided against doing further business with the likes of Paul. I finally had AAA tow my vehicle away from this shop today, upon which time Paul informed me that he had fallen ill and was now just gaining mobility. Now, this may be true; but he could have told me this at some point in this five and half month period in which my car sat there unserviced and unattended. Completely unacceptable service. The AAA driver told me that I am not the first customer he has witnessed tow their vehicle away from this shop in a similar fashion! read more

I took my bmw to Germany's best after another mechanic installed the wrong battery in my car leaving me stranded, as a woman in some sketch areas, on multiple occasions and I couldn't understand what was going on. I decided to take my car to this garage because it seemed worth it to pay a little extra for a more specialized service for my car. The guys that I dealt with were very friendly and polite, and demonstrated a level of competency that was reassuring after having such a bad experience at the mechanic before that. I was frazzled when I came in because I was preparing for a move and handling some family difficulties as I was trying to leave the bay, my only home I know, for good, and I really appreciated the lack of judgement that I encountered there. Some people have not been so kind on this journey. Oddly my brakes are still squeaking and I'm not sure why, as I had hoped this would be repaired by them, but when I took my car back in it decided not to squeak, making me look like a crazy person. They told me not to worry, that they would certainly take care of it if I could take a recording of the noise and bring it back to them. Turns out it only really happens when it's cold out so mostly at night. I'm glad I'm not going crazy lol and I made a recording and will be taking it back in to have it hopefully resolved. read more

Paul and his team were great...friendly and efficient. Paul confirmed the diagnosis of the Audi dealership of the suspension repair needed on my 2018 A4, gave me a fair quote for the work and did the repair the same day. He also explained the cause of the problem and gave me suggestions on how to avoid the problem in the future...and also pointed out a few smaller items for me to keep an eye on going forward. read more

After several disappointing experiences with the Mercedes dealership, I decided to try a local mechanic instead, and recently took my Mercedes to Germany's Best Auto Repair. The owner, Paul, was knowledgeable, kind, and patient--spending several days to diagnose and repair my SUV perfectly, as the issue was more complex than it initially appeared. I found Germany's Best to be trustworthy and effective with very reasonable pricing. It was a pleasure to work with an experienced and professional mechanic who got the job done! read more

I recently bought a used Chrysler Crossfire. Paul recognized the cars German nature. I complained of a few issues . Paul diagnosed quickly and repaired when he said he would, The price was fair I intend to use him!!! read more

Very happy with the service and quality of the work we just had done at Germany's Best. We had our Mercedes wagon inspected by a mechanic specialist last year who gave us a huge list of expensive fixes. Took it in to Paul based on a friend's recommendation and within a day he had fixed our two major wish list items at a very reasonable price. It's like we are driving a new car - we are so grateful and instant loyal customers. read more

Germany's Best goes the extra mile!! Which for many of us older car owners - excuse me, classic car owners - is absolutely essential to get our cars not only running their best, but running "legal" as well. As in passing the smog test. At Germany's Best, Paul the owner and practicing wizard, sorted through miles of wires, relays, and junctions to find and fix the central fault in my SLK230... and just in time as I brought it in with the clock ticking down on the registration. When not under the gun, he and his team still work their magic in a timely fashion, making sure that all is up to snuff before allowing you to race away. And all at a very equitable price!! I highly recommend Germany's Best Auto Care on College Avenue in Oakland! read more

Paul did great work on a 1979 VW Super Beetle recently. Repaired leaking gas tank reliably and quickly. When done, he smelled some gas odors and took the time to go back in and smoke test his work. I appreciate the diligence and completeness on something as risky. I would be very confident taking my car back in the future. Price was reasonable. Took 3-4 days. Make an appointment. read more

I knew a guy originally involved in starting this business, and that colored my judgment (in a good way) about deciding to bringing my car in here many years later. For the first appointment, they were only able to spend a little time with the car, and came up with what later turned out to be a misleading diagnosis. I made another appointment and brought it in a second time, and on that occasion they weren't able to spend any time with the car at all. I ultimately had a diagnosis and repair done care of somewhere else. My impressions may be unfair because I faced some time constraints about how long I could leave the car. Still, I'd clearly explained my situation in advance both times, and was ultimately left with the notion that work priorities were more about their convenience than the customer's. Nor did it help to pay for the cursory analysis. No doubt they would have made this right if they'd been able to take the time with the car that the problem actually required. But I wasn't willing to give it a third shot. read more

I wish I had discovered this auto service shop years ago! The downtown Mercedes dealership charged me what turns out to be an outrageously inflated price for repairs of my CLK350 which prompted me to look elsewhere. Paul was friendly, thorough (took the car for a test drive on the freeway!), and prompt. I believe his charges were reasonable and fair. I will recommend Paul's repair service to my friends and family. read more

Germany's Best - Auto Repair Near Me - Oakland, California

I'm not saying "shady," but I walked away from my experience feeling quite taken advantage of. Here's my experience... My 2001 VW Jetta failed its SMOG test so I took it to Paul @ Germany's Best. At the outset, he suggested he fix the common fuel trim sensor and get it smogged for me. I told him that I get a free SMOG test from the place where it failed, so we agreed he wouldn't do that. I get a call a few hours later and Paul said "I made an executive decision. I cleaned the sensor (did not replace) which cleared the check engine light and I took it to get smogged." WHAT?! We very clearly agreed he wouldn't. I assumed then that he'd pay for the smog. Nope. He charged me $75. Keep in mind that a SMOG usually costs about $35-$40. He said "I also put in a couple of quarts of oil, you were down two quarts" as if that would assuage the SMOG issue, to which I said "will you cover the oil?" Nope. In the end, he said he would, went to amend the bill and said something like "oh, I never charged you for it anyway, so we're at the same cost." This is dubious. In the end, I have no idea whether I have new oil OR a properly repaired fuel sensor. But I do know I was WAY overcharged. Someone more aggressive than me would have negotiated that cost down but when I feel smarmy business, I just leave as quick as I can. No wonder he was so ambiguous about estimates or quotes. He's gonna up the charge on ya somehow. I won't be going back. Doesn't feel right. read more

I was looking at some old records and saw the Germany's Best charge on my credit card bill. So yeah. Confirmed. This IS where that awful experience occurred. read more

Paul is honest and forthright. He does a thorough job and is communicative. I always feel like I'm taking the car to a trusted mechanic.

Dealers said I needed my Diesel Particulate Filter replaced well over $5000. Everything online said that BMW want's you to replace it when it reaches a particular mileage with no attention to whether it is working or not. (The shop foreman and the dealer actually told me this.) Took it to Germany's Best and they checked it out and said it was performing up-to-spec and there was no need to replace it. Saved me $5000. read more

My mother had her gray market Mercedes 280 serviced here and I had my E30 BMW m3 serviced here. These people were extremely good at what they do and their shop was spotless. The work was not as expensive as the dealer and the employees were very nice and helpful. I would always rather support the small business than the faceless corporation. Give these guys a chance, especially if you have older German cars that may need special attention. read more

We are so happy to have found Paul and his team at Germany's Best! We have been working on mom's car for over a year...... 8 months with another shop, and WAY too much money invested. We took the car to Paul in September, asking him to give it the once over, with no timeline set. He reviewed things and found that some items needed to be replaced again, and that some of the replaced items were not the problem we'd been having (2 fuel pumps instead of the relay). He's been working with us since then. We picked the car up several weeks ago and it's been purring! I took it in this morning for one (hopefully) final tweak. He had it completed in 15 minutes, while I waited. We spent 25% of what we'd spent with the other shop, and the car is running better than ever. Plus, we've noticed an increase in gas mileage! If you're unhappy with your current shop, or are just looking for one that works on quirky cars (he also services our smart car), give Germany's Best a try. We'll certainly be back! read more

Big shout out to Paul and Germany's best. My Audi failed smog and the dealer quoted an arm and a leg for repairs. Paul and team diagnosed the problem and fixed it at a reasonable price. Handed it back to me with smog done!! Thanks! read more

Brought my Audi in running rough, as the local dealer appointment was six weeks out. They took the car in the same day, diagnosed the issue the next day (fuel injector issue, with before/after photos) and had it back to me running like a top the following day for the estimated amount. There was no mission creep or upselling of other maintenance. After approximately two weeks, the car continues to run great and I'm leaving my review. Five stars!! read more

Big thanks to Paul--I live in the neighborhood and had a flat on my 911. He fit me in and repaired it extremely quickly. I'm glad to have a shop like this near me, and will definitely go back there for my future service needs. Highly recommend! read more

Paul helped me quickly identify the issue, which is the turbocharger. And he also worked with my warranty company, it's worth calling out this is a 3rd party warranty company and they are not the easiest to work with, yet Paul made it work and knocked off more than $3000 off my bill, he also fixed water tank for me while he was replacing the turbo charger. read more

I've lived in the area and have frequented the Rockridge corridor for years, but never noticed Germany's Best until a week or two ago and I just happened to have to replace my EGT Sensor to deal with a Check-Engine light to pass my smog test. Paul was able to schedule me quickly and the work was reasonably priced. The work ened up slightly more than the estimate, but Paul called to make sure I was OK with it. Fixed my Check-Engine light and I got my car smogged AOK. Good to know that I have them so close to home. read more

I made a Yelp account just to add this review. My car broke down and I needed someone that can work on german cars. Germany's Best was super attentive. Paul scheduled a meeting with me right away and he got my car in tip top shape within a week! Just FYI my car had electrical issues and since then she has been running smooth. Paul even took note of supplemental issues down the line and was super honest when he gave me his final diagnostic. I will definitely make Paul and Germany's Best my go-to from now on. Do yourself a favor and take your European ride to this shop. They will treat you and your ride with respect. read more

I am so grateful that I found this shop for my 2012 Mercedes Benz. Paul is such a nice person and scheduled my appointment quickly and efficiently. They literally took my car in at 8am and it was done by 3pm! Never have I ever received this kind of turn around from a dealership service center. The prices are competitive and the work is solid. I will be back for my next oil change. Thanks Paul!! read more

Just discovered Germany's Best. I came back from vacation to discover an unhappy Mercedes. Paul let me quickly drop off the car. The diagnostics were done early the following day and a diagnosis was made and repaired. However, fortunately he gave the car a final road test and heard a brake noise. The new brakes I had installed 5 months ago by a "brake specialist" were not installed properly and the car was not safe to drive!! Needless to say, I wish I would have dicovered Germany's best a little sooner. I highly recommend them!! read more

What a great experience I had there. I have a Mini Cooper and for years I took my car to the Mini Services. When my warranty expired and Mini started charging me ridiculous prices to fix anything on my car I found Germany's Best. For some oil leak problem Germany's Best literally charged me HALF of the price of Mini's quote. Their service was quick and well done, plus Paul, the owner is a very nice guy! read more

I really don't know how this place has good reviews. My BMW was there for almost a week. This place hadn't even looked at my car. I remained in touch to see when he could at least look at it. This place sucks the big weenie. read more

We have been taking our 2000 Mercedes E320 to Germany's Best Auto since around 2007. The owner, Paul, has not only kept this classic in great shape for us, he also helped get our daughter's 1999 MBZ in shape for sale (it was in pretty bad shape). Recently, we were stuck in a parking lot on Fruitvale Avenue when the 2000 MBZ would not get out of the park position (it became a rather complicated issue). Paul stayed on the phone with us and the towing guy and walked us all through how to remedy the problem well enough to get the car out of park and to his shop without having to tow it there. He waited for us on a Friday night so that it could be parked in his shop rather than on the street over the weekend. By Monday, he had the problem fixed for a reasonable repair price, and we were back on the road! Glad we found Paul all those years ago! :) read more

I've always found all the folks at Germany's Best Auto Repair on College at Broadway in Oakland to be very professional, knowledgeable, and reliable, while also being very personable and friendly; especially Paul, the owner. VolksWagon of Oakland is also close by. But I much prefer and trust Paul and Germany's Auto Repair's reliability, professionalism and service over VW of Oakland. I would recommend Paul and Germany's Best Auto Repair to anyone. read more

====UPDATE====FROM FIVE TO TWO STARS====May 2010 I am no longer a fan of this shop. I recently took my car there to have the scheduled service and brakes done. Before choosing where I would take it, I called around to get quotes. For the service, I received a quote from the owner of about 350.00. I received quotes of 395.00 from the two dealerships that I called, one of which was willing to give me a 10% discount knocking it down to 365.00 or so. Note that my quote was from the owner. I decided to go to Germany's best because (a) I had taken the car there in the past and was satisfied with the service, and because (b) their prices were always better than the dealer. I made an appointment for the middle of the week. When I arrived, the service manager (Paul), told me that (a) the owner never scheduled the service, and (b) that he had misquoted me to the tune of 100.00 in the shops favor. Because I was already there, needed the service done ASAP, and because I expected the owner to eat the difference in the end, I let them go ahead. Needless to say, since I am adding this review, they did not offer. When I asked I was refused. I chose not to have them do the brakes (which the owner had originally quoted at 250.00, and which I was subsequently told would be just under 600.00; though while the owner said I would not need rotors because of the mileage, the shop manager determined that I would, so a difference is understandable). Further, the shop manager told me that the brakes were a "four hour job," but when I spoke with him at approximately 2:00 in the afternoon, he told me that they would be able to have them done in time for me to pick up the car at 5:00 that same day. They had not started yet. With respect to the service and the cost there of, it is tantamount to "bait and switch" and they should know better than to not honor a price that they quoted because they were wrong ... moreover, a price quoted by the owner himself should be the absolute ceiling especially with respect to a job that involves a fixed amount of work, such as a scheduled service. What was not understandable with respect to the brakes was that I had received a quote from the dealer for the same job at 595.00---just slightly more than the cost at Germany's best and with the two jobs combined, the dealership would have cost less and would have cleaned the car inside and out when done (Germany's best left plastic on the seat and a greasy temporary floor mat on the floor). Their prices are now in line with the dealerships' even though they say that they are significantly less expensive (I have heard several times there that the price I was quoted was a good price and in line with what the dealership would have charged for the job several years ago. I am pretty upset about this and even if they lowered their prices to be in line with their statements vis a vis the dealers, it is very unlikely that I would go there again. Also note that when I told the shop manager that the prices were similar or less at the dealership he told me that it was not true, even though I informed him that I had received quotes from more than one. He even called around to try to prove me wrong (though he admitted that I was not at least with respect to one of the dealerships). ====END OF EDIT==== Erich (uncertain of spelling) was a very direct and pleasant person. I understand why some people may have been put off by him, as he has a somewhat frank and stoic manner .... which is something that I admire and expect in a German auto mechanic (quick, think of one German comedian). Also, Erich was not the new owner of the shop---he was the manager. Paul has retained ownership of the shop for as long as I have know of its existence. Nevertheless, Erich has now left and Paul is back managing the day to day operations. For those of you who know Paul, you know that he is straightforward, very like able, and at least seems to be quite intelligent (which is not always something you encounter in the auto repair business). He is honest, charges very fair prices (compare to any other reputable MB shop in the area) and will not waste any time diagnosing uncertain issues. If you haven't been there yet, give it a try. If you have the mechanical aptitude and feel like lugging the old oil and filter to a drop off center, change your own oil. If you change your own oil and then dump it in the trash or in your neighbor's bushes, then you, my friend, should take a bath in said oil waste once or twice in your life, swallow a little and respond here to let me know how it goes! If you own a very expensive German car then you are likely not worried about dealer service prices (and feel that you are fully compensated for the increased prices with shiny reception rooms, free donuts and coffee and perhaps even a complimentary car wash at the end). If that is the case skip this place, head to your dealer and take a donut for the roa read more

I am filling a small claims lawsuit, reporting them to BBB and filing a complaint with the State of California DCA. I have been having serious electrical problems with my car and after having the alternator replaced, the problem did not go away. I was desperate and took it to them to ask them to check the battery and do an electrical diagnosis on the car. Well, $655.00 later, I got a battery replaced and nothing else but some lousy diagnosis. The problem was back within 15 minutes of driving my car. I called them and they claimed I never said anything about these issues. They said they drove the car and ran it, but this problem comes up every time after fifteen minutes. I have no faith in these guys. I could have done that work myself for $150.00 read more

It's such a relief when you find an honest mechanic. I took my 2001 530i with 122K miles on her. Worn suspension blues. Paul diagnosed her and deemed one repair a 911, and the others could be spread over a little time. This is where you go for your German auto needs. Plus there's nice car eye candy in the shop. read more

Paul is a genius. I'd had persistent troubles with how my Vanagon was running that other mechanics hadn't been able to fix. I was driving a vehicle that I couldn't count on and was thinking I'd have to sell it at a big loss and get another van. Paul took his time, spent the time he needed to diagnose it and solved the problem for a very reasonable price. The van now runs better than it ever has, and I'm eternally grateful. I recommend him highly for his experience and how easy and enjoyable he is to work with. read more

My second, five star review! See first review below... We had trouble getting my very low mileage, but 10 year VW Tourag to smog. Paul is the doctor for German cars! He took it step by step, with his recommendations. The bottom line is that after several days, because of his recommendations that he completed, we got it to pass smog! Do you know what this means for me? I can drive my car, that I DID NOT want to give up, for two more years. Paul saved me from having to buy a new car! And HE WOULDN'T GIVE UP. That's what really kept us going. He kept telling us, "I'M NOT GIVING UP ON THIS ISSUE!" We really appreciated that spirit. Thank you again Paul! read more

A quality shop that earns your business: a bad oil change with a cut-rate oil change "specialist" had left my Audi hobbled... they drained the oil... and, the transmission fluid. Paul and his team diagnosed the issues, made the repairs, and provided the documentation I need to sort the cost out with the folks that caused the problem. Found Germany's Best via yelp. The balance of the reviews are true: this a quality shop, run by an owner that is on site, who clearly takes pride in the work. read more

Ive got a VW Eurovan Camper which to most of you may not seem exotic but this vehicle is an engineering marvel. Along with all that gear crammed into a gorgeous efficient space comes strange problems. Paul and team have taken good care of me and my big white baby. Germanys best is not the cheapest place to take your German vehicle, and if you've got a run of the mill Jetta or even just a boxster go somewhere else. But if you've got a special or older vehicle this is the place. Ive never seen so many vintage Porsches and Mercedes in one shop. Not to mention new limited edition Porsches that I drool over. read more

I took my Porsche to Paul and I thought it was running real well, however after picking it up a few days later I couldn't believe the difference. The engine was more responsive, more powerful and he fixed an intermittent ignition problem. I couldn't be more pleased. Trebor Allen read more

Since my last review, I returned to Germany's Best to have the two rear tires on my Z4 replaced. Paolo helped me find the best tires within my price range and the service was performed efficiently, and therefore at a more than reasonable price. A few weeks later, my tire pressure alert light came on and I found myself with a flat right rear tire. I took it back to Germany's Best and they took the car for a couple of hours and the tire showed no air leakage. We decided that it was vandalism and off I went. They did significant analysis for me and did not charge me a cent. I was amazed at their kindness. A week later, the same tire was flat... Paolo took it in and they did further analysis, saw some imperfections in the tire beading, and sent the tire out to be fixed. The tire shop that set to fix the tire said that because the flat tire had been driven on -- it was unstable and needed to be replaced entirely. I was not amused. I was upset that I had received a defective tire from the manufacturer and was being forced to buy a new tire. Let's be clear that I was not holding Germany's Best accountable -- I was holding Dunlop's quality assurance processes accountable. Long story short, Paolo had Germany's Best absorb the cost of the new tire and did not charge me a cent for any of the analysis and labor they performed for me. I am a customer for life. read more

My first visit to Germany's Best was when I heard a strange noise coming from my '04 Passat. I drove down the ramp and told the man at the desk that I was worried about the noise, and that although I wasn't a customer, wondered if they'd look at it. They sent me out with a technician immediately, we drove around for 15 minutes and he diagnosed the problem. They didn't charge me a penny. I've been a customer ever since; I've found their service excellent and conscientious, their prices more than fair, and their customer service very helpful. They just gave the used Audi A4 I bought a clean bill of health, and they'll be doing all the maintenance. read more

Paul is a fantastic mechanic. Knowledgeable, trustworthy, and a man of his word. He has helped me many times with repairs and sometimes just sound advice. His shop is known for the highest quality service and his reputation stands out above most. I have tried to do repairs and service the cheap way elsewhere and he bails me out every time. If you have a German car you wish to treat right, start off with Germany's Best and have them do the regular maintenance you won't be sorry read more

Paul and his team are excellent. Was in a pinch to get some emergency electrical work done and he took the time to analyze properly, rather than accepting what a different shop told me was the issue. Turned it around in a day and saved me quite a bit of money by comparison. Paul then recommended some needed (unbeknownst to me) extensive alignment work - resulting in a radically smoother ride and vastly improved handling on my 2010 S5...done at a very fair price. read more