I am sorry to have to write bad review. I have been a long time customer. I don't know what is going on but they seem to just be able to handle basic things - I need an oil change; I need brakes: I need a new belt... Took my Passat in for an oil change and a gasoline smell. They charged me $275 to diagnose and could find anything. Said it was likely a gas cap. Charged me $50. $325 for nothing! I can accept the $110-120 for the oil change. The problem did not go away. Took it to another German specialist in town and they immediately diagnosed it as fuel pump and fuel module. They said it was common and pretty basic. They see it often. Did Kotters not even check? I also told them that from what I had read online, based on my symptoms, it was likely a fuel pump, and evap hose, or charcoal canister. They discounted me. read more

They are just grumpy people working there. I had work done on my car and it was good, but the markup on average parts was 400%. When I brought my own parts in the owner scolded me. And everyone just seemed not happy to be there. If they were kind, the experienced would be a heck of a lot better, but.....for the future repairs, I pass.... read more

Took my 68 Bug in for and oil change and valve adjustment. Brandon and Tim were great, very knowledgeable and had great advice for keeping my car running good. Brandon went above and beyond letting me know about things to watch out for as I am new to the bug world. Highly recommend them. read more

Kotter's VW Service - 68 Bug - Auto Repair Near Me - Escondido, California

Tim is my go to guy on my 64 bug. He has installed a new engine and brakes years ago. Went in recently since the bug was sitting. He explained all the issues got the bug running great again. This was my fault. Gave me a fair price and a decent turn around time. Hard to find good classic mechanics anymore. read more

Kotter's VW Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Escondido, California

WARNING!!! DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU WANT A REAL SERVICE!!! I took my car in a month ago to get my spark plugs changed (which are supposed to last 50000 miles) and when I took my Volkswagen to the dealership the other day they told me that the spark plugs I had, which were supposed to be **BRAND NEW** were already rusted. These scammers either put old spark plugs in or didn't do ANYTHING, on top of that they were over 30 minutes late to my oil change service, and their neighbor informed me I was better off leaving since these guys "work on their own schedule". DO NOT COME HERE UNLESS YOU WANT TO WASTE YOUR MONEY read more

Kotter's is awesome does great work wonderful to work with them. I have a very old 1979 Volkswagen Westfalia. They really helped me out with it with multiple repairs that were needed with a reasonable price pleasure working with them. I would definitely recommend Kotter's . read more

Very responsive. Got me in right away. Very knowledgeable regarding my 72 Super Beetle. Will return. Thanks

I brought my '75 Superbeetle in for what I thought would be a tune up and brake adjustment. The engine ran well but lacked power and speed. After Robert looked it over, it turns out I needed a new clutch and a new brake job, including master cylinder and brake lines. Though way more than I expected, I gave Tim the OK to do what needed to be done. When I picked my car up, I couldn't believe the difference. It now has power through all gears, the fuel injected engine is running better than I can remember and the brakes are strong. Even though the car is nearly 50 years old, it's running like I imagine it did when new. For anyone looking for a mechanic for their classic VW, Tim and his crew are the real deal. My car has seen many mechanics in the North County over the 27 years that I've owned it and I can say that Kotter's is the best. Good VW mechanics are a dying breed, so I'm thankful to have found Kotter's VW. read more

Kotter's VW Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Escondido, California

I own a 1973 WV Westphalia Bus I bought in 1976, second owner. Over the years it has undergone 2 engine rebuilds, most recently by a shop that specialized in German Cars. With twin Webber carbs, installed in a moment of weakness, it has never run right. Flat spots, surging, lousy top end, all the problems that come with that set up. None of the "experts" could get it running properly. After a prolonged period of inactivity, Kotter's was recommended to me, and I had the car towed in. I told them that it needed to be road worthy and left it in their hands. When I picked it up, I was more than pleasantly surprised, gone was the bucking and the flat spot, but the real surprise was when I got on the freeway to go home. For the first time in the last 25 years, it accelerated smoothly to freeway speeds and kept up with traffic, 50 to 70 mph. I settled in for a cruise home at around 60 and just smiled all the way. When I called and asked what they had done to the carbs I was told about the cleaning and re-jetting. Kotter's in my opinion performed a miracle and I would absolutely recommend them for any VW work. Thanks again! read more

VW repair that exceeded my expectations. Robert stayed late to check my EuroVan brakes (prior to camping trip) and then provided a thorough list of "deferred maintenance" jobs to complete for safety and proper maintenance. Straight talk and good advice at a fair price. read more

Brought my 68 project car to Kotter's at the recommendation of someone on a social media forum. I had been to another shop in another part of town and wasn't overly impressed. Kotter's, and Robert especially, were great and have a new customer in me! I'd blown a spark plug, and tried to fix it myself (major novice with engines, especially air cooled). Things weren't quite right and I suspected I needed a new head. They were a little busy and took my number and said they'd be in touch the following week. Sure enough, the following Monday he called up and I brought the car in. I expected them to need it a few days, if not a week. By that afternoon Rob had called me and told me it was good to go. He replaced adjustment screws on my valves, adjusted said valves, and checked my points and timing. The car is running great now, and in fact better than it ever has! It may need a new head or engine rebuild down the line, but we agreed it's good to drive for now as it's just a weekend cruiser for me. Come to find out, he adjusted my brakes and topped off my tire pressure too. An all around tune up, and all for a great price! I highly recommend the shop. They're obviously very knowledgeable and very accommodating. They do a lot of work in-house, such as engine rebuilds, vs other places who ship stuff out or buy rebuilt parts. read more

Kotter's VW Service - They'll work on the weird cars, too! Happy Halloween! - Auto Repair Near Me - Escondido, California

Just before we were to leave on a trip, our VW Eurovan engine warning light came on. Kotter's squeezed us into their busy schedule, fixed the issue, as well as fixed our sliding door, that even the VW Dealership service couldn't fix. read more

Kotter is a good person with a lifetime's worth of experience in Volkswagens. You can trust him. He's a good person and extremely honest. I have friends that I've referred to him that literally drive half way across the country just to have him do a big batch of work on their Bus, because they trust him so much. I would recommend him for maintenance of any generation Volkswagon. San Diego is lucky to be home to specialty shops like his. read more

I am a loyal customer of Kotter's VW Service. Tim and Robert have taken excellent care of my 77' Surf Bus and I cannot recommend them enough. If you own a late model VW you need not look further for quality work. read more

Kotter's VW Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Escondido, California

My jetta tdi was in need of some love- timing belt, water pump, fix the ac, transmission flush... Got her back the next day and she is purring! Would highly recommend, they were reasonably priced, everything was done in a timely fashion, the guys were really nice and friendly. Thank you so much!! read more

Tim has Over 40 yrs experience and it shows. I have a '67 VW Bug that I've driven for years. Back in 2019 when arriving home one day, I noticed something leaking from one of the rear wheels which resembled transaxle oil. COVID hit and so the bug sat for 5 long years. Fast forward to December 2024 and I decided I'd like to get the bug back on the road. Dead battery, bad gas and frozen wheel from whatever leaked. I looked online and found a few VW forums people mentioning work done by Kotter's VW Service in Escondido and decided to try them. I couldn't be happier with the service provided. After receiving the bug, Tim looked it over and got back to me with an estimate quickly. Upon picking the bug up it runs better than I remember climbing hills with no problem and braking better than it ever had. Tim didn't just "get the bug running" but rather made sure it was road worthy. Cleaned the tank, replaced hoses that were worn, addressed worn out components. I cruised it back down the I15 at a pretty good clip (for a 58 year old bug). I especially like Tim's attention to detail. There are caps on all the brake bleeder screws and everything he worked on looks fantastic. Tim clearly has a passion for VWs and it shows in his work and his cool office with lots of VW memorabilia. If you have a VW and it needs work, I would definitely recommend checking out Tim's shop. I have 2 other VWs that I'll be taking up to him for work in the future. read more

Holy moly. What can I say about Tim and the boys ! I literally followed a nice sounding 77 bus to ask the owner who did her work and she pulled into Kotter's. I ask the women in he parking lot if her bus ran good and did these guys do the work.. she said "I love this place and yes it runs great!" So that's how I found Tim. Now for the first time my 78 westy is cruising at 70mph and going to Carlsbad from temecula every weekend!! I love all the patina bugs the mechanics drive too by the way!! Thanks Tim !!! It's amazing with that extra 30° will do for timing read more

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Happy New Year ! I have a 1955 356 Speedster. I invested in having a monster of a engine put in " 2276" CC . I just moved here from LA. And I needed to find a GREAT Machanic just not another auto repair place . that knows exactly how to work on this car. I googled for a long time . I Saw Kotter's somewhat close . I had to make an appointment about 10 days out. Some folks might be turned of f on that ? Me I'm saying WOW Kotter's must be good ? ! Ten days are up and it was time. Drove the car their and was greeted by Tim's assistant . I forgot his name but he was very pleasant and out going . Took all my i formation down and even called a rent a car company since my car wasn't going to be finished until end of the day. But I was told that too. No surprises I like that . Tim the owner rolled up his sleeves and dug into the engine spent some good time on it. BEST PART is he knew my car and engine , Tim knew what the problem was and solved it and what I Personally like his he just did what had to be done even though maybe I didn't ask or know it had to be adjusted Tim did while he was in the engine. Tim called told me it was ready. The DRIVE HOME was AMAZING. Tim the owner dialed my engine BETTER then it ever has been. !!!! Tim and crew is Old school Master VW Machanics And I'm beyond thrilled in the Service and knowledge and VALUE. I didn't say price because In this world you get for what u pay for. But I will say it I received the best Service and Price and Value EVER!!!! Great job Tim see you in a month or to for a oil change. Jsy read more

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Tim at Kotter's is there for us with his top level expertise and keeps our 82 Vanagon in top working order. His service and technicians provide the very best value in VW service. Miguel Romero Hidden Barrel Tours read more

Great experience with Kotter's VW Service. I had neglected repairs and maintenance on my Vanagon for way too long. The clutch and shifter mechanisms had finally gotten to the point where I couldn't put it off any longer. A neighbor referred me to Tim, and I brought in my Vanagon for Tim and Robert to check. They did a bumper-to-bumper inspection and found a number of problems that needed to be taken care of. (I had been deferring maintenance for quite a while.) Robert showed me all of the problems he found and explained what it would take to repair them. His explanations were clear, and he knows what he's talking about. I use the Vanagon as a daily driver. (It's a Wolfsburg Edition. You can stack 4x8 sheets of plywood flat in the back of the van.) So I asked them to do all of the necessary repairs. When they started taking the van apart they found that some of the repairs would require more work than they initially thought. They took the time to perform all of the repairs completely and professionally. No shortcuts! It's good to find a shop that specializes in VWs. You can be confident that they know what they're doing and will do it right. I recommend Kotter's VW highly. I'd give six stars if I could. read more

Great work! These guys went above and beyond for me. I will happily bring my TDI back for future repairs and maintenance.

I had a bad experience today, at another auto repair shop, but instead of writing a bad review, I'm reaching out to thank former mechanics who did a great job, like Tim Kotter! He took great care of my Karmann Ghia, including building a new engine for it when rebuilt ones were no longer a good investment. He loves what he does and it shows in his work and demeanor. Thanks for everything Tim. read more

Tim and Robert are the best mechanics. Kotter VW helped get Birdie in great shape when I got her. It was all original parts and they did a great job replacing and repairing what needed to be done to keep her running like a beast! Thanks for keeping Birdie running her best! They do great work for a reasonable rate. read more

So lucky to have found Kotters! They do a GREAT job at a fair price! Thank you! read more

Since three stars = A-OK then this is it. Competent, fairly priced, communicative. Bus runs much better than it did. I'll go back when my bus dictates that I should! read more

I was searching for a shop that worked on air cooled engines. I purchased a restored 1967 Beetle in 2019. After a lot of research ( I didn't want to take my baby just anywhere) I contacted Tim at Kotter's VW service. Let's just say that I made the right call. Tim and his team took great care of my Bug. I thought it ran strong before the service, but oh man, it was like night and day! They diagnosed what needed to be done and I can honestly say that she is running great! I am amazed! Great service, great prices. These guys know their stuff! Great experience. I'll see you next year for her annual service. If you need service on any VW, new or old, this place is awesome! read more

These guys were great in dealing with my heavily modified Westy Vanagon. They got me on the road and gave me some good advice. I brought it back to them with some more information and they fixed the problem straight away. They fixed my rig and saved me money. Great shop. read more

I was contacted by the owner and the technician that I dealt with. They were both sincerely apologetic for the service I experienced. I appreciated that they both cared enough to reach out, therefore I will give them another try in the future. For the call and the explanation I give them 5 stars. read more

I have been bringing my cars to Kotters since...oh gosh......2005? 2006? I have a 2004 Passat and the service fees at the dealerships are so outrageous!! I bring my cars here for Tim and Robert to fix and maintain. I have a new 2016 and I bring it here as well! Would not take my babies anywhere else!! read more

Took my Passat in today to Kotter. First time for it. My son's Jetta has been in a couple of times. Took it in at 8am out by 1pm! Always a great experience. Bringing in the Jetta next week for front brakes and oil change. Everything always done right! read more

We are so glad to have found Kotter's VW. Tim has taken great care of our '78 Bus for almost 2 years now. He's straightforward, honest, and prices are fair. read more

There are few service providers in my life that I would give a five-star rating to but Tim Kotter's VW Service is one-of-a-kind type business that I would give 6 stars if I could. He is the best VW mechanic I have ever had, and I have owned over 10 VW's including three TDI's currently, and he is also fair and honest. Those traits are tough to get all in one place but Kotter's is that place. I can't believe people take their cars to the VW dealers in the area over Kotter's. The dealers are just a bunch of replace this and that because we can get away with it money grubbers. read more

THANK YOU KOTTERS! As a single female with a vintage 1966 Bug, I have to be careful who I take my car to for repair. Thank goodness for Tim and Kotters VW. They ALWAYS do great work and I never feel I am being taken advantage of as I have by other shops. They are friendly, ethical and do the job right the first time! I HIGHLY recommend them! I have sent my friends and family to them over the years and all have had the same experience. read more

Tim at Kotter's VW is a solid mechanic and overall good guy. I have a '67 Beetle that I worked on personally for years until it got to the point where it needed a professional touch. After two stops into Kotter's, she is running better than ever and now I feel far more comfortable driving on the freeway. One part had to be ordered and shipped, so I brought my Beetle back to Kotter's about 4 weeks after the last service to have it installed. Tim personally came in on a sick day and installed the part for me! Despite them hitting a few snags along the install I had my car back in the same day. I would highly recommend Kotter's VW to anyone looking for honest work at fair prices in the north county SD area. read more

We have been taking our older Rabbit diesel pickup to Tim for years. He has rebuilt the heads on it once and did a great job in a fast amount of time. even though my truck is very old and worn out, I love it. Tim treats it like it is a new vehicle and is very respectful. I wish more mechanics were as helpful and honest as Tim. He give me all the information about what is happening with my truck and lets me decide. His pricing is always fair and he gets me back on the road in no time! Thanks Tim. Hope you stay around for a while! read more

Tim and Robert are very knowledgeable and have been doing this for a very long time. I can see why they are still in business. Robert seemed very serious at first, but was very thorough and nice. Tim was able to beat the quote the dealer gave me and had the work done very quickly. When he said he had to order parts, I thought my car would be staying overnight, but it was done the same day. I will bring my 2010 Jetta to them exclusively because of their expertise. read more

Ever make a wish on a star and then have it come true? I did... thanks to Tim! My dream car (a fully restored VW Beetle) would never have been possible without his patience and kindness. Tim was able to work within my budget (and deal with my kabillion phone calls) to exceed my expectations. While there are plenty of mechanics who may advertise vintage car expertise, Tim lives it, builds it, and races it. I could go on and on, or you can just see for yourself! read more

Kotter's VW Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Escondido, California

Awesome shop if you ask me. Tim is awesome ,,, and his crew is great. I recommend for all your vw work...

Always take my 71 VW bus in whenever I have a problem. They get the job done right so I won't have to go back in again. Since I've last been there a few months ago my bus has been running smoothly. They are the only place I'll take my VW in. read more

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I'm a little overdue on this but all I can say is "Thanks Tim!" I bought my 2009 Jetta TDI and shortly after started having issues with the glow plug light coming on intermittently. Took it back to the stealership I bought it from and they sent it to the local VW Dealer in El Cajon to troubleshoot, at which point (after having it for 3 days)they said my Fuel Pump needed to be replaced and wanted $1500.00 for the repair. I decided to live with it as it wasn't covered under the 12/12000 power train warranty provided by the dealer. It also wasn't happening all that often and was something I could live with. It started happening more often so I finally took it to Tim. His initial troubleshooting actually pointed to the fuel rail and possibly the sender at the end. He also noted that the previous owner had not done any of the major maintenance and so the timing belt was overdue for replacement as I was over 108K. As Tim was ordering the parts for the work, he contacted the VW Dealer in Escondido, which happens to be owned by the same company as the one in El Cajon. The VW dealer wouldn't sell him one and said that if it was the fuel pump they would cover it 100% as there had been issues on the TDI and VW Corporate wanted to handle all repairs. It turns out that when Tim replaced the fuel rail that was actually the problem. Now I have a little insurance policy if the fuel pump does go. This saved me a good chunk of money that I was not ready to spend. I am thankful that Tim and his crew are honest and have great integrity. They finished the job quickly. I have been more than happy with the outcome and will return there from now on. I've already recommended them to a co worker that bought a TDI recently. I Wish they worked on Kia as well, mine would be there every time it needed to be. I am happy to have found a real honest business that I know I can trust with my car here in Escondido not very far from my home. read more