I've been wanting to take my 71 Bus to this place but the wait list is always long. So I've always taken my bus to a local VW shop close to my house. Until my bus lost power and compression. My local mechanic told me my motor is toast and needs the motor rebuilt which will cost minimum $4500! So I decided to call Mesa Wesr again and talked to the owner Norm and told him about the issue with my motor. He was very friendly and scheduled a service for my bus so they can diagnose the problem. After being in his garage a few days he called me and told me all I needed was for the heads to be retorqued, valves adjusted and carburetor cleaned and my motor is good to go. My total cost was less than $500 and bus never drove so smoothly and powerful! I can't say enough about this honest shop and their entire crew who are all very friendly and very knowledgeable. I don't write reviews but felt compelled to share my experience this time. Thanks Norm and your entire staff! The wait and drive to your shop is well worth it. Your shop will be the only mechanic for my bus from now on! Mahalo! read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

So disappointed in Mesa West. Paid for a complete overhaul. 1100 miles later another $10,00.00 for another complete overhaul. Not quite sure what was done on the first rebuild. Major problems, shoddy workmanship. read more

They went Out of business a long time ago. Great service when they were there. Nobody like them out there but if you hear of someone make sure to post it. read more

These guys have fixed my VWs most of my life and my father's as well. They are amazing and always helpful in spreading knowledge. I'm sure they don't like it but I love hanging out when they are working on my bus. Great service and amazing people. Great value on every service. read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - New engine rebuild and even brought home a leg souvenir on the way home. It still makes me laugh. - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Taking my 1969 and they got it running! Smooth The shop is super busy so must make appointment Friendly and knowledgeable read more

Norm and the guys at Mesa West are truly amazing. Always professional and kind! They have worked on our 1978 bus (Westy) and our Porsche Speedster replica. Always great work and done right the first time. They are a pleasure to work with and the most knowledgeable and professional shop in town. When it comes to classic VW work they are probably the best in Orange County. Can't recommend them enough! read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - 1978 vw bus - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Norm has always gone above and beyond, with kindness and patience. He treats me like I'm special, but somehow I get the feeling that he does that for everyone, so I don't even know how that's possible. Sam is also a pleasure to deal with, and always seems happy to talk to me, even though my car and I have presented them with endless headaches and scheduling challenges. Thanks so much for everything! read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Norm is a great guy. Very good to the VW community for many years. Sadly, he's calling it a career He will be missed.

THANK YOU MESA WEST GERMAN AUTO CARE!!! I can honestly say, if you're looking for a new mechanic, and someone you can trust - stop looking and call these guys now. Aa honest as it gets, and gets it done RIGHT. Thanks Victor and team! read more

I have brought my 73 Bug here twice and I always get excellent service. The mechanics are busy so you won't get your car same day but they are really reliable. I am quite fortunate to have found this shop. read more

are any of the technicians still working on the VW'S? ease share their contact information if you have it. Best VW repair shop in the world. always fair with pricing and qualit. Really going to miss them. Thanks, Popee 356 Replica by vintage read more

Like all the other reviews say, this place is the real deal for classic VW. Have had my 76 bus there 5 or 6 times and always super happy. Prices are very fair and they won't sell you what you don't need. They are busy so make sure to call and make an appointment. Totally recommend. read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Norm and his guys did a minor exterior restoration on my '66 beetle a long time ago, in the late 90's, and it still looks amazing. A testament to really great work. Mesa West has some history. I couldn't leave a Yelp review back then so I'm doing it now, haha. Thanks, Norm. read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - Got to take my '66 Beetle out on my birthday. Painted by Norm at Mesa West 22 years ago! - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I never ended up taking my '74 VW Bus (with wonky distributor and dodgy Carb) to Mesa West, the rating is purely based on the time taken, thoughtful approach, and advice Norm gave me over the phone. He really made an effort to point me in the right direction regarding the issue I was having. If I ever do need to take my Bus anywhere in the future, you can be sure it'll be going to Mesa West. Thanks again Norm read more

These guys are absolutely the best. I'll never take my '73 bus anywhere else. They've literally fixed every issue I've brought to them. Having taken it to two prior mechanics that charged me a bunch of money and didn't fix the issues. They are fair with their prices, and they always fix little things just as bonus. I can't say enough good things, for all buses, bugs and German cars they are your place. read more

These guys are legends when it comes to vws. I'm hands down pleased with service and quality of work. It's hard to find a honest mechanic. So I'll be sticking to them! Thanks Norm read more

Let's just say norm is the man. By far the most honest mechanic I have ever met. Or relationship has spanned many decades and he has helped me with various shapes and sizes of Volkswagens. He is like rain man of Volkswagens. Samantha, who often answers the phone and keeps norms mind together is a real treat. She's got a nice sexy phone voice and has always been pleasant to deal with. The mechanics, one of which is norms son, are proficient and knowledgeable. When it comes down to the meat of things, these arnt people that are going to screw you over and convince you that you need things to fix things that you don't need. He gives you the brass tax on what NEEDS to happen to get you plugging along in you VW. He may suggest to you that some other things need addressing but won't give you the shaft! Thanks for the years of service Norm! read more

Norm and his son Brian are so comprehensive in the repairs, and fair in their pricing, they must be the last honest shop left in California.! You would be a fool to go anywhere else trust me! I did before, and they did subpar work and charged way too much!! Go See Stormin Norman!! You we be happy you did!.. read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - Yippeee!!! - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Sam is always a joy to speak with. Family owned and run business. Honest and hard working group with a lot of customers waiting on reservations (so book your service early)!!! read more

Can't believe I didn't write this review sooner. Norm and his team are the best. Period. I have a '77 Westy that I've taken to Canada and back (check out my blog at onlytheroadknows.com or my instagram @onlytheroadknows). Every year when it comes time to SMOG, I took it to Paul at Shadetree in San Clemente where I live. And every year Paul charges me $350 or so to get it to pass after whining about how much he hates working on them. This year he just outright refused. You can see my review on his place if you want. Anyway, the months ticked by and my tags expired and I couldn't find anyone to tweak it to pass. So to Yelp for some guidance and I found Mesa West. Called and spoke to Norm. He told me to bring it in. They have a SMOG shop around the corner they work with to test. It failed about 4 times. They finally got it to pass emissions but the gas tank failed the pressure test. They needed to replace some gaskets, hoses and the vapor recovery lines. He even needed to fabricate a new part where the gas cap mates with the body. It took a week, but I appreciate the herculean effort. The bill came in around $400, which seems way too low for the amount of time I know they put in. Some people have complained about how long it takes to get their car serviced here. My advice is if you have an air-cooled Volkswagen, shut the fuck up and be thankful that there are still guys like Norm who continue to service our wonderful classics. If you don't have an air-cooled VW, take it somewhere else to leave more room for the rest of us. Norm, I love you and your staff. I can't thank you enough for your continued commitment to the community. read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - Mesa West German Auto Center. Still committed to keeping these rad air-cooled machines on the road. Real VW shops are a dying breed. - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Norm and his crew are a great bunch of people. They are sincere, nice honest VW mechanics that do A+ quality work at reasonable prices. I had a problem with my starter on my 65 Bus. I had a feeling the flywheel teeth were also part of the problem, sure enough it was and they fixed me up and I got it back running better than ever. They also completed the work without keeping the car for weeks, which seems to be a "thing" with many other VW mechanics in town. Great job, great people and a must in your Rolodex for VW repairs! read more

Everyone here is amazing. I had a 1979 super beetle that was sitting for 10+ years and it was time to finally get her up and running. Not only did they get it done but they got her running WELL under estimate... very honest people and would definitely recommend these guys over anyone else... they are upfront, honest, and don't nickel and dime you... if you got a project that needs to get back up and running, head to Mesa West! read more

Mesa west has been there for just under 50 years and I hope they are around for the next generation!

It all started with issues relating to the fancy xenon lights on a Tiguan SEL, the ones with the ballast built-in to the bulb. After calling around to several places that didnt have a lick of sense on what I was talking about, a call to Viktor and he was genuinely interested and expressed interest to help. He assured me he would do some research and call me back as soon as possible. As a man of his word, he did exactly that. Unfortunately, he couldn't help me in the end, but he put forth an incredible effort to find the right shop I needed for the repair that had the part I needed in stock. Quality service with employees that care. Bravo. read more

Got me back on the road. After driving our '74 Bus 1,000 Miles from Colorado Mesa West got me back on the road and going again. Perfect!

This place SUCKS!! At first the mechanic was super nice. Asked me if I needed a ride home since I was leaving my car at the shop. Small talk and smiles. I didn't receive a call from them for 2 days. When I went to go pick up my car he said the problem was fixed and once I started my car, it obviously wasn't since it didn't make it home. When I took it back I received a huge attitude from the guys. Left my car there again, and a day later the same problem had occured. They charged me and didn't fix the problem and on top of it i found out that they just turned of my check engine light off and erased the memory!!! ugh!!! read more

I took my 2002 Eurovan Weekender in to install an auxiliary transmission cooler, transmission fluid drain, and oil change. Adam was great. I just returned from a 7K cross country road trip to the east coast. My Eurovan performed flawlessly. Their prices are quite reasonable. read more

I was so happy with the service I last received that I want to give Mesa West a 5 star review. I needed my 1978 bug smogged. Not an EASY task! It is a second car so I told them they could take their time, but the problem is... they are so popular that they do not have the space to keep your car. So they worked very hard to get it smogged quickly - ordering the right parts and retesting (I have tried smogging on my own and know what to expected after all these years). Well it finally passed, but that isn't the main story. I had trouble with the DMV losing my records and 4 months later I had to go back in to the DMV to take care of it. They needed to get the smog certificate that was issued. Conveniently Norm is a couple blocks away. All I had to do was call... I was met curbside by Norm with the certificate in hand. I was very thankful to have this go the extra mile service. Word to the wise... it is a mom and pop place with lots of loyal customers, who know Norm and his crew by name. Being nice and acting like you are part of the CHILL Hawaiian family will go VERY FAR!! read more

Norm and his crew once again did what they said they were going to do with my 62 bug. Broken clutch cable, broken shifter bracket, adjust valve and fixed leaking oil pan for a reasonable price. Mahalo's, for taking care of my baby. read more

Only place to bring your classic VW. Had disc brakes installed in my 70 bus. Make an appointment in advance and you will be set.

The people at Mesa West are excellent. So are their skills, and the consideration they show for their clients. I recommend them highly, without reservation. read more

Phenomenal Service. Replaced my motor, brake master cylinder, tuned the breaks, replaced my seatbel, fixed my horn, repaired my parking break and done with care and precision as if it were your own car. I'm safe and stylish Again because of you! read more

Took my '84 Vanagon Camper to Mesa West recently for service (oil and filter) and advice about a blinking hot engine/low coolant lite on my dash. Norm patiently took the time to explain in layman's language the problem and probable causes. They're currently looking around for the part (it IS a 25 year old vehicle!), but assured me that as long as the temperature gauge is still working, I don't have to totally panic when I see the lite. These guys are straight-forward and knowledgeable about their work. I think Mike really knows these old VWs, and Sam is absolutely dependable about following up and getting back to me. Don't understand the two negative posts...but I don't think their experiences are the norm here...Mesa West has a lot of loyal longtime customers. read more

Great skills, great service, great people. They're the only place I think of for my 1963 black deal with a bunch of patina on her.

WOW love these people! I bought a 90's Vanagon Carat 2.5 years ago and in the beginning it was doing great but in the last year, the tranny has been rebuilt twice (not by Mesa West) and when I had to rebuild the engine I was told to go to Mesa West, well Norm and the gang have been the best. There have been some other hiccups, needed a new radiator, speedometer, ignition switch, some electrical issues and on and on, (the saying oh its a VW, rings true here) but every time, Sam gets Norm we talk it through and they get me back on the road. Sometimes I had a trip planned and yup something goes wrong, call Norm and he gets me back on schedule! They are becoming like family, (we need to stop meeting like this) but what a great gang to know! I am a 71 year old woman and having the time of my life with my van, and the Mesa West team is keeping me on the road! I just live around the corner so that really makes it nice to have a neighborhood mechanics shop that will explain so I can understand the problem and are so humble and trustworthy! You cannot go wrong to trust your ride to the Mesa West team! read more

Mesa West German Auto Center - New to me! New adventures begin! - Auto Repair Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Didn't have an apt and they were able to squeeze me in for break replacements on my GTI on the same day!Great prices as well as great service! read more

Great place to take your vw! Be aware they are busy but are the best in town! Even checked in with .e through out my trip to see if I was ok. read more

This is a SUPER busy shop, but I won't be taking my convertible Beetle to anyone else.....EVER. I called quite a few independents and found that most shops refer their biz out when it comes to problems with the rag top. Wellllll......not these guys! Norm has a great crew of wonderful people that provide quality, top notch service. HUGE Thanks to Brian, Sam, Adam, Brad and of course Norm for going above and beyond in taking such great care of me and my ride. Definitely made me feel like part of the family. Aloha! read more

My '86 Vanagon Weekender is kept in great running condition by these guys. They are attentive to every detail and the best testimony is the number of V Dubs they have in the queue. I'm apparently not the only one who has Mesa West as their "go to" maintenance shop! read more

Alright, so it's about time we get a positive review for Mesa West German Auto Center on yelp! I am a big fan of this place and want to share why. The owner Norm is super chill, when he's around of course. When he is off to Hawaii he is probably even more chill hitting the waves and living out of a camper (most likely!). Not sure what Muneera and Slycat are complaining about, unless this place has turned around in the past few years. If you own a Vanagon, changing the Oil and CV boot should be a home project, not the local shops. I can only take that review at face value because I wasn't there, but this is not what I would expect from them unless I was rude to the mechanics in the shop. And yes, Vanagon's do tend to run hot! Ok, now to my experience here at Mesa West! I brought in my 1980 Vanagon. I needed this thing smogged for the past few months, but I was having an issue that when it heated up, the van started to "Buck". It was a horrible feeling when it drove like this, as I knew it was not good for the engine. This bucking issue had to be solved to pass smog, then it could be brought in to pass smog. I had heard from another Westphalia owner that I could trust Mike at Mesa West to do the job! I went for it. I brought my van in, talked with Norm, 3 working days later, I had my van back, bucking issues solved, passed smog, and the van felt like it was ready for a road trip! It was!!! Mike is a true expert to get these van's to pass smog legally. It's great to have such a knowledgeable shop so close by! I would recommend them for all your vanagon/bus issues. They always have a bunch of van's and buses out side their shop, which just shows how diverse they are when it comes to these wonderful vehicles! Take your vanagon/bus issues to Mesa west and talk with Norm to see if your comfortable for having them do the work! Disclaimer: This may sound like a paid advertisement, it's not. I just really like this shop and think they deserve some more yelp-credit, because they already got the street credit, just ask around! read more