Heroes & Rubik have become our entire family's mechanics, George their lead technician is next level. From our previous BMW X5 which was constantly breaking down to our Chevy heavy duty trucks, Tahoe, Honda & Toyotas San Marino is our go to place. I've towed my 2500 Chevy Silverado nearly 50 miles to take it to Heroes at San Marino Auto, even though there's a shop around every corner. These guys don't cut corners, I know I can count on them to recommend replacing items that make sense at the time of emergency repairs saving me money in the long run by avoiding costly future breakdowns. They show me parts, wear & tear others would Ignore hoping for a return repair & explain my options. Proving it's cost effective to do it all at once, saving time, money & headache of unreliable vehicle. I've moved away from the area but my Auto repair shop is still San Marino Auto in Pasadena. I highly recommend them. read more

I was referred to Heros by another shop to have my hard top convertible repaired. My experience with Heros was that he was competent and honest and offered me a fair price. (I wasn't sure I would be able to find someone proficient enough to do this type of work.) Thank you Heros and also the other mechanics that helped you! You did a great job and we are very appreciative! read more

I took my 2013 Honda civic to them for a very rough idle, tire pressure warning light on, right turn signal etc. They replaced all the sensors, the motor mounts, fuel system cleaned plus little things like a brake light out etc. Now my car runs like new and the idle is smooth as silk now, it was not cheap, but you get what you pay for. My last car, a Nissan Sentra needed the belts replaced & I took it to jiffy lube, a big mistake, they put on the wrong belts & the wrong tension, I had to spend 800.00 to fix their mistake, San Marino auto is a premium car repair shop, they would have not done a sloppy jiffy lube mistake. read more

I've been going here for years. I thought they could be trusted. I should've known when I took it last time and the problem wasn't really fixed. I blindly trusted them. Recently took my car in because it was lagging when accelerating/changing gears. And made a clicking sound when just getting started. Worried it might be the transmission. I took it to San Marino auto service and they told me it's the engine mount. I was super grateful it wasn't the transmission. The owner quoted me $2500!!! I was shocked! I left there and went to 2 other places and both quoted me under $500 for completely new engine mount including labor. I do NOT recommend this scam of a place to anyone. Never ever again. read more

These guys are lifesavers! Pricing; 10/10, (11/10 in this current economy) Quality of work: 10/10 Customer service 10/10 The guys at San Marino Auto delivered and exceeded their promise. The AAA driver saw me struggling to find a shop and offered his hand and called them up to take me in when last second. I went from panic to pleased in a matter of half an hour thanks to all these guys. Most shops in town didn't want to install my provided clutch kit but I know what I'm getting into and what I got. The guys at San Marino Auto Service gave me an extremely competitive and reasonable labor quote for a standard Clutch job on my 2002 Mustang GT. I couldn't turn it down. Not 24 hours after I handed them my phone number and keys, and my car is back on the road and driving better than ever! These guys did an amazing job on the clutch/flywheel install and I couldn't be happier, it feels better and smoother than most clutches I've ever driven. A testament to the speedy well done install as a clutch job is rather intensive precision job. Definitely not something you want to misalign or mis-torque yourself. Whether you're coming in for a standard known issue/job or need these guys to help you find the issue itself or provide some maintenance. I'm positive they'll treat you right. This was an incredibly easy,chill. Casual transaction. These guys are hard working people with a chill attitude, you can tell these guys take pride in what they do. I'll be recommending this place all my friends, family and local strangers i come across that may be looking for an available mechanic asap. They've earned it for sure. These guys took care of my baby! Thanks Heros and crew! I'll be sure to rev it when I pass by! read more

San Marino Auto Service - Within minutes of the car being dropped off the guys are on it! - Auto Repair Near Me - Pasadena, California

New to Pasadena and took two of my Toyota's to San Marino Auto Service and was taken care of immediately, now I have a mechanic I can trust! Thank You read more

San Marino Auto Service - Auto Repair Near Me - Pasadena, California

San Marino auto repair is my number one choice for all of my auto repair service needs. Why ? because they get the job done! While other repair shops sometimes dealerships fall short of finding the problem right away they get your car fix without having to go two or more times for them to get it right. I've known HEROS AND RUBIK FOR MANY YEARS AND REFER ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO THEM. Please give them an opportunity to demonstrate their expertise in the field of automotive repair you will be much better off. The savings is great too vs what the dealer might charge you. read more

See all

My go-to shop for everything my car needs. I've recommended a few people and iv heard nothing but positive th ngs from them. Hero and Rubic are the best! read more

They are not reliable people, ask the cost before they start the work. I was not satisfied today at all .

We got a nail in the tire, needed to have it replaced that was unsafe to drive. The owner Mr Hero's, was wonderful, kind and understanding he was able to provide us with a tire quote, right away at a great price We called the dealership and it price was over $200 in cost compared to what he was charging us. He got us on the road right away and we were able to get home on time to our kids. Great place to bring the vehicle. Very reliable service and honest can't thank him enough. Thank you. read more

What I didn't like their service was that they charged 4% with the credit card payment. If they had notified me in advance, I would have paid cash or with my debit card. I realized after looking at my credit card account. Yes, it was my fault that I didn't pay attention when I signed the receipt, but they should have informed me at least. I felt like they scammed me. read more

With all this virus craziness, I decided to start on a long overdue project... Getting my cars rehabilitated! My 2 cars are over 10 years old and as expected, need a caring shop to be sure I'm not stuck on the roadside. As we all will agree, service is clearly measured by the individuals that are delivering our service experience. This is why I wanted to share my review of San Marino Auto... Heros (I think that's how to spell his name). He was attentive and genuinely cared about managing the overall repair expense. Most importantly, he's extremely knowledgeable about how to get the repairs completed and keeping the cost reasonable. Plus, he made great effort to earn my confidence about the repairs. My cars just got revived and are definitely safer to drive... read more

San Marino Auto Service - undefined - Auto Repair Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

I like so many other reviewers have been going here for 20 years. I have 4 mercedes in my family and they have serviced each one. They are no bullshit and fast. don't bother going anywhere else! read more

They have now changed their name to "San Marino Auto Service". Same great employees including Heros! =) Same address, different phone #s: 626.844.4666 and 626.844.4660 read more

I NEVER write reviews. And I hate to write a poor one. But this time, I think I need to share my experience with San Marino Auto. I dropped off my Toyota 4Runner for an estimate on what it would cost to repair my AC in the vehicle. The freon was empty. Easy fix. I expected--as I would from all reputable auto repair companies--to receive a call stating the problem and the estimate to repair the problem in question as well as recommendations for further repair/maintenance. Instead, Heros and his crew filled the freon and charged me an outrageous diagnostic fee for 1 hour of work on my vehicle, followed by the cost of the freon fill. This is unacceptable. When I drop off my vehicle and ask for an ESTIMATE, it is fundamentally unethical to fix the vehicle and charge me for services that I never authorized to begin with. I am done with San Marino Auto. And I suggest that looking for an honest auto repair shop look elsewhere. read more

I was referred here by Just Tires because my overhead console wasn't getting the signal from a newly replaced tire sensor. The owner was really disinterested and unfriendly. He told me the replaced part was defective, improperly installed, or had a dead battery. When I told him I had gotten the part just two weeks prior from Amazon.com (same exact part for half the price of the Jeep dealer, I'll add), he berated me. "Don't buy junk from Amazon! Buy from dealers!" If he would've just stopped and thought about this for a minute, he would've realized that the TPMS was reading the signal just fine and therefore, the part had to be in working order. I just needed the overhead console to read it too so it would stop beeping and blinking at me every time I started the car. But he dismissed me. So ... I resorted to my car's manual. And then to the Jeep forums online. And guess what? There's a "training magnet" that comes with the car to reset this system in under five minutes. No more beeping or blinking. Was going to switch to this place for all my maintenance as I do need a local mechanic and I trust the guys at Just Tires and their opinions. But I also believe in only spending money at places that offer good customer service and this isn't such a place. If anybody does know a good, friendly, honest mechanic in Pasadena, please let me know. The quest continues... read more

I don't enjoy writing negative reviews, but I also want to give an honest look at my experience and hopefully help someone avoid a potentially untrustworthy business. I'm disappointed to report that I had an almost identical experience to many of the negative reviews on here. I was thoroughly surprised, and I was hoping for a happier ending to this review. If, for some reason, you must go to this place, make sure to ask about any hidden fees or hourly costs upfront. Just Tires referred me, and I came to simply see why my "check engine light" came on. He said he would need my car for 3 hours, when I know this is a simple procedure that takes no longer than a few minutes. It felt very abrupt and like he wanted me to leave the car with him. I waited at the shop for less than an hour. When he was done looking at my car (I'm still not sure why it needed to take that long), the owner said that he was going to have to charge me for an hour's worth of work. This was NOT disclosed beforehand. AT ALL. I've had this test done at other shops for free on multiple occasions. Point is, he never mentioned a charge until AFTER the "work" was complete. (Again, unclear what work was even done.) As he did help me understand the issue my car had, I asked how much an hour was, and he said $85. I felt this was steep and unfair, especially since I was unaware there would be a charge in the first place. He could tell I was uncomfortable with it, so he said, "Let me check and see if there's a discount I can give you since you're a new customer." After clicking around, he said, "Okay, I'll give it back to you for free. It's partly my fault because I didn't tell you about the charge." I can only imagine what he would've charged if I'd left my car with him for 3 hours. It felt so strange and sketchy. Thankfully I got out of there without paying, but I won't be returning, as the whole experience left me untrusting of this auto shop. Oh, he also added my name and address to their system using information found in my glovebox. He called me by my name, and when I asked how he knew it, and he said, "Most customers don't mind if we just take the information." A little invasive in my opinion. read more

Okay so it's intimidating being a girl and dealing with car repairs!!! I went to the dealer to change my brakes and they quoted me, $950.00. I called the parts department after I left to find out the brakes were only, $150.00, and the sensor was $20.00. Now granted I don't know to much about car stuff, but, $780.00, for labor to change my brakes seems a bit excessive!!!! wtf!?!?!?! So my girlfriend recommended San Marino Auto Service, formally Perfect Auto, and that's where I found Heroes!!! He is such a great guy, and not one of those sleazy car people! Now I am big on referring people, and I can't tell you how great their customer service is! Bottom Line..... It seems hard to find an "honest" person in the auto industry, so trust me when I say to see Heroes. He does the work by the manufacture's specification and I trust him, i don't think there is a better review than that!!! read more

San Marino Auto Service - pet friendly!!!! - Auto Repair Near Me - Pasadena, California

My family and I have been using this place for years from smogs to maintenance they have all the diagnostic equipment for modern European cars. I recommend them for anything from basic maintenance to major repairs read more

DO NOT GO HERE.. Far from a disappointed customer. AAA referred me to this total rip off. Heros the owner is rude and damaged my vehicle as confirmed by an expert mechanic for my vehicle brand: not me. I will see him in court. I'd encourage others to file with California State Bureau of Automotive Repair in El Monte. read more

I have been repairing my cars with san marino auto for 20 years .I know them even before they relocate to this shop 10 years ago. I would rather drive or tow my car 85 miles to their place and have it fixed than repair it some where else and get charged so much that I bleed to death!!!! I never had to send my car there twice because they spend time to go through every thing and fix what's needed. thank you very much mr. HEROS and CREW for doing a wonderful job and keeping me a loyal customer for life... :) read more

Complete rip-off. I was charged over $650 for a battery and distributor replacement which were both totally unnecessary. I was given no paperwork regarding any diagnostics that were performed and was not told what any of it would cost until they had already done it. Do NOT take your car here. read more

Each time I have had car trouble, I trust nobody but Heros at San Marino Auto. The guy is hilarious, he knows his stuff, and he will tell you what you do and don't need to repair on the car. I have always felt comfortable here with him, and I send all my family and friends. He has now become Uncle Heros hahahah. Give him a shot, you won't be disappointed! read more

This place is a total rip-off. I had Heros work on at least two of my cars for about 2-3 years. Each invoice was larger than the next. Not sure if he was wasting time, mis-diagnosing, breaking things in order to need to re-repair. But he went so far as to remove my comment because it wasn't specific enough. I'll tell you this much, each invoice that he presented to me grew and grew. Initially, I referred other customers to him, too. Even family members. He helped them. But at some point, even they realized that there was no end in sight. He identified a cash-cow and he would go on to milk it. I heard rumors that he was struggling with his business partner and needed to increase billing, etc. Not sure what that is about but I don't understand why I was a victim. I had numerous people contact me after I posted on Yelp begging me to turn the guy into AAA or the BBB (where he failed to respond to complaints so that there would be no record). I chose to stay out of it. I now regret that decision. I've never had a Yelp post removed and I take time to write thoughtful reviews based on actual experiences. This is an absurdity. I do not understand what facade Heros is trying to keep up here at my expense and at the expense of my first amendment rights to share my personal experiences. This man took advantage of me and my friends as well as other family. He billed me for things in unreasonable amounts and repeatedly. He charged my credit card like he was my sugar baby on a shopping spree. This is UNACCEPTABLE and he needs to make amends for the advantage he took of his victims. When I would scrutinize his invoices and check the costs of parts, I noticed that in some instance he was quadruple charging. I mean mere google searches indicated quadruple charging. That's so wrong. His labor was billed at a PREMIUM. Why? Cuz he wears a uniform and speaks good English? Oh! I forgot that he's always smoking around my car, too. Lame, disgusting, and ghetto! I mean it when I say the bills always surprised me. I always wondered what the hell this guy was doing on my cars that previous mechanics hadn't. I'm telling you--he financially screwed me and my referrals, too. The worst part (and the LAST straw) was when he didn't take responsibility for his shoddy work. Even when he was confronted saying, "Hey, you worked on this, this is your responsibility, it's not fixed; help..." So cavalier and nonchalant-- he DENIED having touched it and done the work. What?! Was I supposed to take him to small claims court and present invoices? I don't know what it required. But apparently he tried REALLY hard to remove my previous post because it didn't describe my personal experiences as specifically as it should have. Well, good job, Heros. I just wrote a more detailed experience. I stand by what I said, the so-called 5-star reviews are solicited by Heros himself. I mean, I never even called out the guy by name in my previous review but hey--if this is how he wants to play this game--bring it! Now he's given me no choice. Next, I'm going to the AAA and the BBB. Stay away from this business. There are other reputable, honest auto-repair shops in the area that will treat you more humanely. Trust me. read more

i was pleasantly surprised at this shops honesty and speedy work.i own 4 cars,ranging from sedans to high performance sports cars.this is the place where they are serviced.Heros the owner/technician not only will diagnose the problem,he will also fix it.he uses original factory parts and delivers top notch service.no wonder the majority of the local shops use his services for diagnostics and repairs.his prices are much lower than the dealers and his honesty unsurpassed.he always stands behind his work and i always leave there with a smile on my face. read more

I trust these guy to work on all my cars. VERY knowledgable of the newer stuff. Very friendly. Ask for Heros

Depending on who you end up talking to at the shop, the experience may be very different. It sounds like Heros is honest and dependable, but if you are unfortunate enough to talk to the other guy Roombus (sp), then you might have gotten ripped off. I had called in this morning to see how much it would cost for an oil change for my car. I spoke with Heros who said it would be $20 out the door - including all disposal fees, etc with no mention of any special or coupon needed. When I got there, Roombus was the one who wrote up my estimate and it came out to $28+. I told him I had called in not 20 minutes before and was quoted $20 from Heros and Roombus flat out denied that price existed and said that the $28+ was standard fee. I mentioned again how I spoke with Heros and he said $20 out the door and finally after a few minutes, Roombus went and asked Heros who confirmed our conversation. Roombus came back and changed the invoice, but was no longer friendly. He just pointed to the invoice and said "sign" and then "have a seat". Under 20 minutes later he came back and said my car was done and stared at me. I pulled out my wallet and then he looked away and started finishing up my paperwork. Once I gave him his $20, he just pointed at the final invoice and said "sign" and when I did that, he just took it, gave me a copy and walked off. I had to chase after him to ask where my car keys were and where the car was parked. I would rate Heros for being honest a 5 and the quick service a 5, but Roombus and his shifty trying to make more money a 1 - and that's why I rated it overall a 3. Be careful if you come here - ask for Heros and him alone! read more

One of the better auto repair shops I've been to. They are honest, helpful, friendly, knowledgable. And they are usually able to turn my car around quickly. After a couple of visits, they will recognize you and treat you like family. Heros is absolutely the best. You will not regret taking your car to the shop. read more

I took my Land Rover Range Rover to this shop for some repairs. My keys would not unlock vehicle doors with the wireless remote and my car would not start. I had my car towed and right when it arrived I received a phone call from heros. I told him about my issues and he said he would have it diagnosed in no time. The very next day I got a phone call, the car was diagnosed and it turned out I needed a fuel pump and a new key. Heros was able to take care of the repairs in a efficient and prompt manner. I would recommend this shop to anyone who has a problem with their car. These guys are great! I'm not taking my car anywhere else! read more

I've been coming here for years back when it was still purrfect auto service. Heros and Rubik are very knowledgeable and friendly. These guys have taken care of all my high end European cars and my friends too at fractions of the dealer price. Heros is a certified Mercedes technician and they have all the dealer scan tools so they can reset and check ANY and all codes on BMW,AUDI,Mercedes, jaguar landrover. Why pay dealer prices when you can get it all done waaaay cheaper with the same parts and even better personal service. They even give me a loaner!!! Highly recommend these hidden gems of auto repair. also they have a classic car guy that always has some beautiful muscle cars getting upgrades if your interested. read more

Great service, very professional and it's clear that they know what they are doing. Will always come back here to get my car fixed! So happy with the prices and the work of the mechanics. Thank you San Marino auto!! read more

Heros is an AWESOME guy with a huge heart. He is honest and and kind. In my opinion, customer service trumps performance. They can always fix a mistake but the way you are treated as a paying customer makes all the difference! read more

I got a coupon from AAA to get a free 40 point vehicle inspection and noticed that this is one of the few AAA approved Auto Repair Facilities in the Pasadena area. I used this Auto service a while ago for a $13.00 oil change (with coupon in the mail) and the visit ended up costing me over $750 due to some serious problem they encountered with my engine. They told me that it was lucky for me to have brought the car in, and it could have broken down and died if I didn't fix it. I later went to my regular and trusted mechanic (way out in Studio City) shortly after, and he looked at the invoice and told me that the service was way overpriced and totally unnecessary. I wish I knew that this was an AAA approved facility, and in the event a customer has concerns regarding the service, they agree to accept the decision of the Auto Club regarding the matter. So, if you have a problem with these guys and also have AAA - please contact them with your concern - or at least report them. It is too long ago for me to pursue, but maybe not for you. I hope this has been helpful! read more

I always go here for all my car issues. They aren't like other places that try to up the price to make a profit. They always give me the best price and are swift and clean with their work. I've recommended so many of my friends to come here and they're always so happy with the business. I know it can be scary for a girl to deal with car issues but they make the process easy and stress free. I would definitely recommend this to place to anyone who has car related issues. read more

I honestly love these guys, Heros is like the Uncle I never had. He is always looking out for me, and giving me great service for reasonable pricing. read more

They are a really good shop. Knew what was wrong with my car with in minutes. Prices were way better then the dealer. I know it takes time to get the parts but since I was in a hurry, they sent someone to get them so we didn't have to wait for the driver to find his way there. Hero's even toke my kids to "Liqueur Mart" and got them treats. What a nice guy! read more

My car broke down heading from fullerton to Lancaster I didn't have any money and hero used his own triple a account to get me home. Thank you so much read more

This was my first trip to San Marino Auto Service. I brought our 15 year old Mercury Mountineer here to get a motor under the drivers seat replaced. The part is no longer available and other mechanics that I had taken the car to, said there was nothing they could do. I was stuck! Heros was the only one who said he could fix it. He found the part I needed from a part place in Sacramento. It was shipped and installed within a couple days. An extra bonus was that a check airbag light that had just come on, now is off because it was being triggered by a faulty sensor in the old seat parts that he replaced. I was happy with the service I received, and based on this, would go here again. read more

Great service! Hidden gem. Helped us immediately right away when our tire took a poop right in front of their garage. They showed compassion and understood our current situation. Highly recommend. read more

Best place to change your oil. Cheap and reliable. Note** Get the Penny saver, and clip off their coupons. They do a good, fast service for usually less than $20.00 total... The other stuff... well... I would trust them, but I think it is pricey for me. Well, I guess that is why it is in East Pasadena instead of Compton. read more