Superb precise and RARE work! Cannot put into words how important it is that there are people like…read moreShawn and his apprentice accomplishing the ART of Machining especially for classic cars of all makes and models. Engine? Early 70s 1300 cc V4 Lancia Fulvia block & pistons superbly cared for and flaws pointed out expertly and assessment provided: should work great when assembled with the head etc, which was accomplished at another shop...Shawn could have done that as well but regardless, his work on the crank, block, hanging of pistons on the rods, etc, was fantastic and EXACTLY what was needed to keep an exciting project going...a 68 Fulvia GT which has a 1200 cc engine that will be exchanged for the soon to be completed 1300. Further - everyone who understands machine work and autos gave a 5... and reading the "1" reviews: unfortunate BUT not applicable to what is important...one person asked about whether Star had a tool to do something they can obviously do? IDIOT. You don't get anywhere asking experts if they do the most obvious things...and why are you inventorying the shop? If you see that they work on imports of course they can adjust the camshafts..."proper tool?" GIVE ME A BREAK! Lucas T walked into the place and literally wasted the time of Shawn with requests that DO NOT fall within their area of work (they don't loan tools - stop asking STUPID QUESTIONS)...People who care about this work like myself think your post exposes how little you understand cars...stay away from them - get advice to see if they have the proper tool? STFU...Thats not advice: THIS IS ADVICE: STAY AWAY from cams or mechanical things! ...AND If the other "1" person BROUGHT The stripped screw and the item it was lodged in, to the machine shop, then Shawn could see it...BUT asking about something NOT even in front of a machinist - that is not necessarily a head or a block or rods or...some vague description of whether or not something could be done...He wasn't rude = you were naive. Like walking into a shop that fixes computers and asking can I fix your toaster (there's NO ANSWER: maybe I can, BUT I DON'T WANT TO)....both are mechanical devices that plug into the electrical grid and ...that's where the similarity ends....People stop wandering into a legit shop - like a legit ART STUDIO and asking for your FINGER PAINTINGS to be evaluated....UGH! Shawn and Star Machine should be 4.9999 and the 1s expose how little they understand what goes n in a place like this....

Shawn is incredibly knowledgeable. Got my e30 heads sorted and cherried. One of the last few that…read moreknows what to do with an m20 head, and he's got plenty of spare bits for them. Highly recommend him.

Jim is my go to guy now for all my machining needs. He is highly skilled, fast and responding, and…read morea great guy to work with. Highly recommended A+++

From the owner: Bay Machine Works provides precision machined parts and assemblies of all types. We provide…read moreone-of-a-kind prototypes to production parts in all types of materials. We have made components for: bio-medical devices, precision laboratory instruments, vacuum systems, the semi-conductor industry, earth science down hole experiments, protein crystallography robots, photoemission spectroscopy, photonics, automotive, motorcycles, and just about anything you can think of, we can make!

These guys are so easy to deal with and will come through for you. Price was reasonable and…read moreturnaround time was even better. Just what I needed.

I emailed Mark with a welding repair I needed while I was in the area and he responded within 10…read moreminutes. I got tons of quotes and Mark gave me the best price by far! He was done with my repair in about 15 minutes. No complaints! Thanks Mark!

Mike's a great guy easy to work with great attitude. He got my job completed with a smileread more

Reached out for help with custom residential metalwork. Mike generously squeezed me in on short…read morenotice and was both precise and quick in workmanship. I'm very happy with the result and the quote. I'll be sending my business to Howlett first, in the future. PS If you get a chance to visit, the machine works is an amazing place; if you need to build or modify any metal, they have the means.

The coolant expansion tank on my E46 -- and if you know, you know: the E46 is arguably the best…read more3-series BMW ever made, the last one built before the brand decided that every car needed to look like it was designed by an angry PlayStation -- exploded in the parking lot of the Oakland Whole Foods. Not overheated. Not leaked. Exploded, in the way that E46 cooling systems eventually do, because BMW in its infinite German wisdom decided to make critical cooling components out of plastic that becomes brittle after fifteen years and then shatters without warning while you're deciding between organic and conventional blueberries and wondering why "baby" bok choy here were the size of my fist. AAA towed it. The dispatcher pulled up the list of nearby shops and Wise Auto Tech had the best ratings and could look at it that day, which on a Friday afternoon in the Bay Area is the mechanical equivalent of getting a same-day dermatologist appointment. It also happened to be blocks from my Berkeley pied-à-terre, which felt like the universe apologizing for the parking lot coolant geyser. Not much to say beyond the basics, and in a shop review the basics are everything: they were friendly from the moment I walked in. They finished the job the next business day. The bill came in at the low end of what I'd been quoted online by other shops, which in 2026 -- a year in which every dollar has been asked to do the work of about a dollar forty -- matters more than it should. I felt slightly guilty asking about the 10% AAA labor discount, the way you always feel slightly guilty asking for a discount from people who are clearly already being fair, but they didn't bat an eye. Here's the detail that stuck with me: when I picked the car up, I noticed they'd plugged in a loose fog light wire -- something that had come undone during an ill-advised encounter with a parking block weeks earlier, something I hadn't mentioned, something that had nothing to do with the cooling system. They saw a loose wire and they plugged it in. That's the kind of thing that tells you more about a shop than any Yelp rating ever could. It means someone under that hood was actually looking, not just fixing the thing they were paid to fix and closing the hood and moving on. Quick, friendly, honest, reasonably priced, and fastidious. That's the whole list of things you want from a mechanic, and most shops manage two or three of them on a good day. Wise hit all five. Recommended.

I can't believe I haven't yet reviewed Wise Auto Tech. I've been taking my car to Wais, owner of…read moreWise Auto Tech, for about 15 years now. My car is 25 years old, and still running like a champ, thanks to the expertise and quality work consistently performed by Wais and his team. Wais and his team are knowledgeable and well-versed in all things automotive, honest, and their pricing is fair. You don't have to worry about being ripped off here or sold on things you don't need. My partner and my partner's neighbor have also been loyal customers of Wais for years. I spoke with another customer while waiting one time who has been a customer for nearly 30 years. Wais has a loyal following, and for good reason. On top of being a great mechanic, Wais is also a genuinely nice, stand-up guy, and always pleasant to talk with. My car is my baby, and I wouldn't trust it to just anyone. I am confident entrusting it to Wais and his team, and recommend them for all your automotive needs.

I have taken my Chevelle there two or three times and both times I've been pleased with their work.read more

Highly recommended by a friend...and they were fab. 30K service on a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. Car…read moreready earlier than expected. I can feel the difference already. And very good value, about 1/3 of what a dealer would charge. Don and Dave were very nice too.

Expertise is beyond compare. Made the job look effortless. Personable. Not in a rush. Excellent…read morework. And to top it all off, going to SMP means supporting local business. Many thanks, Kevin for getting us out of a bind!

I had a Zeiss operating microscope mounted on the ceiling that needed to be converted to a movable…read morefloor stand. Kevin did an outstanding job by fabricating an adapter to fit the microscope onto a pole, which he mounted onto a heavyweight umbrella stand on casters. Thanks to his craftsmanship, I've now got a usable operating microscope. Incidentally, Zeiss Inc. (which has a headquarters in Dublin, CA) refused to give me any help. Custom machinists like Kevin are hard to find, especially with his talent.

Frank is an experienced mechanic who doesn't try to sell you. He provides quick efficient repairs…read morefor all types of vehicles. I dropped by for something minor and he took me right away! He's reliable and trustworthy as well as being a very nice person. I highly recommend Frank! - Maureen Donohoe

I've been taking my cars to Frank's since 2020. My son take his car was well. His crew does fast…read morequality work and the price is more than reasonable. Frank always takes good care of us. I recommend him to my coworkers and friend that live in and around Berkeley!