My experience with Auto Alpina and Norik who is the owner has been great. He inspected My 1987 300E and noticed a problem with the engine mount right away and made sure I fixed that first before moving on to what was not so important next. I like it because this helps me prioritize and really pay attention to what the car needs. My car runs like new!! No BS here, just get it done right. Not the cheapest (but very reasonable) shop in the area but I don't like wasting time/money with a handyman. I would recommend it if anyone needs to fix any old Mercedes. Oh! He is not so good at answering the phone or responding because there are only 2 people there so do not expect an easy call back and please be patient. read more

I recommend Auto Alpino. My car was pulling to the right and this shop was the only one who could diagnose and repair my car. And as for going beyound service...Before I left my rear taillight was out and it was fixed as well. The price was reasonable for the work done. Will be a return customer. read more

Auto Alpina - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

Norik was very helpful getting my vintage 1981 VW Rabbit diesel back on the road, and a really nice guy!

Norick got me in and out with zero stress -- he's also a great conversationalist. Very kind and expert service to my old outback.

I took my 1985 Mercedes Benz wagon there and really liked the service. Norvick really got me up and running. I have another problem and will be taking my car back to him. read more

I always service my BMW here because he is always friendly, accommodating, honest, reasonable, thorough, and never up-sells.

Had coolant leaking and a problem with the car, Norick told me he could look at it first thing Monday. I immediately trusted him, not wanting to bring the car across town to east oakland to my normal mechanic. A week later, norick had redone the gasket and fixed it up. Great guy. read more

Looked for an alternative to my usual BMW-specific shops when my car failed to start. After reading all the great reviews, I tried Auto Alpina yesterday. I called Norick and he told me that if I didn't need the car back the same day, to have my car towed to his shop around lunchtime and that he would provide a diagnosis for me that evening, and that my car would be ready the next day. After my car arrived at his shop, he diagnosed my car immediately and told me that the car would be ready for pickup at end of the day. I told him that I didn't expect my car to be done that fast and the next day would be fine. To my surprise, he advised me that the job was done when i called him around 5PM! Norick and his staff are real nice people. Norick is honest and competent. He is old fashioned is the best way. As long as your not obsessed with over-the-top customer service, you'll be happy here. There are no shuttles, lounges, coffee, water, TV's or fluff. So step back in time when customer service, hard work and reputation ruled, and visit Norick for your auto repair needs. The best part (besides the competent work) was the price! Fair and reasonable. I have found a new shop. Thanks Norick and thanks fellow Yelpers for the awesome find! Danny read more

Auto Alpina - Small but busy shop!! - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

Norick is as legit as they come (although a little quirky): honest, straightforward, proficient, and with some of the most competitive prices around. Not the easiest guy to pin down for an appointment...but when you're locked in he'll take good care of you. Brought my car to him for years and have nothing but positive feedback. I highly recommend, but you better make an appointment sooner than later as his services are in very high demand! read more

I am putting this review up for a friend of mine who does not use yelp but he wants to make sure other people are aware of this mechanic's practices. He took his car in for new brake pads and in addition to the mechanic being slow and unresponsive, when he went to get the car he was told that the repair was $1400! It should have been no more than 300. And the mechanic had taken it upon himself to also replace the rotors, leading to a much larger profit for himself. This is a common practice of many dishonest mechanics, and this one is no exception. I would never use a mechanic like this, but if you choose to go here, you have been warned. As a result, my friend paid $1000 more than he should have. If it were me, I would've refused to pay, but my friend just didn't realize what it happened. Anybody who decides to go here is taking that risk, and if you do decide to go here, you should get a quote in writing, with the agreement that nothing besides what is in the quote is performed without prior authorization. This guy is a sleezeball, and one of the people who gives mechanics a bad name. read more

Yes, had to do it! It's me. The guy with the c230 kompressor that called several times to see what the status of my car was after I was scheduled to drop it off in the morning when supposedly they opened. Although, you'll probably be waiting for them to arrive like I did 3x's now. So I finally see Norik and tell him my situation AGAIN, cause he doesn't write anything down or has any kind of system of who's coming in for what reason. He then tells me to buy a MAF sensor cleaner at the auto parts store first to see if that works. Cool! Couldn't you just tell me over the phone rather than telling me to come down and drop it off? No, too easy. So I go ahead and do that and spray the crap out of it and it doesn't work. Call him the following Monday and he tells me to bring it back Tuesday or Wednesday. Again, doesn't write anything down. I come Wednesday morning and of course nobody is there yet and I'm waiting and obviously he doesn't care that I have a job plus a kid to get back to in the morning. Ok, he finally shows up and looks at me and doesn't remember me and asks me what's wrong with your car again? Oh man I'm saying. I'm like you ask me to bring it today to check it out and see what's wrong with it, since the spray didn't solve it. He said, keep it parked where it's at and I'll call you. I'm waiting all day thinking he's working on it of course, but didn't get a call from him about a diagnosis or estimate. Now it's after 6:30, so I called the shop myself. He picks up and tells me that he couldn't get to it today and he'll work on it first thing in the morning and call me by 11AM to give me a update. That morning I'm thinking he's working on it and it becomes 12PM and no call. Now I have to call him again. Hey there it's blah blah did see what's going on with my car? I haven't got a chance to work on it yet, but I'll call you soon. Now it's after 3. I call back again and the other shop guy answered and tells me he's on lunch. So I asked that guy if they worked on my car yet. He's says I don't think so. Then I tell him fine, I need my car and I'll pick it up today cause it seems like the shop is busy and I'm done getting a run around. Now it's after 6:00 and no word from Norik. I call again and the same guy answers and tells Norik it's the guy with the kompressor. He gets on the phone and tells me there's a vacuum leak we're checking it out now. Ok I said, what the estimate on that? He said ughhh like $1000. Then I mentioned, I'm looking to get a new car soon, if it's that much then no. He then said well maybe we can try doing it for $500. Ok, you have no idea! I said, I need my car for the weekend and you've had it over 2 days now without looking at it. He said you can come and grab it and bring it back Tuesday. I'm like why not Monday? If you're busy just be honest and I can happily take it somewhere else. He said, I have tons of keys back there and Monday is pretty busy. Im thinking, he has no system and just works on what can do first and just keeps your car there until he gets to it. He doesn't care about his customers daily lives and that they need their car. Bottom line. I took it somewhere else and had it back in 4 hrs with No Vacuum leak and under $500. Norik never looked at my car. It was in the same spot off the street in the back where I dropped it off myself 2 1/2 days ago. The parking spot would've been taking up by another car if he moved it and looked at it. He lied!! DON'T GO HERE! read more

Nourik is a true gentleman, and an honest, affordable mechanic who has been repairing cars for 30 years...his shop is neither fancy nor super tidy but his attitude is kind and stellar. I had purchased the parts to do a relatively simple repair of my broken ambient temperature sensor and my fender liner that houses it, but found I lacked the time/tools. After calling and visiting around 7 repair shops and getting varying estimates ($80-$150) and getting bombarded with aggressive upsells, or feeling dismissed or being rejected because I had brought my own parts, I found Nourik. On the phone, he assured me that he would fix it for a reasonable price. I somehow trusted him,drove immediately to the shop only to leave within 30 minutes with a repaired vehicle at a lower rate than any I had been given by any one else. He also quoted me on what is normally a very expensive maintenance/repair (cleaning out the transmission) with an extremely reasonable price. I find the search for a perfect mechanic is a fool's errand. Shops are either too expensive, too busy, too rough/short with customers and their questions/concerns, too aggressive with upselling you with hugely overpriced and dubiously "necessary" repairs, or simply lack an area of expertise. If you have a European/performance car, then the squeeze shops can put on your pocket and patience is significantly greater. Then I found Alpina, an "angel" repair shop in the middle of Berkeley. Given how rare it is to find a perfect blend of low cost, high expertise and easy attitude in repair shops , Alpina deserves more recognition and ongoing success. If you are seeking an affordable, honest, kind and expert mechanic, I would definitely try Nourik's Alpina. Every customer's expectation is different, of course. As for me, he will be getting my, my friends' and my family's business from now on. read more

Great experience with my car, everyone was professional and honest and the car ran better than before he gave me great advice to maintain the car and the things to worry about. Professional, courteous and very knowledgeable. read more

Yes, I'm a fan! Norik has been working on my '81 Mercedes 240D for 12 years. I am a neighbor and two others on my block go to him as well. I won't go anywhere else. He absolutely cares about his clients and his service. His face lights up when he sees you and he spends quality time with your car. The service is always reliable although he may take a little longer. His fees are well written for me and he explains in detail what he has done on the car. He LOVES his work and these older cars -and it shows. Highly recommended. read more

Nicest guy! Nourik (i hope that's how you spell it) has been my mechanic for years. The other day I took my car it (there was an explosion and overheat) and he taught my boyfriend how to fix it and gave us a free part. We're college students on a budget so we really appreciated his help and saved a lot of money. Also, when he fixes something it stays fixed! He's a great guy and that's why his reviews are so high. When I search for cars on Craig's List I've noticed that people mention that it has been taken care of at Auto Alpina and that's because a car that has been taken care of their has really been taken care of well. Thanks again Nourik you're the best! read more

Last year I ventured into the world of 20+ year-old Mercedes Benz when I bought a 1981 300D for the purpose to have a comfortable car that I could do my two cents for the environment and run it on bio fuel, which I've done since I purchased the car. I also knew I'd need a good mechanic for this venture of owning a now 27-year-old car. Auto Alpina and the owner Norik came highly recommended, I actually went in and talked to him before I bought my car to get his input on my car search and what I should look for and avoid in my hunt, I even called when I was on the test drive of the car I ended up purchasing. Since then Norik and the guys at Auto Alpina have been doing great work for me. Norik knows his Mercedes-Benz as well all German cars, Volvo and Japanese makes. He does not try and sell you something you don't need and he totally supports the move to bio-fuels and let's you know what to expect in the process. Be warned this is a small and somewhat disorganized shop but the fact that Norik is so busy contests to his good work. My one complaint is that Norik does all the paper work himself and if you show-up to pick up your car at the end of the day you can very well wait while he is test driving another car, is down the street at a body shop or otherwise not available, I've had to wait 30 minutes to pick-up my car, which can be a drag. read more

Friendly neighborhood business. They were closed but saw me outside and came out to help with my truck. Wouldn't take any money.

My wife's Audi had its check engine light pop on again so we needed to find another place to check it out. Called these guys and we were able to bring it in that same evening! All I can say about the owner is that he is genuinely honest. Really hard to find a mechanic that doesn't try to up sell and replace things that don't need it. It was just a small issue due to the cold weather so he cleared it out and it was all good. Another shop tried to charge us $750 that they said was 100% necessary otherwise it's risky to drive. Bringing it to these honest guys was the answer to our problem. He didn't even charge us and he wouldn't even accept a tip! Definitely respect and trust these guys. We will never take it anywhere else but here. Thanks Auto Alpina!! read more

Nicest guy ever . Mr Norik knows everything. very kind and professional.I go to this mechanic shop all the time me and my wife a two kids take all our 4 cars there . Thank you Mr Norik read more

I had a great experience here with this guy he is old school. He doesn't have a computer system to generate quotes and invoices, or an office staff to take payments and call you when your car is ready so you need to be prepared for a few quirks here to get your job done. That being said I'd rather have my car worked on by the guy who knows it best and isn't looking at me to pay for his glassy building, free coffee and lounge chairs but just pay for my repairs. I had a quote for my 2002 Jaguar XJ8 from Cole European in Walnut Creek to replace a water pump and thermostat housing of $1700.00. When I refused the service manager treated me like a beggar and dismissed me curtly out of their pretty comfy shop waiting area after charging me $174.00 for a diagnosis I still left with a leaky overheating car. Until a friend of mine recommended Noric. I got the car to him on Monday, he estimated it would be about $600.00 when I called on Wednesday he said I could pick it up and the total for parts and labor was $721.00 not bad a whole thousand dollars less than Cole European! When I asked him if he used Jaguar parts he said no better parts and then he showed me my original water pump and thermostat housing which were all made of plastic the water wheel in the pump is plastic and all the casing too, but the new replacement Japanese parts are all metal nothing to crack and leak here at all. I'm satisfied with his work and that I could actually speak to the mechanic who knew my car inside out rather than some guy in an office adding up an astronomic bill. Some Yelp reviews said this shop is slow, and wastes time I would rather be patient and save money while knowing that the guy working on my car isn't trying to make himself rich at my expense. I'll use and recommend Noric again! read more

My first yelp review went to Auto Alpina! I had such a great experience here, so I decided to write my first yelp review for them! I'm a student and was involved in a car accident recently. the rear beam axle was bend. Since I didn't have collision insurance,I have to run to several mechanical body shops in the area, talked to people and asked for quotes. Finally I chose Auto Alpina among those body shops. Noric was very kind and helpful at the first time I talked to him about my problem. He did free inspection for me and helped me change my tire back to the car free of charge (instead of driving with a donut tire!) and gave me very useful information about driving. After scheduled the the time for repair, they finished the job in time, and asked for a very reasonable price that I could afford !! I felt they were really helpful, and willing to help! Most importantly they really knew their work did the job careful and very efficiently. Thanks to Auto Alpina! read more

These guys are the real deal! They diagnosed the issue quickly and Nourik was a consummate professional, offering some helpful insight as to how to value the car. I also called to ask if they'd check out a new car I wanted to buy , and they were ready to take a look at it immediately! I recommend this shop if you are looking for a reliable and honest mechanic read more

Norik is by far the best auto mechanic I have ever met. He pretty much knows everything there is to know about cars and he works tirelessly until he repairs your vehicle. One thing I think people should know about Norik is that, he's not just your regular everyday mechanic, he actually has a Phd in mechanical engineering from Germany. So if your car needs to be repaired, rest assured, he's the one to do it. read more

Norig is not only my mechanic, he's a fellow motorcycle enthusiast. He has repaired my family's cars for years and has always been honest, reasonably priced, and flexible with appointments. He's an all around great guy. read more

This place has been in business and in the same location for many years. The owner is extremely nice and friendly, but unfortunately the experience we had on our car repair was not satisfactory. They were unable to diagnose the problem but kept changing parts randomly to see if the problem can be eliminated. It didn't, but ended costing money unnecessarily, not to mention time and being stuck on the road. Now, again, the owner is a very nice person, but I wish that the technical abilities were at a higher level. read more

After being told by 2 of my friends who don't know each other,to take my car to Alpina. I did and the service was way above what I expected. After being told that I needed a new car by one shop and the other quoted a price of $650.00 to repair my oil leak that was leaking out my distrubutor. On taking it to Norik,s shop he told me I needed a Fuel Trap Filter,which cost about $5.00 and Norik installed it in 1 hr for $50.00. All of my car needs are now done at Alpina Garage. Randy Moore read more

Norik runs an awesome shop. He is phenomenally adept at working on especially German cars but really anything European and is incredibly knowledgeable. I've even taken my Dodge truck there. Perhaps the friendliest mechanic I've ever met, Norik has never surprised me unexpectedly with unpleasant costs that I was not prepared for. Alpina is a great little garage that still offers very personal service. read more

I've been taking my cars to Norik for probably 15 years. We first found him because my roommate had this really weird problem with his Audi (the car would just shut off randomly, but hard to recreate or test) that could not be solved by the dealership and several other repair shops. Norik solved it. I trust him very much, does good work. Not out to swing a buck out of you, but do good work for a reasonable price. His customer service is a little weak. I sometimes have to call several times to make sure my car is getting done, but he is out to keep your car running well without killing your wallet. As a side story, I had this old rabbit convertible, which was later killed by a light-running SUV, but that is another story. Anyway, the trunk lock did not work, so I asked him to replace it. When I picked it up, he said the replacement lock was $100, that seemed too much to him (knowing me). So he put in a $5 lock, but any key would open it, but it would lock. He says "But who tries to put a key into a locked lock? No one!" I loved that he really wanted to save me the $100, and it worked great (he offered to put the regular lock in if I wanted a normal lock). I live in SF and still take my car over to him. read more

Extremely honest, we drove from Las Vegas for Berkeley graduation and heard clunking noises from the front of the car as we pulled in. They took us in immediately, and examined our Toyota truck. He gave us a list of wear and tear items but assured us we could make it back to Vegas to get these items fixed and didn't charge a cent for the hours evaluation. Could not have been kinder! Wonderful service, highly recommend! read more

I won't take my car anywhere else. Norick is by far the most honest, reliable, and affordable mechanic in the Bay Area. No fancy waiting room or free coffee - just reliably good work from a gentlemen who never insults your intelligence. He's worked on both my VW's - sometimes just fixing minor things for free. I can't tell you how grateful to have found this remarkable man who treats everyone with kindness. Wish I could give him another star. read more

So I'd hate to give a bad review because the guys are super nice, but communication was the big problem. My experience with Alpina replacing a thermostat for a bmw. I make an appointment a week in advance, told me to bring in my car at 9 and it would be done by 2-3 (so I can pick up my kids). When I get there he says it will be done by 5-6... (uhg fine) I call him at 5pm 3 times and no answer, his vm is full. Now I'm like wtf! I decide to go there at 6 and my car is up on the lift dismantled. He says "promise" tomorrow by 12, I'm pissed because all I wanted was a phone call so I can plan my transportation situation. I have a Napa trip planned with my family the next so I need the car by 12, so that's fine. I try calling him to verify it will be done at 12, and guess what no answer. He's later calls me at 3pm and says the car is done... Price was fair, that's the only good part. I won't be using them again, plenty of other shops that will call back and pick up the phone read more

These guys are great. I was from out of town, my tail-lights weren't working and they fixed them for free. It was unexpected however it was really good karma :) read more

OK, my first review... for Auto Alpina! Norick directed his crew man to check for faulty fuses related to the center radio console being out (2000 ML 320). He did, fixed the problem and let me go without charging for time. Happy me. read more

I stopped at about 5 auto shops before I found one that would check my brakes on the Friday of July 4th weekend. The pedal of my Mercedes 300DT had sunk to the floor while stopped at a light and I needed help! I was actually at the shop two doors down but they didn't have the brake line needed for my car. I walked over to Auto Alpina and Norik followed me to the other shop, spoke to the owner, looked at the car, and told me he could repair it! He repaired my brakes and gave me an honest assessment of my car, other work it needs, the condition of the tires and steering, and what to look out for under the hood. Norik rescued me! I will definitely go there again. read more

i had the worst experience. i feel like i couldn't trust this guy. someone had recommended me to him. Ultimately i did need a new engine like he said but i felt like he just didn't want to deal with it so he just took some of my money to get me out of there. read more

Norick and the guys at Alpina are the best. Weird old peugeot? Old Alfa? Land Rover? Mercedes? 1967 Mini Cooper? New Mercedes? YES! You can tell if a shop is good if they work on any kind of car, and that's exactly what you will find at Alpina. No fear, anything with 4 wheels and a steering wheel and I wouldn't hesitate to give them my car. See above list of what they have worked on for me. Don't be in a rush, and be nice though. You must be patient. read more

Really honest mechanic! He would tell me what didn't need to be done right away if it was expensive, and even sometimes fixed little things for no charge while he was repairing my Jetta. read more

A great shop - very helpful guys who don't treat me as if I'm dumb because I'm a chick. The work is top notch and seems to be good value for money. read more

New to the area, thought estimate cheap- what kind of job do they do? Found out Norik, is ex-Tribology like hubby, trained in Germany and UK, (like us) speaks German, highly personable. Husband has identified mistakes with Mercedes, VW and BMW dealership repair, doesn't have time to work on car, think he will like this one. the garage was super busy, but car was done on time, drives well and customers seemed really happy. read more

Auto Alpina is one of the worst shops I have ever used for any of my cars over the years. If the boss/owner isn't around, then the workers often just lazy about working at half speed if at all. The boss/owner has other businesses so it takes forever to get you car back. Plus, this is an expensive shop for how sloppy the work is. read more