This is the second time I've brought my car to Autowerkstat, Chris, and I'm very happy with the service. The owner is straightforward and honest -- he tells you exactly what he knows without sugarcoating or hiding anything, which I really value. His experience shows in the quality of the work, and the prices are excellent. The only downside is that he's very busy, so it can be hard to get an appointment quickly. Overall, great service and highly recommended! read more

I have visited this repair shop several times.and have been greeted by the owner with complete attitude. The owner is a jerk...super jerk...I don't understand why...I never leave a negative comment.but this encounter deserves me saying take your automotive needs somewhere else read more

Chris is a consummate professional. He is master of all things Audi and Volkswagen. I never have to second guess his judgement or pricing. I can't tell you what a weight off my shoulders that is. Chris consistently over delivers on service and repairs. read more

Stopped by during business hours to ask some questions about repairing my 2002 VW Beetle TDI. Guy said he was closed and acted like an asshole. Less than poor customer service. Doesn't matter how good of an auto technician he is. read more

So far so good: skilled mechanic performed 40k service on our Audi TDI. It runs as smooth as new. They had the service items memorized so told me everything that was included up front answered my questions. I asked if AC could be recharged as well and I was only charged parts for that one as labor was free. I'll be bringing my second TDI here for 40k service soon. They are booked pretty far out so need to make your appointment ahead of time. Responsive by email but mostly they are working, so not answering every phone call as they come in. Email them... read more

Chris has been taking care of my now 110K+ mile VW GTI for many years now. I can always trust him to do an honest evaluation and work on my car, you can see and hear the PASSION from him. I can ride smoothly without any anxiety about my old car! He's a busy man so might want to reach out early to make an appointment! read more

Great service and attention. Serviced our car, told us what else needed to be fixed, and how long we could wait. Great guy!

I didn't get any service here, but still 5 stars as he was responsive to email, and as I have found, not all shops are. Many shops want you to call them during business hours. Like this is the 1950s. No thanks. Just email Chris, he'll probably reply. read more

Anyone who has owned a VW or Audi knows how much we love our cars and want the best for them. Finding a reliable mechanic/shop can be a daunting task, especially if it's a matter of just getting simple service done. It's been 20 years since Chris has touched one of my cars and I was pleasantly surprised to find that he is the same honest, considerate, knowledgeable, and friendly technician that I remembered him to be. 20K service on the 2017 Audi SQ5, uneventful as expected, but still a great experience. Thanks, Chris! read more

Autowerkstat - Final touches include: clearing fault codes created by yours truly when messing with stuff. Thanks, again, Chris! - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

I came Chris after purchasing a VW Jetta TDI in 2003. So it's been a good chunk of years now with him as my mechanic. He's my mechanic, period. No one else even if it means a tow to his shop and passing all the other shops. I actually did that once when my Vanagon tranny went out. Chris answered my calls, guided me through it and later dropped in a new tranny. As always he gave me the straight shot on what else may be trouble if not addressed on the current job. If the money is there, my motto is TAKE NO RISKS, TRUST CHRIS. Back to the Jetta. I was surprised by the lack of diesel Jetta experience out there in 2003. Obviously, with no unique vehicle experience there also won't be a passion and level of attentiveness I always hope for from a mechanic. From the start, it was clear Chris was the exception and I didn't need to search any further. He knows his stuff, will be straight with you and absolutely will not cut corners for time or money. He is a professional. Period. I've since sold my Jetta but was looking at a VW Vanagon for possible purchase. Trust me, I would never have had the confidence to get a Vanagon without the ongoing support from Chris who agreed to be my mechanic if I took the plunge. I'm SO happy he's my mechanic and I'm SO happy to be a Vanagon owner as long as he's around! Invoices from parts and labor are always fair and a part of van life. If anything, I feel he can't be compensated enough for the hard, quality work put into each job. At this point, Chris has left a piece of his life in my van as he's taken such good care of it. He loves doing quality, picky work and is beyond apologetic on the rare occasion a part is no longer available anywhere (that means he did long office work researching) and he has to buy a part from you know where. He's so particular that he'd probably cringe if I say I can't remember if I have such a cheap (you know where) part in my van. Maybe one or two. I assure you he knows if I do and where it is and if he EVER sees a German part come out he'll be on it in a flash. If I ever had to make an emergency repair I'd go straight to Chris to look it over as soon as I could, making sure it's best quality and safe. This makes me notice the ONE STAR review. During Christmas holiday and Chris's winter "break - shop closed time" he promised to do extensive work on my van. It was a big job: dropping a new engine as well as all the other upgrades that come with that. He planned ahead with his business customers and his family to give up a week (or was it two?) of "closed" time to complete a HUGE project because my van, its condition and our business/client relationship over the years is so important to him. I can't be more that grateful! I can picture him in his generous yet VERY focused picky mode for good purpose. If Robert B. still holds a bad taste, it really ought to be directed a this Vanagon owner who was sitting at home, out of the rain, cold, and grease while packing my bags for an international trip. It can be set aside if you understood the 21 years of professional generosity and what was really going with the professional and personal sacrifices Chris was making during Christmas and in that very moment. Chris has always done amazing work and he did the same on this job. Yes, he's reliable enough that I'd fly out of the country during a BIG job. It's not the first either. Chris has basically turned my Vanagon into a RELIABLE and SAFE BEAST for the road. My gratitude, road pleasure, and safety sinks any bad reviews. I know you'd understand if it was known what was going on. Bottom line, I can't imagine life without a mechanic like Chris and I avoid the thought of someone else at all cost. read more

Chris truly cares about his clients and provides outstanding service. I have been religiously taking my car to Audi dealership for maintenance and repairs. My 55k service was due but Audi was charging me A LOT. I found Chris on yelp and he did an amazing job with 55k maintenance and also confirmed the issues that I'm having with the car (overheating, leaking, etc.) He advised to take it to Audi as these might be all covered by my warranty. He equipped me with information and pictures of overheating issues that I could show to Audi tech advisor. My car is currently at Audi dealership where they are doing all the warranty work. While it's being repaired, Chris is still very responsive and guides me on what to look out for. Thank you, Chris! I appreciate all your help! Will bring my car to you for maintenance and repair going forward! read more

Finding a reliable and knowledgeable mechanic for my 2003 Jetta Wagon TDI is number one in my book. I have found Chris to be 100% spot on in his service since 2020, which included front/rear brakes, fuel pump, front suspension, hood and trunk struts. Estimates are spot on. Highly Recommended. I drive from Pacific Grove to San Jose for my service. read more

I haven't got any services yet, but still 5 stars coz Chris has been responsive to email, he provided the self-check solution, and estimated the cost with the detailed invoice, all the info in email save me a lot of time and have a better idea before the service. read more

Chris is a true professional. This was my first experience with Autowerkstat and he earned this review. Chris responded quickly to my service request, and he stayed committed to the appointment we scheduled. The job involved an oil change on my Q5, and a general inspection of the car and computer codes. The oil change was straight forward, but Chris also noted that my vacuum pump was leaking oil. He offered suggestions for fixing it myself, and he even supported me afterwards when I had some trouble with the DIY repair. Finding a mechanic that knows what he's doing is huge. Finding a mechanic that goes out of his way to help you, and can articulate himself well over email, is solid gold! read more

There was something wrong with my Audi's center vents and another auto shop kept promising the part but failed to communicate and deliver. Chris was able to fix the vents in one go. Ever since, I've been back for oil changes, brought my dad's Benz in for a tune up/oil change. I'm back again for a water pump leak. I used to go to the dealer for everything for the convenience. (Don't go to the dealer! Service is terrible). Honestly, I wish I knew about Autowerkstat. Chris has integrity and he is my go-to guy now! I highly recommend him and Autowerkstat. read more

I have been to this shop at least three times and im always impressed with how good my car would run afterwards. They have a systemstic approach if you need a lot of work done and are scared to bring your car in tell them this and they will work within your budget. Not the cheapest but one of the best. My last vw lasted 23 years. read more

Chris is THE man!! I am still truly amazed with his exemplary service, knowledge, and VW/AUDI experience. He was able to successfully smog my beloved 1996 Volkswagen GTI VR6 2.8L after repairing and diagnosing a Secondary Air issue. He went above and beyond to make sure the job was done correctly, even after my vehicle proved to become more of a challenge. I will forever be grateful for the service provided by Chris and Abraham at Autowerkstat and certainly will not hesitate to bring my VR back if any other issues arise. read more

I have never met a more honest mechanic in my life. The owner Chris was incredibly candid and straightforward in his approach. I haven't been here in years because I recently bought a new car, but I used to take my 2002 Volkswagen Passat here for years. There were many times where my car was in bad shape and Chris somehow found a way to get me back on the road at a fairly decent price compared to other places. He knew that I didn't want to continually pour money into the car, so he would come up with a solid gameplan without taking all my money. He would never attempt to push anything that wasn't necessary. There would be things I would bring up, asking if I needed it, and he would tell me I would be wasting my money. You can't get more honest than that! Chris is truly a very knowledgeable, honest mechanic. Because of this he's usually always booked, so you typically have to make an appointment far in advance. Some might see this as a bad thing, but if you're looking for a quality place, this is definitely a good indicator of what you're going to get. read more

Chris is great to work with! Very professional and extremely knowledgeable about my Audi and what it needed vs what the deal recommend. Saved me lots of money over going to the dealer for brakes and service. If you have an Audi, you must see Chris for your service. read more

Chris was able to quickly diagnose and fix some issues I'd had with my VW for years. Car's been running great ever since. Will take it back to Chris for any future needs. read more

Was in a pinch for some special oil and they helped me out. Really great service. Will definitely come back.

I've been going to Chris for quite a while and it was okay up until now. I went to have him do a general service for my 2009 VW GTI and specifically asked him to check the breaks before I did a road trip. Now, I'm in Colorado with completely corroded brake tubes (I'm not a mechanic, obviously, but the brake repairman said it was very obvious)! Thankfully, I made it down the Rockies safely. Not to mention, he charged double for new windshield wipers without asking, just mentioned he put them on. (Auto one charges $32 for the wipers and has free instillation) I foolishly didn't review my receipt until I got home, so I will accept the blame on that one. So basically, didn't actually check the brakes, overcharged for windshield wipers, and make sure to ask him not to fill your wiper fluid (he charges $24 for that when you can get a entire gallon for $4.49 from auto zone!) read more

I highly recommend Chris. Chris was quickly able to diagnose the issue and informed me how long it would take to repair. He charged a fair price. Much lower than my local Audi dealer. He is very knowledgeable and friendly. I take both my Audi & VW to Chris. read more

These guys are the real deal - they'll get to the bottom of your car issue, tell you the full story, and fix it right. Recommended!

When you work with Autowerkstat, you work with Chris. Chris is no frills, no BS, and he commands respect. He knows his stuff and is very honest with you. Look elsewhere if you're looking for a cheap job. Chris wouldn't let me put anything but OEM parts in my car, and while it's expensive, it's definitely the right way to do it. I'd have no qualms about bringing any car here - not just Audi or VW. I know he's going to give me the lowdown. read more

Truly outstanding service, had an little code issue, stopped in early Monday and out in 5 min. Super friendly and knowledgeable, would not hesitate to return. read more

Simply unbelievable service. I have a 2002 VW Passat with a turning signal issue that finally died completely. I stopped by the VW dealership at the capital auto mall to see what it would take to repair and was quoted $480 (holy crap I was thinking). Luckily the service department wasn't open at 4:30pm (otherwise I might have jumped the gun on the repair) and I went home to scroll on yelp to look around for VW repair shops. I came across these glowing reviews and gave Chris a call. Chris picked up in a few rings and I explained my turning signal situation, and right off the bat he went into possible issues and ways for me to resolve the issue. Not once did he suggest that I needed to have the car brought in for diagnostic or any BS. He even suggested going to the dealership and buying a specific part to fix it myself, giving me step by step instructions on how to do so. Being not too confident with my repair abilities, Chris offered to take a look and try it for me, as he had the part in stock. (Note: this phone call was right around 5pm, store closing). I get to his shop around 5:15pm, and had him take a look to make the part switch for me and voila, turning signal alive and working. He only charged me for the part and event spent extra time with me, giving me a run down of service check points and things I needed to be aware of to keep my vehicle in tip top shape. He happened to be servicing a similar car to mine, showing me what he and his coworker were doing for their service checkups and explaining in details which parts that wear and tear regularly with VWs. He overlooked my car quickly as well, topping off fluids and looking for possible leaks. After having only met Chris very briefly, I am very impressed with the level of service and courtesy he has to offer and I will take my car to him for all my servicing needs read more

When you pick up an Autowerkstat business card it declares the business as a, "Volkswagen and Audi Specialist". This is in fact, an understatement. I found Chris at Autowerkstat by searching Yelp for Audi specialists. I read all the great reviews, and saw that many referred to him as the "Audi God." This is more accurate, and I recommend that he put this on his business card instead. I took my Audi TT to him for repair, and have found my mechanic forever! First, Chris is in high demand, so when you call and get the machine prompting you to leave a message or email for faster response, don't be deterred. Trust, and do it. He will get back to you within the hour. He spends a lot of time actually under cars and supervising his mechanics. This is a GOOD thing, so don't be put off, email is best. Send a detailed note listing the symptoms, car, etc... and he will call you back. When he does, be prepared for his no-nonsense approach. He is direct, never condescending and asks pertinent questions to get a sense of what is going on. When you leave your car there, (mine was towed in) he will send you a detailed estimate and will go over his diagnosis and likely causes of your trouble. My car had two fans that had failed and melted the fuse box, causing it to overheat. My estimate was detailed and he explained that he could just order the melted fusebox and see if that worked, but likely the fans were bad and then I'd have to wait again for those parts to come in, so I approved the fuse box and the fans from the outset. Sure enough, once he took them out, he was able to confirm that they were bad. He also caught an error message from our ECM power relay. Our car had been having trouble starting on cold mornings for over a year. The Audi dealership had been unable to diagnose the issue and it was REALLY annoying. He was able to alert us to it and fix it while in the shop, and according to my bill, this took him a half-an-hour. This after the Audi dealership had failed to help us at all, and we'd had it in there on multiple occasions. The work was done when promised, and when he called that Friday to me to let me know I could pick it up, I was the one that had to postpone picking it up until Monday because I couldn't get down there before closing time. He was kind enough to put the car into the garage and keep it secure for me over the weekend. The first rain of the season fell the day I was to pick it up and when pulling the car out for me he noticed my wiper blades were shot. He ordered a new pair and installed them the same day I came to get it! I had forgotten that they were going bad the year before, and he saved me from tracking down a rare blade and having to order it online! When I picked up the car, he was very gracious and courteous. He went back over all the items on my bill, and all the work that had been done. Then he let me know the other things he had noticed and what to expect. "Your brakes are great, only about 50% worn, so you'll get a lot of use from them, your transmission is good, you have a new timing belt, the car looks really really good. You shouldn't have any trouble with it for a long time. I did notice a tiny, tiny leak in your left CV joint, so it's not urgent, but I'd get that replaced in the next, like six months. Maybe when you bring it in for an oil change, remind me and we will have the part waiting and can do it at the same time. All in all, the car looks great, and is in good shape." The TT is seven years old with 90,000 miles on it. She has a lot of miles left on her, and Chris at Autowerkstat will be her mechanic! I cannot say enough good things about this repair shop, or it's owner. Go in with confidence and expect professional and knowledgable service, you won't be disappointed. Angela read more

Chris is accommodating, and no nonsense. He's always happy to answer questions, doesn't mind letting me know the little things that I should be able to handle myself. Stand-up guy. Great service. Totally fair pricing. Chris is always willing to go above and beyond to make sure an issue is completely handled. I never thought I'd meet a mechanic who puts my mind at ease. I recommend this place to everyone I know and to everyone who reads this for German automobile repair and maintenance. Autowerkstat rocks! read more

My wife's 1999 VW Beetle failed the smog test. I took it to Capitol VW for diagnosis and repair - they estimated it would cost over $5000. - more than the value of the vehicle... I thought I might have to retire this vehicle - with only 136k miles on the odometer. I took it to Chris at Autowerkstat - he looked it over, said it might take a while, but he knew he could fix it... which he did. Got the car back today - it passed smog - and I got the renewal from DMV. BRAVO! Great guy - great place - reliable, honest, knowledgeable and thorough. Highly recommended read more

Clearly, you can see from all these reviews that Chris is incomparable. He is honest, fair, smart, willing to explain what he's doing and why (even to women, which is unusual in the car maintenance industry), and all around a good guy. So why should I bother to write a review, you may ask? I have a unique story to tell. We have been taking our 2002 S6 Avant to Chris for several years. We love the S6, we love Chris, but we also fell in love with the new BMW 5-series. We struggled with the decision to keep the Audi or buy a 535 for the last year. Believe it or not, a HUGE part of the decision-making process was the fact that we would be "stuck" with a new car that has all-inclusive maintenance for the first four years...and we wouldn't be taking it to Chris. Last weekend, we finally took the plunge and ordered our 535. We can't wait for it to be delivered. After that, we won't be able to wait until we can start going back to Chris for service! I cannot recommend Chris highly enough; however, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to reiterate what other yelpers have said. The only drawback at Autowerkstat is that, because he's so good, Chris is often backed up. Make your appointments early! I promise you'll never be disappointed. read more

So after using Yelp for the last couple of years I figured it was time to give back and write a review. So why not start with my mechanic? I purchased a B5 S4 knowing that it needed some work but didn't know how much. If you know anything about these cars they can get expensive quick and tend to be tough to work on as the engine is really packed in. I brought the car in and Chris gave me a no-nosense run down of what it needed (a lot), in what order I should prioritize the work and how much it was going to be. Chris was great about laying it all out and walking me though what was what. When I picked up my ride and took it out for a bit of spirited driving it was like driving a totally different car. And there haven't been any issues since (hopefully I'm not jinxing myself here). Overall, you're going to get an honest mechanic that has totally fair pricing and who know how to handle german cars when you head down to Chris. I'd recommend him to anyone looking for someone to handle their Audi. read more

Chris is the man. If you're looking for a good honest mechanic after getting worked over at your local dealership's repair center, take it to Autowerkstat. Chris lays out all the options after examining your car and will really let you know if something needs to be fixed ASAP or if it can go a few more 5k services before its time is up. I believe he worked at New Dimensions before opening his own shop, so he really knows his german cars. And if you wait around for a short service, he's a cool guy to chat with. Part super-mechanic, part-shrink, Chris at Autowerkstat is the man!! read more

The whole reason I first called up Chris at Autowerkstat is due to the awesome reviews he got on here, and I'm going to add my own five-star review cuz this place kicks ass. I first purchased my 2004 GTI VR6 in October 2008 and called Chris up to check the car out as I was buying it from a mom-and-pop place in San Mateo and didn't want to get ripped off. At 22k at the time, the car was pretty damn new, but Chris took it for a test drive and gave me some advice free of charge on a busy day. Pretty badass customer service if you ask me! I have since taken it in for an oil change and the major 40k service and couldn't have been happier both times. It's a total joy to have a mechanic that: a) You TRUST! b) Doesn't treat you like a dumbshit just because you're female c) Gives you honest advice and lets you know what could potentially be a problem to look out for in the near future (i.e. save up money to fix should the problem occur) d) PUTS THE PRICES UP ONLINE (couldn't believe that one - what place does that? So awesome) e) Does exactly what he says he will do and not find "something wrong" and then charge you twice what you were quoted when you pick the car up f) Hires employees who don't mind you being interested in what they're doing/are easy to converse with when you're waiting around for your car to be done (Josh!) Love Autowerkstat. Anyone with a VW, Audi, or BMW will have this place recommended to them by yours truly! read more

THE BEST VW & AUDI mechanic in Northern CA - bar none! HONEST, KNOWLEDGEABLE and FRIENDLY... what we all seek in a mechanic! When one of the turbo's went out on my 2007 VW V10 TDI, the dealer and other mechanics wanted to pull the engine to swap BOTH TURBO'S at a cost of over $10,000 ! Chris quickly diagnosed the problem as a broken pivot stud on one turbo's variable pitch vanes actuator arm. While he would not guarantee that he could perform the repair, at least he was willing to give it a shot. We agreed upon a guaranteed fee, even if he was not successful in replacing the pivot stud. I also agreed to leave it with him to work on as a fill job. Guess what ? He was successful, though he spent a few more hours than he had thought. And he held true to his quoted fee! And he saved me $9,000. He went beyond the call of duty... after clearing the engine fault codes, he drove my car until it had gained enough miles to be smog checked. He then took it to a shop in his complex that smog checked it for us. When we came in to pick it up, it was ready to drive away without spending hours at a smog check station as well. Though he's over an hour's drive away, we will definitely be back with our other European exotics. read more

I travel done from SF to have my A4 looked after by Chris, he's that good. He really knows his stuff and always feel like he advises me very well on the car. Why would anyone go to a dealer?! read more

The car guy of my dreams! He clearly knows Audi and he's honest and fair. What more can I say?

Good service from a guy that I can trust. Been taking our cars to Chris for more than 10 years. 98 Golf 96 Celica 06 Passat He specializes in German, but had no problems with the wife's older Celica when we brought it in. She's now driving the Golf, which is still running strong after 13 years. Prices are fair, and assessments are honest, which is really all you can ask for from a mechanic. The only problem is that he is usually swamped, so make your appointments EARLY. read more

Chris takes pride in his business - and in his personal integrity. I took my VW here to be serviced based on recommendations. I'm newish to the area and needed a place to have some things looked at that I had been neglecting before I sold my GTI. We ended up having miscommunications and Chris made it MORE than right. I would go back again in a heartbeat. I can honestly say it is evident he values his business and his reputation. And he should, they are both excellent. read more

I had to have my Jetta towed in, without an appointment, and the owner (Chris) squeezed me in. While ultimately I didn't get good news about my car, Chris was kind, honest, and straight forward. He didn't lead me down a rabbit hole of expensive repairs. He went over every option, never made me feel bad, and kept me laughing during a few really stressful days for me. Highly recommend if you're looking for honesty, integrity, and knowledge. Thanks, Chris & Autowerkstat. read more