If you're in need of a trustworthy and dependable mechanic, your search ends here. I recently moved to Irvine and decided it was time to fix my car issues after three long years of delaying repairs, also I needed to do the dreaded fist smog check on my 2016 Camaro. Despite multiple visits to the Chevrolet dealership and two other mechanics, the check engine light remained, and the mysterious clock reset issue persisted. I was informed that a new catalytic converter might be necessary, and a complete car disassembly was recommended to address the electrical clock problem amongst other things. I stumbled upon Bake Auto through Facebook forum where there were multiple people praising Michael and his father at Bake Auto so I thought I would give them a try. Within a day of leaving my car with Michael, he not only completely resolved the issues but also rejuvenated my car to feel brand new. Contrary to previous assessments, a new catalytic converter was unnecessary, and Michael identified and fixed the clock issue without the need for a full car disassembly. Michael went above and beyond, addressing various issues such as changing brakes, resurfacing rotors, tightening the manifold, replacing a headlight, installing new windshield wipers, smog check, and changing some fuses - all at a very reasonable price. I am very happy to have found Michael and Bake Auto and am beyond satisfied and thrilled that my car is now set to last me a few more years, allowing me to save for a house in Orange County amid the crazy real estate prices. Highly recommended! read more

Great service and quick turnaround with our needs! Mike and team deliver on promise and with high integrity and Honesty!

This is my go-to mechanic as recommended by my parents from when they lived in the Lake Forest area. I got my first car last year and it was not maintained very well and within the last year, I've been in an out of this place constantly witness complaints of noises and problems. They've helped me out with every one of them! Despite it being very expensive (to no fault of their own, more so because my car is just broken), they are super understanding of my situation since I'm a college student with not a lot of money, they make sure I'm able to get my money's worth. Hardworking and friendly dudes. Shout out to Michael and Lazarus! read more

I've been going there for 10+ years and Michael and Lazzarus have always been reliable, honest and helpful.

This truly is an honest mechanic. Great Service, Great Communication and their work is Excellent. They care about their customers. I have recommended them to so many people I know and they feel the same way. Lazarus and Michael are great people. Give them a try. You will not be disappointed. read more

My husband has been taking our cars to Mike and Lazarus for years now. He insists I take it to them if he can't do it himself even for minor things like oil change and smog tests. And I can see that my husband's loyalty is well deserved. Mike and Lazarus work hard and they are honest people. They do what needs to be done and do it well. We live near many other auto repair shops, but we will never go to anyone else as long as we live here in OC. They run a trustworthy business and they're good at what they do. We depend on them, especially for my old Nissan. They've kept it alive for so long and we'll keep driving it til it falls apart! We both highly recommend Bake Auto. My husband always makes sure I take our cars to them because he doesn't trust anybody else. read more

4 Stars Good smog test place. I have an older 1990s car that I took here. Fewer smog test places can do older cars because they do not have all the electronic diagnostics and On Board Diagnostic - II (ODB-II) logfiles that post 2000 cars have built into them. It takes longer to run manual tests on older cars. You have to hook them up to dynamometer systems and shove probes up their exhaust pipes. There are also manual tests on older cars like the gas cap, etc. Smog tests on older cars are, accordingly, far more expensive. General recommendations when you are scouting around for prices: (1) call the place up and make sure their equipment is working and a technician is available (2) some places prefer you make an appointment or come later in the day (around 4 PM) as the test takes longer. (3) get a price quote. (4) find out if a retest is free. As of March 2024, I have seen quoted costs at different locations running everywhere from just under $100 to over $150. This one is about midrange in the $120 range. Newer cars are, of course, far cheaper to smog test. These people appear to be honest. read more

This is the absolute best auto shop around. I take my Honda Fit here and my parents take their Toyota Highlander whenever it needs servicing. Michael and Lazarus are absolute pros. It's a family-run business, which I love. They treat your car as if it's their own. I've been going for years. It started with just a smog check for my Honda and now my dad and I both use this place for any and all repairs and servicing. Michael explains what your car needs in a way I can understand. My dad and I are so happy that we found this place and we're never going anywhere else. A truly honest and supportive shop with people who absolutely care about their work and about your car. I can't recommend them enough! Simply the best service out there. Seriously, if you're reading this, bring your car here. read more

As someone who repairs his own car, this is hands down the best Auto Shop I've ever been to. I failed a smog check (P0420), and was accepted into CA's Bureau of Automotive Repair CAP program, which offsets emission related repair costs. Through Yelp, I found Bake Auto Care, which was the highest rated auto shop that is licensed with the state. The shop is run by Michael and his father Lazarus. Both are incredibly knowledgeable mechanics, very friendly, and upfront and honest about repair costs. My 03 Toyota Camry was able to pass smog with their help, and is running better than ever! I give them my highest recommendation for your automotive needs, and look forward to working with them in the future. Thank you Michael and Lazarus and all the people at Bake Auto Care! read more

I took my car to Bake Auto Care last Saturday morning for a routine oil change and tire rotation. Michael and his father Lazarus were very accommodating to my schedule. Also friendly and knowledgeable. They were recommended to me by a friend. I highly recommend them as well. read more

I've been taking our two vehicles to Bake Auto Care for a few years now. They do the regular maintenance like oil changes, batteries, smog, etc. I recently had a complex problem develop in my ten year old Ford F-150. The instrument panel was giving false readings, but only intermittently at first. Then the problem became more widespread, the radio stopped working, AC and fan controls wouldn't work, illumination cluster would go off and then back on. I took it to Michael and explained what was going on. However, the morning I dropped it off, everything was working. An intermittent electrical problem like this is one of the most difficult problems to trace and solve, because it's electronic and/or software related issues can occur for a number of reasons. Long story short, Michael was able to test and confirm that all of the instrument control modules were working correctly. The problem was in the instrument cluster. He sent the cluster out for repair, but it was beyond repair, so he installed a new one. Michael didn't charge me for the cluster testing, and gave me a big break on all the time (labor) spent diagnosing the problem. Bottom line, Michael, and Bake Auto Care, is a very good auto repair shop. They are skilled, honest, and beyond fair with pricing. I highly recommend them. read more

Took ma son's car there for work done and Manager Lazarus and Michael were complete professionals! Great attitude and customer care.l!

I had to write a review about Bake Auto care. I have been coming here for the better part of a decade and will continue to patronize them. The work they do is quality. They are super honest, reasonably priced and do a good job. If you are going to wait, remember: quality takes time. They are relatively fast, but it is a small shop and if you are doing more than an oil change, smog check or routine diagnostics you should leave your car or be prepared to wait. I really can't rave about Michael and Lazarus enough: they have some special with this shop and treat their customers very well. Finding good Mechanics and Dentists are the most difficult to find and I have found a really great mechanic shop. read more

Took a 2010 Murano to get brakes and calipers. Over $500. You tell me if this is a good deal.

I got my brake pads replaced and rotors shaved at this place on my wife's Lexus Rx350. Quality work and customer service. I asked for factory brakes and they replaced them with factory Toyota brake pads. Which is pretty much the same brake pad. Super happy with their work. It was way cheaper than what the dealer wanted. Support this local business. read more

Took my car in to have my brake booster replaced. The team at Bake Auto Care did an excellent job. Got my car back within a day or 2. Great customer service, great prices. read more

Arrived first thing in the morning. The shop was dead quiet and I made my way in and was greeted by a man. I explained the service I required and he simply said i would need to leave car for 2 hours and it would cost $95. The service requested was to simply remove two exhaust tips that were tack welded on in 3 spots. I was baffled on why it would require 2 hours, as well why he was so eager for me to just leave my car. This immediately gave me a bad vibe, as well a very unwelcome feeling. I work in the auto industry and consider myself very knowledgeable when it comes to the automotive industry. Customer service is key to today's success for all small businesses. Obviously this place lacks that key factor and must be barely getting by. I decided to put the task on hold till the following day. I went to my regular shop Pomeroys in Santa Ana the next day and requested the same service. The owner came out and greeted me as always with a smile and handshake. He said no problem and asked me to pull the car in. In less than 15min the job was complete and when I asked what I owed him, he said "NOTHING". I tipped him $20 and asked why, he replied he would feel guilty charging me for that. End of the day don't waste your time here. Let them continue to have an empty shop! read more

Submitted an inquiry through Yelp for 60k Service. Michael responded promptly and politely. Brought my car in the next morning. He called me within one hour to confirm the work that needed to be done and the pricing. I approved. He called me mid afternoon to tell me they were wrapping up, and what time they were closing. I picked up my car and paid the agreed upon price. I couldn't be happier about the quality and timeliness of the service. Will definitely be back, and thank you fellow Yelpers for never leading me astray! read more

Lazarus and Michael are honest, hard working mechanics. I failed smog because of my check engine light. Hyundai said they would charge $750 for the fix. I applied and received a CAP assistance check to help pay for the repair. Hyundai it turns out is not Star Certified to do smog repairs, and to use the money, I'd have to find someone certified. I called around and other mechanics literally sent me to Bake Auto. Michael was very knowledgeable about the procedure, the time it would take and cost. Wouldn't you know it, they came in under the assistance check amount. Literally less than half of what Hyundai wanted to charge. They didn't overcharge just because they could. Doing the right thing even when no one is watching, that's integrity. These guys have it. read more

Great service. Called in to make reservation- met me afterwork even though it was cutting into their closing time. Although the work was more complicated than originally planned for, Michael honored his quote and provided me great service. They are very knowledgeable and skilled. Also great after-service to make sure my car was running well. read more

This is a special review for me. This year I find myself in a financial hardship to the point that after failing my smog check, I have no way of paying for repairs - I had 2 failures. For those in a similar situation, you could reach Bureau of Automotive Repair where you can find information for the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP). If they accept you in the CAP program they will send you a letter. You take that letter to an approved repair shop. You pay for the diagnostic fee and whatever money is not covered by the letter. To find Bake Auto Care I had to go through the list of authorized repair shops. I read reviews of each one, and then call the top 10 in my list. From those, some in the list no longer take CAP, and some others do not want to see a Volkswagen! At the end it was between Bake and another shop. I set up the appointment with Michael. He explained over the phone how the program works, the diagnostic fees, and that I might need to leave the car overnight. I requested for a quick ride to a local Target and he agreed. The day of the appointment, Michael explained that I would get the authorization forms with the estimates by email. He would submit authorization to the Bureau also, with details on the extent of the repairs. The Bureau authorizes the repairs. I got a ride by Lazarus - thanks! Much appreciated. Michael was professional, honest and really explained everything, what was wrong, what the options were, and had really nice hand writing! The repair was done the second day, but it was late and he wanted to drive the car a little longer, so I picked it up my car the following morning. The cost of the repairs for the 2 failures was around $700, plus $100 for the diagnostics fee. Compare this to the estimate my regular shop quoted of $2K to $3K, just to repair 1 failure! I cannot thank them enough, finding a good shop is hard. Finding one that is open to help you when you really need it, treats you with respect a provide great and fair service, priceless. They got a new customer! I recommended Bake to 2 people today! And, the end of the story: I passed my smog test today! Thanks Michael! read more

There is a reason why many give Five Stars and an average of 4.5 to 5.0 overall. They are at the tops. I moved from Lake Forest to North OC and deal with auto shops up here daily for my job. I still take my car back down to Bake Auto. Michael is great to work with. He knows his stuff beyond belief. I wish they had a bigger place and away from that congested section. It is what it is. Honesty and integrity. Something hard to find in the industry. read more

I was referred to Bake Auto from my father who is a car guy. Took my wife's Jaguar to them for a couple of issues and a check engine light that was on that could not be figured out by the dealer and who in fact charged me for work to fix the check engine light that did not resolve the issue. Michael took the car in and resolved all my issues and solved the check engine light issue with a very simple fix that he was familiar with that apparently the dealer did not know how to fix. The price was very fair and I received factory parts. The work was also performed in just one day which I thought was very fast for the amount of work that was required by the amount of cars I saw at the shop when I dropped the car off. These guys know their stuff, they are honest and pricing is fair. What more can you as for in a mechanic! Thanks Michael to you and your team. I have referred several people to your shop and they have all had great experiences too. read more

Great and fast. I really appreciate the quick and fast results. Price is fair. The service is why it lost one star. I think the guy who helped us was good and had a great understanding of technical knowledge but he had a slight attitude. It was "surface attitude" in his tone but I think it is because he probably sees a lot of people and lots of difficult people asking dumb questions. He acted exhausted even as I came up and said hi. I think he should remember every client coming in is there first experience, so he should try to remember. Or every client is going to be a pain. But my review is for the techno service and that was very good. I recommend. ( I gave an extra star, because once I started to joke and try to make the guy talk a little he finally warmed up and didn't act put out) hope this review helps read more

Came in for a smog check. Michael was super friendly and professional. They finished the smog check test very quickly. Would come back again for other services in the future! Thank you! read more

Replaced the tire of my McLaren despite the risk of working on an expensive car. Service was fast and affordable.

Great service and honest mechanics. I bring my car there since I bought it and they always explain everything clearly and give you an accurate budget before they start working on it. I highly recommend it, also for smog test (they are star certified). read more

Came in to drain some oil because I topped it off too much. The guys were able to help me out right then and there. Thanks again!

Old school mechanic that I went to to get an emissions test. Great for that small task. They had me in and out in 20 mins. Can't comment on other services. read more

Having Spent over 40 years in the car business I recognized instantly the kind of service I would get. Michael asked all the correct question as to the problem with my wife's car. He intently ran all needed tests. He could have very easily said it was an intermittent problem but insisted after three hours to solve the issue. What great service. Take your car to Bake Auto Center!!! Have an enjoyable and resonantly priced experience!!!!!! read more

Great, fast and honest service. Would highly recommend and come back to again. Service was prompt, and they communicated everything with me, and no hidden charges. Pricing was reasonable read more

So I randomly found these guys via google on my phone, trying to find a place that could remove and possibly drill out a stuck bolt on an exhaust I had taken off. Lazarus (who seems to be the owner) was very sweet helpful and quickly accommodated me without even charging me. (Even after I needed 2 more bolt issues solved!) I had been having an issue on my 2003 Toyota Tundra with brake booster. I got a good feeling on the place based on customers coming in (see notes below) as well as how i was treated and since I had some extra time to kill waiting on a friend I decided while I was there to have them take a look truck. They quickly diagnosed it and let me know they could fix it with 2 possibilities. One expensive way, was to replace the whole booster, and that I was already aware of. They also said that it might be fixed with just a valve, for only about $45. Unfortunately the valve fix didn't work but they were very helpful in trying to find me the more expensive part at a reasonable rate, and seem to be fair in their labor prices. I don't know if it matters, but I appreciated (being a girl) that several women came in and brought or picked up their cars while I was there. Made me feel like the place was trust worthy. And on that note, several men came in too. Business was not dragging. Michael was very helpful with information, and while it did take more than one day to get it fixed (due to parts needing to be ordered) they certainly didn't keep me waiting, and got my car back to me each day as quickly as possible. I am very happy with the service and even though it's about an hour away from me, I'd say it's totally worth it to get good service, at a good price! Thanks for the great service Lazarus and Michael! read more

We have been loyal customers of Goodyear for many years. We recently had an issue with one of our cars, particularly our Jeep Grand Cherokee....it's over ten years old, but it is well taken care of. Recently took the Jeep to Goodyear, they told us they had to probably replace and fix multiple issues for the car overheating, and wanted to charge AT LEAST $700. After hearing this quote, my cousin's bf referred us to Bake Auto Care. We've driven by this place for as long as we have lived in Foothill Ranch, but never thought that this place could be as good as it gets. Michael, took a look at the car, fixed it the next day, and charged us a third of what Goodyear was asking for....AND, it didn't have a bunch of issues like Goodyear was saying. Our Jeep is as good as before it broke down, without breaking the bank. We will definitely be back for any future needed repairs. read more

I had my car's distributor go out on me and the repairs were more than the car was worth. Michael was really helpful and understanding while I tried to find arrangements to get it towed to a junk yard and they patiently dealt with me while I said goodbye to my 20 year old Honda. When I need help with my new car I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Hello , Very professional. Located the problem quickly . I am confident in their ability and their fair prices. Cheryl Rose read more

Ive been going to Lazerus and Micheal for almost 4 years now. Their love for thier work is reflected by the fine quality they deliever. I have never worked with finer people nor people that do a better job! These guys are honest and upfront about thier costs. I have even had them do extensive engine work and thier rates were fair. I will continue to go to Bake as long as I am living in Southern California Thanks guys! :) read more

I've been taking my cars here for 12 years. Lazarus and his son Michael are incredible. How valuable is a mechanic you can trust? With our cars and driving being an absolute necessity for our lives in Southern California, having a mechanic who you can trust is like having a good friend who knows everything about cars. Mike and Lazarus are not just mechanics but they are my friends and I'm so grateful to have them. Fair prices for only the necessary work. Outstanding service!!! read more

I went for smog test right after new battery. It failed because it could not read computer codes. Michael helped me and guided me to run the car for some miles. I did that, but didn't know it was enough. He told me to come over and we will run the code checker - without running smog again. If we get the code, we can then run the smog. Very very helpful. read more

This place is KICK A**, they are very professional and courteous, Mike the owner is very knowledgeable, understanding and accommodating Thanks Guys read more

excellent customer service, have been here a couple of times. Always the place I call first if I'm having any car troubles.