If you own a Lexus do not bring your car to Bobs. They are not equipped to diagnose problems in Lexis. I called Bobs and asked if they could figure out why my car didn't start they said they would charge me about $70 to diagnose the problem. After having my car towed to Bobs I got a phone call about 30 minutes later from the girl at the front desk. She said that they had checked the starter and battery and that they were defiantly not the problem and that the charge to diagnose the problem would be $225, because they would have to check wire by wire to find out why my car didn't start. I declined the service and had a tow truck pick up my car. I took it to another mechanic who went under my car and tapped the starter with a wrench. Common practice amongst mechanics my car started. My mechanic stated that the starter was the problem. I purchased a starter he put it in and the car starts fine. I am glad I declined service at Bobs because it was obvious that they either didn't know what they were doing or they were trying to overcharge me for the work. I will say that they didn't charge me the $70 but what would they have charged me if I had allowed them to work on my car. This contradicts the post that I read that said that Berkeley Bobs was trust-worthy. Be aware and get a second opinion. read more

I've been bringing my V70R here for a year and have had a fantastic experience working with Sean and his team at Berkeley Bob's. I actually met Sean in a parking lot where we stopped to admire each other's cars, and that is how it all began. They are super knowledgeable about this "ins and outs" of Volvo repair and maintenance. Their prices are fair, and their work is superb. They've done extra little things at no charge on my car nearly every time I've brought it in, and have been very helpful in prioritizing and preparing for expected maintenance as well. In addition, they are friendly and helpful when it comes to explaining repairs in terms that the average person like me can understand. I just had my car there earlier this week for an oil change, 130K mile maintenance, and to check out a funny noise (seriously, I felt like I was in one of those commercials attempting to make the noise). Randy did a flawless job on everything, and I had my car back the next day, running like a top. No noise. BEAUTY. I recommend these folks most highly. If you are looking for a great shop to work on your car, ESPECIALLY if it is a Volvo. read more

Okay yelpers... here's the deal, If you have a Volvo you have to have to have a Volvo mechanic. Not a guy that does it all, not a guy that specializes in euro cars, not a guy that worked on one one time in the 90's whilst on a synthetic drug wearing glitter.... A Volvo mechanic. These cars a just too quirky and have volvo specific problems. Believe me, good Volvo mechanic will be able to diagnose your problems faster than your therapist can say childhood issues. That being said Bobs is good. Chris the main man at the front desk is an enthusiast and active in the local bay-area volvo club (check out his super modified wagon... It'll beat your cheesy boxster) and knows and loves volvos. These guys will take in your car, give it the love it deserves and send you on your way. check 'em out. read more

Hesitant to return my 2011 Hyundai Genesis to the dealer for its 60K tuneup, which the dealer had said would cost roughly $2-3K, I searched and found Berkeley Bob's online and was happy with what I read. I'm even happier now that I've had my first experience with BB's. Sean and his crew did a thorough inspection, were clear and transparent about what the car needed (far less than the dealer implied), were fairly priced, unfailingly kind and courteous, and delivered on time. Speaking of delivering, when an issue arose that needed attention after the Coronavirus shutdown, especially for seniors such as myself, Sean picked up my car from my home, installed the part, and returned my car, all within two hours. Service doesn't get any better than this! I'm now a happy Berkeley Bob's devotee. read more

Look no further for a truly great shop! Sean is incredibly knowledgable and very honest - took him about thirty seconds and fix my windshield wiper and assess which parts I need for a tune-up on my Volvo 850. Berkeley Bob's is easy to find and very accessible. The waiting area is clean and cozy, and the reception staff is super friendly. This is one of the cleanest shops overall that I've ever been to - even the shop floor was spotless. Sean has been in the business a long time and clearly knows what he's talking about. Even better (and pretty rare) is that he will explain to you without condescending. My Volvo 850 is very near and dear to me - I'm looking forward to having a great shop and a trustworthy group of people to bring it into from now on. Check the hours on their website before heading in or driving by. read more

I took my 2001 Honda Civic in after years and years of not only ignoring the scheduled maintenance, but also simply turning the radio up when I heard problem sounds in the engine. Horrible car owner, right. Well, the owner of Bobs Volvo was very patient with me, explained exactly what was wrong with my car; he didn't just tell me something like "you have a broken motor mount" instead he showed me the broken parts, and explained why they were broken (like "that part isn't supposed to be leaking fluid"). I never felt like I was being taken advantage of, rather the exact opposite. After such a great consultation, I trusted Bobs Volvo to take great care of my car, and I'm sure glad I did! When I got my car back, it ran like new, no joke, I almost thought he rebuilt the whole engine. Its funny, I didn't realize just how broken my car was until I got in it after Berkeley Bobs fixed it! It was like night and day. No more weird noises, no more bumpy ride, just a reliable good running car. Which says a lot about the mechanic there because, like i said before, I hadn't taken very good care of the car. I also thought the prices were very reasonable. After an experience like that, I'm bringing me car back to Bobs! great prices, good customer service, and awesome workmanship. Plus, its a family owned and operated place, how could you not support a business like that? read more

I've always had great, efficient and affordable service at Bob's. They are great at communicating with you before doing any costly work (a bonus in my book) and do not snicker if you're not the most mechanically-minded driver out there (another plus). Last time I went there with a worry about a tire issue, they checked it out, did a quick fix and charged me NOTHING for their time. They have a loyal customer in me. read more

my husband's 2005 toyota was making some screaching sounds when he would turn to the far left -- he had figured it was some belt making the sound and that it was loose and needed replacement. I made the appointment and brought it in based on reviews that I found on the Car Talk show on NPR. Most people seemed to have a positive experience. I bring the car in, they tell me about 2 hours, I walk to Berkeley Bowl for some reading and lunch, came back and they said, there's no noise... we looked and drove it around but couldn't hear anything... me: hmmm, okay... weird... so they offer to take me on a ride to listen for this sound.. the guy drives, I have the window and am trying to hear for it but it's just not there! anyway, so he says, I can replace it if you want me to but if it were my car, I wouldn't and plus, it's like $80. so I opt to not replace it and they were kind enough to put back in a part of the inner bummer that was coming off. no charge, no hassle, honest dealings. I would use them again if I had car problems. read more

My Lexus IS250 was making a droning noise from the driver side tire/axle area so I suspected a bearing was going out on the vehicle. I took the car into the local Lexus dealership where they confirmed the bearing issue but then came back with a litany of other problems they said required attention and a quote of over 2k to fix them. I decided to get a second opinion and after reading reviews online called Berkeley Bob's for a quote. The price for the work on the bearing and other issues was much lower than what Lexus had quoted me so I took the plunge and decided to have my car serviced outside of the dealership for the first time in 7 years of owning the car. Wouldn't you know it, Berkeley Bob's disagreed with Lexus's assessment of "necessary" repairs and we decided to replace only the bearing for $250 less than what Lexus had quoted. Bob's was able to order in the needed parts for overnight delivery and fixed my car the very next day. I'm happy to report that it has been running great ever since! Even though I was nervous about having my car serviced outside of the Lexus dealership, Colin and Sean at Berkeley Bob's helped set my mind at ease by being informative, communicating frequently, and having outstanding customer service!! I highly recommend having your vehicle serviced at Berkeley Bob's. read more

Last month I had to come out to the Bay Area to visit my Dad. Fortunately, I was able to borrow a car (2004 Volvo) to use during the visit from some friends who were away. Question: What's worse than having your car break down when you're away from home? Answer: Having the car you've borrowed from friends start to emit billowing clouds of smoke, and make chitty-chitty bang-bang noises when you're trying to cross the Bay Bridge two days before they're supposed to come back... eek. After being put on perma-hold at a few shops, I was lucky enough to find Bob's. Chris (the counter guy) was courteous and calm in the face of the time pressure and managed to get my car into queue for service the next day. They even gave me a ride to the place I was staying (fortunately just up the hill in Berkeley), and offered to come get me when the service was complete. Later that day, they called and told me that the repairs could be done the next day, and would be around $350. I authorized the repair over the phone after calling my local (in CT) mechanic, who told me, he'd charge me around $500 for the same repair. Next day, I picked up the car, which drove like a dream, they actually charged me slightly less than they quoted ($320) and I was able to breath a sigh of relief. I can't recommend these guys enough. Moral of the story: don't borrow your friends cars when on vacation, but if you do, and bad things happen, Bob's can help you out. My biggest regret is that they aren't here in CT. read more

Bob's Volvo is great!!!! They're very professional and they keep a well organized and clean shop. When I take my Volvo there I don't have to worry about being lied to or overcharged. And I know my car is safe. I highly recommend bob's read more

They charged $200 just to look at my car and then gave me an estimate for $7000 to fix things that according to second opinion were not even broken. They said they replaced a bolt that would make the noise I was hearing in my car go away but it didn't change anything so not sure what they even did. Not sure if they have the customers best interest in mind or are just trying to make a pretty penny replacing parts that are still working. I will not go back. read more

This shop told me i needed new transmission oil and wanted to charge me $500 + for that only. I got a second opinion and that was not the issue. read more

I really like this small shop and its expert staff. I am a Volvo enthusiast and DIY mechanic and they never have any issue writing me up a repair bill that involves purely diagnostics for my cherished V70r. Most shops grumble about doing something like this, but these guys are extremely straight-forward, will tell me beforehand exactly what they'll do and for how much... It's just great to have a shop nearby that has no problem selling me a diagnostic so I can then get deep into my Volvo and repair it and learn lot during the process. Very trustworthy, very professional, very knowledgeable, I wouldn't take my Volvo anywhere else in the East Bay. read more

Took my Lexus there for replacement headlamp. Had been quoted an astronomical amount of course at the dealer and another shop a block or two away from Bob's. Went in here off a recommendation and the lamp was replaced in under 15 minutes and I can still eat after paying the cost. I also had them order me an air filter and went back in the following week for another quick installation. I will be returning to BB's when I need something major as well. Just got a good vibe with this place and the office manager Shelby is so easy to talk to and gives you upfront pricing on your repairs. This place is awesome. They even referred me to another shop to have my headlamps resurfaced and that place seems like they are just as awesome. This is a huge comfort to find this place since the shop that I used to go to went out of business. read more

Several months ago Berkeley Bob's did a good job at a fair price on a power steering O-ring replacement for our '99 Volvo S80, and it seems to be holding up fine. We had it towed-in, so I never met any of the employees, but on the phone they were very friendly, helpful and professional. However, at the time they did that work I also had them look at a power window that was broken, and that was not a good experience. I'd taken the door panel off and propped up the window with one of the bent arms of the regulator, so it wouldn't fall down while driving - and was effectively locked. But when we picked it up that night - after hours and parked on the street - we found they had left the window askew and half-way fallen into the door. Since the car was on the street with the keys inside this also left it very susceptible to theft. That would have been bad enough had they mentioned any of this when we made the payment for the other work via telephone and arranged the pick-up, but nothing was said so it was several hours after dark before we went down to retrieve our unlocked car. They also gave me a quote of over $700 for parts and labor to repair the window, but I purchased a regulator online for $150 and another shop in Berkeley has quoted me $100 labor to do the repair. So, despite doing a good job on the o-ring replacement (for which I almost gave them 3-stars), I doubt we'll be back. read more

My first go to every time there is an issue with my car. Colin is super nice and straightforward and humble. I trust this place which is difficult when seeking a mechanic. Highly recommend. read more

I had work done on my 98 Toyota Land Cruiser and was extremely happy with the service, especially working with Andy. He is extremely kind, detailed in his reporting and genuine individual. I highly recommend this establishment. AA read more

This was the best experience ever when you break down, need a ride, and somebody to pick you These guys guys are the best.

Great place--I needed to add an aux cable to my 2004 BMW. They did a great job of wiring, totally hidden in the door panels and easy to access in the console. Very good work! read more

First the good things about my 60K service experience: the young guy running the desk was very professional and helpful. He explained things well, and went out of his way to help me shoot some extra cleanser into my heating system. They stopped my clutch from squeaking, which I didn't mention and which isn't on the set list of tasks, that I know of. Then the bad: I noticed that I got charged for six rather expensive quarts of oil when I know from experience that the engine only holds five, tops. Then, really adding the insult, I check the dipstick, and it is barely on the bottom OK range! Four quarts tops. This may seem trivial, but it makes me wonder what other shortcuts or stretchers may have been included in the service job. None, I hope. Some, I expect. So my search for a terrific, trustworthy alternative to the dealer shop goes on. BB's is OK, but they charge pretty much the same as the dealer, and seem to be up to some of the same tricks. read more

Friendly, honest, quality service. I trust them to do more than they set out to and appreciate the way they explain exactly what is being done or why it is not. I expect another 100,000 miles out of my Audi because they do quality work and are thorough. Then I'll take it back and they'll show me how to get another 100,000. NOTE: I told them about a problem I thought was very serious by how it sounded and felt. They said they'd look at it. They corrected it at minimal cost and effort and were proud and happy that it was minor. That is one of many reasons they will get my business and the recommendation to all of my friends. read more

Great business, great service, great prices. And Collin is awesome! I went to get my Volvo XC90 worked on and Collin had all of the answers and he was very kind, patient, and understanding. He even gave helpful suggestions to places I could go to for other issues. You want a trustworthy mechanic, this is the place! read more

Do not go here! The owner Sean is nice enough and helpful, but his wife who runs the office is not!! We took our car in to be fixed only to pick it up with another issue. When I tried to discuss the second issue with her she was extremely defensive and aggressive with me! I am not a mechanic and was trying to understand how the two issues were not related and why I was going to have to pay an additional $400. I am a small business owner and hate to write these types of reviews, but I was appalled at her behavior. read more

I just can't say it enough. The best mechanics for Lexus'. I've been a customer for 5 years. I keep coming back because the staff is friendly, mechanics are very knowledgeable, and their prices are not too high. They even fixed my hatchback. I thought I'd just get some Gorilla Tape, but nope, somehow they fixed it and I didn't even mention there was a problem. read more

Berkeley Bob's is one of the most honest and caring mechanics I have ever dealt with. Here's the back story... My wife and I bought our 93' Volvo 240 Classic wagon used about 2.5 years ago. A well loved and impressively maintained car from the original owner. It needed work as most used cars do, fortunately there were Berkeley Bob's license plate frames already mounted on the car. When the one of many repairs that I couldn't handle needed to be dealt with we brought it to Sean at Berkeley Bob's to take a look. The first thing he said when I called at 3p in the afternoon was bring it by first thing in the morning. I was already impressed by the quick service. When I drove up he looked at my 240 and said "Oh yeah, I have been working on this car for at least 15 years!" He opened the hood and claimed " I did that and that and that but I didn't do that! I use much higher quality parts". Of course that was the fix I did, I already felt like I was in good hands. He generously gave me a ride to BART and before I knew it he called at 3 p that afternoon and the car was ready to go. I was blown away at how fast and well he serviced the car. At first I was in sticker shock at the final bill but as I looked closer 3/4 of the cost came from the high quality parts that were used to make my beauty run and the remainder was labor. I felt like I was really getting my money's worth and knew the quality was in the car. Since then I have been back a dozen times fixing my car and striking things off the to do list. Each time knowing Sean and his team care about me and my car as much as I do and will continue to service the car hopefully even when the third owner takes her over. Hopefully not any time soon If you've got a Volvo, or any other type of car, you should only consider Berkeley Bob's as your 'go to' mechanic. read more

Hello to All Those Searching For An Honest Competitve Volvo Service I brought my 1998 Saffron V70R into Berkeley Bobs for what I thought was a turbo charger replacement, having been told at two other Volvo garages that this was the remedy for an oil leak caused by blown seals on the turbo houslig. Cost Estimate: $2000. Colin, Sean and Tom diagnosed a completely different set of problems on the cylinder head. Cost: $1250. And, it solved the problem! Don't look any further than Berkeley Bobs if you're seeking expert advise by certified Volvo technicians. This is a family run business with a small staff of brilliant technicians, with a clean well kept garage. read more

Sean & Colin are truly customer oriented. Given today's economy and our fixed educator's income, they work with you to keep your beloved car in working order. They are quick to repair your car under warranty. Honestly, they are willing to go the extra mile even if your part is slightly out time. All I can say on behalf of my wife and family is thank you for having such wonderful integrity. For new and returning customers, check out their specials and discounts. Respectfully, A solid loyal customer. read more

I'm writing this review to warn everybody to avoid Bob's Volvo. If you want an awesome Volvo mechanic in Berkeley go to Aackermann's on San Pablo. They are great, but before I found them I went Bob's Volvo. To make a long, somewhat humorous story short, Bob's botched a repair to my muffler which in turn caused my parking brake cable to fray and break. When I discovered this I gave them the chance to just fix the mistake (at no charge). However, they lied to me and said that they weren't at fault but that the car's shocks were worn and that cause the problem, which they could fix for another $700! Okay, that might no mean much to you but to I know ALOT about cars, I've built a few up from the ground so I knew that this was a FLAT OUT LIE. They botched the job, lied about it and tried to make more money off of it. The episode ended with me yelling at the owner/head mechanic. He finally realized that he was busted and did do the repairs for free. However, if I was a typical customer who knew nothing about car mechanics he would have screwed me big time. Bob's Volvo is exactly what you fear mechanics to be: incompetent and dishonest. Luckily for them, their client base is made up of people who now nothing about cars and have the money to throw around on them. If they were smart they would check out Aackermanns down the street. I trust him completely. read more

I used to go to the dealer to repair my Volvo, which of course was a bad idea, and repeatedly they charged me lots of money, and a couple times they really screwed up, leading to my having the car towed twice in a week. Also, they forgot to do a bunch of things during their servicing, which I only found out like a year later. Bob's has stayed late, waiting for me when my car broke down (on the Bay Bridge no less), they've picked me up and dropped me off for no charge of course, and they've repaired stuff for less than they estimated, which they didn't need to do. Plus, when I ask them to explain exactly what everything does (I'm not a car person, but I do have an engineering degree), they explain, not treating me like some dumb woman (like the dealer does). So, maybe I am a dupe, since I don't know much about cars, but so far I've had nothing but pleasant experiences there. WAY better than the dealership, anyway. read more

I have taken three different Volvos of drastically different vintage ('66 122, '86 740 Turbo Wagon, '01 V70) and my wife has taken her '85 Toyota Camry, and now '91 Honda Accord to Bob's Volvo since 1998. I have always trusted their seemingly endless knowledge and expertise in so many areas of car maintenance. All of the staff there is courteous and professional. Everyone goes the extra mile when it comes to fast, friendly, competent, and honest service. Compared to other shops that I have looked into or actually tried, they are not only reasonably priced, but they will help prioritize repairs if you are in a budget crunch. I was amazed when the subject of selling my older ('86) wagon in order to buy the newer ('01) wagon came up. I asked a simple question about whether it was worth buying a newer Volvo. Melissa reviewed and analyzed all of my service records, gave a cost breakdown of repairs, and then discussed the potential costs of a newer make and model Volvo in the form of a two page letter that she mailed to my house. Although they are busy at times, they always seem to squeeze customers in when they can. I am very impressed with and strongly recommend Bob's Volvo on San Pablo in West Berkeley. Their phone number is 548-7140. read more

I just took my Volvo in to Bob's for a batch of little repairs. Their price was waaay lower than McKevitt's (why are dealers always so expensive?) and the service was friendly and fast. They called me about two hours after I had dropped it off to give me an update; McKevitt always takes about a day to get back to you. I've brought my car to Bob's a few times over the years, and I've never really had a problem. The only reason I haven't gone exclusively to them is that one time their computers indicated that some software hadn't been installed in my car, and the dealer said it had. I never found out who was right, but I have read that dealerships have the most up-to-date machinery for checking these things, so I was inclined to think Bob's was wrong. However, they did a great job today, and I'll definitely be going back. read more

After my Camry decided to start barfing oil and smoke on 880 on Sunday, I had it towed to Berkeley Bobs so they could take a look at it. Turns out a rod had punched through the engine and they were able to determine this just by popping the hood. It would have been within their rights to charge me the $100 diagnostic fee for the news that my car is dead but they didn't. If I ever have another vehicle, this will be my shop for life. read more

I had my first experience at Bob's Volvo and Toyota this week. As a student I was alittle hesitant to go to a shop that I have never been to. To my surprise the staff at Bob's made me feel important and was very friendly and informative. I was offered a ride to the local bart stop, and even a ride at the end of the day. I left my car to have a no start diagnosis done. Within a couple of hours I received a phone call. I was informed of what the problem was and the reason that the part failed, once again very informative and willing to answer all of my questions. I took it upon myself to make a few phone calls and check prices at other local shops, and the dealer. Once again they surprised me with the best price and they were using factory parts. The repair was done, so I called to schedule a ride. They picked me up and broght me back. It turned out they had made a few small repairs on my vehicle such as replacing some bulbs, and fixed my radio that had not worked in a year. I am very satisfied with the work, and the staff. The car has been running great, and I think I found my new shop. read more

First time at Berkeley Bobs it was great! Dropped my car off before work and was back picking it up at 3:30. Car feels great, thank you guys!!! Very friendly staff, I will be back for sure!!! read more

I live in the South Bay so this is not my regular shop, but they host an annual tech demo day for my Volvo Club so I've been here twice. The first time I was there my convertible top jammed. After Sean the owner played with he for 30 min, he told me that he could fix it, but since it is under warranty that I should just go down the street to the dealer. Not only did he not charge me for the time, he loaned me the cords to tie down my trunk so I can make it to the dealer. The 2nd time I went there, someone noticed the back-up bulb went out. Since I was already there I asked Sean if he had a bulb in stock. He grabbed on, swapped it in, and once again didn't charge me. What can I say to that but thank you? read more

When I could not afford to take my Volvo XC 90 to the dealership for routine maintenance I was referred to Berkeley Bobs. Great price, great service, no issues with car. I live in San Leandro, however have no issue driving to Berkeley for the service I received at this shop. A 10 in my book. read more

We brought our car to Bob's Volvo mechanic and they tried to rip us off. They suggested to replace pieces which were even not broken! Their suggestions were completely ridiculous. Luckily we brought our car to another mechanic and we paid HALF of what we would have paid at Bob's! Avoid this place by all means! Maybe they try to rip off all women or all foreigners with an accent. We don't know. At least they are very friendly. We doubt whether this is worth the price they ask... read more

These are good people doing honest work. You couldn't be in better hands. I've been a Bob's customer for over 15 years and they have given me great (free) advice, saving me tons of money and heartache on more than one occasion. They've taken great care of both a Volvo I used to have and the Toyota I have now. In my experience they are always kind and patient on the phone and in person, and happy to explain all the details of whatever service they are recommending. I'd give six stars if I could. Over time you can tell it's an honest humble (but well-run!) family-owned operation. The employees don't come and go, they are there for years, and they understand the value of good service. read more

I have Owned Volvos for over 35 years. I have Always been able to rely on Bob's , Even before the Current Owner Owned Bob's.....Then he was Trusted Mechanic, Now add the title of Owner with Wife.....Still Professional , Honest Work....Thank You for being a phone call away.......Anna read more