Had my 01 BMW Z3 towed to Berkeley Motor Works, wouldn't start . . . thought it was a starter motor or alternator but Mike found the problem being a dead battery after CSAA said the battery was still good. Also had a much-needed oil/filter change along with a general evaluation of the vehicle which is not driven very often these days. All work was well done professionally, reasonably priced, and on time. I trust my Z3 with Mike and his staff. read more

They did a good job diagnosing my issue but proceeded with overpriced work without giving me an estimate.

The team here knows their cars. They diagnosed my BMW better than the dealership. They provide excellent customer support and have an easy to use virtual payment system. Highly recommend! read more

A word of caution before you take an electric vehicle in for repair. I've generally had good experiences having my BMW i3 serviced here and the shop has been competent- until my last visit. I took the vehicle in and they replaced a faulty temperature sensor which was preventing the onboard range extender from from starting up when the battery was depleted. They fixed that issue, but as a result, the low cost charging feature would no longer work. The shop technicians had a very difficult time understanding the issue, gave me explanations of how to use the feature (vs. trying to troubleshoot why the feature would not work), which I was well versed in after years of owning this vehicle, and sent me home without any solution, telling me to take it to the local dealer to fix a problem which did not exist before they worked on the car. Luckily I was able to resolve the issue on my own by resetting the computer and reprogramming the low rate window and departure time settings, avoiding a costly visit to the dealer. This is something the shop should have been able to resolve, but when it comes to electric vehicles and related onboard computer controls, the service was terrible. Vehicles have become heavily dependent on computerized controls, and this shop does not appear to be keeping up with the technology expertise required to adequately troubleshoot and resolve issues. read more

this place blew up my Audi when I brought it in for a timing belt service at 90k miles , they replaced the belt and missed the timing, catastrophic engine failure, bent valves and pistons, then they tried to charge me 2500 to fix it... imagine if I were a woman or an elder woman or a older man, they would have taken advantage of me, not to mention Mikes mechanic tried to fight me about it bring out a 2 foot metal wrench coming at me like he was going to hit me ( you destroy my engine and you think you're I. The right to come at me like that? ) hahahaha bunch of losers I tell you. If Mike were a good owner he would have owned up to hiring a dumb mechanic who had no experience in Audi timing belts. Period. I would not bring my lawn mower to have these guys change the oil in it. Quality 0. Value 0 service 0 one star is actually too many stars for this joke of a mechanic shop. I will always go back to the shop that fixed all the wrong things these people did Griffey Motor Werks in Berkeley, amazing staff and mechanics and the owner is not like the owner of this place, MONEY KONEY MONEY SCAMM OVER CLIENTS. After taking my car to Griffen the car ran great for a long time!! read more

I started bringing my 2004 Mini to BMW several years ago when Hardy & Beck changed ownership. Now I bring in both of my 20+ years old American cars as well. They are head and shoulders above any other repair shop in the area. They solved a problem on one car that another repair shop on San Pablo Avenue told me I'd "just have to live with." read more

Don't go here. I have a BMW 2017, and I took it there for a check up in Sept. They told me my brake pads were fine, and then the brake sensor went off 1 week later, and I took it back. They assured me the brake pads still had enough to last another 5-10K miles. I just found out from another mechanic today on 12/10/2025 that they are 2 mm! I could have died from their error and lies. Please DO NOT GO HERE. They charged me $900 for my check up in Sept of 2025. It's dangerous. They are not trustworthy. read more

From the moment my friend recommended them to me, I felt taken care of! The moment I called Scott was very nice and kind to me over the phone. Got a quote drafted for me and had it text straight to my phone where I could electronically accept and sign to agree. Immediately after approving and signing I got a call from ascot to set up an appointment and was all set. I dropped off the car a little early but the job was done the same day as my appointment and was sent a text when it was ready. It included an electronic invoice with the ability to pay online. The whole process was so convenient and smooth. I couldn't be happier with the service and care taken with my car, I got my BMW X1 back good as new! I think I found a new mechanic, a friend recommended them to me, but I highly recommend them to you. read more

You might as well go to the stealership. Parts are full list (eg spark plug $22 vs $5-8 online), labor rate $128.

Did great job on my Smart car. This is my second time taking my car to Scott a Berkeley Motor Works. I'm thankful to find a place who will work on my Smart. read more

I took my newly acquired 2006 S-class Mbz to Berkeley Motor Works from the moment I purchased it 4 years ago. I always have been impressed with the world class care and attention that Scott and Mike and the team have provided. They find and fix everything, and my vintage beautiful Mbz always performs as a world-class auto should. Thank you. MIKE and Scott! read more

I took my car in to have one of my TPMS (tire pressure monitor sensor) checked out due to the sensor not communicating with the on board computer. Once they diagnosed the problem they replaced one bad sensor. When it came time to pay the bill they tried to charge me $415.00. When, I asked them WTH, I could have gone Weatherford BMW and got the sensor replaced for half the cost. The sensor was only $138.00. The time it took to dismount tire replace the sensor, remount and road test that shouldn't take more than an hour. They tried to tell that the job took more time than usual. When I confronted them on the time and labor rate charges they quickly changed the invoice to a more acceptable charge. So the first invoice was $415 / the revised invoice was $268. I will never take my car back to Berkekey Motor Works. If, I hadn't questioned them about the over inflated charges they would have been happy with over charging me. I wonder how many other customers have they've done this too especially women customers. read more

Berkeley Motor Works - Replaced tire pressure monitor sensor (TPMS) - Auto Repair Near Me - Albany, California

Great work and service!!! My AC and heating system on this older VW hasn't been working well for sometime. Now I am amazed how well both function. This was my first visit and I will be back. read more

I'm from out of town my bmw was running rough and the engine light came on indicating my auto needed service. I checked "yelp" for a reference. The first repair place I called said their bmw tech was on holiday and referred me too Berkeley Motor Works. I called them next and explained I was from out of the area and really needed service so I could return home. Scott.. said I could bring it in the following morning and hopefully if it wasn't major could probably get it done that day. I arrived early and "Mike" was sitting at a desk before the scheduled opening time and waved me in. He immediately took my keys and brought my car into his shop said they would get to it right away. It was such a relief that they were going to get to it early. They diagnosed the problem and informed me if they could get the parts it could be ready maybe later that day or early the next morning. The repairs were done that day and my bmw is running like new. Those guys were extremely professional and efficient. Thanks Mike and Scott for your terrific service.... read more

Mike and Scott are an amazing team! I brought in my car for a routine oil change and asked them to check out the leaking coolant issue, which started up again. I didn't receive a lecture or a raised eyebrow, but felt supported by their interest in locating the problem. And they did! What more can you ask for? Moreover, Mike provided a loaner vehicle while my car remained at the shop for a few days. What more can any customer ask for--exceptional service, well-articulated explanation of the problem areas, friendly and approachable owners. I'm in good hands with Berkeley Motor Works! read more

Berkeley Motor Works - Auto Repair Near Me - Albany, California

I cannot thank Mike and Scott enough for solving the mystery of "the leaking coolant." Since November 2023, my BMW X5 (2005) has required multiple major repairs. I have always felt supported as a patron but more importantly valued as a community member. Scott runs the front desk with the utmost professionalism and works hard to meet expectations. Mike and his team of master mechanics (MM) are exceptionally skilled. I appreciated when Mike took the time to personally figure out the issue with my old bimmer! I trust Berkeley Motor Works for all my car's preventative care and major repairs! I now feel safe to take my car on a road trip. read more

Berkeley Motor Works - Auto Repair Near Me - Albany, California

Review is related to a Mini Cooper. The Good: They correctly told me what was wrong with my ride. The Bad: The only issue the car had was I needed a new key fob. For that golden piece of information, that they did enlighten me with, I was charged their full $250 diagnostic fee. Mind you, they never even popped the hood of the car. They came to this conclusion based on my verbal description of the problem. They literally took possession of my car, did the intake paperwork, and called me a few minutes after I left the shop to tell me I should try a new key. The misleading: They tried to charge me $550 to purchase a new key. I said I'd get it myself and the owner immediately explained to me "you can't buy it off eBay". Long story short: I bought a key directly from the car manufacturer for $245 and they shipped to me within 24 hours. The suspect: I noticed my car now has a huge dent and scratches on the back drivers side. I can't prove that this happened when my car was in their possession, but I know I didn't see it before I gave it to them. Overall, this shop struck me as more interested in making a buck than building a customer base. I'm due for some new brakes soon and would have gladly gave them my full business, but I'm going to avoid this place since Mike is clearly are more interested in maximizing profits versus building his customer base. read more

2004 330i that had a check engine light on. Took it here for a diagnostic and on top of the $60 part that needed to be replaced to fix the problem they tried telling me that most of the cylinders were misfiring and I needed spark plugs and coils for an additional $1013.54. I already ran the diagnostic code on the OBD prior to bring it in and I just needed to know which part I needed to replace to clear the code. They must have mistaken me for someone who didn't know how a car feels like with misfiring cylinders. Here's the write up by Mike: Engine oil service - $165 Replace spark plugs and coils $1013 The part I replaced myself after a YouTube search: Fuel tank breather valve - $69 (they wanted $350 installed) Pretty scummy. This is not your honest neighborhood shop. read more

I brought my 2013 Mini Cooper Clubman S to Berkeley Motor Works on recommendation from another shop in Berkeley saying that they work on a lot of Mini's. I'm pretty well versed in automotive and motorcycle mechanics, but this Mini Cooper has my head spinning. It's a fun car and fits a need in my lifestyle in between a bigger car and a truck. With a cooling fan issue that is ''supposed'' to make sense and easy to figure out...... NOT ! I don't know if it's a BMW thing (never had issues with a previous M3) or Mini or German, This car is a head scratcher in many ways. The car does NOT have an engine temp gauge..... is that solid engineering ??? Mike at Berkeley Motor Works listened to my concerns and agreed that some things on the Mini just don't make any sense at all. Bottom line, Mike and Berkeley Motor Works repaired my Mini Cooper to it's "weird normal"..... I'm happy with Mike and the work, still wondering about the car itself !!! Happy Mini Customer read more

i was so busy with exams that i forgot to start up my 330ci every week and by the time i got back from winter break, my battery died. i jumpstarted it a couple times but it never held a charge so we called the shop and scott confirmed that i needed to replace my battery and set an apt. when i got there, they had already replaced it before i finished paying :) it cost 350, which is a bit expensive but it was an emergency and i didnt have the time to do it myself (not that i want to...) super responsive, super quick, super nice! thanks guys read more

I have been using Berkeley Berkeley Motor works for the Upkeep for my BMW and for major repairs. Their work is very competent, and the price is reasonable. My spending for car upkeep has decreased for almost a half when I switched from the previous mechanics. In addition to being competent they are also friendly. They also explain what they do to the car very clearly. read more

Mike and the crew at Berkeley Motorwerks know their business well. I had a difficult problem that others couldn't solve and he quickly figured out the problem and got it fixed without any issue. His prices were fair and I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs a good mechanic. He is a master mechanic! Couldn't be happier. I was a little skeptical because of some of the reviews here on Yelp, but after experiencing their service and getting the bill realized a few of these older reviews are just from totally unreasonable people. They are out there. Will definitely be back for routine maintenance and any other issues that hopefully don't arise. read more

Yelpers, do not even attempt to make a phone call to this place. A local mechanic asked I give them a call for some work and the guy who answered the phone had no Interest to talk let alone give a quote. For any doubters, look at the other reviews and you will see . read more

Scott and Mike and the mechanic team have done a fantastic job keeping my 2006 Mercedes c class running at a high level for over a decade. They are extremely knowledgeable, friendly, fairly priced, and my service is always completed promptly. I highly recommend taking your vehicle to this great local business. read more

I felt like this place was trying to rip me off. I have a problem with the right rear light block (bad electric contact, the whole block is out.) and they wanted to charge me 250 USD to just determine the problem (He said "we really want to take our time for this" being 1.5 hrs of work at 165(!!!) usd/hr). This price would not include any fixing, nor was there an estimate for that, it only was to look at it and figure out what was wrong. 1) 165 usd an hour seems like a lot for mechanic work (must be a real superstar mechanic) 2) a 165 usd an hour mechanic should not need 1.5 hrs to figure out what is wrong (as it clearly is a bad electrical contact).... apparently not a superstar mechanic if it would take that long. Also I feel almost as if they assumed that they could fool me into believing this ridiculous price as I am a woman (plus they left me waiting for over half an hour while I had an appointment) read more

My 3rd time here and I'm very happy to have a reliable shop for my BMW X1 service needs - from oil change / battery replacement to more serious needs. I trust their expertise and they're very fair in the pricing and very nice to work with. I highly recommend this business Repeat customer and I still highly recommend these folks! read more

My 3rd time here and I'm very happy to have a reliable shop for my BMW X1 service needs - from oil change / battery replacement to more serious needs. I trust their expertise and they're very fair in the pricing and very nice to work with. I highly recommend this business! read more

Great shop! They replaced my engine On my BMW 650i. Had a part fail a few months after and they replaced that under warranty. They do top notch work and I'm very please with the work done and customer service. Thanks Mike! read more

Had damage done to my front bumper on my 1997 740i. Berkeley Motor Works was able to locate the replacement parts and perform the repairs in a timely manner. Excellent service read more

Zero stars, but it doesn't let me select zero. Brought my car in for a 60000 service check and they changed spark plugs, cabin filters without any approval from me, and that's against the law in California. I had a heated argument with the person who did the unauthorized work (he said he assumed I wanted it done) and ended the argument by yelling at me, "I hope you get hit by a truck". Don't take your car to Berkeley Motor Works unless you want a bill for hundreds of dollars for unauthorized work and verbal abuse read more

I'm way behind on writing this review. Berkeley Motor Works has worked on both of my cars. My first car was the love of my life lol. A 2005 BMW 325 stick shift. It was my favorite car. Durable amd reliable for 10 years... until she had to be retired. This time around I have a 2012 328i. I was rear ended. My bumper and my fuel tank sustained damage. I smelled gas for days. It would come and go. My bumper was fixed by someone else. However, the shop (which I will keep 2 myself) indicated that all was fine with the fuel tank. Well... that wasn't the case. I was beginning to think I was going crazy, as no one else seemed to smell the gas. One day, I couldn't stomach the smell any longer. Dropped off my car at Berkeley Motor Works. BMW came through for me and fixed my fuel tank without issue. My car was fixed in a few days. Happy to have my car back in great shape. Best of all, no more gas smell!! read more

Maybe taking a Mercedes to a BMW place was a mistake to begin with, or maybe just this shop. We recently moved here from San José, the car was due for its "B" service, and a rear door latch had a problem. The bill came to a shocking 50% over the estimate. Not surprising, because the part prices were from 50% to 150% of the prices from Mercedes of SF! To add insult to financial injury, they had overfilled the oil, a novice error that can damage the engine. It would have been cheaper and better to go to the dealer. I read more

My Mini Cooper was showing break warning, I had other mechanics take look at it but no one could figure out what the problem was. I was a little hesitant to bring my here after reading the negative reviews but decided to risk it anyways since these guys are experts on BMWs and Minis. IT TOOK THEM LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO FIX MY CAR. I was able to pickup the car on the same day! Great service and reasonable prices! I would recommend read more

Great service! Fast and affordable. I used to get my car serviced at the dealership, but have found AMW as a superior alternative.

I had a great experience working with Scott. He provided a good solution to the problem at a reasonable price. It was good to work with such knowledgeable mechanics. read more

Women and honest people: AVOID THE CON This shop quoted $1000 for my ML350: Service "B" $595.00, Check engine light and report findings $250, Check oil leak and report findings $165. Unsolicited, they assured me they were going to keep me informed, that they would call me when they identified the problem, and keep in touch on timing so I would know when the car would be ready; which was great as I explained to them I needed to know what was going on before 3pm that day so I could make a plan to pick up my kids from daycare on time. They followed through on exactly NONE of those things. I had to call multiple times to get information and kept getting told they "didn't have enough info yet", and at the end of the day they ended up keeping the car overnight and I had to rent a car last-minute to be able to get my kids. Again I had to call multiple times the next day to find out when the car would be ready, finally at the end of the day I hear that the car is ready, and showed up to a surprise bill with an extra $500 in repairs (without asking for approval or aligning with me on the issue), and literally 30 minutes of mansplaining from the manager and another 'regular customer' who seemed to just be there to chit chat. The engine was light still on, and the car was DIRTY inside. They also told me that the Turbocharger needed to be replaced and that was going to set me back another $5k and they could get me scheduled for it. I was furious but late to get my children and in order to get my car keys back I paid the bill and left. The next shop fixed the remaining leak at the Turbo for $1186 (NOT $5k!!), and there was no charge for reporting on any findings until they did *actual* work on my car. Berkeley Motor Works WILL rip you off. read more

Great service. Great communication w/customers. Jobs done right the first time. I bring my BMW & my MB!!!!!

Mike and the guys of Berkeley Motors always delivering good services

I've been taking my BMW to Jim and his crew for the last eight years. I have always been happy with the level of service and the quality of repairs I have received. I wouldn't take my BMW to any other shop but Berkeley Motor Works. read more

They took apart my whole car, quoted me for two parts without listening to what I was saying in the first place...replaces the shifter...then precede to tell me that's not it, and the key is corrupt. Long story short, the car part I needed required something from the DMV because the reg was misplaced which they were aware of. Scott told me the car was fine sitting there until the DMV got sorTed out during the Covid. The next week mike calls me and tells me to get the car, which I do and when I get my car it's all messed up! Weather stripping, battery, parts of the engine were exposed, antenna broken, MY SHIFTING COLUMN ALL TORN OUT! I was devastated. I'm a single mother and feel like they totally took advantage of me and the situation. I won't even bring the car back. I have no idea what they did to it either I feel helpless. I don't trust them at all. read more