I have been bringing my Mercedes to Berkeley Motor Works for a couple years. They have always delivered prompt and professional service. I won't take my car anywhere else. read more

BMW is a very good repair shop.I have been doing business with this shop for around 15 years.I have a 1974 2002 Tii , as well a 1999 M3 in which have been only serviced by the shop. Mike the owner I consider as a friend as well as a good shop owner Thanks Alvin Milon read more

Berkeley Motor Works - 1999 M3 - Auto Repair Near Me - Albany, California

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Very thorough with explanations. Consistent and trustworthy management. Scott and Mike, both are great. They attend to all issues with integrity. Convenient online payment service will get you and your car back on the road in no time. read more

We're were quoted $70 for the regular maintenance check up. We thought this was amazing however, this didn't include any off the replacement fluids or other costs. We ended up paying $1700 for the maintenance and to change bushings on our BMW. We found the old wind shield wipers in the engine compartment layer that week. A few weeks later, we started hearing rattling. We took our car to another repair place that said we had loose belts and needed to replace tension pullies and intake manifold. The second guy said the first company should have noted this. read more

I have been taking my MINI into Berkeley Motor Works for years and always leave happy. Mike and Scott are very friendly and provide informative answers to the many questions I have for them which, as a person that asks a lot of questions, I really appreciate and don't always find at other shops. My MINI is more expensive to maintain than I'd like but they always quote and charge me a fair price. I'm very thankful to have them looking after my car. read more

Ive built a 2 year relationship with these guys, they've taken care of my BMW the moment that i bought it. They turnned my lemon into a brand new car, they always use top of the line parts and i pay a decent price. I would never goto another shop, because i know with these guys i know what Im paying for. Definitely worth every penny read more

They seemed very nice up front. I came in with a Z4 that my mom has just gifted to me from her hospice bed. I knew there was damage under the car because the part was dragging. They gave me an estimate of 850$. I told them to hold off as I had to figure out how I could borrow the money. Ok. Two hours later I got a call from them to say they were very sorry but they found a lot more work that needed to be done on the car, and that the new estimate was closer to 2200$. I asked for an email of the estimate, and went to pick up the car. I emailed the estimate to another mechanic ( now one someone referred me personally to) They looked over the estimate and told me to bring the car in. The new mechanic states that the original work of 850$ of under the car needs to be fixed, and not one other thing can he find an issue with. Total dishonesty. No integrity. And I'm a single mom who specifically said I only wanted to fix what we're absolutely imminent issues! Not only were those extra 1600$ problems in estimate not imminent, seems they didn't even exist. I've got my car back and it runs great!! What a bunch of LIARS. read more

The gang at Berkeley Motor Works have always been friendly, expert, honest and free with advice. Repairs on my beamer have always been prompt and cured the problems I brought my car in for. I have owned more than 30 different BMWs since 1973. I trust these folks completely. read more

Normally I would do an oil change myself but I was having a super hectic month, so I decided to be lazy and take my car to the nearest shop that specializes in BMW's. I called, made an appointment and then drove my e39 M5 to Berkeley Motor Works. The guy at the front desk gave me an estimate of $165.00 for the oil change. I was fine with this price since it would cost me $110.45 + 30 minutes to do it myself. MATH: (Parts from turnermotorsport.com) 7 quarts of 10w-60 TWS @ $14.50/qt OEM oil filter kit for $8.95 (7*14.5) + 8.95 = 110.45 Basically I would be paying $54.55 more but I get to relax and not worry about it anymore. Good trade off. They call me and tell me my car is done and ready for pick up. I go to the front desk, whip out my wallet, guy hands me the service invoice and (WTF moment of the day) they wanted to charge me $265.46 for the oil change. MATH: 9 quarts of 10w-60 TWS @ $18.62 Environmental Fee = $2.66 Oil Filter Kit = $19.43 Parts Cleaner = $6.00 Labor = $51.20 Tax = $18.59 (9*18.62)+2.66+19.43+6 +51.2+18.59 = 265.46 This is $100.46 OVER what they estimated, which is also a 60.88% mark up. If you are about to charge $167.58 for oil and $19.43 for a filter kit.... how do you give me an estimate of $165????? This is without labor factored in.... $100.46 could buy me roughly 400 chicken nuggets from McDonalds (20pc for $5) OR a new pair of ALDO DEORE shoes ($80) I mean.... what an absolute SCAM! They already did the work ..... I also didn't feel like going H.A.M. and teaching a course in Business Ethics 101 so I stared at the invoice in disbelief for a solid 2 minutes, paid and left. At the bottom of the service invoice it says "I hereby acknowledge and approve any oral/electronic increase over the original price for service/repairs." OH MAN YOU GOT ME WITH THAT ONE. Also they told me I had a dumb amount of things I needed to replace. I probably would have asked for a quote but I know the estimate would just be another DIRTY LIE. read more

This is an update to a review I gave Berkeley Motor Works last year (2/5/2011) when we took our overheating 1968 BMW 1602 in to have the thermostat checked and if faulty, replaced. What they did instead was "check the cooling system" by doing some kind of test on the water in the radiator. After this cooling system check, we were told that our car needed a new head gasket. We thought this was strange as we were not experiencing any oil in the water/water in the oil that you typically see with a blown head gasket. We questioned this diagnosis. We opted not to have this repair made and we trailer-ed the car home. After replacing the thermostat ourselves, (the repair we would have paid them to do), the car runs fine with no overheating since that time. Funny thing is, a few days ago, we got a call from Berkeley Motor Works asking us how the car was running. At the time of the call, we had the car out on Hwy 1 - headed to Capitola for the day. Yep - running just fine, no thanks to you... read more

I took my 02 Mercedes S430 in after replacing my front air struts and aromatic compressor. Called ahead to see how much they would charge to reset airmatic leveling system on computer and rack. I was told $200. Told me they would be done that day. But I did not receive a call until the next day. I was told by Mike the owner that they had ran into some electrical problems and had to spend more time on the car. I asked how much time? He said it would be $450. I said What! you should have contacted me before doing additional work. He said I know you wanted the car fix so we went ahead and did it. You should be happy we got your car fixed. I said I would talk to you when I get there. I then looked at all the other yelp reviews to see that they up charge everyone. I was determined not paying anything over the $200 I had agreed to on the work order. I asked what was the electrical problem? He rattled off some junk as to the sensor was not sending signal to aromatic compressor he thinks. (He thinks?) I asked what was the fix? Oh we removed the sensor and cleaned the contacts. (No parts replaced) Now that's about a 3 to 4 min. job to unplug the sensor behind the wheel, spray electrical contact cleaner and reseat the connector. You do not even need to remove the wheel it can be reached by turning the steering wheel to the far right or left. I said I will only pay what I agreed to on work order. After a few more words Mike agreed. Beware they are crooked!! read more

I really liked this place until a couple of years ago (or so) when the front office figure changed, and I'm not sure I'll go back because of it. All I can say is my car must be a real POS because each time I go in, the list of needed repairs is long and costly. read more

I took my car to this shop thinking it was a good idea WRONG I was let down after spending 1700$ and three visits for the same exact problem in less then a few months all i got was minor things changed telling me thats going to fix my problem and it didn't waste of 1700$ and still have the same problem going on with my car read more

What I like about Berkeley Motor Works is that you can get an appointment for a service fairly quickly, and they have been punctual for the basic service needs I have had. The staff is friendly and the shop is organized from what I have seen. The service cost is cheaper than the dealers. I'm satisfied by the work they have done. But as a general comment, do your own thorough research prior to receiving any service. read more

Every time I go they bring exceptional service to make sure the car is getting it's needs. They are great when it comes to dropping your car off and bringing you to work if needed. A few things, I definitely hadn't thought about how much a bmw costs to fix, so it's definitely taken a toll on my wallet, however i trust that everything they are doing is what's needed and what's best. They have been good to me read more

In 2007 I purchased an Evergreen 2000 M Roadster. It's awesome and a pleasure to own/drive. Look up the color--it's striking. I looked all over for a shop to take it to for service and some custom upgrades. Once I entered Berkeley Motor Works and saw their 'stable' of 'track-day' beemers, I knew I found the shop I was looking for. I wasn't just looking for service, I was looking for comrades of purpose and passion. These guys are them. I am not a racer, I don't go on track-days myself, I just enjoy and appreciate the classic look and feel of a sports car. John worked with me and put on a new intake and chip and front strut brace. I love it. They've taken care of me and my Roadster now for 14 years and I expect to take it back when needed for 14 more! read more

I've been wanting to find a local, independent Mini Cooper mechanic, and I had a really good first experience at Berkeley Motor Works. Staff was way-out-of-their-way friendly. They answered my questions in a straightforward way. and I left convinced that the car had been looked over very carefully. Most of the news was things that they had checked out and found didn't need fixing. They advised me on replacing worn tires, and when they found they'd made an error on evaluating them, I received a call immediately explaining what had happened. When they brought the car out, it had been washed -- a nice gesture that showed me they wanted to win over a new customer. read more

When I had my first BMW, I took it here. The staff is super friendly and they all really enjoy and appreciate BMW's. They do restorations and complete rebuild on some of the older classic models. I didn't rate them higher because on one occasion they replaced my shift knob without asking me, and then made me pay for it, and I didn't get to pick which kind of knob I wanted. Here's the thing, it's MY CAR. When I drove her, I was able to drive without the knob constantly coming off in my hand. I was just gentle. They said it was a "safety" issue. I would have appreciated a phone call before they installed it. The other reason that I ultimately found another BMW mechanic was that sometimes Carol, the receptionist, would try to make me feel guilty for taking my baby to Jiffy lube for every other oil change. I get enough guilt from my family, I don't need more from my mechanic. If you have an older BMW, and you want to get it back to show room condition - come here. Also, I've used them for pre-purchase inspections, and this is where they really shine. They helped me avoid buying a few lemons, with one, they said that it had so much work that needed to be done, it would exceed the asking price [about $7000]!!!!! read more

Working with Berkeley Motor Works has been great. I recently purchased a 1978 300CD Mercedes Diesel. Scott was very thorough and thoughtful in his service for my car. They were able to source the necessary parts and make recommended service/repairs to get my car back to par. It is driving in excellent condition. I am very happy with their service and will continue to bring my 300CD to Berkeley Motor Works. It is very hard to find knowledgeable and trustworthy mechanics for vintage Mercedes. read more

Did an excellent job on my 05 BMW getting it back to great condition. Very reasonable pricing. Best BMW mechanic I have had (I have had BMWs for 20yrs.) read more

The transmission on our 2003 BMW 530ia had been acting up and going into "LIMP MODE." My husband and I refused to believe that we needed a new transmission (we barley drive the car), so with some studious (google) research, we found different components under the hood that could trigger the transmission to going into LIMP MODE. They were repairs my husband was able to do, but to see if the repairs helped, the transmission codes had to be cleared. This is where Berkeley Motor Works comes in. Mike, the owner I believe, was in the front office when I arrived. I told him all I need was to have the transmission codes cleared, a couple questions later he grabbed a portable transmission computer thing, hooked it up and cleared the codes. It took him minutes, so I am assuming that's why he did NOT charge me! That act of kindness meant a LOT to us, since only one of us is currently working. He had no idea of our situation and could have tried to charge, but he didn't. I say all this b/c prior reviews indicate that they are price gougers. Based off my experience, I don't believe this to be true. I think there may have been a lapse in communication, but I do NOT think they were trying to be underhanded. I HIGHLY recommend dealing with Mike, if you can. He is also very patient and will take the time to respectfully answer your questions. This also meant a lot to b/c I have dealt with other mechanics that could be down right condescending. read more

Checking in with an UPDATE: Here it is six years later from my previous review, and my 1987 e28 / 535is BMW continues to run strong = a testament to the work done by Mike, Ilya, and the crew at Berkeley Motor Works. Their expertise kept us on the road for more than a decade, including major services and installing a rebuilt transmission. They were always there when I needed them most. Big thanks to Berkeley Motor Works for keeping me and the 'Pest-mobile' rolling along. read more

Really bad, I lost maybe $4k and found out later than none of the repairs were necessary. Do not go here

What a treat to find people who are as passionate about my cart as I am. I have had my '91 E30 for 23 years now, putting over 180,000 miles, on top of the 40k she had when I picked her up back in '95. Over that time you can imagine how many sub par shops I have been though. After yet another sub par experience with a mechanic in SF, I found myself without an expert to work on my baby. She disintegrated to a dangerous level. After finally getting a great recommendation to the guys at Berkeley Moter Works we began the restoration. First we got her safe again. This last visit, we got her fine tuned again. Amazing!! She drives like she did 20 years ago, possibly better. These guys get it. They have the passion for the cars they work on. It is quite obvious that they are not just banging out the work to get to the next car. The "Old Man" who works on my E30, used to race them. He has been working on E30's for over 30 years. They understand that these cars were made to last a lifetime (unlike everything made today). They know that we can get another 23+ years out of this car if we take care of it. I look forward to the next 20+ years and next 200+k miles, with these guys in my corner, I am confident they will be even better that the first 20/200. Thank you Mike, Scott, "The Old Man" and everyone else at Berkeley Moter Works who bring passion to their work every day. read more

I've done business with Berkeley Motor Works since 1992, when Mike had a 1- or 2-man operation in a small garage. I'd bought a '74 2002 which wasn't making it at all, and Mike steered me to a '79 528i which I drove for 12 years, and finally cut loose from at 306,000 miles. During the time I had it, Mike and the crew at Berkeley Motor Works not only kept me trouble-free but gave me good advice on how to best spend my hard-earned money to rebuild and upgrade the car. Best car experience I ever had, and the service from the shop was just great - pickup service, a loaner a couple of times in emergencies, and friendly people. Plus I learned a ton about cars from Mike! read more

Hands down the best shop around. This is the second time this year that Scott and Mike at Berkeley Motors Works has saved the day. 6 months ago the timing chain in my wife's 2013 528 snapped causing major engine damage, Berkeley Motors Works replaced the engine and saved me thousands of dollars compared to two other local shops. Now my sons 2007 525i's w 140k miles transmission was slipping, again two other shops suggested that we needed a new transmission. After diagnosing the scan codes, Scott and Mike suggested that they thought changing the transmission seals might solve the problem which they did, again saving me. We got the Warriors and Berkeley Motors Works in the bay, two champions!! read more

I bought my first BMW IN 2004, a calypso red 1997 840 ci. Man, it was a beauty -but I was not prepared for the constant maintenance it required. And when it needed parts -they had to be shipped from Germany.Talk about expensive! I used to joke to my friends that whenever I just drove by my BMW shop in Albany, they sent me a bill for $1000! However, the 840 issues were never the fault of Berkeley Motor Works. Mike and his team did their best to always take care of me and my 840, in a timely manner, and with the least financial damage. When a big job had to be done, MIke always went over every detail with me and explained it in words I understood and that made sense. We went over all the costs and he was always willing to work with me about scheduling jobs when I could afford them. I have since owned 2 other BMW's: a 2001 330i convertible, and a 2005 M3 Convertible, my current car. I have only taken these cars to another shop when it was inconvenient to get to Albany, such as when out of town. I will always be a loyal customer as long as I have a BMW, and I cringe when even thinking of another shop working on my M3. Recently, the M3 convertible top was slashed. I took it in to Mike immediately. The Geico claim adjuster went to the shop, looked at the car, and proceeded to approve the lowest possible claim, using 3rd party parts and such. Well, MIke went to bat and wrote a letter to Geico. He explained the necessity of using OEM BMW parts and he listed all the costs. Amazingly. Geico approved his updated parts list and sent a check for the full amount -several thousand dollars more than the original claim approved by the adjuster. I told Mike he is a miracle worker, and I meant every word. They replaced the top and fixed a few other things, and I couldn't be more pleased. Having known and worked closely with MIke and his team for over 10 years now, I cannot recommend them highly enough. They are first-rate BMW experts, and their honesty and professionalism is matched only by their cheerful and helpful attitude from the minute you walk in the door. They keep you in the loop every step of the way so there are never any surprises, and I trust them completely without reservation. I am 60 years old. I have owned all sorts of vehicles in my life and taken them to a wide variety of repair shops. Without any doubts, Berkeley Motor Works is by far the very best automotive repair shop I have ever had the pleasure to work with. One final note: I have read some other reviews here where people are complaining about cost, especially labor cost. Yes, it is true, Mike and his team are not cheap -but neither is the BMW dealership which is way more expensive for the exact same job. You have to keep in mind you are not driving a Chevrolet! You also have to realize that you are paying for their many years of collective experience, resulting in amazing expertise and wisdom. I am here to testify that over the years, my 3 BMW's have had some very baffling, unique, 1-of-a-kind weird issues (Mike just rolls his eyes and smiles, and asks "OK, what's the story THIS TIME?"). But each and every time they solved the problem quickly and the bill was always fair. I do remember once or twice where I took issue with the bill. Mike was always open to listening and more than willing to compromise. I believe he fully understands the value in keeping the customer happy. In addition, every time I take a car to them, they do little things that needed to be done that I didn't tell them about. A missing fastener might be replaced, for example, and at no charge. That sort of attention to detail is what makes the difference between a good shop and a great shop -and, in my book, justifies their labor cost. They are well worth the price. read more

My 1999 Honda Civic got towed here after a breakdown. The mechanics took four hours to diagnose a bad distributor, and sent me pics of a common after market anti-theft device seen in many Hondas from this era. 600 bucks and a 300 dollar part later (yeah, 900 bucks) we drive the car away where a few days later it breaks down in EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. Turns out it was a busted starter solenoid and my local mechanic diagnosed and fixed it for 550 bucks (yeah I've now paid a total of over 1400 bucks at this point.) I posted pics of the anti theft device on social media and it took people like two seconds to say that it was unrelated to the breakdowns. I would have accepted paying 450 bucks (for the part and an hour of diagnostics) but these guys won't even give a partial refund, as we were able to drive the car off the lot (although it wobbled and the check engine light went on shortly after we started driving it.) If these guys don't work on Hondas then that should be stated up front and not gobs of money and time later. read more

I had my car serviced there recently and the gouging was really bad. This is a cut throat operation and they have you trapped, give you an estimate of $128/hour to diagnose problem. After that they call you and create a drama scenario and if you back out, they would have you pay the $128 for diagnosis. NEVER AGAIN, MIKE! Stop gouging people man. read more

I've been taking my 1999 e36 M3 to this place ever since I had a train wreck experience at two dealer shops. Besides all the Mandatory fees of dealers, shop rates were too expensive in relation to the service level (take a number). Given that I already own a big money waster (BMW) I've made my peace with shop rates and generally higher priced parts (i used to own a honda and infiniti etc). That being said, the staff here is very accommodating and courteous and Mike (the owner) will explain the necessity for repairs and make recommendations based on his experience. There were some previous reviews about over-repairing or repairing too early. Mike would like for all of his customers to be driving "feels like new" 20 year old BMW's if he had his way. But, not everyone can afford that. So, take the recommendations into consideration. If you can spring for it, do it. there is nothing like having a 10 year old car with 140k miles that drives like it just left the lot. :) I come here for my 60 day oil changes (that's 5k miles in 60 days) and they get me in and out quickly, and early too. There's a sitting room (with Grandma's old comfy couch) and WiFi if you need it for surfing or working. I've brought my own parts in too before which is great considering the wonders of the interwebs and pricing. Remember: you bought a BMW now you have to maintain it.. that statement and cheap don't go well together. if you want personable, friendly service with reasonable shop rates and parts prices than this is the place. read more

Every time I bring my cars to Berkeley Motor Works I leave with a smile. Mile and Jane run an amazing shop. I have taken all my BMW's to Berkeley Motor Works form a rare 1988 M6 to my 2008 335i. They take their time, make sure that everything is done right, and are competitive with their pricing. They have a "frequent oil change card", after 5 paid oil changes, you get 1 for free. Overall ALWAYS a great experience. A++++ for Mike and the great staff at Berkeley Motor Works!!! read more

I own Benz 300 D went in with a vacuum leak so before I left my car with them I ran a diagnostic myself I did a lot of studies on my car my power doors locks were working including my cruise control I asked them to verify my vacuum pump and the door actuator passenger side front! They kept my car for a week on to change one vacuum sensor behind the steering wheel that cost $35 and charge me $488 in labor mind you I f left there with a worst problem now my doors don't lock by power my cruise control doesn't work and I still have a vacuum leak I wouldn't recommend this place for any repair they are not trustworthy I hope that bad carma comes back at them for ripping me off my car went into the shop clean came out with grease stain all over the body read more

Friendly and reliable honest people Mike and Scott are great helpful and they never over price always try's to find me the best deal.

I have had two interactions with this shop. The first time I had the 328 towed to another shop on the recomendation of AAA. That shop called me in the morning and said that they do not work on BMW's! They did recomend Mike at Berkeley Motor Works. Mike and Paula are both friendly, knowledgable and experts on BMW's! I recently noticed a big red stripe on my X3. So I stopped by to ask Pauls for a recomendation to a body shop. She sent me to 101 Auto Body on Jacuzzi in Richmond. Because they know I was refered by Berkeley Motor works, and Paula, I got a great deal on my repair. These are greta people who will take good care of you and your car! read more

Save your time - this place is NOT worth your time or money. Forget Ken, why don't you just hire a monkey? Seriously, this guy does NOT know what he's doing. After he "carefully inspected" my car, Mike tried telling me I needed to replace my entire suspension when only ONE of my shocks were broken. They tried to charge me $2000 when another place quoted me $300 for parts AND labor. WOW, WHAT A DEAL!! (Actually no- you guys are just rip offs.) The people who work here need to take lessons in customer service. Step one, SMILE! Step two, be FRIENDLY! Step 3, don't threaten your customers! (Don't worry about paying me for this lesson, it's free.) The only reason this place would have a good review is if Mike, the owner himself, writes one or makes his wife do it. Instead of wasting your time trying to lie to your customers and tell them about your "honest, hard work," go back to school and try to learn something to HELP them instead. read more

Not many places in this world get five-star reviews nowadays. Mike at Berkeley motor works went above and beyond for me in my car. He was friendly, professional and was willing to bust his butt to get my car ready in time for me! read more

Very professional! They are straight to the point and explain things clearly. They are a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Their work is quality and neat. We take our three BMWs to them (2002 325i, 1993 325i and 1998 318i which we just sold). Unfortunately we've have had our fair share of car problems (wear/ tear, sloppy work from the past) we always come to BMW (Berkeley Motor Works :) ) Just recently I bought my 2002 325i and took it to them, they did a full inspection and the repair list was long. John thoroughly explained things and prioritized all of the repairs. They don't talk circles around you, no BS, give great referrals and go far out of their way to accommodate their customers (commutes, schedules, etc...) Also-they always give us a follow-up phone call to ensure satisfaction. They are everything we look for in a mechanic. read more

Let's keep it simple. I called first thing in the morning and requested a quote for my 06 BMW. The receptionist said she would call me back in two hours with that figure. After not hearing from them, I called back at one pm. She said that they were very busy and she would get back to me in one hour. I never got a call back. The following day I called again and the same girl said she called me to leave me a quote but my phone was not working... how convenient is that (lie)? Again, she said she would pull up the information I requested and call me back (for the third time). She calls back and gives me a quote of $375 (valve cover gasket). I make an appointment for the next day. Within an hour she calls again and says she made a mistake it's actually $775... Need I say more? Worst service ever, and I didn't even have to step through their doors!!! STAY AWAY (if you ask me) read more

As a BMW owner, I was impressed with the experience I had when I walked in in July 08. From the front desk to the owner, I had a great experience. I would recommend anyone who has a Mercedes, Audi, BMW to think about using these guys. Great Job! read more

I have been taking my car 98 bmw M3 ragtop to Berkely Motor Works since 2004. The shop has a very knowledgeable staff when it comes to vehicle maintenance and the prices are extremely reasonable! The work is completed on time and either within the stated estimate or a phone call is made if there are additional repairs. Comparatively speaking to a BMW shop Berkeley motor works stands head and shoulders above the rest of European auto repair shops. My most recent visit was February 16, 2015 and the service was nothing less than exceptional kudos to Mike and his staff read more