My Subaru conversion/restoration of a 1990 Westfalia is my dream come true. She's a real head-turner. We end up talking to a lot of people; many of them offer us their cars and their spouses as a trade. But no way I'm giving this van up. My husband and I originally bought Cesar's personal Westfalia and we finally had to sell it. But the best was yet to come. Just before Covid came along we ordered a complete restoraton/Subaru conversion and while it became increasingly difficult to get parts for it, we waited it out. For a long time, but it has been so worth it. We love how it drives, no longer are we doggin' up those hills. Even though there have been some glitches, Cesar and his great crew, especially Jose and Daniel, stuck with us and happiness has prevailed. These guys really know what they're doing. The van is so easy to drive. I'm really short, and normally hate to drive, but my van makes it fun. It handles like a dream, and unlike the original vans, the Subaru engine and all the specialty parts--suspension, brakes, etc. mean that living here in Southern Baja we have just the right vehicle. Everything about it makes me happy. No ginormous Sprinter van for me, this beauty has everything to make our camping trips special. I wouldn't hesitate to talk to Cesar and the guys at California Westy's. You will get what you want and you won't be jealous of me anymore. Ha ha! read more

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Bought my 1990 Westy from Cesar at California Westy's. He was awesome and made sure the Vanagon was ready to go when we came to pick it up. He did an amazing job on the drivetrain and the paint and we are loving it! Thanks Cesar and Team! read more

California Westys - 1990 VW Vanagon GL Westfalia - Auto Repair Near Me - El Cajon, California

Really great service and knowledgeable mechanics. Cesar and his guys are crushing it (come see the full lot of vans) because they are great people and great at what they do. Got my EJ sorted and rolling with helpful advice for the road. read more

California Westys - Vanagon - Auto Repair Near Me - El Cajon, California

It is extremely difficult to find a reliable mechanic shop in California. Well, guess what, I found it just a few days ago, in March, 2023. It is Cesar and his team of professionals at California Westys in El Cajón, east of San Diego. They looked at my Westfalia Vanagon van---engine, body-- thoroughly. Within a half hour, they could tell me clearly what my issues were, cost, and prognosis. I spoke with Cesar and Daniel. Both gentlemen, professionals (as his other team members), were exceedingly helpful, courteous, and candid. They gave me advice about my dearest but limping Westy. I recommend them to the most quality-demanding customers. They are friendly, meticulous, and honest to a fault. They have my gratitude. William Y. read more

Cesar does a great job and his crew is great as well. Highly recommended. Also they work on the Subaru engines which is a real plus.

Can't say enough good things about Cesar and the guys at California Westys! My '88 Westy broke its alternator V-belt, which then caused the AC and power steering belts to pop off their pulleys. I called Cesar and he was able to squeeze me in the next day. I was up and running again quickly and painlessly. These guys REALLY know their VW vans and they are great to work with -- THANKS! read more

Cesar and crew seem like great guys and I really hate to leave a bad review, but our experience there was horrible. Rodents got into our 89 Westfalia. Our insurance company would cover repairs but the place we usually take it in San Rafael was closed for vacation. We found California Westys online. When I called, Cesar quoted $4500 to remove all the fixtures and thoroughly clean and sanitize everything including the ducts. We agreed and our insurance company paid to transport our van there. Once the owner realized our insurance was paying, he raised the price to $5000. When I protested, he told me that was only a verbal estimate, not a firm quote. They had a month to do the repair. Every time I contacted Cesar, he was out of town and it didn't seem that they had started. We had to pick it up in person and drive it home and we booked a family trip around it, flying into San Diego and planning to drive it home to Northern California. When my husband got there to pick it up, they mechanic said they had swapped out our AC for a used one out of another van (without asking us) but that only after they tried to charge it did they realize the coolant line was broken. Very weird because obviously the mice didn't do that and the AC worked last time we drove it, but maybe it happened in transport. When my husband met us with the van it positively reeked of synthetic fragrance though I had told him not to use any products containing them. We drove hours in 102 degree heat up through the Central Valley with the windows open, feeling ill from the horrible chemical smell. When we got toward the coast in Santa Cruz, it got cold and foggy. We turned on the defroster. Bits of insulation and the smell of mouse feces started flying throughout the van. They obviously had not fixed the problem at all. My husband got a flashlight and looked into the duct near the driver's door wheel well and he could see an old mouse nest made out of the exact kind of plants we have at our property in plain view! We got it home by driving with the windows open and not turning on any heat or air. It made me and my son sick for several days. We took it to our regular shop in San Rafael (they were back from vacation). Almost $7000 later (in addition to the $5200 California Westys got paid NOT to solve the problem), we got the problem fixed. They found rodent nests and dead rodents throughout the vehicle, iincluding in the heater core which they had to rebuild. They arranged for all the AC repairs and even a new radio and installation. I would not recommend this company for this sort of remediation. read more

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I had taken my westy to Cesar for many years and spent over $25,000 bucks. When I went to sell my westy, the lady who was going to buy it called Cesar and asked him about my westy and the work that was done by his shop. Cesar told the lady that my westy was in terrible condition and had a ton of rust and that I had been trying to sell it for over 2 years. Cesar then tried to sale her his westy. Cesar did not even had all the facts. I had taken my westy and had a $5,000 paint job and had all the rust repaired. I thought what Cesar did was very unprofessional and very rude. I would never refer anyone to his shop again or take my westy there. read more

Awful service; in short this shop has no problem with pushing your business away, and making sure you leave feeling belittled, and dismissed. Once again, terrible. read more

California Westy's is the real deal!! Cesar is incredibly passionate about his customers and their Westfalias. He puts in great effort into each project and does it in a timely manner. Our family has an '87 Westfalia, which we have had in the family since '91. About 2 years ago my dad was looking to replace our original engine, and was referred to Cesar. Cesar installed a 4 cylinder Subaru engine and completely upgraded our Westfalia. WOW! What a difference. The engine power is fantastic! It has been such a pleasure working with Cesar throughout this process. He is very passionate about his installation and his attention to detail is immaculate. Some of Cesar's biggest strong points are that he's accessible and reasonable in his pricing. I have had questions on different aspects of the upgrade and he responds with great pleasure. Cesar and his staff at California Westy's have been more than helpful and my family and I truly support his vision and are astonished by his execution. read more

Met these SD proper dudes back in June. They helped me get into a sweet 1984 refurbished camper. I got to pick the upholstery among other things. Immediately drove to the Sierras and had our first van life camping. Been using that thing all summer long. Some bugs came up here and there and Cesar and crew took care of it. Been fun working with them on it and it's getting dialed. If you are going for a Westy this is the place to go. read more

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SD Westy Family, There is no place better for service and advice on your vans. Cesar and his team have been top notch in their service and completely fair and transparent in their dealings with me. His knowledge of Westys and how to keep them safe and beautiful on the road is unmatched. I highly recommend this team. read more

Only great things to say about Cesar and his crew at California Westys! Anytime I need something done these guys go above and beyond with quality work and always always at a fare price! This place is the Mecca of Westys and Vanagon's with a lot full of beauties and these guys are Westy enthusiasts! I mean come on! read more

We live in North Orange County and wouldn't think of taking our Westy any place else. They built it and we drive it!!! We have been on two cross country trips, a trip to Alaska and then Banff, glacier and Yellowstone. Planning our trip for 2020 as well. Ceasar and his crew have kept us on the road with peace of mind!!! If we're on the road Caesar's says to call if there's a problem and we only had to call him once. ( alignment problem caused by a mechanic in Alaska) these guys are highly customer focused excellent mechanics...... read more

Best Vanagon shop out there. I have been taking my Vanagon here for years and they have never let me down. Cesar, Danny, and the whole crew are very helpful. California Westys repair rates are very fair. I trust these guys and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. read more

I bought a vanagon to redo with my daughter and had no idea what I was getting myself into. The van had sat for years and needed lots of work. Ive been going to my regular mechanic for 15 years and he had it for a month and he was stumped by this van. I brought it to Caesar at California Westys and he did his magic. It was unbelievable. Caesar found simple and inexpensive answers to my van problems and now it runs strong and the total cost was super reasonable. Plus his guys are great and treated me well. If you have a Volkswagen van and you go any other place than California Westys your nuts. read more

Not sure what's up with Steve T... But I can and will testify that Cesar and his crew do nothing but PRIMO work. My '86 Westy Weekender get's high praises for it's looks and tight sounding motor every day. Anytime I've had a question or a request this guy has provide accurate advice or has set me up with quick, clean, and affordable service! By the way...I live in Costa Mesa...El Cajon is over 100mi away! On my way down next week for new shocks! Highly Recommend California Westys! read more

Was told about this place through some friends. Decided to check it out and boy oh boy I'm glad I did. Top notch place to say the least! Cesar and the crew are phenomenal at their jobs. Though I've only just begun my journey with my van, this is the place to take it. Customer service products and prices are stellar. From your basic service to full restoration, California Westy's can dial in your Doka, Weekender or Vanagon. Highly recommended! read more

Purchased a Westy a few months ago on the east coast and after careful consideration brought it to Cesar to perform some preventive maintence. Cesar and his staff are exceptionally knowledgeable as well as reasonably priced. At no point will you feel you're being pressured into parts or service that aren't needed for your Westy. Cesar even assisted me in getting the Westys emissions tested and then referred me to a auto registration company to get the car registered and titled here in California. He's a great resource. Even taking my call on a weekend when I wouldn't normally expect to speak with someone at his business. I just recently brought my Westy back to install an aux battery system and perform some additional PM; when he realized I was going to grab an uber back to my house, he was kind enough to take me back home in his own car. Not many independent service shops have the ability or desire to do that. Was above and beyond what professional service is. I will continue to take my Westy here for as long as I own it. If you're thinking of bringing your Vanagon here rest assured it'll be in capable, competent hands. read more

So many positive things going on at this place. Love Westys, go here! Everything you could possibly think up regarding the ultimate surf/camp mobile, the German VW Westfalia, is enhanced here! If you want to make your classic van better, go here! Everyone here seems to not only be working, but really enjoying themselves! Really glad I found CA Westys. read more

I purchased my 84 Westy on Ebay so needless to say there have been some issues to shake out. CA Westys was finally recommended to me after several tows to various mechanics that were unable to diagnose or permanently fix a few problems. It was a great relief from the moment I arrived at the shop seeing rows of nothing but Westys and some beautiful restoration jobs in progress on the racks. Cesar and the boys really know their craft and have done a great job troubleshooting and fixing problems with my van. They even dropped everything one busy Monday when I towed the van in unexpectedly the night before. They got me up and running for my check in at So Carlsbad State Beach. We pulled in just in time to watch the sunset for our first camp trip since purchasing. I highly recommend CA Westys and will be taking my van there for now on. read more

California Westys is a godsend. I had such a good experience driving down from Los Angeles and getting immediate service on my Westy's fresh tank water pump. They couldn't have been nicer or more reasonable. I plan on returning for any and everything that my westy ever needs. read more

If you are looking restore your beloved old Westy there no better place in the U.S. than Cal Westy's. Caesar is in a class of his own. He combines years of experience with a knowledgeable staff focused on the smallest detail. I recently had my 1985 Weekender restored. After picking it up I found a few minor things that I thought should be looked at. Cesar immediately took the van back and worked on it all day. By the time I returned to pick up my Westy all of the problems were fixed perfectly. I casually mentioned a mechanical problem that my mechanic was unable to fix. To my surprise Cesar had fixed the problem without being asked to ( no charge ). A class act worth investigating. read more

I had my 85 Westy upgraded here, great workmanship and fair pricing. They did a wonderful job putting a Subaru engine in my van. It looks like it was meant to be there. I look forward to doing more business with them in the future. read more

I inherited a 1987 Westfalia VW Vanagon when my father passed away. I had it brought to me here in San Diego and was at a loss as to where to turn to service and take care of some of the TLC things that needed to be done to my dad's longtime, favorite vehicle. Near the end of his life, he wasn't strong enough to drive the car anymore and it sat for a year. Ceser and his team were amazing. They took care of what needed to be taken care of and also gave me incremental items that I could focus on over time. They also gave me a wheel cover for one of the wheels that had been missing for years to make the Vanagon look better and just be more whole. It was a small, but simple gesture that made a world of difference. I will definitely return and California Westy will be the ONLY people who touch this vehicle. They are passionate about cars and know a lot about VW's and Porsche. I enjoyed chatting with Ceser about cars. He really knows cars and you can tell that what he and his team does is a vocation, not a just a job. I highly recommend California Westys if you have a Vanagon or a VW Bus. These guys are the best in town. read more

My 86 Vanagon had some issues that I was told by a another mechanic were going to need major repairs (as in $$$). I saw Cesar's resto work at a car show so looked him up. I was really impressed by his shop and all the Westies he had. He took his time showing us around the place and explained all he did. Although I didn't need a resto (I do, but not now) this would sure be the place to come. I was then concerned that my Vanagon wouldn't get the same attention as the Westies. Boy was I wrong! After looking at my electrical problems he fixed my temp guage and gave me advice on a simple fix for my oil pressure issue. Total cost for labor and valuable advice.......under $100! He took his time explaining my options and giving me sound advice. I could go on and on with other help he gave me but just suffice it to say, I'm very impressed. Oh did I mention... I'm a senior woman. You ladies will totally appreciate this last comment. Now, to find the money to do a complete resto..... read more

Cesar and his crew at California Westys replaced my '85 Vanagon's VW motor almost 4 years/40,000 miles ago. I haven't had any problems whatsoever. Their workmanship and pride in providing fantastic service has resulted in my old favorite car going faster, quicker, more powerful up hills with MUCH better gas mileage. I am so glad that I spent the money to have this job done. In retrospect, I can assuredly say that having the Subaru conversion completed by California Westys was a total no-brainer. The best automotive decision I've ever made! read more

Ceser and his mechanic have quickly tuned my 85 Vanagon to pass my smog twice over the last 2 years. 6 years ago I had California Westys perform a front end upgrade, I was happy with that work so about a year later a 2.1 engine conversion. Over this time I can confirm that Ceser sticks to his guarantees and has resolved any issue I have had, even when I drive this van hard. read more

Phenominal service! Great prices. On our way to Mexico our ring and pinion gave way to the grapevine. This all happened on a Saturday night. Stressing out not wanting to loose out on one day of our yearly two week holiday I was referred to Ceasar owner of California westy by Salim at Country Home Campers. We limped our car to San Diego that night hung out at ocean beach for a day with our dogs. Monday morning called five of the best westfalia shops in a 50 mile radius. All of them said 5-7 days to repair (Meatloaf) our van. After diagnosing the problem and confirming my suspicion of our malfunction Caesar promised us that we would have our van fixed and leaving his shop the next morning. He took us in at 930 am Monday morning and had us on the road 6 pm that night all with in business hours. 3k miles later we are back from our trip safely home in san Fransisco and our van has never ran better. Thank you Caesar and the California Westy team. read more