Brought my son's first car to have it inspected prior to purchase. The gentleman who attended me was very welcoming and knowledgeable. Looking forward to bringing my families vehicles for services. Thanks. Local resident. read more

Took my 73 Bug to Glenn to have my steering looked at. He found the problem and fixed it. He also found a few more issues with it and did a great job of taking care of me. I will be taking other vehicles to him from now on. Very reliable and honest. Thanks Glenn! read more

Free Lance Motors - 1973 VW Bug - Auto Repair Near Me - Long Beach, California

Been taking a 67 vw to freelance for years for repair work, never a problem. But recently the customer service and quality of work is really lacking. Took 67 bug in for wheel bearing check and replacement also had them do a tune up and oil change, everything worked out fine but they did not wipe all the oil off the bottom of the engine and it was dripping all over my driveway for days until I looked underneath and seen. Right around the same time may2023 took my kia optima in to have if checked over and have the head gasket replaced to eliminate seepage/leak of oil from the rear top of engine dripping down to exhaust. Short story for the kia is, picked it up from them after they said the fixed it, short drive home and pulled into the driveway and noticed smoking and smell of oil. Popped the hood and lifted it to see oil spraying in multiple areas around the head. Multiple brackets not reattached just hanging with missing fastening nuts and a couple that were just laying on top of the car undershield where you could see them from the top of engine in plain sight. Multiple broken clips holding high pressure fuel line and injectors/spark plugs. None were broken missing or disconnected before taking it to them to fix head gasket leak. Oil was puddled all on top of the cars undershield because the oil sprayed everywhere, didn't look like they cared or took time to wipe things down(car battery was covered in oil). And once again within the same week about oil dripping all over my driveway because they didn't clean up their mistake. Now out repair fee and rental car fee and now on July 6 2023 after they said to let the residual oil they let spray all over burnt off to check and see if the leak or seepage was fixed.NOPE...NOT FIXED. Leaking more than before I first took it to them. Kept checking oil and topping off since the repair work, showed the shops owner in person the leaks and seepage and broken missing hardware and it didn't seem to bother or concern him. In my opinion the quality and care of work has left this business. read more

The whole crew at Free Lance are very friendly and always give quick and affordable service. Been coming here for quite some time and they will always be my go to for any service I need. read more

Amazing service, affordable prices and the staff is very accommodating. Definitely recommend coming here to get work done on your car.

I had my catalytic converter stolen and brought my car here on a recommendation of a family member. Glenn did a good job on replacing my cat, keeping me updated every now and then (I waited approx 2.5 weeks for my car to be ready) and was nice enough to wash my car squeaky clean lol! Total cost was almost 2K. Very happy with his work and service. read more

My new mechanic checked the air filter only to find out it hasn't been checked or cleaned in years, yet on numerous occasions, it was stated on the receipts they had checked it out. read more

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Been coming here for about 10 years - first with a '78 VW Bus and now a '97 Ford Ranger. Glenn and sons always serve me right and get the job done quick. It's great to have a mechanic I can trust. read more

I had the recent pleasure of working with the Tidwells to get my 1993 VW Fox back in running order earlier this fall. I purchased the car in Denver in the late 90s and have used it a station car up north and now as a secondary vehicle here in Southern California. I started it up after the 2015 July 4th weekend and it had been running rough ever since, though it was still drivable but in declining health... Earlier this summer I had noticed the suspended Beetle in front of the shop for the first time and then soon thereafter ran across the article in the 908 magazine about the shop. I finally got the car over there in November after walking Dawson through the issues on the phone. He asked if I could leave the car and I agreed as I dropped off the keys and wished both he and Glenn good luck. Long story short, they sorted it out much to my wife's chagrin. I really thought this was it and it was time to call NPR but they performed an old school diagnostic on the car and assessed the situation with a level of care that I haven't experienced in years. The car was not working properly when I brought it in, and now it is working fine for my down and back to Irvine from Long Beach. That's all I can ask for on a car that has no reputational value whatsoever but provides a service to me that is worth the effort to keep it going. Even though we got up around my budget threshold, Glenn asked for approval every step of the way and walked me through what he was doing to remedy the situation and what could wait. In summary, the team approach that the Tidwells take at Free Lance Motors is something that I'm on board with and I really can't relay how relieved and thankful I am to have finally found a shop in the neighborhood where I will know when it's time to spend a few bucks or time to call NPR. read more

Free Lance Motors - Recently resuscitated 93 VW Fox by team Tidwell at Free Lance Motors. - Auto Repair Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Writing this review, keep in mind that I did not go in for service with them however I did have a talk with Glenn, the owner of the shop. I called in asking for a quote for a busted head gasket on my 1995 Dodge Stratus and Glenn was perfectly honest with me. Instead of willingly taking my money and leaving me stranded a couple months later with an even more expensive problem to fix, he was honest with me. He told with the amount of miles I had on my car, replacing the head gasket was not worth it, particularly when the transmission, the cooling system or any number of things may go wrong very soon given the age of the car, and all those things are just as expensive. His recommendation? Junk the car and put that cash towards a slightly newer used car. He offered to do me the service of performing the necessary tests on any used car I get to ensure that it is working properly and that I'm not getting ripped off by the seller, all the way down to intricate things like the compression test that many people forget about when buying a new car. I'm normally not compelled to write a review for a shop that hasn't worked on my car itself but I was so astounded with their frank honesty and wisdom, that I can't help but give them 5 stars and tell you folks that you need an honest old school mechanic on your side. Many folks will use their knowledge against you to scam you in this business. So if you're unsure and need someone to trust with your car, send it to Freelance and I guarantee you, you'll get honest and fair service. read more

I've been frequenting Free Lance Motors for over a year. The staff are kind and helpful, and the owner always recommends making the smart choices for long term care of our car. Although he says he'll do whatever we think is best, they know their stuff and send thank you letters after every visit. Occasionally things break, but sometimes quality parts are hard to find. Free Lance seems to know what to get and where. Five Stars. read more

Thank god for this place My Steering wheel wouldn't work so I have to have my car towed to Pep Boys my timing belt was broken and I was missing a right bracket for my engine they wanted to charge me $700 and my boyfriend found this place and it only cost me $331 that's a huge difference They had amazing customer service I well go to this place for all my care needs so vavloline you are great for oil change but love supporting family own business read more

Our first time here was nothing short of wonderful. We were treated like old time friends and given great service at a fair price. Couldn't help but rave about it to friends. Fast forward a few months when our other car broke down and...well, something seemed to have broke down at Free Lance too. The associates were a little rude. They couldn't fix our car - which is fine if they don't offer the kind of repair it needed - but they said it was my fault it broke down (said I ran it out of oil) when that wasn't the case. Did they even look? It made me feel like I wasted my tow to their shop. Well, it was out of oil - the other repair shop I ended up at correctly diagnosed it as a bolt that played pinball inside the motor while running, which drained the oil. Ended up needing a new engine in it. Overall, it was the impolite service that sent me elsewhere and will keep me from going back. read more

These guys hooked me up! I was stranded far from home, had my car towed here and the got me on my way in about an hour. Personable father son team. read more

Free Lance Motors has been my family's friendly mechanic since the 70s, working on my grandparents cars, my parents cars and now mine. Free Lance has been able to fix anything I need or provide a trusted recommendation for the services they don't offer in house. Free Lance has always been great about communicating what needs to be repaired and why. They always give you options if possible and help you prioritize what you need to take care of, what isn't really a problem and what you should keep an eye on. Most of the recommendations I've gotten were to save me time and money. Aside from doing a great job at fixing your car, the staff at Free Lance always treats you as more then just a customer. Bottom line, trusted mechanics are hard to find which is why I recommend Free Lance to my friends. When you have a mechanic that is interested in teaching you a little about your car and what you can do to keep it out of his shop for major repairs you can't help but realize you're dealing with someone who wants to build trust and isn't just after a quick buck. read more

I just had my car inspected by free lance motors and I am absolutely happy! My car wasn't passing smog because the o2 sensor kept showing incomplete and Gus was able to reset it. They were incredibly honest and were not trying to convince me that it needed work done which wasn't necessary like the last place I went to. I truly appreciate the integrity of this business and will definitely be back! read more

Fast friendly service! Reasonable prices, the owner (Glenn), is honest, knowledgeable, and fair, I will highly recommended to all my friends and family. read more

Glenn Tidwell and Dawson were great. Glad I found these guys. They not only changed my oil they looked over my whole car for me. -GK read more

GOT SCREW OVER HARD!!!! theses guys are lazy and don't do what they charge for. Was told my 02 sensors were bad and I need a tune up, so they "replaced" the sensor and did the tune up not only to have the same problem a week later same. When my wife returned with the truck was yelled at by Glenn and told her it's probably the computer or something else and to bring it back later. She didn't come back. Upon further inspection I found out that they don't do their 21 point inspection. And I found that my air filter "Inspection point #15" on the inspection list was never looked at ever totally black and clogged. I replaced the air filter myself and guess what no more problems with my truck, but my windshield wipers got replaced asap at this place good going GLENN keep up shady mechanic work I'm not made of money and these guys are swindlers stay far away read more

Have been coming to this family owned business for several years. Honest, straight forward approach. I have the owner on speed dial! Glenn is always on point and if he can't fix the problem he'll guide you in the right direction. Love to support local and know they have our best interest at hand. read more

I've known them since 1970 and all of my VW's have gotten the best service possible.. They actually rebuilt a van for me that I purchased from them.. No One Better! read more

I'm new to the world of air cooled VW'S. With that said I have this 1969 Bus I've recently made into a daily driver. Glenn the owner and Dyson have been really patient with me, explained what I need to know about my VW, made it purr like a kitten and made driving my bus a real pleasure. I wouldn't even think of going somewhere else to get work done on my bus. Looking for a honest family owned business? Give Glenn and family a try. read more

I've never had to take any vehicle to any mechanic before; this was my first time! I know nothing about cars so when they told me the problem was fixed I asked them what the problem was and without hesitation they explained it to me! They were so nice and I would definitely bring my car back here! read more

Low beam went out on my Lexus LS460, called Lexus, they told me it would be almost 1k to replace the bulb and I believed them, the bulb itself is $200 at autozone, they told me how they had to remove the bumper and then the whole headlamp. They described it as very labor intensive. Based on their reviews I called Free Lance Motors and they said they could do it, brought the car in right when they opened and an hour later I was on my way with a working Lexus OEM headlight and cost a fraction of what Lexus quoted me. When there is any future maintenance or problem with any of my cars I will look no further than Free Lance Motors. read more

They are terrible!!!!!!!! They did more damage to my car before it went and they did a botch job to my engine and last but not lease my gas line had a tear in it and they did not fix it so they put my life in jeopardy soooooo I will never ever ever ever come back to that shot of a job read more

Finding a reliable mechanic is daunting. Word of mouth always helps. This is probably a good forum to tell you that you should definitely go here for an automotive fix; your car will thank you. Glen and his team is honest and will tell you your level of priority on what needs to be resolved in your car. Not everyone seems to have the same experience, but my family and I have been going here for years; so they seem to be doing something right. read more

The people here were very nice and welcoming but I gave two starts because they charged me 100+ just to change out a wheel stud

These guys are as good as it gets! I had them run a few tests on a used car that I was looking to buy. I was amazed at how much work these guys did in 30 mins. They checked all the fluids, ran a bunch of tests, scan the cars computer, and made sure all the bells and whistles were there and worked properly. While they were performing all the tests, they gave me the low-down on purchasing used cars. Needless to say, it was cool to get inside information from professionals in the industry. They were amazed at how clean the car was, and gave it two thumbs up! After talking with them and watching them work, its safe to say these guys are true/honest mechanics (Which is a rare breed these days..) If you come down to Free Lance, talk to Glenn. He'll take care of you! Thanks to these guys I felt a lot safer and more confident purchasing my new used car! read more

I took my 69 beetle in for ball joints. After they finished it felt great, like power steering.

First timer at this shop after being referred by a friend. Came in to have a consultation and after finding the problem they said they could have my car ready that same day, and they did! This was my first time with these guys, and I was not disappointed. They were nothing but friendly, and provided me with the information I needed in regards to my car. Not only did they fix my problem, but they willingly went above and beyond to help settle any doubts I had about anything. read more

My family and I have been coming here for a few years and I have never been disappointed, they are very knowledgeable and they are all very friendly! It's hard to find a truthful and knowledgeable shop and these guys are both. read more

I have taken my old little Buick here multiple times lately, for steering, overheating & what I thought was a wiring issue with my seat. They've helped me out with all of it! This place is awesome, I haven't been taking care of a car for very long but I found a shop I trust, with normal pricing and very very friendly owners. I recommend this place to everyone. My mom also brings her truck here & they were extremely helpful. They even sent a post card to remind me to get an oil change! (: read more

Been taking my vehicles there for years. Always reliable, honest and above all, reasonable. Highly recommended. Dealer repairs are too expensive. Been taking my Audi Q7 there since manufacturer's warranty expired. Great family run business! Thanks Glen! read more

This place is awesome no Bull just straight to business. I was meet by Glenn an in few minutes, Glenn found more or less the problem. Left the car for the day . Glenn was able to fix the my car in one day. That was awesome never been to a shop that kept there word . They did a great job . read more

It's nice to know that there still is awesome repair shops like this one. The owner maintains high standards and his shop is very clean. His knowledge and mannerism is very refreshing. They were efficient and the final bill was exactly in line with the quote we received a few days earlier. Will will be glad to refer this repair shop to family and friends. read more

FREE LANCE GETS 5 STARS IN OUR BOOK!!!! What can we say about Free Lance (Glenn, Andy and Debe)...other than they are the BEST! They are EXPERTS and we've certainly kept them busy with our 5 cars. We are not always timely in car maintenance, to say the least...in fact we believe you can go about 15,000 miles on one quart of oil....perhaps a slight exaggeration, but not by much...in turn, our cars suffer the consequences ... Luckily, Glenn and Andy always manage to fix the damage :) Anyway, my daughters and I have taken our cars to FL for years and we wouldn't ever think of going anywhere else!!!I I highly recommend them without reservation ..They can fix what ails ya and they do so without breaking your bank!!! I am confident that once you take your car Free Lance you will never go anywhere else... Sonja (Kacee & Nikki) read more

We have known Glenn and Debbie for over thirty years and they + everyone at Free Lance have been a godsend. They don't just "talk the talk" of small-town friendship, ethics, and honesty: they "walk the walk" in countless ways, such as always offering sound advice based on what is necessary for safety; going above and beyond basic service; invariably standing by their work and never taking advantage of others' lack of knowledge; and building relationships that show their sincere efforts to do right by their customers. They have connections with other businesses in the community and we have never had a problem with anyone they have recommended. Trust is probably the most important part of car repair; we (literally) trust them with our lives behind the wheel. We always recommend them and have never ever been treated with anything other than courtesy, caring, and humor. read more

Wow. Saw an ad in local Lakewood newspaper and called them this morning. Was having issues with too fast an idle on 1967 VW Bug. Quickly found that the installed throttle cable was too short, had one in stock. Adjusted valves and on my way. They have a new customer. read more

I would rather have an honest mechanic than a cheap one. I have been bringing my truck here for over 5 years. Everytime they give me top notch customer service and quality work, best of all they are honest about what the vehicle needs. Their prices are fair and I would and have recommended Free Lance to friends and Family. read more

I am on the way to Free Lance this morning with my Z3. We currently have four cars ranging from a Honda Hybrid to a Silverado Crew Cab to a BMW Z3 and they are all serviced by Free Lance; as were all of our cars going back about 20 years. In the dozens of times I have had work done it has always been done right. The price is reasonable and is at or below the estimate unless we get a call for permission to do additional work. Glenn is the owner and the people that work there do quality work and have been there for years. I trust them to take care of my cars. They haven't let me down yet. Oh by the way, someone in these notes said they found the staff crabby. I suppose that could happen, but not for me and not for my friends that go there either. It is far more likely that you'll be tied up in friendly conversation with them about your car or any car questions you might have. read more