I thought I was taking my Audi S4 to a German car specialist but just had problems at Griffin. First problem was I'd booked the car in for all brakes to be upgraded, but when I took the car in, they found they'd ordered the wrong rear brake parts, so they could only fit the new front brakes. I'd have to go back again for the rear brakes. They didn't ever re-order the correct parts or call me for that to be done. Second problem was the adjustable front suspension control arms they fitted, coming loose after about 3 months. That could've resulted in a bad accident, but luckily came apart while I was driving slowly. They did pay for the tow but didn't apologize for the poor fitment of the parts and the potential dangerous situation it put me in. They did conveniently find and fix an expensive oil leak though. I left a thousand dollars the worse off and not happy. They are quite often busy on the phone and not able to provide a decent update on the work done either. I won't be going back to Griffin Motorwerks. read more

A lot of mixed reviews on here about Griffin. I can say I have been taking my Audi there for 4 years now and have always had excellent results and service, and I am a complete nerd about my 2000 Audi S4. Terry is incredibly knowledgeable and attentive and strives to make sure his mechanics are as well. Yes he has a foul mouth and yes the reception area is a little disorganized when you walk in, but it's a mechanic shop not a salon. One of the important things I look for in a mechanic is a clean garage/shop, and having been in Griffin's more than once I can say that it has always been clean and organized at first glance. Gear heads have to be a bit OCD in my opinion, and the easiest way to tell that is to see how the shop floor is handled. Some could argue that they are a bit pricey, but again they are qualified and talented and use the best products wherever possible, ie. the Redline motor oil they use standard with all oil changes. So in all they are a great shop. A bit colorful and not perfect, but everyone makes mistakes (thankfully they have not been on my car!). But really if they were I would simply expect the issue to addressed promptly, which I am confident it would be. In the end I take my car here with the confidence that it will be taken care of, treated well, and will run well when I get it back. And if there is ever a problem I am positive it will be addressed immediately. read more

Griffin Motorwerke is first class. Between Terry Griffin (the owner) and his trusty partner Curly, there is nothing, literally nothing that they don't know about Audi. They've serviced my 2004 S4 for two years, and time after time they were able to get things done that my local Audi dealership was unable or did not understand how to do. My car has aftermarket Bilstein suspension, a Milltek exhaust, and other mods and they knew how everything fit together perfectly for diagnosing any issues. I only wish they'd open a satellite shop on the peninsula they're that good! Their rates are fair, and Terry and Curly are a crack up to work with, not to mention that they are honest and straightforward people. I would highly recommend them. read more

We've taken several of our VW's and Audi's to Griffin Motorwerke over the years, and I can absolutely attest to the fact that these folks are the best auto mechanics in the entire East Bay. They are impeccable and attentive, and will do everything possible to get you in and out quickly at the lowest cost. They always call immediately when the find an issue, and are excellent about telling you whether or not it needs to be done. Then they always go the extra mile (!) and pay attention to every detail. I want in for an oil chance and a spring tune-up for my 2017 GTI, and they took the time to run the codes, clear the codes, print them out for me, and tell me not to do anything about any of them, but we'd just keep our eye out on all of them in the future. They researched roof rack options, gave me details, pictures and email updates and were super chill when I decided to put that off till later. They now have an email notification system sending appointment reminders and followed up with a digital copy of my rcpt. Plus, the shop is huge, and extremely clean - the mechanics has the space, time and tools to do what they do and do it right. Terry, Curly, Nino, Chris and the entire team are outstanding. Bottom line, the best auto shop in the east bay, period. read more

Service and honesty and fairness in this economy is really appreciated. I'm not a car buff - I'm just a working girl needing my car working. I would go back to Griffin any day. I had my Audi A4 car broken into and the front passanger side window was completely gone. We live in Berkeley and have converted our garage into on office years back and so with street parking and likelihood of rain - we needed to get it fixed same day. I initially called the Audi dealership in Oakland because I knew they would likely have parts already on hand. They did have the window and when I asked for an estimate - the receptionist quoted me 660 dollars. I knew this could not be right and so she said hold on and she got a consult and came back and said it was same day for 199 labor plus parts. I drove in the rain with the window open down and was then told that the service team that the receptionist misquoted me saying it was the windshield that needed replacing, not the passanger side window. So now, it was 425 for labor + 81 for glass for $500 total. I was waited on by a very sincere and nice Asian man who was sincerely apologetic for the mix ups and even offered to just sell me the window if I could find cheaper labor so I could get it done that day. Luckliy - I called Griffin while at the shop for an estimate and Terry quickly called his supplier, confirmed they could get a window to them that day, and called me while at the dealership in 5 minutes with $270 estimate with same day service. He broke down the service and the window cost (which is 60 dollars MSRP - meaning the dealership marked up by 30%) Even when the window arrived at his shop at 4:30 - he had my car ready by 5:30. read more

What a great shop. I just had my MAS ($200 part) replaced along with a transmission drain and refill and linkage adjust for about $400.00 Two different VW dealers quoted me over $500 just to fix the linkage and another independent dealer told me that my transmission was sealed and couldn't be refilled. These guys are proactive, when they spot a problem, they let you know. No scare tactics, real honest service and prices. I have 2004 Jetta TDI running on biodiesel. read more

Griffin is known in performance circles for being really good at what they do. And it's true - they know their stuff. Unfortunately this also makes them expensive and snotty to deal with. Unless you have a high end german performance vehicle that you like to race, it's not really worth dealing with them. And, since I've given up my sporty german car for a japanese one, I don't go here anymore - they hate working on japanese cars, and are quite vocal about it. read more

Griffin installed MPP Sports Coilovers (plus toe/camber arms) on my Tesla Model 3 Performance. Their team is very knowledgeable in this area and especially with the Model 3. After discussing my goals, they recommended a ride height and alignment that has made the car feel just right. Very happy with the result. read more

Only place i know that has spacers and extended lugs in stock. Rad shop. Nice people.

This is the only place that I take my Audi. If you want to get your car worked on and have it done properly the first time, you should come here! read more

Ordered a Milltek Catback for me 2015 VW Golf R from these guys. Great service, Curley was very helpful and answered all of my questions about the system. I live in Socal and my exhaust shipped fast and was in stock. A+ highly recommended!!! Thanks Again Guys @ Griffin Motortwerke -Mike Holt read more

I had a very nice experience with Griffen Motorwerke in Berkeley. I was referred to Terry and his shop for my BMW and he took a great deal of time to talk over my issues (front end rattling and driving/steering rather strangely) and what was going to happen to my car. I felt like his shop understood my descriptions and their recommendations were very accurate. I have since brought my car back to Griffen and had the regular service completed and they found some additional issues that I should keep an eye on .....they recommended not fix right away but just to keep and eye and ear on. I know every shop probably tries to sell you additional work but in the two times I've been to Griffen, they have done the work that was needed, was very straight forward in the up-front assessment and in telling me what was fixed (and probably how it broke in the first place) and did it quickly and without causing me a lot of anxiety. I will keep coming back to Terry and Griffen Motorwerks. read more

This isn't your average shop, it's a place you end up wanting to hang out at, and make friends. Terry, Curly and the techs including Nate are awesome people to work with, and are now folks I consider friends. They've bailed me out many times both on and off the race track with both of my Audis. Come to get an oil change and alignment, and maybe a Milltek exhaust system and some BBS wheels. Leave with a better car and some good stories and friends! read more

I've been going to Griffin Motorwerke for a number of years after a recommendation from a gear head co-worker. I've received great service each visit. The one thing I really like about this place is that it seems like a place where the workers really want to work. Terri, Curly, and others are there because they enjoy their work. I was waiting for some paperwork and watching the interaction between the Staff and the mechanics. It was fun to watch as it seemed they were all working hard to solve a mechanical mystery and collaborating while they worked on an issue. I'm an engineer but not a gear head. I'm always interested to see how technical people interact with females. I feel that's another plus of this shop. I never feel talked down to. I had a recent issue w/ failing a smog test due to fault codes. I had my theory about a few things. Talked to Curly about it and he explained technical details to me just as I believe he would have talked to anyone (gear head or not). So, that's another plus in my book. Their new shop is really lovely and nice. Much more convenient then the old location. I've recommended friends to Griffin and will continue to do so. read more

updating my review for excellent warranty service. After a string of bad luck, which may or may not have anything to do with this shop or a particular mechanic that may or may not be working there, Griffin is back in my favor for no-fuss warranty work they just did for me. Thanks guys! read more

You guys rock. Car emergencies happen and when my car broke down recently on a road trip, these guys really helped me out. Terry is great. I will always bring my car here from now on. Thanks! read more

Terry, Curly and their crew are the best. Not only are they knowledgable, they are honest. I have taken all of my cars there for over 10 years. They are fair about pricing, especially when you consider the expertise and professionalism they have. I have taken in my Porsches, my Honda, Mercedes and yes a Chrysler. I am always happy with the results. If you are a racer or just a regular driver, you need to use these guys. They are so honest, I have had my cars inspected and been told there was nothing they could sell me. They also have told me that certain things can wait because they are not necessary at the time. I always rely on what they tell me. I have some experience with automotive repair so I know when I am being conned and when a mechanic is honest. I won't take my cars anywhere else! I have recommended them to friends. read more

Terry and Humberto rock! These guys turned my Clark Kent of an S4 into the Superman demon from hell - all in a single day. They chipped it, and added a cold air intake and completely new exhaust - on time and on budget and the car runs, looks and sounds amazing. Puts a smile on my face every time. Very knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. Do it today, you won't be disappointed. read more

Very good service. I took my GTI in to replace my clutch and flywheel. They took the time to explain everything to me. Terry and his crew are great guys who love what they do and it shows. They are VW/Audi enthusiasts themselves. They gave me a great discount, and I saved a lot compared to going to a dealership. Everything was laid out clearly on the work order, so it was easy to tell I wasn't getting ripped off, unlike those confusing dealership printouts. They got the job done on time and my new clutch works great. I would definitely go back. The best thing is how down to earth they are, not intimidating at all. But I caution they like to joke around and aren't very PC, that's just they way it is. Still, a bunch of good guys, and I'd recommend them to anyone. They also work on Japanese cars too. Also, they fixed my squeaky doors for free. Terry said it sounded like a crypt door, lol, I got a kick outta that. read more

Been coming here for about 10 years to het my cars tuned up. They are a little pricy but they are well worth it. Not many shops that I know of that can guarantee and stand by their products. And they won't sell you things that you don't need. read more

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. They gave me a great price on my Recaro Speed seat as well!

They are really very good. I bought a used RS6 last summer and it had a Kmacs upper suspension bushing set installed which I was unaware of when I took the car to Carlsen Audi in palo alto for a DRC recall. Well Audi had my car all week and totally screwed it up. The first time I got my car back there were sensors that were not connected so my dash lit up like it was christmas only a mile from the shop.. odd.. took it back. Then I got it back and the steering wheel was turned to about 11am position while driving straight. they said that they could not align the car any further unless I replaced the upper control arms ($1200 in parts) after charging me $400 for an "alignment"... lame. So I called Terry @ griffin and he immediately knew my car and the previous owner. That made me feel much better right there. They fixed the alignment issue that Audi could not figure out. It was pretty badly misaligned by audi so it took the guys and Griffin a little longer to correct the issue. I did take it back again a few days later to get one more slight adjustment which Terry took care of as soon as he heard it was still just slightly off. Too bad they are so far away. i will go back but it is almost two hours dealing with getting the car there and then back to work in Los Gatos which makes it harder than other places, but still worth it. read more

For the last several years I have been coming back to Griffin Motorwerke. Not because Curly and Terry are fantastic people who are fun to talk about performance upgrades and other gear head stuff, and not because of their unmatched knowledge about VW/Audi/Porsche/MB. And not because of their amazing new repair facility, I keep coming back because of the whole package. They have done wonders to fix many cars I have owned, including a Hyundai Tucson and Subaru WRX. More importantly, they also built my Audi B5 A4 from the ground up, complete with mods, and they continue to work on that same car for the current owner! Recently they took my MK6 GTI that had a problematic stock clutch, that started slipping at 16K, researched the best solutions for repairs/upgrades, and then installed a new SPEC Stage 2 clutch and Wavetrac LSD. I have to say that I am excited to go back for the next round of performance mods! Griffin Motorwerke is a fair, honest repair/upgrade shop. The prices are competitive, and the mechanics are fantastic. You would be hard-pressed to find a comparable shop in Northern California. read more

Thanks guys for getting my r32's suspension sorted out. I just had a set of Bilstein HD's and new set of Falcon tires put on. It really made my day to have my car feeling like it wanted to go through some corners again. Next stop will be a Haldex controller and some new rims. Thanks again guys, great service, super clean shop and good advice, especially if you are wanting to do some upgrades. If you don't know/ care about the difference between mediocre and great performance, you should go elsewhere. Griffin doesn't do Mediocre.. read more

Remember, you get what you pay for. If you sold your German car and have moved on, why are you even posting here(YOU IDIOT!).. These guys work their a$$es off to make your car as good as it can get. The performance slant of the shop makes them by far better at what they do than a boring a$$ "lumpity bump repair shop". Terry is a legend and Curly is THE MAN! They always advise me on what the latest cool thing is for my current car and have gone the extra mile time and time again to make sure it is set up properly for HPDE's. They support the Audi Club ("quattro club" he,he,he). P.E. read more

When it comes to product knowledge, vehicle repair and maintenance as-well-as customer service, Griffin Motorwerke is second-to-none in the auto repair industry! Just visit their shop and showroom and you'll soon understand why I chose Griffin as my auto repair shop of choice. Their labor rates are reasonable when you compare them to the dealerships and their customer service is exceptional! For instance, Terry Griffin personally drove me home after I dropped off my vehicle for a next day service. Off course, I live close by....but how many times does the owner make the time to personally take you home! As such, I've also made the time to know Terry, Curly, the manager and the staff as-well-as the technicians. Just as you would make the time to know your doctor, tax accountant and/or attorney, you need to meet and know Terry's team as well... Griffin Motorwerke has been around for a very long time and their success is simple...they know their business well and they know how to take care of their customers. You need to check them out...you'll be happy you did! Griffin Motorwerke rocks!!! Edgar read more

Well, I drive a Saab - not quite the target audience. But I've been looking to improve the handling, and Curly has been very helpful getting me the right alignment - convincing me to get the camber bolts so I could adjust the front, and shimming the rear as well. Dramatically better handling. Maybe not the cheapest place, but they sure seem to pay attention to what they are doing, and very willing to discuss things. read more

Excellent shop. Not inexpensive, but fair pricing. Real gearhead expertise esp. on VW and Audi tuning and service. Did not price-match the lowest internet price but they gave me a decent discount off list price for suspension upgrade parts. Expensive labor hourly rate but you get what you pay for, I figure they probably took less time to do a better job than the same work done elsewhere. Clean and orderly. Would go there again in a heartbeat. read more

If you have an Audi or a VW and you want it done right then you take it to Griffin! They may be a little more expensive but they have it on the shelves from big brake kits to suspension parts to damn turbo upgrades! Plus all of your day to day parts. How many shops do you know have this stuff on the shelves? It cost more to carry inventory and to have it on hand than to order when needed. Time is money and I dont have a week to wait for parts. You guy's are to busy wining and probably to stupid to understand this. Mr. Griffin has also given me extensive discounts on many occassion to help me out. What a concept, developing relationships hu? If you want BEST go here!! read more

I've been a loyal customer of Griffin Motorwerke since 1999 and will not trust my Audi with anyone else. Racist? Absolutey not! Oh, yeah, I'm 1/2 Black and 1/2 Filipino so I think that makes me somewhat of an expert. ;^) Terry and the crew are always straight with me and have always taken the time to make sure I'm satisfied. Expensive? I believe that their hourly rates are about $10 - $20 less than the dealer rates and they make most of the dealer service centers look like hacks. For VW, Porsche and Audi, whether it's routine service or performance mods, there's none better in the area! read more

I've been taking my car to Griffin for 4 years now, and he's always provided great service and deep expertise on some complex problems. The owner has always allowed me to wait for my car, all the while working through their wireless network. I've purchased some expensive Recaro seats, numerous performance upgrades, and even some 4 point harnesses to be used on the track. In all cases, Griffin did what they promised, and on any occaision where something was not done to my satisfaction, they always reviewed the work with me, and made whatever corrections were necessary. I would love to think that diagnosing a car properly was something that a mechanic could guarantee for you, but the dilema that they face is that often times, in order to be 100% sure that they fixed the problem, they need to spend extra time driving the car, or running additional tests. So, if you accept that it's not possible to get it right every time, then I think you'll agree that it's most important to use a shop filled with qualified mechanics, but to also have an owner that is reasonable, and wants his customers to be satisfied. I trust them to do work for me, and will continue to do so. read more

Over the last year Terry and the team at Griffin have continued to help me out with upgrades and repairs to my 2004 S4 Avant. I drive this car exceptionally hard ( at the track) and the guys at Griffin help me keep it together. They understand performance driving. Even when we have run into difficutl problems; they don't give up. I know they stand by their work and the equipment they install. I reccomend them highly. Steven "Bomber" Grandin read more

Great Service, Very knowledgable. A store owned and operated by someone who does it right and isn't afraid to be a real person not some kiss ass!! Thanks Griffin Motorsports read more

This could get long, but I'll try and shorten it up. About 6 months ago I had an issue with another local repair shop. That other shop tore down my engine to find a problem and do a "repair". After taking it back to correct the problem at my dealership (in Concord), I asked Terry for a third party opinion on the problem with my engine. He confirmed that, like the dealership, he didn't believe that the problem was as stated by the other repair shop. I thanked him for his time and told him that I would be back when I needed work done again. Recently my car was having issues with acceleration, and I thought it might somehow be related. No such luck. I took it back in for Griffin to look at. Terry informed me that my clutch was slipping and that it would need to be replaced. It took 5 minutes and didn't cost me a dime to find out (unlike the other place). I told him I'd be back when I could no longer stand it. The following week my time was up, frustrated I walked in and asked if they could do the work while I was out of town for a few days. They finished the work in two days, charged me exactly what they said it would cost (i.e. no hidden charges). Since then the vehicle is back to it's old self, like the day i drove it off the lot. Since this is a recent repair I only gave 4 stars, pending some more "road testing" on my part. But I have little doubt that I will eventually change it to 5 stars... read more

I would like to highly recommend Griffin Motorwerke. Terry Griffin, the owner, is very nice, honest and helpful. He has done work for me for free of charge on things that most mechanics would charge for. Curly is also a very nice, honest and helpful employee. The mechanics that work there that I have encountered seem excellent. They recently relocated to a beautiful location north of Gilman on 6th street. They work on Audis and VW's at a reasonable price compared to other mechanics. Thank Terry, Curly and everybody else that works there. Tracy read more

I have been taking my Audi to these guys since the day I drove it off the lot, and got the revo chip installed. They provide great, honest service at a fair price. People who give one star for foul language are a joke, this is an auto shop not a daycare center. The owner has built a solid staff, and their new location is spacious and clean. I will continue to go out of my way to support Terry, Curly and the crew. Keep up the good work guys! read more

I have an 2011 Audi S5 with an aftermarket suspension setup that I bought from a previous owner. I noticed a "clunk" when pulling out of a parking space. I emailed Terry Griffin and he told me to drop by to the shop any time. I brought the car in and Terry spent 10 minutes with me talking through the symptoms and he assured me that this is "normal" with the type of setup that I have. He said he was happy to put the car up and have a look, but it would be a waste of his time and my money. He was really knowledgeable about my specific car and setup. I think his willingness to spend some time with me and also not want to waste my time and money shows that this is an honest shop with knowledgeable people. The location is in a bit of a "rough" section of Berkeley, but the shop itself is very nice, clean, and updated. I'll definitely be back again if/when I need additional work done on my car. read more

I don't trust hardly any shop with my 2005 S4 Audi Avant, but Griffin is one I do. i'm surprised by the number of low ratings here, but I know cars are very complicated machines. What often seems causal is simply random failure. Just because you had the car in the shop last week, doesn't give it some protective force field to prevent all other failures. That would be nice, but there is no car karma. In fact, fixing one problem could lead to another... If you add new wider rims and tires, you are putting more stress on the suspension and steering parts, not to mention you will be breaking harder, since you now want to drive faster... So plan on some new control arms, thicker sway bars and larger break calipers and rotors. In trouble shooting car problems, it often takes a bit of hit or miss. It's not always as black and white as many would like. You have a slipping belt. Maybe it's old, the tensioner, or maybe your engine is throwing oil and it's going to be a much bigger problem. Knowing your car and it's normal noise/sounds is a good way to help and work with the technicians at Griffin. I've been to them for a couple of strange noises and we were able to identify and replace the parts rather quickly. By fixing the small problems before they became big problems, I probably saved a bunch $$$. The fuel filter/pressure regulator was causing the pump to make a strange noise. It's much cheaper to replace the filter than a pump or injectors... If you are looking for a shop that is passionate about their work, you've found it. They have strong opinions about cars, parts and politics. If you are timid and looking for a soft-touch, PC, salesperson, you might be better off at the dealer. Hanging out in the shop or show room is definitely not PG-rated, so leave your kids at home. Terry and his crew are not racist, but realists. They grew up in Berkeley and know what tolerance is. They also understand the cliques that exist around certain car brands and models. A car is often the extension of a person's personality and identity, and that's the way they treat it. read more

I was looking up Griffin Motorwerke's new address when I saw the most recent post. That post alluded to recent posts which might not be flattering reviews. I won't even read those reviews. I have been a loyal customer of Terry's for 13 years. I cheated once in 13 years when they couldn't get me in the day of my preference, it was a very bad decision and I paid for it in $$'s, subpar parts, frustration and impersonal service - if you can call what I got "service". I was at Griffin a week later with bigger issues due to my subpar experience. I recently drove by the old shops on San Pablo and nearly lost my mind when I saw the shops empty!! So relieved to learn they just simply moved. Whew!! I trust Terry and Curly and the whole team without reservation. And what is this mumbo jumbo about high prices? Their prices are great!! If you pay for bargain service then you'll get bargain service and parts. Terry's prices are not bargain prices but neither are they high! These guys are total gear-heads! They don't work on cars to pay the bills, they work on cars because cars are their passion. I think that's great and it's who I want working on my car. If you get Terry talking...you can't shut him up. I'm not a gear-head so I don't actually have a desire to know the details but I absolutely love that they insist on showing me my defunct parts and explain the cause and fix. That's where the trust comes from!! It's entirely possible that I get preferred treatment because I have only ever taken Audi's into the shop (wink). It's not years of loyalty because they gave me all this great service from the beginning. I assure you if you walk in and engage these guys as human beings and not as people put on this planet to serve you, you'll find a very apt mechanic for life and possibly a friend to boot! Most times when I'm in the shop it's obvious that the other customers are regulars, like me. They are great mechanics with great prices and very real, highly communicative people. No Fluff! When I would take my car into Audi in SF for service, before the free service ran out, they would give me a rose. Thanks, but really? Where's the discussion about my car? Oh, there is no discussion, just a rose, oh, ok. Don't ask them a question, eyes start rolling. It's like you've thrown a wrench in the cog. The whole conveyor belt shuts down and imposes heavily on the mechanic's world-at-large to answer a question. 6 Stars for Griffin Moterwerke!!! read more

Terry Griffin is probably the most knowledgeable mechanic I have ever worked with. I have been working with him for many years and he never ceases to amaze me. He has expanded his shop into a new facility with state of the art equipment and very well trained mechanics. Recently I was in for a repair and he spotted the Bilstein shocks on my Audi Allroad that another shop had recently installed. He explained that the re-bound damping on those shocks as way to soft and would make the car un-safe to drive under hard breaking or bumpy roads. Actually on my way to the Griffin Motorwerke that morning I was thinking, I wonder if these new shocks are really right for this car because it was bouncing like a big old Cadillac down the road. When Terry explained what that would do to the driving dynamics of the car and it totally clicked in my head. Terry explained that he had a similar experience with one of his customers. He took the Bilsteins down to a shock tuning place and had them compared to a new Audi shock --the Bilsteins tested 90% off on rebound damping. They then custom valved a new Bilstein to have slightly more rebound damping than the Audi shock and that totally fixed his customers problem. Terry recognized this was going to be an issue for other customers and went ahead and custom valved 20 pairs of shocks. Needless to say I had my Bilsteins replaced with Terry's custom valved shocks and it totally transformed the car. It now drives better than new (and I'm at 109K miles). Best Regards, Alan read more