Marin Auto Works is an exemplary Mill Valley business. Chris is wonderful to work with, and after successfully completing several service requests over the past couple of years has my full trust. He most recently replaced a belt and did a tune-up on my 2021 GTI. I thought l'a been hearing some clunking noises and he was kind enough to drive around with me today (at no cost) to evaluate what the sound was. Super patient and trustworthy, I give Chris and Marin Auto Works all the stars! read more

Great service from trusted technicians. Highly competitive prices. Highly recommend!!

My 2014 Toyota needed major work so I took it to Marin Auto Works as a first time customer. They did a super job! Thank you Marcel! So grateful there's an auto doctor in Mill Valley whom I can trust. read more

for minor work, i.e. oil change, low milage tune ups on my 2 Mercedes cars, Marin Auto did good work and in quick time. six months ago, I had a major tune on my e350 wagon, afterwards in a couple of weeks time the engine started running rough as in not hitting on all cylinders, coincidence or not? when I brought it in marcel would not even look at it in unless the check engine light was on. for several months, the check engine light would come on but wouldn't stay on. he still would not diagnose the problem w/o the check engine light. I'm wondering what he did 35 years ago when there were no computer diagnostics?? so he wiped out the memory clean and told me to bring it in when the check engine light went on again. after some time, the check engine light stayed on and he said the computer diagnosed the number 5 ignition coil was bad and he said it was a common problem with Mercedes. it was so common he couldn't figure out what was wrong at first? he told me to look it up on the internet which I did. ignition coils last 100,000 miles and the car has less than half that. it also said you could also test each ignition coil without a computer diagnostic. he also charged me double the price of the internet stated average cost. what really ticked me off...he said early on, running the car as I did would cause no damage whereas the internet said to get it fixed ASAP or face possible engine damage. being really defensive he asked me "do you believe me or the internet? I have 35 years of experience." All my trust in marcel is now gone. I paid in full my over charged bill and now my business is forever gone too. Marcel can talk the talk but can't walk the walk. am I really pissed...yes I am based on marcel's lousy attitude. am I being too harsh a critic? you can roll the dice and find out yourself. I recommend going to the Mercedes dealership for major work. read more

I'm not from Mill Valley but my car started overheating and I pulled in. Marcel is great, made me feel very welcome. They solved my problem and the price was reasonable. I absolutely recommend these guys. read more

Marin Auto Works has to be one of the best. Over the years they have had my back whenever I needed car repairs. Marcel and his group have been excellent. read more

We have been taking our cars here for years and have always been happy with the quality of their work. I never leave reviews, but I think it is important to do so when a business is run with so much integrity. read more

Regret to report that these guys don't really seem to know what they're doing. Took my 2012 A6 in to have the air-conditioning repaired. it wasn't cooling properly. I was told that despite a recharge, the unit was not functional because rodents had eaten the wiring. I was billed more than $500 and directed to go to my Audi dealer to have the wiring replaced. The Audi dealer quickly found and replaced a faulty pressure sensor (G395). No rodent damage to the wiring (although there had been some hood insulation eaten.) When I told Marin Auto Works about this, there was no offer to refund my wasted money. Just said "sorry." read more

Marcel, the owner of Marin Auto Works, is honest, thorough, and always tries to work with your time constraints. I have taken my car to him several times for regular maintenance, and he always has my car ready as quickly as he can, and he does not try to upsell you on things your car does not need. If you want your car worked on by someone who will do a great job and is truly honest and reliable, see Marcel at Marin Auto Works! read more

I'm new to this side of the Bay and have been looking for a mechanic to take care of my cars. I found Marcel and Marin auto works online. I brought my BMW X3 to Marcel and he was very responsive. What really impressed me the most was on a Saturday I left him a voicemail as I had a question about the tires on my car and he responded within half an hour with pictures, and made sure I was taken care of. They don't even sell tires, but he made sure that I had all the answers I needed in order to properly communicate with the tire technicians. Will definitely be back. read more

I have dealt with Marin Motors,(Marcel), with my BMWs over 6 years and have always received the best of care. Most importantly, they earned my trust and confidence with my repairs performed by their shop. You are in good hands at Marin Motors. read more

Great experience getting our VW GTI serviced here. Really easy to make a reservation. I actually reached out to two highly recommended places in Mill Valley and they were the most responsive. We had a short window available to wait and they got the job done faster than stated. Good value too. Our new go-to place for a service. Will definitely be going back. Thanks Marin Auto Works team! read more

I brought my car to Marcel for a second opinion after getting a high quote from the dealer for repairs. Marcel recommended I go back to the dealer (and even recommended a service agent's name to reach out to) and ask them to consider doing the repairs for free given the low number of miles on my car. Instead of cashing in on doing the repairs himself, he helped me navigate the dealer and I was able to get a $4000.00 repair done at the dealer for $58.00. The next time I have a repair need, Marcel will be the FIRST call I make. Honest, trustworthy and helpful. Thank you Marcel! read more

I drive a Tesla P85D Ludicrous that eats tires, very expensive tires! So at less than 20,000 miles on the odometer, I got an estimate from Tesla for replacements.... about $1,900. Same tires from TireRack ~ $1,350, and the bill for mounting and balancing at Marin Auto Works, about $155. They are a recommended installer, and their prices are better than the other recommended installers, and their service and courtesy couldn't be better. They called me when the tires arrived, set up an appointment for the next working day, told me it would take 2 hours, and came within 95% of the predicted time, and 100% of the estimated price. The waiting room is comfortable, and the owner's dog, really sweet and friendly. It's a family operation, and the pride is evident. Highly, highly recommended! read more

I have been a faithful customer of Marin Auto Works for a dozen years and their level of service and quality care never ceases to amaze me. They completely transformed a 2000 Mercedes for me in 2008 and since then have assisted with a VW Jetta, three Honda CR-Vs, a Toyota RAV4 and a Prius. Marcel provides expert advice, and something rare these days -- as autos age, he actually advises against repairs. Perhaps the biggest surprise, recently Marcel actually walked up the street to help us with a Prius that would not start. A house-call by the owner ? Wow ! Thank you to Marcel and the team at Marin Auto Works, you are valued members of the Marin community, we love family-owned businesses, and hello world, if you are seeking great advice and professional, reliable service for your Japanese or German automobile look no further ! read more

I could not have had a better experience and can not recommend Marcel and his long-time famiy-owned Marin Auto Works highly enough! We were recently visiting in the area and at night our Acura started steaming and incurring major engine overheat so had to pull off the road. Contacted our family member we were visiting and asked for the name & address of their repair shop to have our car towed there. The next morning that shop told me the radiator and a couple related items needed replacing and gave me a quote that blew me away! I had them wait while I tried checking with some other places, including a dealer, some other local shops and Marin Auto Works. I also called my mechanic at home that I trust to get his estimate. I learned that the shop it was towed to was charging even more than the dealer quoted. The websites form most of the other local shops said they'd call with a few hours. Marcel called me back within 10 minutes, got my info and said he'd call back within 10 minutes with a price. His quote was just under 1/2 of the shop where it was towed and right in line with my mechanic from home. Marcel told me they couldn't take my car until the next day and that he would first determine whether or not it needed everything I had been told. When I brought my car in and met him, he was as friendly, welcoming and enthusiastic as anyone could be. He remembered by name, and remembered and re-stated everything I had told him the day before, reminded me he would check it out first and get back to me. When he confirmed it did need to be done, he restated the price quote he'd given me on the phone and said it would be ready at the end of that day. I felt like I'd won the "I'm a stranger in town but please-be-straight-with-me-auto-repair-shop lottery." What I also learned was that Marin Auto Works has different mechanics that specialize in each of the type of cars they service, so you car doesn't get a generalist, but a mechanic trained in your vehicle. Needless to say, I energetically shared this great find with our family member who lives in the area and who will become a customer of Marcel's too. I realize this is a longer review, but wanted to make sure that it's clear I did not just find "a good deal", but a "great experience." If you're lucky enough to live in the Mill Valley area, or are just visiting, and need auto help, don't hesitate to visit Marin Auto Works and meet your trusted new friend, Marcel. read more

I can't say enough about how great these guys are. Twice now I've showed up at their door in "crisis" mode without an appointment. Both times, Marcel has been amazingly helpful. These folks really understand great customer service and I'm sure they know their cars. And here's the deal: I don't even have a European car! Mine is a rare domestic sports car (Saleen), and it is my baby. When it hurts, I hurt! Marcel has treated me with great courtesy and he instills a sense of confidence that many don't -- there are few people I would leave my car with, but I'd trust these guys not only with my car, but with my checkbook. AND they are great at explaining what's happening with the car, what it needs, what to expect, etc. Absolutely incredible. If you have a European car and it's your baby, you'd be crazy to take it anywhere else. read more

Last week I called MAW and tried to get some satisfaction from them ....(in the form of a NEW CLUTCH).......and to give them a chance to show that they really are a legitimate repair facility........... they hung up when I gave them my name!!! I still have the same "BRAND NEW CLUTCH....NOT"....... in my Mini that MAW said they installed to replace the 'so called defective old clutch".........and that NEW CLUTCH........NOT!!!...... still slips......even though it's only been since October, '10, since it was supposedly installed NEW!!! I GUESS MAW's REPUTATION MEANS NOTHING TO THEM!!! read more

My second experience at this shop and I am very pleased. Today I took my 1996 Honda Civic in for a specific problem and it ended up being so small that they fixed it for free. What is even more impressive is that I know that my car has tons of other problems, some of them obvious, and they didn't try to get me to repair anything else. Very professional, friendly and approachable. read more

This has to be the best shop in Marin. I have dealt with Marin auto works for getting new tires, my cars fixed and oil changed. They are always punctual, deliver excellent service and never take you for a ride like most shop would. Very trustworthy, professional. I recommend them. i will always bring my cars to Marcel. read more

Just had two of my cars done with them and couldn't be happier with the quality of the service and professionalism. It is always a daunting task finding a knowledgeable mechanic on imports that are off warranty. Just a few words with Marcel and I was confident he knows his stuff. Stay away from the "Dealer" and don't let other garages work on your car while "learning"! If you have European imports Marcel is your guy. read more

Excellent service, very attentive and thorough. Very much appreciated the clear outline of the work to be done and what it cost BEFORE doing the work. Marcel was great, very professional and runs a clean shop. Highly recommended if you need a good auto shop in the area. read more

We were on a month-long trip and in the city for only two days. On our last night in town our Honda Odyssey died on an exit ramp and, after finally getting a tow at 2am, had it towed to Marin's because of the good Yelp reviews. Called at 8am to relay what happened and they were already looking at it. After a quick diagnosis of a dead alternator, they were working on the repair in swift fashion and had our family back on the road just after lunch. The quick turnaround meant we didn't lose too much time and because the price was reasonable, we weren't out TOO much money either. Thanks, Marin, for keeping us on pace. read more

Marcel makes taking my car in SO easy. Started here 6 years ago when I bought my Fiat. From oil changes to tire changes - and now the 60K miler, it's always easy and never a surprise. Thank you! read more

First, Pierre took care of my BMW, an old Mercedes-Benz, an 1969 AMC Rambler (yes, you read that correctly), a Peugeot 504, and a VW Golf. How much did I like Pierre? Well, I bought a Tintin print years ago, and had it framed for his grandchildren, so I guess I liked him well enough. Now he's retired, and the son Marcel is piloting the business, and nothing has been lost. Not cheap (is anything cheap anymore?), but very honest, and fast. Bring your car here when it gets out of warranty - you will not regret that decision. read more

I took my car to Pierre a few weeks ago, prompted by the rave reviews here. $800+ later, my car was ok and Pierre was nice, so I felt pretty like I made a good decision. 3 weeks later, my car broke down and I had to have it towed. I'm waiting to hear back from Pierre now, and then I will post my final review. -- 3 months later my car is running, but my transmission is not what it used to be and I paid $800+ to fix it. I want to like Pierre and the gang, but they really earned themselves 2.5 stars. read more

Marcel has the best customer service skills. Very informative and detail oriented. The car was ready in the time frame he mentioned. Excellent service and people skills. read more

I stopped into Marin Auto last week and made an appointment for today to fix a annoying squeak in my car. When I arrived, one of the owners, Marcel, assigned one of his men to take a ride in my car to determine the source of the problem...this included Julian's having to crawl into my back storage department while I drove for a few blocks. Although he wasn't certain he had located the annoyance, when we got back to the shop, a little dab of grease on the door to the rear area, and voila, problem solved...I would have paid a lot to have this taken care of, but no charge, said Marcel...Have a good day....Old world service, today. Bravo!!! read more

We love these guys!! Our business is next door (Kitty Charm School) and our whole staff uses them. They help in a pinch, help with an appt, they are always helping us. Rates are very reasonable & they never talk you into a bunch of stuff you don't need. Terrific people, especially love Marcel. read more

We no longer can recommend Marin Auto Works! We took our Land Cruiser in twice this year, and Marcel could not diagnose the problem, charged us for two visits, and suggested we donate our car! He had been doing the maintenance on our car for the last fifteen years. Luckily, we had the car towed to a mechanic in San Rafael familiar with the model and recommended by a friend, and it turns out the spark plugs were extremely old (how old???), and needed to be replaced (accounting for most of the symptoms). All the car needed was a skilled mechanic to diagnose and fix the problem. Marcel seems burned out. Don't take your car here! read more

Marin Auto works is fantastic, highly recommended. We had trouble with our car and took it to a few different places for a diagnostic and quotes. After meeting Marcel, we felt we were in the right place. Not only did he diagnose the car perfectly, he had a very fair quote. When it came time to fix the car, while he had ordered the parts and could have charged us for them, he found that they weren't needed and charged us much less for only the work he actually did. Marcel was all around helpful. read more

Car problems - these two words seem to go hand-in-hand much too often - are simply no fun, but....we all long for a good, trustworthy workshop to perform general maintenance and repairs. Marin Auto Works is NOT one of those places. After hundreds of $s in repairs that did not address the problem with my car, promises to "make this right", a good number of fruitless visits, phone calls not returned, Marin Auto Works earned this one-star review. If you need your oil changed, filters replaced, tires rotated or new brake pads maybe Marin Auto Works is your place. All said, I finally took my car to Collie Autoworks in San Rafael and my car is now fixed. Collie was extremely professional, honest and competent. Scratch my previous remark, get your oil, tires, brake pads, etc. at Collie Autoworks too! They make the effort to "go the extra yard". read more

Glorious. Wonderful. Ask for Marcel. I am a chick, in the truest, knows nothing about cars sense of the word. I drive a base model 2003 Honda Civic which, to this day, has a flashing "Maintenance Required" light that I happilly ignore. One dreaded morning, Rhonda the Honda wouldn't start. An array of "experts" offered their opnions on the crisis, including my brother, the AAA guy, the tow truck guy, the Honda dealership guy and the plumber working on the house next door. But when my pal Al (at Regalia's Auto Body) hooked me up with a hot tip on Marcel, the clouds parted and the crisis was fixed in 5 minutes. For free. Marcel could've screwed me. He could've charged me an arm and a leg. But truth be told, he opened that hood, saw the stupid problem and fixed it in 2 seconds. So, class act that he is, he didn't charge me. I was flabbergasted. An honest mechanic. Who knew? I baked that boy some cookies, picked up my car and promised to send anyone with a vehicle, working or not, to Marcel... read more

Moved the review from Custom Auto Works, which is the name of the business before the current owner took over. Update on 10 July The excellent service continues. Regrettably, our Volvo station wagon had a dying turbo charger, which needed to be replaced. However, we were made aware of the situation by the owner, Pierre previously, and it was no surprise. Pierre explained the situation clearly with none of the bs and defensive dodging by too many mechanics. Updatde on 4 Apr: Increasing the number of stars from 4 to 5, as they really try to go out of the way to make life easier for its clients. Again, no surprises and courteous service as usual on the same day. I previously wrote: Courteous service and no surprises. The shop itself is impeccably clean and the owner, Pierre is very approachable. What a neighbourhood auto shop should be. read more

Very pleased with the installation experience here for the tires I ordered through tirerack.com. They couldn't have been any nicer and I will definitely use them again. Given the pain it is to get in and out of some places in San Francisco, it is well worth the bridge toll to come here. While waiting, I heard one of the staff on the phone explaining in great detail about mechanical work being done to the customer's car. It felt like the customer could have rebuilt the car based on the information being given. So, they certainly seem very thorough and communicative. read more

I just dropped in to get a headlight replaced and the service was amazing. Very quick, both of the guys who helped me were so nice. They didn't even charge me for labor. I will be coming back for any issues I have! read more

Marcel kept my older Mercedes running way longer (an additional 9 years) than I ever imagined, at a very minimal cost. I was so happy I bought another used Mercedes last year just so I could keep going back to him. He gives reasonable suggestions about when and why to invest money in repairs. He makes you think about your priorities and makes you laugh. For example, when the radio antenna broke he asked, "Do you like the radio stations you CAN get?" and made me reconsider the repair. Who needs every radio station when always on conference calls anyway!? read more

Marcel and his team are a dream to work with! Not only is he a super nice guy, quality and efficient work on my Benz. He doesn't jack up prices and told me where to order my tires and have them sent to the shop. Ah-maz-ing! After dealing with the clown show that is the mercedes dealership in San Rafael, I can't say enough good things about Marin Auto Works! read more

OK. So I was frustrated that my car had just had a clutch replaced and was now all of a sudden not working so great...in the clutch department. I felt like "I paid to get this fixed and 2 weeks later it's not working". You probably have had a similar experience of some kind for something at some point. Marcel was polite, but I was not....and for that I continue to be regretful, but we are human after all. He tried (very professionally) to understand exactly what was wrong, but I felt that was their job and only shared what was wrong without a ton of detail.... Well: he not only outdid himself in figuring out what was wrong he did it with professionalism and genuine CLASS. I walked in today, was presented with a detailed understanding of what was wrong and why; and a fully replaced and repaired clutch all under warranty. This is the kind of Mill Valley business that must be recommended as highly as possible. You can trust Marin Auto Works, and especially its owner Marcel. read more

This is a truly great auto repair shop. They are lovely, helpful, honest and really seem to understand my car. When they can't do something they make no bones about it. They've fixed my Saab and my Nissan. read more