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    Mesa West German Auto Center

    4.7 (63 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

    Services - Mesa West German Auto Center

    Auto general diagnosis

    Auto no-start diagnosis

    Auto noise diagnosis

    Mesa West German Auto Center Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - Mesa West German Auto Center

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    New engine rebuild and even brought home a leg souvenir on the way home. It still makes me laugh.

    These guys have fixed my VWs most of my life and my father's as well. They are amazing and always helpful in spreading knowledge. I'm sure they don't like it but I love hanging out when they are working on my bus. Great service and amazing people. Great value on every service.

    1978 vw bus
    Chuck S.

    Norm and the guys at Mesa West are truly amazing. Always professional and kind! They have worked on our 1978 bus (Westy) and our Porsche Speedster replica. Always great work and done right the first time. They are a pleasure to work with and the most knowledgeable and professional shop in town. When it comes to classic VW work they are probably the best in Orange County. Can't recommend them enough!

    Randy L.

    Norm has always gone above and beyond, with kindness and patience. He treats me like I'm special, but somehow I get the feeling that he does that for everyone, so I don't even know how that's possible. Sam is also a pleasure to deal with, and always seems happy to talk to me, even though my car and I have presented them with endless headaches and scheduling challenges. Thanks so much for everything!

    Like all the other reviews say, this place is the real deal for classic VW. Have had my 76 bus there 5 or 6 times and always super happy. Prices are very fair and they won't sell you what you don't need. They are busy so make sure to call and make an appointment. Totally recommend.

    Got to take my '66 Beetle out on my birthday. Painted by Norm at Mesa West 22 years ago!
    Mark R.

    Norm and his guys did a minor exterior restoration on my '66 beetle a long time ago, in the late 90's, and it still looks amazing. A testament to really great work. Mesa West has some history. I couldn't leave a Yelp review back then so I'm doing it now, haha. Thanks, Norm.

    Yippeee!!!

    Norm and his son Brian are so comprehensive in the repairs, and fair in their pricing, they must be the last honest shop left in California.! You would be a fool to go anywhere else trust me! I did before, and they did subpar work and charged way too much!! Go See Stormin Norman!! You we be happy you did!..

    Mesa West German Auto Center. Still committed to keeping these rad air-cooled machines on the road. Real VW shops are a dying breed.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Norm is a great guy. Very good to the VW community for many years. Sadly, he's calling it a career He will be missed.

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Mesa west has been there for just under 50 years and I hope they are around for the next generation!

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    Got me back on the road. After driving our '74 Bus 1,000 Miles from Colorado Mesa West got me back on the road and going again. Perfect!

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    5 years ago

    Only place to bring your classic VW. Had disc brakes installed in my 70 bus. Make an appointment in advance and you will be set.

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    14 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Great skills, great service, great people. They're the only place I think of for my 1963 black deal with a bunch of patina on her.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Mesa West German Auto Center

    My wife and I want to travel through Mexico, Baja, and ultimately Costa Rica. Can anyone recommend a VW van that will be reliable, economical, and comfortable (sleeping, living, chilling, etc)? Thanks so much

    Hello yes , I've had my 1976 VW Westfalia for 18 years now and I must say traveling has been easy in any Westfalia set up. These machines are reliable as long as you check up in them and be on top of any maintenance.

    View All 3 Questions

    Review Highlights - Mesa West German Auto Center

    Sometimes I had a trip planned and yup something goes wrong, call Norm and he gets me back on schedule!

    Mentioned in 26 reviews

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    Performance Auto Service & Repair

    Performance Auto Service & Repair

    5.0
    (284 reviews)

    I can't express how grateful I am for Performance Auto Repair in Costa Mesa. Even though I live all…read morethe way in Chino, something about their reviews made me feel like I could trust them -- and I was right. When my SUV overheated and the engine failed, I was overwhelmed. But the moment I spoke with them, it felt like a weight lifted. They understood exactly what was happening before they even saw the car. Instead of pushing a costly $6,000 engine replacement, Byron found a way to rebuild the engine through a machine shop, saving me thousands. That kind of honesty is rare. The repairs took time, but they never rushed. They kept us updated, checked every detail, and refused to release the vehicle until they were absolutely sure there were no leaks, no issues, no surprises. After dealing with another shop that returned our Honda Pilot with oil leaks, this level of care meant everything. What stood out most was their integrity. Their kindness. Their commitment to doing the right thing even when it takes longer or costs them more effort. If we lived closer to Costa Mesa, we'd bring every one of our vehicles here without hesitation. There truly aren't enough words to describe how thankful I am for Byron and his team. They didn't just fix my SUV -- they restored my trust in what an honest auto shop can be.

    I recently moved to Costa Mesa, and when I discovered power steering fluid all over the ground, I…read moreneeded to find a mechanic quickly. With plenty of shops nearby, I went through the reviews and Performance Auto immediately stood out. People consistently mentioned their honesty, expertise, and customer service, and my experience lived up to those reviews. They were able to diagnose and repair the issue within a few hours, kept me informed throughout the process, and clearly explained what was happening. Since several different things could have caused the leak, I appreciated how thoroughly they evaluated it and accurately identified the problem. Luckily, it turned out to be a relatively minor repair. Everyone was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful during a stressful situation. The repair also cost much less than I anticipated, which was a welcome surprise. It's great to already have a local mechanic I can trust, and I'll definitely be returning to Performance Auto for any future automotive needs.

    Harbor Auto Service Center

    Harbor Auto Service Center

    4.9
    (462 reviews)

    This has become my new trusted mechanic for all of our car needs…read more As a woman who has driven used cars for most of her life, going to a trusted mechanic is hard to find. I used to go to mechanics in Santa Ana but was not always able to get the services I needed. Now with a new car, I was tired of getting price gouged for a simple oil change at the dealership. At Harbor Auto Service, Mike and John get the job done at an affordable price and take customer service to the next level. For example, when you have already paid and are all set, they park the car right outside for you and send you on your way. They are respectful and take the time to explain what is wrong with the car and give you plenty of options. They also have a nice waiting room with a tv, couches, and offer water as you wait. I have been here twice, and each time has been pleasant. I am already recommending them to all of my friends and family as a solid, trusted choice!

    If I could give zero stars, I would give it…read more Mike at Harbor Auto is a complete fraud and does what he can to steal your money. I made the mistake of taking my car back to Harbor Auto after an issue with a new battery that they installed for me a few years ago which died literally a few days later because they messed up putting things back together. Fast forward to my latest predicament. A few weeks ago, my car was dying on the freeway. Had no idea what was going on, but noticed it was not going higher than 1800 RPMs and not going higher than 2nd gear. It put itself into protective mode. I managed to get myself to an Autozone and they scanned the car and got a few codes outlining what the issue was. I said I would get it to a mechanic in the morning. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of taking it to Mike at Harbor Auto. The codes Autozone provided were: P2191 and P1326 and then some commentary about it being my PCV Valve that needed replacing too. I showed these codes/printout to Mike and he said "don't worry, we'll take a look and get it figured out". I waited nearly the whole day before I called Mike to get an update, he said he would call me back with updates "soon". He then called me about 20 mins later suggesting that it might be my catalytic converter that might need replacing. I was curious because there was no indication that my catalytic converter was an issue. I looked up prices on my own to get an idea of what the price range could look like while waiting for Mike to call me back. He calls back and confirms "its definitely your catalytic converter and I'm not sure if you're going to want to put up the $$$ to replace it." He then quotes me $3,175.00 for a a new catalytic converter. I'm floored because the research I did for my car (2011 Hyundai Sonata LE) was approx $1200 for a Hyundai converter or something between $800-1000 for a 3rd party converter. I was already pissed by this point. I just told Mike I'm taking the car back and to leave it alone. I knew he was trying to literally swindle me and I don't know why. Maybe he just didn't want to do the work on the car? Maybe he had NO idea what he was doing? Either way, this just confirmed that I would never go to Harbor Auto Service again. I spoke with my neighbor whose a mechanic as a hobby that night, told him everything that was going on and he agreed that Mike was trying to bamboozle me for the money! He gave me a great suggestion which was to get a second opinion which is exactly what I did. I then took it where he takes his cars which is literally right next door to Harbor Auto to a place called Costa Mesa Transmission. He let the owner Arturo know that I was coming. I took my car to Arturo the following morning and I gave him the same rundown of what was going on. He did some research on the codes from the scanner the other day and calls me back within 2 hours of drop off saying they can't do anything with the car BUT that there was a warranty/recall situation with Hyundai related to my scanned codes. He said I should call Hyundai service first to see if they could take a look at the car which is exactly what I did. Hyundai took the car and it was indeed covered under one of their warranties/recall notices. So everything was going to be covered by Hyundai for free. Arturo also did not charge me a dime when I went to pick it up and take it to Hyundai. THIS IS THE TYPE OF PERSON I WISH TO DO BUSINESS WITH IN THE FUTURE!!! PLEASE AVOID HARBOR AUTO SERVICE AT ALL COSTS!!! TAKE YOUR CAR NEXT DOOR TO COSTA MESA TRANSMISSION INSTEAD!!! SEE ARTURO!!! They do standard work like oil changes, etc and a lot of other work besides just transmissions. You will be saving money and grief by avoiding Harbor Auto Service. I knew from the jump that it was a mistake to take it back to Harbor, but I was desperate to find a place that opened early in the morning. When I should've literally drove my car another 20 feet in the same driveway and taken it to Costa Mesa Transmission. @Mike, I want my $160.00 you charged me back as a refund. You honestly should be ashamed of yourself for attempting to gouge your customers the way you tried with me. Absolutely shameful.

    ExperTec Automotive

    ExperTec Automotive

    4.6
    (422 reviews)

    I've come here twice and have been happy with the service. Mostly because my car is returned to me…read morewithin a decent timeframe. I was going somewhere else prior and they would keep my car the entire day for a basic oil change. The first time I came after having my car serviced elsewhere and heard an odd sound when I got it back. I asked ExperTec if they could get my car back to me by the end of the day and they weren't sure, however I did get my car back within a few hours. I think they're priced fairly compared to other places in the area. I like that they're open on weekends too. I'm not a mechanic by any means but I'm also super wary of being taken advantage of which happens almost every where I go. I will say they did tell me my car passed their inspection then tried to recommend a bunch of services I'd had done recently. They didn't push me to get them or try to scare me into thinking my car was going to explode if I didn't do the recommended services lol. I've recommended this place to a couple people and they've been happy too so I think they're pretty good overall.

    Came here to drop off my Jetta -- been coming here for years, they are HONEST…read more In the age of AI and all the bells and whistles , you yearn for authenticity and old school environment where word is your bond This is that place. I've known Gary for over a decade - the culture in this company is one that fosters long term Employees like Gary who love to work there I'll only service my cars here

    DNZ Automotive

    DNZ Automotive

    4.6
    (161 reviews)

    I am so grateful for this place. I don't know much about cars, but Aaron made the whole experience…read moreentirely easy and stress-free for me. He has wonderful manners, and his clear communication, explanations and attentiveness made me feel so looked after. I felt like he went above and beyond by fixing things I didn't even ask for, all for what I believe is more than a fair price. His kindness and professionalism really stood out, and my car seems to be running perfectly now. Thank you, Aaron and DNZ.

    I previously left a five-star review because I had a good experience here. At the time, EU was…read morehonest enough to tell me I didn't need a tire rotation, which saved me money as a student. Because of that, I came back for multiple oil changes. Unfortunately, my most recent visit was completely different. I was charged a high price for what should have been a simple oil change and cabin/air filter replacement, and I ended up waiting about two hours for the work to be completed. After talking it through with someone more familiar with car maintenance, it became clear that I was likely overcharged for a job that should have been quicker and more reasonably priced. What made the experience worse was the interaction before my appointment. When I asked for clarification about being told I may need "air," EU laughed at me for asking. I'm neurodivergent and sometimes take things more literally, so I was just trying to confirm whether I was being charged for something that is often free. Instead of explaining, I felt mocked for asking a simple question. Because of this experience, I no longer feel comfortable or confident returning here. I'm sharing this as a caution for other customers--especially women and neurodivergent people--who may not be as familiar with car maintenance and rely on mechanics to be honest, respectful, and transparent.

    Mesa West German Auto Center - autorepair - Updated August 2026

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