I took my Passat in for a regular check and Doug and Zach found some errors that previous mechanics had made that would've grown into much bigger problems. They were very forthright and fixed everything for a great price. Couldn't recommend more! read more

Took my VW Jetta in for inspection of suspension. Report by service writer (repair estimate was $1889 parts and ~$1800 in labor charges for a total of $3658) stated that it was "dangerous to drive. has broken tie rods, torn boots, and a bent sway bar". The inspection report pictures had 20 of 21 pictures of the exterior of the car and not of any "torn boots, broken tie rods, or bent sway bars." The absence of pictures of any bad parts raised my suspicions, and I decided to take the car to a certified VW dealer to have them inspect the car. The VW dealer report showed NO needed mechanical repairs.i called off work order only to be told "some parts they ordered were unreturnable". WHAT? I've had 50 years of getting cars repaired and NEVER heard this line. BTW, many service writers get commissions. Be very careful. I was a possible victim of an unnecessary repair ruse. I appealed to credit card company and I prevailed. The freaking stones on some of these repair shops is incredible. Do not be fooled by other reviews or cute dogs on their website. This shop is either very unqualified or incompetent or... By the way, the car's Blue Book value is at most $3000, so any self-respecting shop would've said that the repair wasn't worth it. The review by PD M is spot on and is very similar to my experience. Play silly games (try to scam people), win silly prizes (Yelp bad reviews) read more

These guys are great! Was looking for a quality shop to service my 2013 BMW X3, post dealer warranty and VFC has delivered! I've been getting regular service there for years, and just recently Zach and Carlos walked me through a recent issue with the vehicle. Through their critical thinking and step-by-step approach, they got everything solved, and the vehicle performs better than ever. Highly recommend! read more

Just don't take your car here. I had a warranty claim. VFC completed the repair and it cost more than the warranty and basically held my car hostage until the difference was paid. This could have easily been avoided if there was proper communication. I was calling 3x a day for weeks and in the end I was stuck with a $3k bill. This is after the warranty company paid out almost $12k. I cannot attest to the work as I was selling the car, but their bedside manners, customer service and everything else is 1 star. Read all the reviews and you will see many issues. Save yourself time and trouble and just go elsewhere. There are many other places. read more

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! I'm cheap, with a love of high-mileage, aging German cars, so since I enjoy pain, I'm glad to find a repair shop with people I trust. I've been taking my 1998 BMW M3 (240K miles) and 2013 BMW 328XI (170K miles) here for the past 5-6 years for all of my routine maintenance and major servicing. I have primarily worked with Zach and Carlos, who have always been professional, thorough and understanding of what I needed. Pricing has always been fair and they understand that not every German machine is a garage queen or track machine. I have never felt like a service or repair with VFC was not worth the $$ spent. If you want something done right, for less than dealership rates, this is the place in Chicago you need to take your car to, hands down. read more

VFC Engineering - Auto Repair Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If the following mirrors your experience with VFC, my opinion would be to stay away from these guys: I have taken two separate SUVs in for service at VFC. Each time, upon picking up my vehicle, the service writer told me they found a couple of problems with my car. They said that if I get the problem(s) they identified fixed NOW, the cost of repair will be lower. However, if I wait, the problem will become much worse and will cost me LOTS more money to fix, so I better act now! Sound familiar? Read on. I purchased my most recent SUV about one year ago, a Certified Pre Owned from the dealership that came with a warranty from the factory. VFC Engineering said my spark plugs were showing excessive fouling and I needed a coolant flush. They said if I get the work done now, the cost was approximately $1,000. If I wait, they said, the problem will get worse and will cost me much more money to repair. Given that my SUV was/is under Certified Pre Owned Warranty, I took it to the dealer for a second opinion. They pulled two of my spark plugs and showed me, there was no evidence of "excessive fouling" as VFC claimed. They also said I did not have any issue with my coolant. The work VFC Engineering did on my vehicles was adequate, I guess. However, they have lost my trust. If upon picking up your car from VFC Engineering the following sounds familiar 'watch out! You have this or that problem with your car. If you fix it now, the repair cost will be lower. If you wait, this that and the other bad thing(s) will happen so you better do the repair now!", at the very least I would consider a second opinion. For me? They have lost my trust. I will not be going back. read more

This is the only shop I trust. I have been coming here for years and can always expect honesty. My most recent experience, is that my tires needed to be replaced. Zach found tires that were the best bang for my buck and provided the link to purchase. They shipped within a day to the shop and I was back on the road in no time. VFC has serviced 2 Audis of mine and have covered everything from carbon issues, inspection of a used car before I purchased, spark plug issues, camera installation, and Oh Yeah!, A FRIGGIN RAT that crawled up the bottom of my car and died! read more

We have taken our Mercedes into the dealership for 10 years. We came to VFC based on a recommendation from a coworker and I wish we had this recommendation sooner! Everyone working there is so knowledgeable and so kind. The guys there really know their stuff and make me feel so confident in the work done! We have an older car and always felt like paupers going into the dealership. It is really nice not feeling that way and feeling like our car is still a good ride! read more

Yep! As good as it gets! Bring your euro to VFC! German cars are incredible... incredibly practical, incredibly well engineered, incredibly fun to drive, and sometimes, incredibly a pain-in-the-ass to tune, maintain and repair! The crew at VFC know this, and passionately geek out on dissecting issues, discussing modifications, presenting smart options, and getting it all done so you don't have to worry. I purchased an older model modified Audi from Pennsylvania, and drove it 12 hours home (whew!) with little knowledge about it's current maintenance status/needs. Zach coordinated to inspect it, educated me on the mods the previous owner had done, took time to print me a complete run-down of everything needed, and got it up to par quickly so I could enjoy it and comfortably take ownership. Simply, piece of mind. Dealership? No thanks. Been there, done that. These days, I get anxiety just thinking about the random technician, car mishandling, and pretentious overpricing the dealership experience would bring. I'm so very grateful for the technical knowledge, honesty, communication, and BEYOND EXCELLENT customer service each visit. Thanks VFC! See ya next visit! read more

When my wife and I got married in 2012 we purchased a used 2011 vw golf. It had 40k miles on it and was in overall decent shape. Since that purchase we have moved from Chicago to Phoenix, New Mexico, Los Angeles, Maui, and back to Chicago. Through those years of traveling we would always take a road trip back from wherever we were at (except Maui) at least twice per year and every time we came back I brought the car to VFC. Zach would look over the car and let me know the current status of everything that was a problem or might become a problem, if he said it was causing a problem, or he was concerned it could, then I asked him to fix it. Sometimes it seems like people think replacing parts before they completely fail is a waste of money and time, but I doubt those same people think about how much time and money they waste when they brake down on the side of the road. As of today, my 2011 vw golf has 174,593 miles and I have had only ONE Major Failure on the car, and that was when we were living in Maui after we shipped the car on a boat for a month to get there. I don't generally trust businesses, but I do trust individual people who do what they truly love for a living. If it's their life passion, and they pursue it then they probably know it better. I have never walked out of VFC thinking that something could had been done better, or that everything is not in the absolute best shape it can be in- that's the best compliment I can give. read more

I hate to write a bad review because they seem like nice guys, however I was told my car would need a repair and new brakes, neither of which it needed. They stated my rear brakes were "metal to metal" and this raised my suspicions because I should be able to both hear and feel if they were, in fact, metal to metal. I took my car to another auto shop for a second opinion and was told I have 30% left on both front and rear brakes. While nearing the point of replacement, they were certainly not metal to metal. And that the repair that was recommended by VFC was not needed, just something to keep an eye on. I was also frustrated because I took the car in specifically for an electrical issue and that issue was not looked into. read more

It's tough to find a good independent Porsche shop. Zach, Doug, and Carlos are a class act. Total transparency and attention to detail. You will not be disappointed. These guys know their S#!T inside and out. I felt so good after a visit with my new/used Cayenne, that even though this place is almost an hour from my house, I will not go anywhere else. Good guys and a good shop. I know they also work on Audi, BMW, and VW. I'm sure they could handle anything but those are there specialties. Thanks fellas! In the words of the great Arnold Schwarzenegger "I'll be read more

Really nice guys - we have a VW Tiguan that has been serviced here a few times. At one of our visits, they took us in, helped us fix a light and waived the cost. Quicker to get into (and more trustworthy) than the VW dealer. Highly recommend! read more

VFC Engineering is the definition of Excellence! I have been a customer of VFC for years and I can't thank Zach enough for taking care of my car. When I leave my car with Zach I know I am leaving it in good hands. The level of trustworthiness you find at VFC Engineering you will not find anywhere else. My Old Man and I dropped his car at his mechanic once and he told me, "We are not rich to pay for something twice; always look for someone who does the job right the first time, look for quality." So, if you are looking for someone who takes pride on what he does, look no further. read more

This is the only shop my husband and I will take our 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Over the years, my husband and I have taken our car to VFC time and time again for repairs and regular maintenance, and we've yet to be disappointed in this Chicago gem! Zach and Doug, the father-son duo that run this family owned shop, are some of the most genuine people we've had the pleasure of doing business with. They're honest, and have given us the best rates BAR NONE in comparison with other mechanics we've worked with both near and far. They're quick with diagnostics, get the parts in quickly, and the repairs are always done in the expected amount of time, if not, less. Furthermore, the problem has always been fixed the first time around--we've never had to readdress former issues, and they always take time to do a full inspection to ensure our Volkswagen is running smoothly in every aspect. Love this shop. Won't go anywhere else. read more

Great family run business delivering the highest quality service. Any of the negative reviews had to have been left by people that didn't understand this is not a jiffy lube. Honest people that are experts in their craft. read more

This is the place! I have searched high and low for a good mechanic for my aging Passat, and after a few disappointing places, I'm happy to report that VFC surpassed my expectations by a mile! It is a small shop that really cares about their craft and their customers. I can't say enough about their work ethics, they are impeccable. If you are searching for a great team of mechanics, here they are, give them a call. read more

If you take your car here you'll get taken. I have a 2007 Porsche Cayman. I've been taking it to VFC for 4 years for routine maintenance. Which is to say I've been getting my oil changed, since the car hasn't required much maintenance in the last four years. You'll find the operations front man Zach to be very affable and knowledgeable about all things Porsche. On my last oil change I got a call from Zach informing me I needed a new water pump, not too surprising since the car has 55,000 miles on it. When I asked how much he quoted me $2300, which seemed high. He explained he would change the belt, thermostat, tensioner and pulleys for that price. It still seemed pricey so I said I'd be back to pick up the car and schedule the pump change for the following week. I wanted to get a second opinion from Porsche. He explained to me that the car was leaking bad and he just barely made it back to the garage, that I could severely damage the engine and that I would need to sign a release of liability before he would let me take the car. As I said Zach is very affable and I wanted to trust him, so I said go ahead with the repairs. I've worked on cars my whole life, changed many failed water pumps and have never seen one fail so catastrophically without warning, but the Cayman is my first Porsche. I called Zach back 5 minutes later to tell him I wanted to inspect the car before they started the repair, but he said they had already started. I went anyway and saw evidence of a typical water pump failure, calcified coolant in the water pump area, but no evidence of the catastrophic failure Zach had described, liquid coolant should have been everywhere. Zach hasn't made much money on me over the years, and the pump needed to be changed anyway, so I apologized to Zach for not trusting him, and told him to continue, but that I expected the price he gave me would be a fair one and that I would check. When I got home I called the Porsche dealership and asked for a price for the work VFC was doing belt, thermostat, pulleys and tensioner included. They gave me a price $1800 out the door. I called Zach and gave him the bad news and emailed him a copy of Porsche's estimate. Porsche quoted 4 hours of labor VFC 7, Porsche water pump price $300 VFC $500, all the other parts VFC charged 30 to 100% more than Porsche. When confronted with all the evidence VFC refused to budge on their $2300 price for the job, siting their superior expertise and 3 year warranty as being the reason I had to pay more. We agreed to never do business again, unless I had to exercise their 3 year warranty, which I'll bet is as worthless as the rest of their operation. read more

I brought my car in to VFC based on a recommendation, so I had high hopes going in. I drove the car in first thing on a Monday morning during the winter. The staff I dealt with at that time were amicable and friendly. It did not appear too busy and I was told there would be no problem looking into the check engine light issues on my car. I was told I would receive a quote on the work by 3pm. The call never came at 3pm, so I gave them a call at 5pm. They were not able to complete the estimate on-time and I was told it would be tended to first thing the following day and I would receive a call before noon. No call came. I had to call them back again! Surprisingly, they had my quote, no one just bothered to call me. I can live with outside factors causing the estimate/quote to slip, but I have a real problem with not once getting a courtesy call to let me know what was going on. So things were already off to a bad start. They gave me an estimate on the work that would need to be done. They also took it upon themselves to check out my brakes and give me the percentages of what was left. Also stating they were going to rotate my tires for free but could not locate my wheel lock key. A nice gesture. Until I got off the phone and realized. 1) I don't have wheel locks. 2) How could they have checked out my brakes without removing the tires? After getting poor service and then being lied to, I decided to take my business elsewhere. They were not pleased and failed to give me the 10% referral discount off my bill, which I was told I would receive when I brought my car in. A bill which amounted to ~185.00 for the quote and replacing a tail light. I knew this was a specialty shop going in which tended to charge a bit more in-line with what a dealer would for service. But my experience was filled with frustration and disappointment. read more

Overall friendly, clean, and professional up-front. It could be another big plus that they claim they know and service only German vehicles. However, they're supposedly experts in all aspects of these vehicles, and while I wanted to believe that from viewing the race-prepped Porsches inside, a visit there made me think otherwise. The electronic automatic transmission on my car was acting up. Took it to VFC, left it here for TWO days. They couldn't duplicate the problem (they probably only do plug-in diagnostic scans for that "code" garbage), but they became $100 richer. They then proceeded to tell me about all the other things "wrong" with the car and how much they'd charge to repair it ; about on-par if not more than a dealership. I'm not cheap but I stay away from dealers for this kind of behavior. After paying, I entered my car and found it with the seat moved way back and the radio blaring. The last time I ever had that happen to me was years ago when I took an old beater to Pep Boys; "professional" indeed. Transmission problem several weeks later had gotten worse. VFC had the nerve to call me and do a "customer check-up." Not much I could say since they really didn't do anything. These folks seem to profit well from the urban professional, Porsche/Audi/Passat-driving set. The location alone is a give-away; most motorsports enthusiasts don't live in Uptown/Ravenswood or prefer to drive around there. VFC also assumed I worked downtown when they called to ask if I could bring the car in earlier in the day. I said I needed it to stop in at my work in the morning and they weren't pleased with that. VFC also had the nerve to call me AGAIN, several months later. It was a thinly-veiled sales call. No work whatsoever was done to my car by VFC, so what other reason would they have to contact me? You know you're going to a GOOD mechanic when he's busy fixing cars and not calling you long after your car left his shop. See Stan at Grace Automotive. Certified VW-Peugeot-Fiat tech. No B.S there, and he fixes aircooled VWs all the time. Also, if I had read the filtered Yelp reviews of VFC, I would never have gone here. I've learned to fix my own cars because of places like this - get a repair manual and read and you'll be surprised what you know vs what you've been told. read more

I first took my car to an actual BMW dealership to get a simple inspection because my car was shifting hard and wouldlnd tshift fast enough or properly. The BMW dealer told me there was no problems that they can inspect for free that they would need to have the car for an hour and charge me $115 for an engeneer to check it out but not to worry about it. So I went home. A month later I decide to put the car up for sale so needed another inspection just to have at hand for a new customer when I decided to take it here. After they had my car for a whole day. They told me I had a weird transmission problem but couldn't explain to me what it was, because nothing appeared to be wrong. They didn't know what was wrong with my car, but the worst part wad they charged me about $75 more than BMW dealership, they charged me a total of $190 including tax, for an inspection that they did not even do properly because they did not find any problem. When I asked them why are they charging me if they didn't do anything since she told me that the first inspection was free. But she said she still "wasted" her time looking at my car so I need to pay the $175 inspection fee. I wouldn't bring my new BMW here at all. They think they know what they're doing but they couldn't find a problem they said my car had. It didn't make sense to me. A week later my check engine light comes on, & I take it to BMW & they replace my MAF sensor & that made my car ride better & have had no problems since. & BMW actually printed me a report about everything including that the transmission was in perfect shape. & how VFC was wrong & stole my money. I would not recommend. If you have a BMW just pay the extra at the dealer but get it done right. read more

Hard to update this after years, but I have to dramatically lower my recommendation. I've taken my car to VFC for years now, and they've always treated me well. I've taken them in for several major services, giving them, without exaggeration, thousands of dollars in business. However my most recent experience has lost all my trust in them. I was having transmission issues, seemed related to the shifter action - diagnosed it myself and brought it to them to do the actual work. Instead, they said that my car needed a transmission rebuild. This was shocking and disappointing. I limped it home - after paying the $120 labor diagnosis fee - and started to plan to get a new car. Discussing with friends, though, led me to think that I should get a second opinion. I took the car to a dedicated transmission shop - Chicago TransCraft - where they diagnosed it on the spot (for free), and fixed the issue in half a day for $300. My GTI is shifting better than it has ever before, now. I'd noticed declining quality in VFC - sloppy work, leaving tools in my engine bay (?) - but haven't been taking my car there that frequently so it never became an issue. But in this case, their misdiagnosis could have either cost me several thousands of dollars - or my entire car, had I chosen to donate/scrap it per their advice. Really disappointing. Such a huge miss throws into question all of their judgement, and I don't think I can bring my car back to them again - I just don't trust them anymore. read more

Took my 2006 Audi to VFC for the first time a few weeks ago, and was very pleased with everything about it. First off, Zach is very friendly, helpful, and thoroughly while explaining issues and discussing prices. I called at almost 5pm, was still greeted very nicely even though they were about to close, and then had them repair my car the following morning. That's exceptional service! Pricing was even better than my last German mechanic out in Geneva. I had one side of my motor mounts replaced, and they discovered that some of my front control arms were very worn out in the inspection, which my last mechanic didn't notice. Highly suggest!! read more

For almost two years I've been going here for all my auto needs - preventative maintenance, inspection before a road trip, resolving Check Engine lights, and figuring out that weird noise that you heard every time you drive down half-finished Chicago alleys. Zach does a great job of explaining any work that needs to be done. If you're unsure about any service he recommends after an inspection, he'll take the time to explain it so that even a novice with no knowledge about the workings of an international combustion engine can understand. The labor cost is less than the other shops who've provided quotes for the same services and repairs. Plus, the location is conveniently located near the CTA Brown Line, which is great for scheduled pick-up and drop-off if you work downtown. Overall, I don't think there's a better place in Chicago to get your German car fixed. read more

Nice shop with very friendly staff. I used VFC to do some maintenance on a Porsche my grandfather had left me and my experience was very pleasant. I brought the car into them to have them look it over and see what they suggested I have performed since the car had been sitting for some time. Robin suggested I Leave my car with them and allow their mechanics to look over the car. They did inform me of the charge to inspect the car and also let me know that if i did have the car repaired with them the fee would be waived. I received a call the following day from Robin who asked if i had time to go over some of the items they suggest having replaced for what they called preventive maintenance and also what they said had to be done right away to keep the car in great running condition. Robin informed me the first thing I needed to have done was the oil changed since the car had been sitting for about 2 years. A new battery since she said the old battery had what her mechanic said was swelling? Not sure what this is but I did have to jump the car several time to have it brought over to their shop. Also to change out the tires on the car since what I have on the car are snow tires and they are starting to crack on the sides she said. Robin also stated that she would show me all of these issues in person if i had the time to stop in just in case I did not understand what she was talking about. I decided to check the prices for tires so I knew a price range I was going to be in. Robin called me with the prices for the total repairs that needed to be done including 4 new tires which left me driving away ($1640.00) poorer then when I stopped in but feeling much safer while driving. : ) Their prices were cheaper then the dealer for all the services they performed and I'm not talking about a couple of bucks let's try several hundred dollars cheaper. I opted not to do some of the other repairs right away since I don't have a money tree in the back yard. The other services they suggested was to flush out all the coolant and transmission, along with a alignment on the front and rear with some minor suspension work. My experience was very pleasant with Doug and Robin at VFC. I'm not saying I'm looking forward to my next visit but at least I know I have found a reliable repair shop with competent employees who know what they are doing. read more

I have been taking my Audi Q5 to VFC Engineering for six years after a friend recommended them. Very thorough with the entire process. They do an overall inspection and advise on the problem and repair. Recent repair was for an oil leak that required a valve cover gasket (I also had the rear shocks replaced and the oil changed). Zach and Carlos typically provide an estimate for parts and labor in a timely fashion as well as quick turnaround.These are car guys that guarantee their work and provide quality service. I will be back!!! read more

I couldn't agree more with the first reviewer. This specialty shop has taken in my newly purchased 64 Karmenn Ghia and has treated her with exceptional care. My car has a 6-volt generator that was sucking the life out of the battery. They recommended I switch to a 12-volt alternator. Yes, it could devalue the value of the car, but I trust Doug and his crew. If you have a VW, Porsche or Audi (or even a race bike), bring it to them. You will receive honest feedback AND great customer service. Imagine that...... read more

This place is a hidden gem. If you have a German car and want a reliable honest assessment of your car's issues and practical advice on needed repairs and regular maintenance , this is the place. Friendly, informative and smart team. I wouldn't take my car anywhere else read more

I brought in my 2010 beetle to get my front brakes done, which was recommended by a dealer. The prices at the dealer were too high so i needed a second opinion. After my car was inspected by vfc, i receive a call from Zach and he gave me a run down on my brakes and other things that were critically wrong with my car. I agreed to get some extra work done, but nervous about my decision financially. When i came in the pick up my car, Zach took the time to spell out what was wrong with my car and why things needed to be done. He even showed me my old parts and educated me on what was wrong with the parts and compared them to newer parts. With that said, it made me more comfortable about the extra costs. He even helped me a little on the price since i wasnt planning on the extra work. I really appreciate it. Really nice people there and they work pretty fast! I didn't feel like I was taken advantage of as a single girl not knowing about cars at all. I will be coming back! read more

These guys know their stuff! I have a 2002 Jetta TDI (diesel), and while I might appear to be the type of girl who doesn't know what's going on under the hood, believe me, I make it a point to learn, to do my research and understand my car. Despite opportunities to attempt to convince me that stuff that could be done needs to be done, VFC engineering has always made it a point to be extremely forthright and honest with me. They are friendly, knowledgable, reasonably priced, and they have 2 awesome black labs that love people! It is important to me to have a good, trusting relationship with my mechanic, and I am absolutely thrilled to have found VFC Engineering! read more

I have a love-hate relationship with my 2002 Audi, and VFC is the reason I can continue loving it. They've done a great job of servicing my A6 and fixing its many problems (why I hate my Audi). VFC is not cheap, but they're great. They're also very good about documenting the complete health of my car and pointing out issues it has but which don't need to be addressed immediately. On the one occasion when a problem resurfaced a few months after getting fixed, they stood by their warranty and redid the entire fix and more! Robin and Zach treat me very well each time I'm there and I wouldn't go elsewhere. I can only hope that I find someone as reliable as VFC when I move back East. What can I say? After 11 years and 140k miles, I still love my Audi! read more

Zach, Doug and Carlos care about my 1985 Porsche 944 as if it was their own vintage ride! I started going 2 years ago, and my car has never preformed better. When you are told what historically happens to your specific model because of their experience with Porsches, you listen and believe. Thank you guys! read more

I brought my 2011 mini copper into VFC based on buddies recommendation. It was the first servicing post warranty on the car. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. BMI Shop is very convenient to both metra and cta line. They even went the extra distance investigating some work that had been done by the dealer. Repairs were done quickly and at a very reasonable cost. About 2 weeks after the service I had a "check engine" light indicator - they hooked it up to their computer systems only to discover I need to make sure gas cap is securely tightend. (no cost) Highly recommend read more

I completely recommend VFC. Of course, I hate going there, only because that means my car has broken down or has some other problem, but I do like going there because I know they will find the problem. Other places try the band-aid approach of replacing a part only to have the problem recur. I've even had a major reoccuring problem and they have worked diligently to fix it. In one case, they didn't charge me for a few days work since they hadn't found the root of the problem. Doug, Robyn, Joe and the rest are great, friendly and care about your car. They are not the cheapest place around, but do you really want to take your car to the cheapest spot? I'd rather have these experts on the job, than have someone who doens't care or a stealership who could care less out my vehicle. Basically, if you care about your VW, Audi or Porsche, bring it here. Plus its always cool to see the trailor out front as they get ready for a weekend at the track. read more

Been a customer for years, Zach and team have always been fair and trustworthy. They are very knowledgeable and transparent on costs. The quality of their work and parts has kept my old 325i going. I would recommend them for any luxury car owners in the area! read more

Let me start by saying VFC Engineering kicks ass when it comes to doing any type of custom modifying to your Volkswagen or Porsche I had my Porsche serviced here many times and Doug has always went out of his way to find me part's and make sure I leave his shop a happy customer. Robin is just to die for when it comes to customer service she is a total delight to deal with she will tell it how it is and is quick to get on the guy's asses if something is not up to par with the work they are performing. I have found that it is best to call ahead if you can and make an appointment to get a serious Mod done this way they can fit you in with the everyday regular repair customers who are beating down their door. The towing service they have is available 24 hours I learned that first hand when I broke down all they up in Galena, IL and needed my car towed back they were able to come out and pick me up. They did seem a little hesitant at first until i mentioned i was being towed back to VFC for repairs. To sum it all up VFC is a great local repair shop tucked away in the Ravenswood area. You will not go away unhappy for VFC. read more

I can't recommend this shop enough. Zach was really kind and went above and beyond explaining the needed repairs. He didn't talk down to us and took as much time as we needed to understand what was going on. read more

Fantastic customer service! They take the time to explain everything. Great communication. Friendly and professional! If you have a german car this is the only place you should let near it! read more

Please read this carefully before going to VFC... When I bought my 2005 Audi A4 Cab, I took it to VFC to have them inspect the car. They rebuilt the cooling system and advised me to watch a few parts that would need to be changed soon. They walked me through the repairs, showed me what they were doing, and were extremely nice. I was delighted by their apparent knowledge of my car and was excited that I finally found a good garage that I could trust! When I came back 6 months later for a simple oil change, I asked them about the airbag light that was back on (they cleared it the first time which is exactly what needed to be done). Zach told me he would send me a detailed quote on the work to fix the airbag. I never received that quote. I came back once again for the following oil change. That time, Zach told me that "my admission lines" needed to be changed. I am not a mechanics but I like to know what is done on my car, so I asked for a detailed quote on the "admission lines" change. I never received it. That's when I started to be suspicious of their work. I googled "admission lines audi a4" but couldn't find anything interesting. I took my car to a different garage with amazing reviews not to far from VFC and asked them to check the car. And they said the car was absolutely fine! So I kept my car to the new garage and stopped going to VFC. A few weeks ago, my car showed a "low coolant" warning. So I took my car to VFC since the repair was under warranty. Zach greeted me very nicely, as usual, and said they would take care of it. The same day, I stopped by and he told me the repair would be covered by the warranty because the coolant flange was leaking. But he warned me that my bushings were worn and my front brake rotors were so rusty that if I needed to brake, they would not operate. I thanked him for his advices and told him that my main focus was to fix the coolant leak. He insisted that the work he wanted to do on the car was "safety issue" and he would have to specify on the invoice that this was a safety issue and I declined to address it. I still declined the work. I just wanted my coolant leak to be fixed. After a couple days to receive the part, Zach called me in the check what the issue was. Apparently, the coolant flange was actually fine, but the engine part that connects to the coolant flange was pitted, preventing the seal between the flange and the engine. The solution he offered was to take the engine apart and refinish the part. This would be a very costly operation. He also offered to try to use "silicone sealant" to fix the issue, but it would not be covered by the warranty. Zach tried to apply the sealant twice. It failed twice. So he called me back and told me that the only solution was to take the engine apart. I told him that I wanted a second opinion before spending more than $1500 on the car, so I just wanted to drive the car to my current mechanics to ask him to fix the issue now that I knew it was not covered by the warranty. Zach refused to let me drive the car, calling for safety issues. He offered to put the car on a truck to there for free, which was really nice of him. But then he gave me the invoice for the repair. He not only charged me for the silicone sealant, but also for the coolant flange that they misdiagnosed and was supposed to be covered by the warranty! I told him that I would not pay nor sign the invoice but he pressured me into signing it saying that he would not return the car to me otherwise. So I paid and signed (which was a mistake) the $700 invoice for a not repaired car. The day that followed, he dropped the car to my mechanics who diagnosed a leaking heater hose that fixed everything in 24h for $350. I sent an email to Zach asking for a refund. He refused to give it to me since I "agreed on the repair". I contacted the Better Business Bureau about the issue, but VFC never reached back out to them so they had to close the incident. Do not take your car there. These people don't have your best interest in mind. read more

Love VFC. Always have done great work. Unfortunately this morning I found out they have stopped working all air cooled engines though. So if you have a beautiful vintage 911 or cherry Beetle from the 70's, its now gotten a little tricky on how to get it worked on in the city. Right now my beautiful bug is sitting in the shop at Grace Auto Repair on N. Pulaski next to slick Ghia. Fingers crossed. Thanks for all the good times VFC. But please find an air cooled mechanic. The more of these beautiful vintage german cars we can have on the streets of Chicago the better!! read more