The coolant expansion tank on my E46 -- and if you know, you know: the E46 is arguably the best…read more3-series BMW ever made, the last one built before the brand decided that every car needed to look like it was designed by an angry PlayStation -- exploded in the parking lot of the Oakland Whole Foods. Not overheated. Not leaked. Exploded, in the way that E46 cooling systems eventually do, because BMW in its infinite German wisdom decided to make critical cooling components out of plastic that becomes brittle after fifteen years and then shatters without warning while you're deciding between organic and conventional blueberries and wondering why "baby" bok choy here were the size of my fist. AAA towed it. The dispatcher pulled up the list of nearby shops and Wise Auto Tech had the best ratings and could look at it that day, which on a Friday afternoon in the Bay Area is the mechanical equivalent of getting a same-day dermatologist appointment. It also happened to be blocks from my Berkeley pied-à-terre, which felt like the universe apologizing for the parking lot coolant geyser. Not much to say beyond the basics, and in a shop review the basics are everything: they were friendly from the moment I walked in. They finished the job the next business day. The bill came in at the low end of what I'd been quoted online by other shops, which in 2026 -- a year in which every dollar has been asked to do the work of about a dollar forty -- matters more than it should. I felt slightly guilty asking about the 10% AAA labor discount, the way you always feel slightly guilty asking for a discount from people who are clearly already being fair, but they didn't bat an eye. Here's the detail that stuck with me: when I picked the car up, I noticed they'd plugged in a loose fog light wire -- something that had come undone during an ill-advised encounter with a parking block weeks earlier, something I hadn't mentioned, something that had nothing to do with the cooling system. They saw a loose wire and they plugged it in. That's the kind of thing that tells you more about a shop than any Yelp rating ever could. It means someone under that hood was actually looking, not just fixing the thing they were paid to fix and closing the hood and moving on. Quick, friendly, honest, reasonably priced, and fastidious. That's the whole list of things you want from a mechanic, and most shops manage two or three of them on a good day. Wise hit all five. Recommended.

I can't believe I haven't yet reviewed Wise Auto Tech. I've been taking my car to Wais, owner of…read moreWise Auto Tech, for about 15 years now. My car is 25 years old, and still running like a champ, thanks to the expertise and quality work consistently performed by Wais and his team. Wais and his team are knowledgeable and well-versed in all things automotive, honest, and their pricing is fair. You don't have to worry about being ripped off here or sold on things you don't need. My partner and my partner's neighbor have also been loyal customers of Wais for years. I spoke with another customer while waiting one time who has been a customer for nearly 30 years. Wais has a loyal following, and for good reason. On top of being a great mechanic, Wais is also a genuinely nice, stand-up guy, and always pleasant to talk with. My car is my baby, and I wouldn't trust it to just anyone. I am confident entrusting it to Wais and his team, and recommend them for all your automotive needs.

I am extremely disappointed with my experience at Precision People's Car Repair…read more I brought my vehicle in specifically because the right turn signal was not working. Before taking it to the shop, I had already replaced the bulbs myself, and when that did not solve the problem, I suspected an electrical issue. I explained this clearly when I dropped the car off and specifically asked them to diagnose the electrical problem related to the turn signal. When I arrived, Brian informed me that every vehicle receives a diagnostic inspection. That seemed reasonable, especially if it would lead to identifying and repairing the turn signal issue. I dropped my car off at 9:30 a.m. on May 22 and did not receive a call until approximately 30 minutes before closing. When I arrived to pick it up, I was charged $250 for a diagnostic report. To my surprise, the report did not identify the turn signal issue at all--the very reason I brought the vehicle in. I was told there was no electrical problem and that the turn signal simply needed new bulbs. This was frustrating because I had already replaced the bulbs and had specifically informed them of that fact. I then learned that they had not removed any components necessary to thoroughly inspect the front turn signal wiring because doing so would require additional labor charges. My concern is not that additional labor may have been required. My concern is that no one contacted me during the day to explain that a proper diagnosis of the issue would require additional work and authorization. Instead, I was presented with a $250 bill at the end of the day and left with the same unresolved problem I arrived with. Fortunately, my regular mechanic eventually returned my call. I took the vehicle to him, and he quickly found the actual issue: an electrical fault behind the front right wheel well. The repair cost me $150 and immediately fixed the turn signal. Afterward, I called Brian and explained what had happened. He told me he would discuss the matter with the owner and call me back regarding a resolution. As of today, I have never received that call. I understand that diagnostics take time and that not every problem is immediately obvious. However, charging a customer $250 while failing to investigate the specific issue they requested, incorrectly concluding there was no electrical problem, and then failing to follow up after promising to do so is unacceptable. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Precision People's Car Repair.

AVOID. My plug-in hybrid was having charging issues, so I took it to Precision People's. BIG…read moreMISTAKE. First red flag: They wanted to charge me to change the brake fluid and head gaskets. I'm not exactly a master mechanic, but I'm pretty sure those things have nothing to do with charging a plug-in hybrid, so I said no thank you to those suggestions. Second red flag: After charging me $350 to "diagnose" the charging issue, they tell me the problem is the charging cord is broken (the portable cord in the trunk for 3-prong outlets), and they want to charge me to replace it. I tell them that can't possibly be the problem because I don't use that cord to charge the car. So they come back with a different problem. Actually, a couple different problems. The explanation keeps shifting, and they're being rather... vague. Finally, they settle on a broken charging port harness. Their estimate is that it's going to cost thousands of dollars to fix it, and by the way, they add, it might end up costing more than their estimate. I'm getting the feeling something ain't right, so I talk to another mechanic about it. When I mention Precision People's and their fishy diagnosis, he chuckles and tells me, "Trust your instincts" (exact quote). So I take it to the Ford dealer, who charges $250 (less than Precision People's) to diagnose the problem. Turns out it's not the charging port harness at all. It's a completely different part, and the dealer's estimate is $500 to fix it. I show them the paperwork from Precision People's, and they tell me in no uncertain terms that Precision People's doesn't know what they're doing. I send the dealer's diagnosis paperwork to Luis at Precision People's, and Luis emails me back. He claims it's actually the Ford dealer who has it wrong. He says (I'm quoting exactly): "These types of faults can be particularly challenging to identify, even for experienced hybrid and electrical specialists like ourselves." So I have Ford fix it. And they do. It cost exactly $499.91, and now the car charges properly. I email Luis at Precision People's to tell him the Ford dealer fixed it, and that the car's charging fine now. I attach a copy of the dealer's paperwork with my receipt showing what I paid for the repair. I ask Luis to refund me the money he charged me for his bogus diagnosis, and I point out that they were going to charge me thousands of dollars to "fix" something that wasn't wrong. Luis refuses to refund me the money they charged me for the bogus diagnosis. According to Luis (again, exact quote): "I'm sorry we aren't able to refund any diagnostic testing charges. You paid for a block of testing time and that is what we provided." So, when you pay Precision People's a chunk of money to diagnose your car, you should know that you are not actually paying them to give you a correct diagnosis. Instead, you are paying them for the privilege of having your car in their shop for a day or two. They don't think they actually have to give you a correct diagnosis, and they might want to charge you thousands of dollars to "fix" something that isn't wrong. EDIT: Luis responds (exact quote): "Diagnoses can evolve as more evidence is uncovered." Luis, I don't want the diagnosis to "evolve as more evidence is uncovered." It's a car repair, not a murder investigation. I want the mechanic to get it right the first time, like the dealer did. You guys ordered the charging port harness; you charged me a $466 deposit, and it was going to take two weeks to get one. I had to tell you to cancel the order, remember? What if I hadn't gone to Ford? At what point in your evolving diagnosis would you have finally discovered that wasn't the problem? You're right about one thing: Diagnosing these cars is hard. That's why an honest mechanic would have said, "We're not qualified to diagnose this; I recommend you take it somewhere else."

I have been to Berkeley Bob's about three times now and every visit has been very smooth and…read morethorough. Intake is usually done by Leo who is very communicative and honest when it comes to what's going on with my car. He never has any issues answering all of my questions even if it was something that he may have already explained and he is ready to explain it in a different way to help me understand. I am also grateful that they showed me how to use CARFAX- I wouldn't have known about it otherwise even though I've been to 3 or 4 other facilities prior to starting service with Berkeley Bob's in 2025 or 2024. Also, they are one of the only non-corporate service/auto repair centers close to me that services Hyundais with very reasonable prices!

Berkeley Bobs are first class auto repair! They did a very efficient and thorough job on my Toyota…read morePrius and did not try to upsell me anything that was not needed. Leo was a very nice guy and they are super honest. I highly recommend Berkeley Bobs!

New to the East Bay with a Lexus. Berkeley Minicar is reasonably priced, clearly explained service,…read moreprompt, and friendly service. (huge contrast to overpriced at Coliseum Lexus dealership in Oakland).

Charged 50% more than the Honda dealership for scheduled maintenance, tried to pad part prices by…read more2.5 times what the dealer quoted for genuine OEM part, and tried to sell services that were not necessary. It's one thing to charge labor rates that exceed the Honda dealership, but if a shop is charging 2-3 times the genuine Honda part price...it is owned by scumbags.

Carlos and his crew helped me when I was stressed out about my car. He fixed my compressor and…read morelower ball joints. My car is so much better thank you so much for your great business and quality work. I will be back.

Worst service. Damaged the exterior of my vehicle but didn't…read moreacknowledge it until I pointed it out and refused to try to fix the issue. Recommend finding a different shop.

Super honest. Ive brought my car in there twice and left with a fix cheaper than the estimate. My…read moreother mechanics was gonna charge 1000 for a repair he estimated 600, but ended up costing only just over 400. Very knowledgeable and friendly, works on a wide variety of cars and their coresponding quirks.

They recommended brake pads and rotors and I don't even need brake pads much less rotors. They said…read morethey were at 15% and they're at 44%. I had them checked out by a brake specialist.

Thank you Brad for the excellent service and quick turn around. A convenient, honest place.read more

My parents have been taking their cars here since the beginning, probably 40 years now. I recently…read morestarted taking my car here myself. Art's Automotive is good but unfortunately there is one service advisor who seems too pompous, which probably explains some of the bad reviews. He only answered my questions reluctantly and just didn't seem like he wanted to be there at all. When observing the other service advisors, they all seemed enthusiastic and even cheerful, whereas this guy seemed grouchy with a 'I can't be bothered' attitude, which seemed so out of place given the good things I had usually heard about Art's over the years. Luckily, if you bring your car here, you are not necessarily guaranteed to get this guy as your service advisor and you might get one of the other guys, all who frankly are a lot better. The techs here really know cars (hybrid). Prices here are not the cheapest, but still lower than the dealership of course. The work was done satisfactorily and they don't do things like try to sell you extra services that you don't really need.

I just want to give a big thank you to the team at Pele's Muffler Works for the great job they did…read moreon my catalytic converters. Their customer service was top-notch--very friendly, helpful, and honest every step of the way. The prices were extremely fair, and it's clear they truly care about their customers rather than just making a quick buck. I'm really glad I took the time to read their reviews before going in, because now I see exactly why they're rated so highly. I'll definitely be recommending Pele's Muffler Works to anyone who needs quality work and genuine service! Pele even saved the 02 sensor to show me how burnt out they were. Truly a very honest person, please if you want to have any services done that they provide I truly would recommend Pele's! Outstanding honest, caring person that loves to see his customers happy over a buck!

My vroom-vroom's right exhaust required a quick minor fix, and Junior handled it promptly. Pele and…read morehis team are fantastic. Excellent workmanship! Thanks again, Junior! Helpful Tip about their location: They share the same compound as Golden Gate Collision, which has larger signage. Pele's shop is on the right end; you'll easily find it once you spot GG Collision.