Berkeley Auto Repair

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

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

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

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

The mechanics at Griffin are professional, knowledgeable and responsive. They clearly care a great deal about cars. They won't beat around the bush or sugar coat anything but I don't get the typical, macho mechanic attitude from them either. They have a solid base of regular customers, meaning they can't always fit you in immediately, but they seem pretty good about responding to unexpected requests. For example, my engine light went on a few weeks ago and they were able to run a diagnostic for me that day, while I waited (10 minutes). They're also only a 15-minute walk from the North Berkeley BART station, which makes a difference for a working girl like me.

A friend recommended Griffin and they are also listed on Norcal Audi forums. I've been taking my A4 to them since 2006. They've always done excellent work and charged me fairly. I've done comparison shopping and their prices are competitive for the quality of work they do. There may be cheaper shops out there but I've never had to go back for the same problem twice. They have always had my car ready the same day except for once where they were waiting on parts to arrive and they have always offered me a ride to the BART station. They've also been very good about explaining my options as to what work is urgent and what can wait. They've also gone out of their way to get the car ready on short notice so I wouldn't be without a car for the weekend. Overall, I'm very happy with their service.

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

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

It's been a few years since I've used their services, but when I was living in Berkeley Griffin Motorwerke saved my life (or at least my car, my job, and my sanity) about a half-dozen times. I was young, living in Berkeley, and working at the Berkeley Humane Society. I had a pretty hefty rent for someone working for peanuts at a job I loved, and I had a car which had seen better days. She was a 1989 VW Fox, and when I first brought her to Griffin's she'd clonked out on me nearby, and it was the first place my bf and I could push her to. Over the course of about two years, the owner (I can't remember his name, but he wore black turtlenecks and swore WAY worse than a sailor) must have fixed my car's multiple failings at least five or six times. I sometimes felt uncomfortable with his vague misogyny and very, very foul mouth. But each time, he must have sensed my desperation for my car (I was travelling alot every weekend) because he fixed it for free several times and for ridiculously low prices (as in charging me only for the parts and no labor) other times. He always said, "I know you'll come back with your new car when you get one," to explain why he did these good deeds. I feel bad that I moved to the city shortly after getting a new (used) car, and haven't been back to this place. Although he had his faults, I am forever grateful to Mr. Griffin for giving me a break (and brakes, literally) when I really need it. My old car ended having the broken hood fly up at the windshield while I was driving across the Bay Bridge one morning, and that was the last straw for me...it was scary enough for me to realize that the car had finally lost its last leg. If ever I'm in Berkeley when my car breaks down, I'll go here and pay full-price with no questions asked.

I agree the prices are a bit high, but the work is worth it. Dealers are also high... I don't take my car (Subaru) there for regular maintenance, partially b/c I live 20 miles away, but have used them to put in better brakes, brakelines, brake fluid, and Redline in the transmission and rear differential. They know how to bed in the brake pads well, and for that, the brakes have lasted a very long time and perform well, and I drive my car hard. Great service, but they don't have Sat. hours.