I've been going to Hans since 1976, when he was in the little shop on 17th St. (picture is on the wall in the service write-up area).
Not only have they always serviced my 1973 Porsche 914-2.0, 1985 BMW 325e, 1988 VW Westfalia & now a 1988 Honda Civic Hatchback DX reliably and for a reasonable price, but they'd also done free checks on many cars before I purchased those cars. With cars now all over 20 years old, parts and services can be challenging, but they've always managed to keep them running as daily drivers and cross-country trippers!
This has included major work such as engine rebuilds on the 914 & Westfalia, transmission rebuilds on the BMW & Westfalia. and rejuvenating the Honda which had been stored for 4 years. And they'll get the job rejuvenating the 914 which has been in storage since 1985 for other reasons!
They also will tell you what you need to fix and what you don't need to do, &/or can wait on. In fact, one former service writer was eventually let go a few years back because he was ""padding"" the service orders with unnecessary work, about which I told Hans.
And another BMW mechanic in Mission Viejo had told me that I needed an engine rebuild or valve job on the BMW when the water pump failed on El Toro Road back-country. So I had it towed to Hans, who checked it out and told me NO - it was just padding - $5000 worth!
They've also served as a resource by phone, whenever I'd had problems with any of the cars on the road.
They've always stood behind their work and fixed anything that wasn't right without charging me extra. Sometimes things do go wrong, and they've always unquestionably made them right - including the 914 engine rebuild when a $1 clip broke and tore up the ""new"" engine, and a vexing AC rebuild in the BMW.
Over 33+ years I've done a lot of business with Hans on now 4 cars, and he's probably saved me as much as I've spent over that time - especially with dealers' & less reputable shops' costs & padding.
So I don't understand Mr. Smith's negative comment!? Perhaps he just didn't approach things right with them, &/or had unrealistic expectations? ...or maybe it's a competitor?
Pros: Know well the makes they service & stand by their work
Cons: I'd moved to Orange & now drive to HB!
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