Oceanworks Berkeley

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  luis arteaga
2 weeks ago
I ve had nothing but good experiences with this shop. This time around was for my 05 Tundra belt and water pump service.Brian set some expectations for possible added costs of hoses and a new radiator.Suggested while they re unhooking things it s highly recommended.Time frame and pricing was well communicated to me. Will be coming back for anything else I need.

  Drew John Russell Ball
a week ago
They worked with me to reattach my wheel after it had broken off the axle. I didn't have insurance and they took that into consideration as they fixed it swiftly (2-3 days) at reasonable cost. All of the staff is kind, It makes a difference.

  Sigh Anara
a month ago
I was looking for someplace other than the dealer for once and chose Oceanworks,they took over a vacant aquarium for their shop, had good reviews and their phone knowledge was quick. They took care of my issues and suggested some alternatives. Two years warranty on the work was great . I shall return.

  Joe MacCarthy
3 months ago
Friendly class act garage! I got a quote for an alignment and scheduled my appointment. They checked in with me before doing the service to understand the reasoning for the alignment and followed up after it was completed letting me know how it wax resolved. I also got a printout of the alignment before and after specs. Super friendly staff and dog friendly. I will be back with my FJ Cruiser for future work. They also held the quote pricing and didn t try to do any add ons.

  Green and Root Music
a week ago
We arrived here at 6:50 and were told they do not seat people after 6:40. The employee was rude and uncaring that our family had their hearts set on Jambalaya and didn t get it.

  Nihir Shah
7 months ago
I think I found my mechanic. Going here from now on for any major repairs. Honest shop that does good quality work. I had to replace my starter on a 2009 Honda CRV. It wasn t cheap but it was lower than the dealer and I think it was done more throughly. They re trustworthy and communicate well. Good shop that isn t trying to take advantage of ppl.

  Patrick Mac
a year ago
Was referred to this shop from anther mechanic and boy am I glad they did. Unbelievably friendly customer service, clear communication on what was going to be worked on and estimates for that work, follow-up and recommendations upon pick up and all feels of trustworthiness. I found my my new shop. These guys are top tier. Thank you so much for the work you did on my truck! Perfect!

  David Glass
6 months ago
We brought an older car in for a basic inspection and oil change. They could have easily "found" multiple items in need of service. Instead they just did what we brought it in for, were super friendly, and charged me a fair price. We will definitely return.Services: Vehicle safety inspection, Oil changeServices: Vehicle safety inspection, Oil change

  Monyx2
8 months ago
I have been going here for close to 20 years. They are honest and thoughtful.I love the fact that my needs in owning an older car are addressed. Hey, it is paid for! I used to own a classic Chevy Nova 2 convertible, but now it is just a Saturn.Also, Chris has made room for me more than once in dire circumstances: car vandalized and locks broken by a crazy stranger, car stolen from BART with a shaved key, and other older car mishaps, including my recent starter failure. They have always been here for me after my step-brother-in-law's mechanic place closed.Thank you.

  frank davis
a year ago
Over the past year I've had my car serviced at Oceanworks Berkeley on two occasions. I cannot say more than enough good things about the quality of service Oceanworks Berkeley provided me. First, my car has been and continues to run smoothly since it has been repaired at Oceanworks Berkeley. Second, the customer service at Oceanworks Berkeley is amazing as they make you feel comfortable because of how kind and sincere they are as well as how knowledgeable they are about their work. I recommend Oceanworks Berkeley enthusiastically!!!! :)

  Nicky Benson
a month ago
I found Oceanworks about 8 years ago when I had purchased a Craigslist Toyota Tacoma. I had to fix a repair from another mechanic, and this shop redid an entire repair order that was done wrong. I was so impressed by their ability to fix someone else s work - I hired them to chase down every loose end on my truck. They ve done upgrades, reworked my suspension, redone my brakes, fixed my air conditioning, general maintenance, and helped friends of mine. I ve sent 3 people to them. I highly recommend Oceanworks to anyone looking for an honest, fair mechanic shop to take their car to. They do amazing work, if you re a hands off owner they can handle any repair. If you ve got a project and you want to build a race car or a hotrod - this shop can help you. If you need general maintenance on your late model import - this is the place you should go. This shop is awesome. Come here if you need to fix your car.Services: General repairs & maintenance, Steering & suspension replacement, Auto brake repair, Auto A/C replacement, Wheel alignment, Transmission repair, Brakes, Auto battery maintenance, A/C installation & repair, Air conditioning, Auto maintenance, Auto brake replacement, Battery, Oil change

  Alex Scholtz
a year ago
Truly, a delightful auto shop. In 2021 when I had a dead battery while visiting the doctor, right around the corner, Ocean Works was able to provide me with a jump, and help me schedule some service to fix the battery in my car. They're so knowledgeable about Hondas, and over the next year, they helped me make significant repairs to my vehicle to prepare for a long road trip.If you're looking for a shop with transparent pricing, deeply knowledgeable mechanics, and excellent customer service that can accommodate your needs and budget, you've found the place.

  Ben Buettner
a year ago
I've been a loyal customer of Oceanworks for 23 years, and for good reason.The staff is honest and friendly. They have always made my wife feel very comfortable when she brings her car in.I wouldn't go anywhere else.Services: Auto engine tuning, Oil changeServices: Auto engine tuning, Oil change

  Phil Fox
a year ago
Recently brought my car in for a service and wasn t totally happy with the results. After I noticed something was off, I contacted Brian the owner and he told me to come back and that he would make it right. And that he did. Super happy with Oceanworks and Brian for helping resolve my issue in the most honest and professional way possible.

  Houman Emami
2 years ago
I believe this review may save another in my position several thousand dollars. I was charged around $900 for only a diagnostic, to find thereafter, that two teams of expert mechanics at two dealerships told me they would have diagnosed the same issues with at the most 1-2 hours of diagnostics ($190-$380), because of the visibility level of issues. There s too much to mention here. Suffice it to say their $6,000 plus solution estimate (for new engine swap), like their $900 diagnostic estimate, was also too high, & a dealership with a team of mechanics will now do this work at two thirds of their price or less. Still I ve given them a generous 2 stars, because I feel they re simply doing their best while they re unable to receive new feedback at this time & improve. While there I watched others who were happy with their work for smaller jobs, so perhaps they do a good job often. I hope they will also learn how to better handle expensive high priority issues. I also observed throughout our longer exchanges, they seem too comfortable with their own work and mistrusting of others -as well as mistrusting me when I was offering my feedback. So I also hope they learn to trust other s expertise and experience, as much as they claim to be trustworthy and as good as they claim to be. To expect to be trusted one must return the same to those who deserve it. It doesn t make sense to claim you re the only one in town, and nock others who may be better than you. It s better to be open to learning from those who could possibly be better. For instance, the shop where I ve taken my car after this place is managed by a service manager who has done this for 40 years, who manages and oversees two large dealership services,. So perhaps there are people who may be as good or better than us in any field, and instead of mistrusting others perhaps we could sometimes ask how we could improve.Service: Auto engine diagnostic

  Pamela Singer
a year ago
I was referred to Oceanworks by a friend. After reading reviews on Yelp, I called to ask if they were familiar with my 20 year old 2002 Toyota MR2, a two-seater with a mid-engine. Not a common car and very compact re: working on. I wanted to work with a business that knew this car inside and out, given its age.I asked Oceanworks to do a full inspection of the car, as my previous mechanic lost his business during COVID in 2020. I also was having difficulty with my transmission; it was making noise as it shifted from 4h to 5th gear. The clutch was original as were the rear brakes. After close inspection we decided to rebuild the transmission, replace the clutch, replace the rear brakes and rotor and replace the battery.During each step of the work I was kept informed and had discussions that helped me make decisions regarding what direction I wanted to go, given the age of the car. Bob and Brian were knowledgeable, informative and patient with my questions. The repairs were done in a timely fashion and my little roadster is back on the road purring away.One other note - I had to wait for my ride when I first brought my car and spent about 20 minutes in the office observing a busy Monday morning. I was very impressed with the organization of this shop and the genuine friendly and respectful nature of the interactions with clients and staff. I was truly blown away by this place!!!Services: Air & cabin filter replacement, Auto battery replacement, Vehicle Inspection, Transmission replacement, Auto brake replacement

  missashley
a year ago
I called at about 2:45pm and Brian called me Right back. I explained my problem to him and he told me to bring my car in. Within an hr the problem was fixed. He was very nice and efficient when having his staff fix my car. I have found my new car repair shop. Prices were reasonable and location was very accessible.Updated Review- I've been bringing my car here for about 1.5 years now and love the service I receive. The staff are nice and always communicate what they are doing, how much they think it will be etc. I had one small issue upon picking up my car once and they immediately fixed it and took accountability for it. That alone is great customer service. So glad to have this gem in my area and I'm happy to be a returning customer.

  Michelle Amador
2 years ago
I brought my Ford Explorer to be repaired. They did a fantastic job. It took a couple tries but, they were able to find solutions and fixed it.

  Chere Beasley
10 months ago
I trust this shop with any car I've had and have. I send my friends and family. Been using them since 2008. Great customer service and reasonable trustworthy prices!

  Anne Rockwell
a year ago
We've been going to Oceanworks for many years back when Angus ran the business. The guys who now run Oceanworks are wonderful - efficient, fair and honest. They just did the work my vehicle required - no upselling. Some things I thought my vehicle needed weren't done because the mechanic didn't think were necessary at this time. Everything done was thoroughly explained. I highly recommend Oceanworks.Service: Auto maintenance

  Patricia Rogers
a year ago
I used to take my car here several years ago, and then went to a place closer to home, that was a mistake! So happy to be back to Oceanworks! Very customer oriented and do a great job on time with no issues!Service: Oil changeService: Oil change

  Julie Treichler
a year ago
OB is able to do the work that other auto guys may prefer not to do themselves. One such decent auto guy referred me to OB because he gets his own car done there for the more difficult jobs. Brian, the owner of OB, is hands on with the diagnostics, intellectually honest, and a good listener. We could have burned through a whole lot of additional cash otherwise as I'm normally a bit shy about sharing my ideas since many men would prefer not to hear them. Turns out I found a relevant service bulletin that was old enough to be forgotten by dealers and auto shops alike. Thanks for listening and doing the heavy lifting (literally).Services: Transmission, Tire rotations

  Cold Chillin
a year ago
Been going here for years and always get exemplary service. Was going through a rough time financially about a year ago and needed work done on my truck. Was able to enter a payback program and proceeded to pay them back asap. Most shops wouldn t have done this or would have used the vehicle as collateral. Probably one of the last honest automobile service shops around.

  geoff r
2 years ago
We have been customers for about 20 years. The keys to keeping us coming back are honesty and knowledge! Also fair pricing. We have to drive across town to take our cars in but we continue because Angus and Natalie and staff are always honest and knowledgeable! Quite simply we trust them and their advice!Services: General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine diagnostic, Engine repair, Oil changeServices: General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine diagnostic, Engine repair, Oil change

  Joseph Rainone
a year ago
I would give 6 stars if I could!I'm not a car guy. Never have been. I had been having some issues with my 2018 Nissan Versa regarding the check engine and slip indicator lights being on due to a possible air flow sensor issue. I called Oceanworks at 4pm on a Monday and tried explaining things, and Bob helped me understand everything the best way that he could. He then said that if I came by they would help me perform a reading to see what's going on. When I arrived, they checked the codes, and explained everything in perfect detail as to what may need to be done, regarding replacing any parts if necessary and cleaning the trottle. They were honest about what the results would be and the possibility of it needing a computer restart with the dealership as well if the lights came back on. I was so grateful for their professionalism and honesty. I booked my appointment immediately for early morning the following Wednesday, and they helped by cleaning the trottle chamber, and resetting the codes. They allowed me to wait for the work to be finished (in under an hour!) and they explained exactly what procedures were taken. I've never felt so at ease with car maintenance, and I felt so much respect for all of the staff that assisted me. Thank you Oceanworks!Service: General repairs & maintenance

  carrie max
4 years ago
I've been going to Ocean Works II for several years now as they were recommended by a friend. They are kind, respectful and very knowledgeable. They're always willing to make time for me no matter what the issue. They will take five minutes to listen to a noise for me. They will also spend a week getting my favorite truck back on track and make me the happiest lady in town! Their prices are very reasonable for the Bay Area. They never leave me confused. In fact my last visit there they were honest enough to tell me that I probably shouldn't do the work that I wanted done as there were unfortunately other issues with the car that were major. So it's time to let this one go. I felt it honorable of them to say no to work to benefit me. I'll be back!!!

  Mike McGlynn
a year ago
I've been taking my 2005 Chevy Equinox to Oceanworks for 2 years. They've been very professional and upfront, telling me what areas of the car needed immediate help vs issues that could wait to be fixed, quick turn around time, fair pricing.Services: General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine diagnostic, Brakes, Auto tire replacement, Air conditioning, Auto maintenance, Oil changeServices: General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine diagnostic, Brakes, Auto tire replacement, Air conditioning, Auto maintenance, Oil change

  Searchlight1210
5 months ago
Quite simply, the best! Been coming here for over a decade with my family s cars.

  Stephanie Friedman
11 months ago
They accommodated me for a last-minute full charge of my run-down battery and drove it around afterwards to make sure everything worked. I will definitely use them again when the car needs servicing.Service: BatteryService: Battery

  Ellen Frankel
3 years ago
This was my first time at Oceanworks! I was very pleased with them, every step of the way. Easy scheduling online, friendly staff, on-time completion of the work, excellent communication, reasonable pricing. I'll definitely be taking my new car here from now on!Service: General repairs & maintenanceService: General repairs & maintenance