Big Q Auto Repair

Reviews

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

  Theresa Siller
a month ago
Our daughter, Carrie, had just bought a Craigslist vehicle. The very next day it would not start!Big Q took outstanding care of her and her car, giving advice, repairing it the most affordable way possible, and checking it over thoroughly. She is an extremely happy customer!

  arta ehsaan
2 months ago
Went to this place a few years back to get a second check up about the health of my newly purchased second-hand F150 which had previously been called in "excellent" shape.After the salesperson going into all the sob stories of how the world is run by deceptive psychopaths that abuse the vulnerable for wealth, he ran the test on my truck and came up with a 3 page list of all the things that needed repair, knowing I was dead broke, suggesting I can take out loans to pay off the loads of expenses.I threw the list in the trash, and during the coarse of the three years after that REPULSIVE visit to Big Q, I used the wonderful truck daily while the only thing I had to do for maintenance was an oil and battery change during that time.

  Adam Beckner (DEALMOVERS)
a week ago
Buyer BEWARE!!! Scammed my 82 year old mother by telling her she needed new shocks on a 2020 VW Tiguan with 26k miles on it... mind you, she came in for brakes. $3,500 bill for shocks, brakes and oil change. DO NOT BECOME THEIR NEXT VICTIM!

  Anna Nassery
a year ago
Michael the best helped us change our brakes with the fairest/most competitive price. We shopped around but Michael just reassured us and made us feel like my uncle was working on my car. Good trust, good mechanics, very honest. Quick, and with an ease of mind. Thank you!

  Daniel James Robinson
3 months ago
800$ to replace and put on two control arms - its a 75$ part - but they charged me 220$ a piece and 400$ to put them on - it takes a good mechanic about an hour to get them both on - charges me for 200$ an hour - 2.) charged me $320 to put on an MAF sensor/ spark plugs/ air filter -and 600$ to replace fuel pump and fuel filter. the classic up charge mechanic, if something takes 15-30 minutes we charge for an hour Something takes one hour we charge for two if something takes two hours we charge for three.. dont recommend.

  Jimmy Thai
2 years ago
I took my car here because the buyer wanted to make sure it was in top notch condition before she initiated the purchase. It was the first time for both of us coming here and I agreed to her requests because an honest seller like myself - would never deny mechanic inspections. This pre-purchase inspection was done on a 2006 Toyota Matrix with 158k original miles. I never got a name from the guy at the front desk because there wasn't a proper greeting and/or introduction. Guy says he will hand over the CarFax paperwork once the inspection was done, yet he didn't and my buyer still got charged $145. Fast forward, when the inspection was done, guy at the front desk printed a good amount of paged repair orders of $400-$800 on such parts that weren't even necessary to be replaced (before I get ahead of myself let's hit the details of today's Big Q's experience). On the repair orders, there listed front lower control arm bushings were shot/deteriorated, leaking engine oil pan gasket, leaking automatic transmission oil pan gasket, spark plugs need replacing, transmission fluid needs replacing, and my CV Axle boots were torn and leaking grease. From my experience, there's NO ISSUE with my front lower control arms since I've RECENTLY replaced them with MOOG ones. I'm not dumb like you guys thinking I don't know anything about maintaining my car. Also mentioning the leaking pan gaskets? I specifically requested them to power wash the pan and show me EXACTLY where it's leaking from, he hesitated and said "We charge $140 to power wash." The price literally came out of his bottoms because I doubt payments will be necessary. Is it that difficult to come clean? I know for a fact that nothing's leaking underneath because I maintain my own vehicle in accordingly to manufacturer's specifications. If the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) was with me, the shop would be asked to shut down nonetheless for their dishonesty to their consumers. I am so blessed to have developed trust with my buyer and she accepted to join me on a trip to FIRESTONE TIRES for a second opinion. I gave Big Q my benefit of the doubt but from this day onwards, never will I recommend them to anyone due to dishonesty and a robber to their customers. After making a trip to Firestone, they concluded with me and my buyer that with the repair orders that Big Q had passed onto us, they were exceedingly false. There was nothing wrong with my lower control arm bushings nor were there excess leaks on both of my oil pans and also my CV joints were looking solid without grease leaking. Therefore in conclusion, BIG Q WAS A LET DOWN AND I WILL NEVER SET FOOT IN THERE EVER AGAIN. FIRST AND LAST TIME. If anyone needs their car serviced on a Sunday, disregard the BIG Q, and just drive to Firestone. Make sure to make an appointment because they don't accept walk-in services. I got lucky on my end because there were cancellations today so they filled me in! Safe to say I was able to sell my 2006 Toyota Matrix for a fair and reasonable price without losing hope that I'll get busted by Big Q! Have a splendid day everyone. Keep in mind that NOT ALL SHOPS CAN BE TRUSTED. Some will rob you and mess you over for who knows how much.Service: General repairs & maintenance

  Dante Noah
2 weeks ago
DO NOT GO HERE. Worst automotive shop ever. Very rude. They installed transmission on my car that went bad after one month and they don't want to replace it. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS MICKEY MOUSE SHOP

  A Townsend Bass
11 months ago
Needed brakes terribly. Was greeted over the phone with such enthusiasm and they took good care of my VW Passat. Finished the work timely and communicated their findings. After picking up the vehicle there was an unusual sound when engaging the brakes, however they were "Johnny on the spot" with addressing, troubleshooting and resolving the problem.Impressed by the service such that I asked the owner to contact me about providing fleet service to the vehicles I manage for work. Give them a try...you won't be disappointed.

  Angela Louis
10 months ago
This review is A bit Overdone, So I am not big on going to repair shops cause I always get anxiety, I had a Headlight I had to get fix I went to Orielly On Lincoln and Was told Go to Big Q, I hesitated but said F it and went, Mike Briseno Is awesome, and just a Kind Loving Human Being, I get to meet Juilin Today and I cannot wait. I felt so welcome and taken care of, Please Let s support our Neighborhood Auto Mechanics Thanks For Being Awesome guys .Service: Auto maintenance

  Sydney Meruvia
a year ago
Was in need of a new radiator and these fellas hooked me up. They were more than accommodating. Felt they had my best interest and the cars in mind.Thank you Peter and Jack for the hospitality and professional opinion! If ever in LA I'll call these guys :)Sydney

  David Lawler
3 years ago
Joe is extremely dependable, personable and reliable. He immediately got to work on my vehicle issues when I brought it to the shop. Joe was really helpful with my brake light issue, and now I'm going to have him put in new tires. Excellent customer service, his communication skills are top notch, had me feeling like he really cares about doing a good job, and for honest pay. I highly recommend the shop, especially Joe.

  jason gerald
2 years ago
The repairs magically added up to the exact price of my financing, which was sketchy but aside from that I'd consider getting a second opinion before anything too big. My bill quickly went from 1k to 2k.They've been around a while so I'd assume they're good ppl. Amanda at the desk was really helpful and great addition

  Skyler Snider
5 years ago
Really great, trustworthy guys.Prior to finding this shop, I had been incredibly frustrated with my past 10+ auto-repair experiences. I'm a female college student in my early-twenties, and I'm constantly overcharged (or spoken down to) by mechanics. But Erick, Herbert and Mart�n were so helpful in diagnosing all of the issues with my car. Even more importantly, they were respectful and AMAZING at also helping me to find solutions. They made sure all of the details were covered - from the fluids down to the windshield wipers.Their prices were fair, and I can tell that they really put in the effort to make sure that my car was safe for me - which I appreciated more than anything.As a girl, it's hard to find mechanics I can trust - but it's hard not to trust these guys. I just moved to Santa Monica this month, and I'm so happy I found this place from the onset. I'll definitely be coming back again.

  HL Tang
3 years ago
Joe is super nice! I went to another store to get my car inspected prior to Big Q and those guys were trying to knock me off $1700. But Joe assured me nothing is wrong with my car, and he wasn't trying to charge me for anything unnecessary. He even inspected my car without charging me anything. Friendly and professional. Will definitely go to them again in the future.

  Olivia Zarling
4 months ago
super helpful & kind staff - was able to assist with my car issue right away. thank you!

  Jenn Sorich
9 years ago
Erick was so helpful when I came in for an oil change, I explained a few minor problems I was having with my car, and he recommended some honest repairs that I would benefit from. George was super friendly too and fixed my air conditioner quickly after I showed him a loose wire. As a young woman, I never look forward to going to the mechanic, but they both made me feel comfortable and didn't pressure me at all. I will definitely be back!

  micha theil
4 years ago
I had the best experience at Big Q. Big Q is all about service, value, and its customers. The service advisor Herbert took care of me with hands down the best customer service I have received in my life. Herbert was a joy to talk with. He really cares about his customers and it shows through his work and service. I was in tough spot suffering a flat tire en route to my next destination, and Herbert took care of me getting me back on the road in no time. The mechanic did a fantastic job with the repair treating my car with excellent care. The whole team treated me with the utmost professionalism which made my short stay very enjoyable. Thank you Herbert and the team for taking care of me and getting me back on the road!

  Annie Wonderlich
3 years ago
I have a mechanic I m really loyal to because I have an old 1988 Dodge Ram van I m converting into vanlife and not many mechanics know about older vans.Joe was amazing. I came in to fix my windshield wipers because my mechanic is sick from covid and Joe was really knowledgeable, friendly, and squeezed me in on my right schedule! He found an issue wrong that I knew about but was really able to explain it to me in a way so I really understood better. Plus didn t try to jack me on price. Very honest and great work.I ll be back and will recommend!Services: Electrical repair, Steering & suspension repair, Battery

  Scott Dobbs
3 years ago
I got ripped off for $1500. I brought the car in for a clicking sound that it made that day. They told me that it needed a full valve job for $2800. I never heard of a valve job that expensive. When they took it apart they killed the engine compression and so then they said I needed a whole new engine. This whole ordeal lasted for 3 months as it would take weeks for me to find out what was going on. The engine was never replaced and they just kept the money. The so called owner is a joke and pathetic loser.

  Ryan Smagacz
5 years ago
When I first brought my BMW x3 in on Sunday to have my starter replaced, I did not have a good experience. I received my car back later that day when they closed with ALL of the dashboard lights on when there were not on before, the engine leaking oil and shaking, the RPMs going up without my foot on the gas, and the list goes on. The manager assured me that the car just needed a few days to "reset" itself. Well I took his word for it and drove home that night. The next day, Monday, I go to start up my car and now it won't even turn on. This was a stressful nightmare.I called back on Tuesday when Dave and Herb were working. Dave was one of the most confident, nicest, friendliest, most professional, stress relieving mechanics that I've dealt with. He assured me everything was going to be okay, had my faulty car towed back to their shop, fixed back up to 100%, and back to me within a couple hours.5 star for Dave & Herb but I could not give it a perfect 5 star because of the original experience I had with another crew there. I will be going back to Dave & Herb though.

  Vlado Quanter
5 years ago
The replaced the coils on our Honda recently and they were pretty easy to deal with. We took our care in and luckily they already had the parts to make the installation. They had the car in and out within a couple of hours and the car works great now.

  Matt Finelli
5 years ago
Herbert is the friendliest, best mechanic I have ever met. My car broke down on a Sunday, and stayed late to help me. He is incredibly knowledgeable, transparent and fairly priced. Couldn't have asked for better customer service.

  A B
6 months ago
I forgot the name of the gentleman who spoke to me and he was very honest about the advice he gave me. Thank you to him for helping me save my money

  Savanna Bachelder
3 years ago
I never write negative reviews but I feel obligated to warn people about this place. Please don t bring your car here. I brought my car in on a Friday because it was leaking oil. They said that the timing belt was cracked and it would be done on Monday. I work Sunday-Thursday so I figured I would catch a ride on those days and take an Uber if needed. Monday rolls around and they tell me it won t be done until Tuesday, Tuesday rolls around and they say it won t be done until Wednesday morning. At this point I was frustrated because I was spending a lot of money on Uber and putting out my friends and co workers for rides to work but understood that things happen and had faith they were doing their best. I talked to someone on Tuesday night (I think it might have been Dan but I don t remember) who said it would be ready by 10 am on Wednesday. I walked there in there at 10:30, no one had called me to tell me it wouldn t be finished so I assumed it was done. When I got in there Dan told me that he found out 10 minutes ago that the car won t start and we don t know why. My car was running just fine before I brought it in. He said he would give me a call before the end of the day and let me know what was going on. I left and had my Dad call them because I thought I might be getting the run around. They told my dad that the timing cover was put on wrong and when the car was started it damaged the engine but that I am going to end up getting a good deal because they need to do the other repairs they recommended that I couldn t afford in order to fix their mistake. They told my dad the car would be done on Friday, making it a week since I brought it in. When Friday rolled around they told me it wouldn t be done until Saturday, Saturday became Monday, and the car ended up not being done until Wednesday...a full week and a half since I brought it in. Also it was very much not done but we will get to that.When I went in on Wednesday none of the paperwork for the invoice was done so I ended up having to sit around for about 30 minutes until I rudely asked Dan if I needed to come back later. He said Joe didn t put in any of the parts they used into their system so he had to do it. I asked if I could get a discount because it took so long and he said that I got about 5000$ worth of free work...free work that I didn t want or ask for. He said I needed to talk to Rick so I decided to just let it go because I just wanted my car back and to not think about this place again. When I left I noticed that the brakes felt off but I thought maybe I just needed to adjust to the break job. Dan called me about 3 minutes after I left to say the brakes needed to be re-bled and not to drive to far in the car. They released the car too me too early and put me in danger with incredibly soft breaks.After I had them re bleed the brakes the check engine light came on so I took it back. Joe said the problem had nothing to do with their work so I would have to pay for the part but the labor would be free. I told him I didn t believe this had nothing to do with their work because my check engine light wasn t on before I brought it in. He told me he had no reason to lie and I decided to just end the phone call because I don t want these guys anywhere near the hood of my car. He also said their mistake had lead them to rebuilding my engine so saying an engine problem isn t their fault is nonsense. It s been about another week and now it takes me 2-3 times to start my car and it seems like it s about to stall out any time I start it. This was not something my car did before I brought it in. I m going to take it to a mechanic that has 2 brain cells to rub together as soon as possible. What was supposed to be a weekend without my car has turned into an almost month long ordeal that has cost me more time and money than I can afford. I just hope that no one else goes through this with them and that whatever damage they did to my car can be reversed by a competent mechanic. I m currently in the process of filing a complaint with the BBBService: General repairs & maintenance

  Gloria Garvin
5 years ago
I'm a long-time customer of Big Q Auto Repair on Lincoln in Santa Monica. I've had them work on my Infiniti G35, my Nissan Frontier and my Ford 150. They've done excellent work on all of my vehicles and their prices are reasonable. The current manager, Robert, is knowledgeable and friendly. This month I needed new tires and and a brake job, but didn't have the funds necessary at the time. They suggested using SNAP financing, which allowed me to get my car fixed and then pay it off interest-free within 90 days. It worked for me!

  Patrick Solomon
3 years ago
These guys were amazing! I took my van in because it was making a horrible knocking sound in the rear suspension. They fixed it on the spot and charged me zero. These guys get the "most honest mechanic" award!! definitely going back!Service: Steering & suspension repairService: Steering & suspension repair

  Jason Gerald
9 months ago
Mike took great care of me. You have an asset. His charisma will have ppl coming back for years!

  James Christman
4 years ago
I randomly searched google maps for tire repairs in Santa Monica and was ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED by my experience at bg Q. Even in the rain, the big q team serviced my passat very quickly, transparently and was very nice. The prices were extremely reasonable and he recommended a used tire even though his profit margins are higher more on the new tire. can't recommend highly enough.

  Lyndon Kondratczyk
11 years ago
Customer service here is on par to some of the nicest RESTAURANTS I've been to. They go above and beyond. On top of that, they don't over price or needlessly up sell like every other mechanic I've tried. A girl came in for an oil change/ tire rotation while I was waiting. They rotated her tires and checked her oil, told her she had synthetic and still another 2,000 miles before she needed a change. Didn't take a dime from her. In my case, another mechanic quoted me $940 to change the fuel pump (AC Delco) on a 2000 Tahoe. I brought it here instead (thanks to their reviews), and they said changing the spark plugs ($240) might fix the problem. It didn't, so they changed the fuel pump (also AC Delco) and charged me $600 for EVERYTHING (including spark plugs). And get this- between changing the plugs and the pump, they gave me my car, told me to drive it a day to make sure the pump needs to be fixed, and wouldn't charge me for the plugs until we knew for sure! These guys are like something out of an automobile fairytale in every good way I can imagine. Give them a try.

  Nad Ternawly
9 months ago
These guys are awesome! They price matched the competition. Super nice and accommodating with my schedule