123 Auto Service
Category: Auto Repair [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMA390 1st Street
(between Harrison St & Lansing St)
San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 882-1585
23 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
"I'm proud to have a new Ottowerks license plate bracket on my Mercedes and am thankful that Dave and his crew took the time to diagnose and…" read more »
29 Reviews for 123 Auto Service
I can see why this place got so many 5 stars. I took my Del Sol in for an oil change this morning. I made an appointment. They first told me an hour and a half. Then they knew I was waiting so they said 45 min but it was really 25 min. I was in and out of there super fast. The staff there was super nice and friendly. They even told me that I needed new brakes (trying to get more business I am sure) but also told me what percentage my brakes were at. I appreciated that.
My aging Saturn is named Kirby. As much as I proclaim to be a good driver, Kirby is named as such because I ran over three curbs in my first week after driving it off the lot. Poor Kirby is getting up there in car years and needs a little help every now and then.
Steven is fast, efficient and friendly. He's great at keeping in touch and letting you know what's going on, no surprises. Prices and speed are better than I've seen (prices especially considering the downtown location). Steven runs the kind of shop that I know my dad would be proud of - good, honest work.
It's the perfect place to drop off your car in the morning, have them fix whatever ails your baby and then pick it up afterwards. They close at 6.30, but will leave your bill and your keys with the gas station folks that are there 24/7.
This reminds me, Kirby's overdue for an oil change.
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I brought my 2003 VW Passat 4Motion GLX here last week for a 70K service and some other repairs which included replacing the splash shield under the engine compartment, a new side panel, brake light switch, and a new headlight. I was impressed with the detail and time Steven and his crew put into the vehicle. For months my ABS light would flash on and off and after bringing it to two shops and the dealership - it was Steven who found the problem.
Overall, I was quite impressed with the service and the feedback that Steven gave me when I went to pick the car up. He is able to run diagnostics on the cars computer which makes it a huge draw over other shops. And the cost was super - itemized everything at amazing rates. I also must add that Steven called me before doing anything additional to make sure it was okay - none of the "oh we did this and just added it to your bill".
So, two thumbs up and five stars for Steven and his crew.
I got vw jetta that had a lot of problem. I took it over with the great service they had made me come back to them when i have a problem. they will call you just let you know if be for it get wrose. I'm glad to be there customer.
Based on a friend and Yelp recommendations, I took my new-to-me used Subaru here for brake service. I had a hard time finding it--they are in the 76 station on the corner of Harrison at First. They were very nice, did a good job, showed me the worn brake pads and rotors and noted a couple of minor leaks to keep an eye on. My brakes don't squeak any more, and the price was reasonable. The car was done when they said it would be. What more can you ask?
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Yelp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent service, fair price & convenience drop off deserve to earn 10 stars +
I am so glad I found a (WORTH TRUSTY) BMW auto repair shop in the city.
A little while ago, one morning I heard my BMW's making a loud whining noise from the wheel area. I was scarifying to drive on freeway, so I decided to take my car to one of the closer local repair shop by my house. In approximately 30 mins, the XXX mechanic told me my car would need to replace both of my rear wheels bearing for $1200. In addition $1300 to replace the water pump due to a cooling leaks. Since I wasn't completely comfortable with the attitude I got from this mechanic (Sort of like I will need to get this done immediately, otherwise the car is going to fall apart). I ended up picking up my car and paid $125 for diagnosis.
I was so frustrated and wanted to get a 2nd opinion. Based on a friend referral & yelp's reviews, I decided to try out 123 auto service. Steven diagnosis my Bimmer only need one wheel bearing instead two, minor cooling seepage from thermostat housing instead I need almost the whole cooling system. I end up paying $600 only for the proper repairs instead of $2K+.
It's been more than half of the year now I have no problem with my car at all, I also take my wife's Audi for check engine light repair & service. They got the problem fix right at the first time and with a fair price.
If you don't want to pay high price to those fancy repair shop or dealer, this small shop in a gas station is worth to give it a try. Steven and his team have good talent to work on your BMW & Audi. They also provide 7 days 24 hours drop off when I got my BMW's tow in off business hours.
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I went to 123 Auto after seeing the ad in CL and reading all the great reviews here on YELP to have my 2001 Honda Accord serviced. I brought my car in at 11am for a timing belt and water pump replacement. Steven called me 2 hours later and told me a few other belts were old and cracked and asked if I wanted them replaced (with no extra labor fees). He did a great job in such short notice. He's an honest businessman. I highly recommend going here.
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I just start going to 123 Auto Service in the last two weeks. Ask for Steven he will fix your car up good.
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We have been going to Steven for the past 4 years and has taken care of our Audi! He does great work at very reasonable prices and the best part is that he is a really good guy!
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I hate car issues!! You always know A) it's going to cost you a mortgage payment to fix the issue B) you will inevitably get that phone call during the day saying that 3 more issues were found that they highly recommend you take care of that day and C) you are typically having to deal with some sleezy jerk at the shop that is either hitting on you or talking down to you because they assume as a woman you know absolutely nothing about cars and are more than willing to pay whatever it is to fix your car.
Well all of this changed when a friend told me about Steven at 123 Auto!! I think my initial appointment a couple of years ago was for something simple like an oil change but since then I have gone back to see Steven for everything including brakes, oil changes and even the major services BMW's require. Each and every time Steven has been extremely friendly, professional and honest. He even will tell you when something really needs to be done, will need to be done soon or if he recommends holding off on it. Case in point..2 services ago he told me that my power steering would need service within the year. He said he could've taken care of it at that time but that I could wait the few months if I wanted (which I did). Sure enough 10 months later my car starts making this absurd noise when turning and because I had read another review of a more local BMW shop and I was afraid to drive it into SF I went there (that is a whole different review I need to write sometime...don't EVER go to M Service in Walnut Creek). I ended up ultimately going to Steven who took care of the steering along with a few other things M Service had also found and did it all for just over $1,000 whereas M Service wanted to charge me $2000 for just the steering issue. Bottom line...go see Steven!!!! He is amazing and your car will run like a champ afterwards!!
Listen, you really should take your car to 123 auto service.
I found that my BMW has been overheated for a long time even though I went to two different shops to have the radiator replaced and some other things replaced. Each time, the car was still overheated soon after service. I got very frustrated, but then I heard from my friend that Steven (the manager) at 123 auto is really good at fixing cars, so I decided to give it a try. He found out that there was a gasket problem inside the engine, and even though it cost me a lot to fix it, but now my car has been in good shape for over half a year now.
So If you need any big service on your BMW, this is the only place I would trust. Remember to ask for Steven.
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I highly recommend Steven. I have been going here for quite a while and he remembers my car and all the work that has been done. Very personable and won't go anywhere else.
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These guys are fantastic. I had them rebuild my brakes and change out the radiator. A+
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I checked this place after seeing an ad in CL and reading the reviews on Yelp. Steve totally helped me out with the problem and at amazing rates. Although he didnt fix the problem on my Jetta immediately, I took it back in-since he guarantees the work for 1 year-and he fixed it the second time.
Friendly Fast Honest and Cheap!! He is also VW certified.
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I checked out this place after reading some other great yelp reviews. I'm new to the city, and admittedly, I'm a complete car moron. (I don't know my carburetor from my muffler bearings.) I went to these guys with a faulty oxygen sensor, and as my starter was biting the dust. The prices quoted were the prices charged, and the labor estimates were reasonable. I checked market rates for the parts, and everything was on the up and up. That's good business.
The kicker was that I had to stay late at work and didn't get down to pick up my car until almost an HOUR after the shop closed. I offered to pick up my car the next day, but these awesome guys stayed later to wait for me. That's good service.
I will definitely go back to this place.
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Just want to add my voice to the chorus. After I stopped by the gas station on a whim for fuel and a few minor checks (oil, water, air), Steven gave me his card and told me about auto service. Six weeks later, my car needed a window repair, so I came to Yelp to check out the reviews. Since 123 Auto Service got four and five star ratings, I went back to them for the window repair and threw in the 100k service just for good measure. As far as I see, Steven and crew did an excellent job, giving options without a hard sell, at what seemed like reasonable prices - unlike my last auto shop experience where they f@#kin GOUGED me.
I'm still skeptical about auto repair businesses (hence the four star rating), but this joint seems on the up and up. Thanks to them and to these Yelp reviews ('cause I refuse to say "Yelpers").
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My 93 Accord is dying a slow death. No no, its okay, I'll be the first to admit it. We have had a good run, and sometimes it is better to cut your losses. Pull the plug, so to speak... put her to sleep... make it easier for everyone. Am I? NOT A CHANCE, people! At 145k, Im'a keep on trucking a la Kramer and Saab salesman.... and then I might think about it.
Because of all this, you bet your tush I need a good place to keep her hungry. Steven and Calvin at the 123 rule. That's that. Super nice guys that you'd want to take home to mom, if that is your sort of thing. I've had the car serviced 5 times, twice for MAJOR service. They consistently kick ass with the service... calling no more than 48 hours after dropoff with the potential damage before fixing anything. They really don't put any pressure on you, and will tell you outright if a problem does not need to be fixed right away. They really leave it up to you and have been completely honest with me from the start.
Their prices are pretty standard, but they really do get the car in tip-tip shape really quickly. None of this week-long stuff. Been 1-3 days max for me. Seems strange since sometimes they have to backorder some random part... you would think the repairs would take longer. But I'll just ignore the shadiness of their same-day deliveries.
123 Auto Service? More like 123 AUESOME SERVICE.... damn right.
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I've been here a few times for oil changes and once to have a problem diagnosed. They're fast, seem honest and competent. Their oil changes are really cheap, and with such a great location (near the last Bay Bridge entrance) you can leave your car and bop around SOMA while waiting.
The guy was a Subaru mechanic so especially if you have a Subaru it's a good inexpensive way to get repairs (for which you don't mind there isn't the "authorized" dealer warranty).
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... or what I like to call Tootsie Roll Auto. They should have a mascot in an owl suit outside licking a Tootsie Roll pop ("Ahhh one... ahhh two.. ahhh three...)
The other night I was driving behind a little beat-up pick-up truck that seemed to be omitting a "clank-ity clank-ity" noise. The snooty Civic driver in me scoffed and said aloud (to absolutely no one in the car) "Dude, fix your car, it sounds horrible. That's total noise pollution. I'd be embarrassed if I were you driving around with a vehicle sounding like that." Well, two blocks and two turns down the road, I realized it was me and my lil' Civic that was the embarassment. My boo... was sick and I had to do something immediately.
I didn't have time enough to take my boo (Yes, I call my car my boo) to my normal service spot, so I Yelped to find a place close to work. After reading Mamoon H and Jeremy S reviews I decided to give One Two Three a shot. As I drove there the next morning my power steering went kaput and I nearly had tears in my eyes as I walked from the car and asked for assistance.
Steve greeted me with a smile just two seconds after I exited my vehicle and wasted no time letting me know he would look into it. It took a little over 24 hours, due to needing a part delivered, but I got my car back in perfect condition.
Steven is in the business of making money so I wasn't offended when he gave me two fix options: the most expensive and the least expensive. I was appreciative that he gave me a choice and didn't try to "car talk" me in a way I didn't understand what was wrong with my vehicle. He was honest and forthright and we ladies who don't know the inner workings of a vehicle appreciate that.
Good service and an honest to goodness local business that is worthy of the patronage. Not overly crowded and no long lines to "hope they have time to get to your vehicle". They will get to your vehicle and they will fix it. It's as simple as ahhh one, aaah two, ahhh three...
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Finding an honest mechanic in SF is like randomly seeing a deer in Golden Gate Park. It really does not happen except by some twist of fate. I found Steve through a business card that he left on my car 2 years prior to needing a repair! I took my VW Jetter to 123 Auto for some brake issues and he did a full brake job for much less than one of those name brand, "your not going to pay a lot for this muffler" joints. In every instance that I have visited him, he has provided excellent fast service with a joyful attitude. My VW Jetter has seen him 3 times now and with every visit she purrs like a kitten more than ever before.
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I've come here twice to have some work done on my car and the second time just to get a smog check. The first time I went , the electric sensor in my window had died for the second time since I bought the car in 2001 (Yay for Chevrolet Cavaliers!) and I couldn't roll my driver's side window back up. Since I don't have a spot in a parking garage, I had to find a shop to quickly take my car in and be willing to keep it locked up in their shop until it was fixed because parking my car on a Saturday night in Lower Haight with the window rolled down was not option.
123 Auto Service was the only repair shop open at 5pm on a Saturday and without hesitation Steven, the owner, told me to bring it and they'd take care of it. Stevenwas very professional and always called me (before I had the chance to worry and call them) to let me know the status of my car and researched the cost of used and new replacement parts before calling me so I could make an informed decision. I also asked them to look at a few other things like replacing my brake pads and rotors, etc., just to see if what Steven told me would be similar to what the last mechanic I went to had told me...and it was, plus Steven quoted me a lower price for the brake service to boot!
As a woman, I've had more than a couple male mechanics try to pull a fast one on me in the Bay Area and now I REALLY appreciate dealing with an honest person, I can trust. I'm taking it in for a 60,000 mile maintenance this weekend because this is the only place in the city where I take my car now.
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I needed to find a place to do a huge repair. I decided to give a shoot to this shop due to the positive review instead of paying for those high pricing dealership. The manager Steven is AWESOME, he explain and talk me though the procedures for my vehicle in FULL detail, and let me know how much to expect to pay for services. He calls to keep me updated the status of my vehicle. Steven is honest and reliable, I am totally satisfied for the service I received, will definitely go back for my other services. GOOD JOB to all the mechanics in 123 Auto Service. I really appreciated that.
If you have an Audi, I would highly recommend 123 Auto Service.
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I am the type of person who usually doesn't write review, but I highly recommend this facility for car repair and checkup. I remember the first time when I brought my car to 123 Auto Service, I was very frustrated due to I had waste a lot of my time and money to the other auto repair shop repeatly, were unable to fix the problem of my car. Steven is the manager of the auto shop which also specializes in Audi. Steven was extremely helpful and kind to me. Not just he had quickly repaired my car in a timely manner with a very reasonable price, he had also fully explained the problem. Ever since then I've been taking my car to this auto shop over a year now for all of my repair and maintenance services and never left feeling I was being taken advantage of.
123 Auto Service have NEVER let me down.
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Steven did a very nice and thorough job on my Nissan XTerra's 90k mile service. When replacing the timing belt, he suggested replacing the other belts at only the cost of the parts, no addl. labor. Steven was very straightforward about the charges and options and the fees were reasonable. A good no-frills place to take your car!
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I dropped by 1 2 3 Auto based on Mamoon's review and sure enough Steven took good care of me. Prices seemed reasonable: $27 for an oil and filter change using a Subaru brand filter and $15 for a tire rotation.
Steven previously worked for Ron Price which sells and services VW/Audi (which Moon mentioned) as well as Subaru. The garage has Saturday hours making it super convenient for a maintenance procrastinator like me. If you live in SOMA or South Beach I'd give him a shot.
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My first time to this small auto shop (at a 76 gas station) was to get my 30K service for my Suabru. Not only did he see me right away, but he also diagnosed the car of the person who dropped me off on the spot! Steve told us what was wrong when we asked him, and Steve offered to fix it (steering belt issues). Steve was able to do my car, 30K mile service and free oil change plus the other car and oil change in a reasonable price range. Impressive. I would go back again. Note, they are not open Sundays.
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i found steven on craigslist a couple of years ago. i was frantic, subie (my 98 subaru outback with like 180k miles on it), was overheating. at the time i lived in bolinas and commuted to the city for work in the financial district. i had taken her to a couple of places in marin... new thermometer, flushed cooling system, but she was still gettin hot. i took her to steven where he diagnosed a cracked head gasket. which was super expensive and horrible to hear but he fixed her up. now I take subie to him for everything. he's great, thorough and getting busy. i'm happy to see all these great reviews as he really deserves it.
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I first went here for a regular synthetic oil change for my car. Steven, the owner seemed like a smart and honest mechanic so I decided to take my car back for a new clutch on my Audi. Steven used to work for the VW/Audi dealership so I had confidence in him to take care of my car. He was timely, honest and offered me a good deal.
If you live in SoMa and are looking for a reliable mechanic then check out this place...you'll be helping build up a small business.
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Steven, seems like a really honest guy. He knows his cars pretty well. If you have a VW, Audi, Subaru or any other Japanese car this is the shop to go in the city. $80/hour is very cheap for the city. Plus if you need a smog he does it cheaper than any other place in the city. Can you tell that I'm really cheap? :)~
Seriously this guy is the real deal.
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