Phaedrus BMW / El Cerrito, California

Rating: ★★★

29 years in Business

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Detailing

Address: 1641 Jackson St, El-Cerrito

Postal code: 94109

Phone: (415) 539-0450

At AAMCO, we thoroughly diagnose every vehicle before repair. We provide an estimate for and explanation of any recommended repair. And we stand behind our work - all of our work is warranted.

Welcome to AAMCO of Placerville! At AAMCO Transmissions of Placerville we know that your transmission is the last thing you need to worry about. Let us perform an honest and complete evaluation of your vehicles needed repairs. We`ll repair your vehicle to the highest level of quality and provide you with a great warranty to match. Call today! Our local fleet program is designed to help keep you vehicles on the road with a warranty comparable to our national fleets. At AAMCO of Placerville we do a complete and thorough diagnosis before any repairs are made. We provide you with a complete estimate and also an explanation of all repairs to be performed. All our work is 100% guaranteed. Hours of Operation on Saturdays: by Appointment

Categories:

Automobile Detailing, Auto Repair & Service

Services/Product offered:

Please Contact Us For Additional Information

Neighborhoods:

Nob Hill, Northeast San Francisco

Open hours:

Monday 7:30am - 5:30pm Tuesday - Friday 7:30am - 9pm Saturday 8:30am - 4:30pm Sunday Closed

Reviews:

enthusiast`s mechanic

Phaedrus is exactly the shop I always look for when it comes to German cars. Have owned VW, Mercedes and now BMW, and once out of warranty I always find the specialist guys who know and love the cars. Sure, there`s no leather couch, free coffee or wireless internet in the waiting room. But you`re at the mechanic to fix your car, not get the spa treatment. These guys are knowledgable and they`ll teach you about your ... view morecar if you want to learn - just show a little interest.

Pete123 / 9/31/2009

Honesty at Phaedrus + Quality!!

I have been going to Phaedrus on Jackson Street for years.....these guys are knowledgeable and THEY CARE....I just saw two posts by folks that claimed they were overpriced for service....I have NEVER had that experience...NEVER...talk to Spencer...talk to Dale...they are totally honest and that is a lost art...in any biz

TheJeffrey / 10/10/2008

Expensive, lousy customer service, no written estimates - avoid

The first time I walked into Phaedrus, I waited about 10 minutes while the person at the counter typed information into the computer before he greeted me and asked what I wanted. I described the issue with my BMW and he set an appointment. When I dropped my car off at 8 am, I asked for a written estimate of the work that would be done. I called at 4pm to get status and was told that they had broken a part and the car... view more would not be completed for 3 days. Oh and by the way the work will cost $1300. I said ""What The F***?"" I never got an estimate nor did I authorize the work.

I didn`t want to get to excited because they had my car taken apart and didn`t want to rock the boat. So I just took the a** f**k. When I picked up the car, the mechanic was super friendly in describing what he did. Figured that I`d give them a second chance. Went into the shop last week. The same counter guy kept me waiting again for 10 minutes so I walked out. If you have service done at Phaedrus, demand a written estimate. Hopefully your experience is more positive then mine.

Jack94123 / 10/9/2008

Be careful about having your BMW serviced at Phaedrus

I can`t recommend Phaedrus. I feel that my lack of experience regarding auto repair, after I spoke with other mechanics and learned more, was taken advantage of very badly.
1) My car battery mysteriously went dead and had to be replaced while at Phaedrus. It had no previous symptoms. The oldest trick in the book.
2) They changed my car (against their earlier recommendation) from regular to synthetic oil (twice... view more as expensive) even though I had a serious oil leak which they diagnosed before changing the oil.
3) They did not perform all of the items I paid for for a basic oil service. They said that adjusting the parking brake was part of it when quoted but did not do it.
4) I had a turning signal lens that they said didn`t fit because my car had been damaged (not true) turns out the lens was actually for a 4-door model. They should have known the difference.
5)Replaced my headlight and told me that they had given me the old one (the bulbs are expensive) but it wasn`t in my trunk when I got home.
6)They told me that there is no way for me to check my power steering fluid because you have to get under the car to do it (the implication being that I would have to bring it in). The next mechanic I went to showed me how to just reach down into the engine compartment and check it easily.
7)Several items on my final bill for misc. parts that are mysterious.

bmw97driver / 8/7/2007

Trustworthy Service Center

This service center is professional, trustworthy, and makes an effort to save you money. I`d consider buying another BMW just so i can take my car here!

sharra / 1/17/2007

A very nice change from service at the dealership

When the warrantee on my `92 325 wagon was up, two friends recommended I try Phaedrus. I`ve taken my car there twice so far, and it`s been a positive experience both times. In person and on the phone, the personnel are professional and very polite. The place is orderly and clean. My car has been ready when promised. If you visit Phaedrus after having put up with the service department at SF BMW, you will be shocked a... view moret the difference. The only complain I have is that at Phaedrus, they don`t call to tell you when the work has been completed, though they`re good about calling to get approval for repairs.

redletter / 4/4/2006

Rude, poor cusomer service

I took my car (95 325i) to Phaedrus a few times. They were never under or at estimate. Always over. Turnaround time was suboptimal as well. The main customer service person is not a nice fellow (quite rude and grumpy). They`re also much more expensive than other places. I`ll never take my car here again.

droderick / 2/29/2006

Serious customer service issue

Phaedrus has been good except they rarely finish when they estimate, they never call to let you know it going to be later, and they rarely call to let you know it`s done. I`ve learned to work around these weaknesses. ** But one guy at the counter, I won`t mention by name, has indeed been UNBELIEVABLY RUDE. He`s been great at night, but he has some serious problems in the mornings. I was completely shocked at the ... view moredemeaning way he spoke to me and how he obstructed a simple adjustment. Luckily, I happened to speak with the mechanic who performed the work, and he was clear, professional, and pleasant. If I can`t avoid the offensive guy in the future, I`ll go somewhere else. Not worth it.

tahoe2 / 7/26/2005

Unbelievably Rude Service Dept

I have been going to them for a year now. But lately I notice that their customer service has gotten really bad. I got a call from the service department to tell me that they found some other problem with the cooloing sytem. All I asked them was if the quote includes all the taxes & labor. The person was ready to bite my head off. Its like he is doing me a favor by talking to me. I definetly recommend not going the... view morere.

randy12 / 7/11/2005

Simply the best BMW repairs in the City

I`ve got an aging `89 635 and was referred to Phaedrus by a friend several years ago after trying 3 other shops that just didn`t seem to make the grade. Phaedrus is excellent in all respects. Yes, it can take a while to get an appointment--because they`re so popular that they`re always busy. Just the same, when I had a major malfunction and showed up unannounced by tow truck they took me right in. They`ve also of... view morefered free advice on a number of occaisions. I think I`ve been there 5 times. 4 times everything was perfect. Once they were a few hours late, but no biggie. Every time the repair was done right the first time. There is no one else I would trust with by car in S.F.!!

kginsf / 5/32/2005