Dan Chin’s Auto Service

Great, quick, reliable, and cheap. I have been bringing my car here for years. I would sometimes take it to another mechanic for a second opinion and the price couldn’t be beat.

A couple of months ago, we were spending a weekend in the Bay Area and upon driving into Berkeley, our car made a worrisome noise, so we brought it to Dan Chin’s. Admittedly, we were on a very strict time frame (brought the car in on a Friday morning and needed it back that evening due to us needing to leave on Sunday) so we expected to not have time to get any major repairs done, we just wanted to make sure the car was safe to drive home in.
The noise was traced to some sort of problem with the transmission (again, being on a short time frame, they didn’t figure out exactly what it was), but they assured us that the car was perfectly safe to drive home in and that we could just take it to our regular mechanic on Monday. Spoiler alert: we broke down 20 miles from home and had to get the car towed. I do understand that given the limited diagnostic that was done on the car, it was really just a rough estimate that we were given. However, having to limp our car along the 101 at midnight praying that we don’t get stranded on the side of the road without cell reception after being told we’d have no problem getting home isn’t cool.
Second of all, he told us that our tires needed replacing and showed us tires that were completely bald on the inner half. They very well could have been our tires, but we didn’t see them come off the car, nor did we notice our tires in that state in the months previously. He said that it was due to the shocks needing to be replaced ASAP and sold us a set of new tires. Spoke to our mechanic upon arriving home and he said that worn out shocks very clearly would not have that wear effect on tires and it was most likely just an alignment issue.
This leads me to present day. We finally got the alignment checked out on the car — it’s perfect. The new tires are showing nothing other than normal wear — which leads me to wonder, how did our old tires get so messed up? Although I have no proof, I’m starting to wonder if they were even our tires or not — or if Dan Chin was just trying to get as much money from us as he could in a limited time frame.
I decided on the second star because we were actually able to get the car in without an appointment and it was back to us in a timely manner. Other than that, there’s nothing about the service we received that makes me want to go back or recommend this establishment.

My problem: a worn linkage between my clutch pedal and the clutch. My clutch pedal was loud and I had a hard time shifting.
The proper solution: replace the linkage, adjust the clutch if required
Dan Chin’s solution: spray WD-​40 on the linkage, and adjust the clutch.
Duration of Dan Chin’s solution: about two days before the pedal was making noise again. I got about two weeks of trouble-​free shifting, and the decline has been slow, but still. Sure wasn’t worth the $ 120 I paid.
I took my truck here in the 90’s, and the work was really good. I don’t what happened in the intervening years, but it hasn’t been good.

Dan Chin is the bomb! Owner «Roadie» is very honest and fair! 2003 Kia broke down on freeway (AAA towed it) and left my Kia in Dan Chin’s parking spot and keys in slot. They could not detect the problem right away so paid for rental car. It took a while but now my 2003 Kia with 140K runs better than ever even though I blew the engine! Kudos and highly recommend so difficult to find reasonable and honest folks in auto repair!

Wow. Used to really like this place. Took in for ac leak estimate $ 100. They called and said they couldn’t do anything because my ac won’t turn on so can’t even check for leak. Quoted me $ 800 just to replace control then they can fix ac. Called around and found the same service $ 390. So I said no. Came back and They gave complete complete attitude plus charged me $ 100 for nothing. Guy told me he couldn’t do anything cause ac won’t turn on. No test no leak inspection nothing unless I paid $ 800 to fix control. Then they charge me $ 100. Wow. Used to be a great mechanic.

I had $ 500 worth of repairs here about 3 months ago. I also asked to have an oil change. In getting my next oil change done somewhere else, they discovered that my oil pan had been dethreaded, and sealed with silicon. I called Dan Chin’s and explained this and was told the repair would be done at no cost since it was their fault. Upon coming in, I was told by someone else «use common sense lady. We don’t do that». And they refused to do the work unless I paid.
This was extremely poor service. Attitude by the man was loud, aggressive and angry. Don’t go to this shop for repair. They will end up costing more in the end.

so, i call about battery, dan gives me price installed; i call a few days later to confirm, go there and then the bs started– he said he was dan, then said that was his son… quoted a different price, different battery; showed him what i had written down– story changed to «prices went up last month»; then he checked his stock –3x, came up with totally diffrent battery and price.
if i said he was telling the truth i would be wrong…
don’t go here…

I first went to Dan Chin for a smog inspection/​repair and state inspection, both of which are standardized procedures and competitive pricing. It was quick and easy and I was satisfied with the results, even though they tried pushing $ 3000 worth of «recommended» repair that was all utter BS.
I returned 6 months later for a diagnostic of a sound coming from a back wheel. My $ 50 report did not list a single thing that could be causing the sound, but instead was $ 3000 of repair work that was different than the original repair work he suggested during my prior inspection. I found it all very suspicious, and a little upsetting that I had to pay for a very specific analysis that he did not follow through on. The mechanic was condescending and tried to scare me into agreeing to the repairs on the spot.
A little about my car: It is 10 years old, high mileage, and spent most of its life in areas that cause rust. Even with all that it runs amazing, contains very little rust, and received high marks on a review I did 8 months ago on the East Coast (where cars are a little bit more beat up).
End result: Does a fine job for standard procedures where they can’t set their own price structure. If you are taking the car in for problems and repairs, have a good knowledge of what could be wrong so he does not scare you into needless work, especially if your car is older. Before agreeing to work do your own research on both tell-​tale signs of the issues he is citing as well as the average price for the procedure, this place is known for being well over the high end for work and parts. If possible, go elsewhere.

Ahh, no, never again.

Just drop car for oil change they are not expensive I can afford it and Quik service lovely! They fix tire for me last Monday it was also prompt service. Really happy about this place! Highly recomemded

Dan Chin does great repairs and did a comprehensive write up prior tou purchasing a used car. However. I now choose not to patronize their biz bc they mark up their products +200% and seemed to not do comprehensive evaluation for my car that was not starting (seems to be a gas issue)
I called a prior mechanic who I love, autostop in Potrero hill/​san francisco who serviced my car the last year before I moved out to the east bay… He said the $ 500 repair + parts that chins estimated should be significantly less: only a hslf or up to one hour labor and not a $ 300 fuel pump.
It also turns out that they did not try starting my car and the problem may be that the car had no gas: not the repair that they suggested. After gas was put in and they did inspection the car fired up. Indicating that I did not actually need repair they suggested.
They never tried to start up just did diagnostic.
Prior: when i wanted to get my window replaced. They charged, again, $ 300 for a $ 96 window. I had it done elsewhere.
Two strikes.
Not cool.

I’ve brought my Saturn here on and off for the past 5 years. For smog, oil change or basic maintenance their probably okay. But the past few times I needed something big, I’ve gotten a sketchy vibe from them. I had ignition problems, had it fixed at Dan Chin’s, it started acting up again a few months later. They did the exact same repair, claimed it was different and charged me full price. I wasn’t sure in the moment if it was the same, but when I came home and checked my records, sure enough it was.

Watch out for these guys you could get taken for a rich Berkeley fool! I had agreed to not write a bad review in return for partial money back but then after receiving the partial money I changed my mind.
the smog went fine. But when I asked them to check a funny sound under my car by the wheel is when the funny business started.
I came back after a few min to find the devil in the details. they had apparently deemed that I needed to replace all my struts and bushings to fix the sound. A $ 1000 plus job. but I had just replaced my struts on 2 of the wheels and you could clearly see the lack of dust on them and the shiny newness. So that was a total fail.
Then they proceeded to charge me 45 dollars or so for the genius analysis they had made. when I told them that I clearly saw them just drive around the block once and not even raise it up. They insisted that regardless of 1 min or 20 min they always charge $ 45 dollars as the bare minimum. They seemed to bend a little when I discussed this very review that I agreed not to write.
I’m kicking myself for not going to my regular guy but this shop is right next to my girlfriends accupuncture school and I thought there would be car healing vibes by proximity. dead wrong!!! if you just want a smog this place will render the job, but don’t count on sound business after that.

I question the integrity of this place. A couple of years ago, engine light came on and it was the brake switch… just last week, engine light came on again, had to take it to another auto repair place and they said it was my brake switch (AGAIN). The mechanic said, the prior mechanic (Chin Auto) had put a penny (yes a penny) in front of the part to make it work… this means, they collect $$$$ and never replace this part! I am just sayin… shady!

This guy just wants to rip you off! My Honda failed the smoked check, so I brought it to his place as the smoke station’s recommendation. He told me to replace the filler pipe and asked $ 520 for it. I checked another auto service with high reviews on Unilocal and they said my gas cap was loose. They fixed it by tighten the gas cap and charged me nothing.
Stay away from this place if you can!

I had a terrible experience with this place. I don’t usually write reviews but I have never been treated the way I was here. I will start by saying they did give me my money back, but they cost me the opportunity to sell my car.
The Buggy Bank uses him for smog tests. My old car failed the smog. It has just passed a few months before.
I understand the machines are what they are, but when it failed and I tried to find out if they were gold star I could not get an answer. All I got was an offer for a $ 90 diagnostic test. And they were unbelievable rude when I was trying to find out what was going on.
I took it to a test only place the next day. Buggy Bank told me to make sure there was gas in the tank (there was none and Chin did not check that or suggest trying again after I filled it) and drive it for 20 minutes. I did both, and it passed no problem at Seven Day Smog– wonderful folks on San Pablo.
There is no way to fiddle the test– so obviously the car was not warmed up and/​or failed because the gas tank was empty.
Chin could have given me some suggestions, said they would test it again if I tried those things. Then if it failed, it failed.
I guess even good places have bad days, but this was a terrible experience– and I still haven’t sold my car!

Dropped $ 300 to resurface my rotors about two months ago because my right rear rotor squeaked under 10mph.
It still squeaks.

Simply put, I think this shop deserves at least the four star rating it has.
In short, I had my timing belt, fan belt, water pump and all gaskets and seals etc. replaced for a price that was expected… then two days later my radiator blew on my way to work at quarter to five am. AAA rocks, but here’s why Dan Chin’s does too.
At first I was pissed. I was thinking it was something they did, like over-​fill the coolant or something. I was prepared to fight if they wanted me to pay for anything. But the main man stayed cool. First he explained that the coolant could not have been over filled because of the overflow tank and hose. I felt stupid for not thinking about that. Second he explained that because there was now a new timing belt and water pump etc. that the original (old) radiator was likely unable to handle the efficiency of good circulation. Last but not least, despite the fact that it probably wasn’t their fault, the main man had my radiator replaced with a new one ON THE SPOT and completely free of labor. All I paid for was the radiator which was a hundred bucks. I was satisfied with that.
Despite all of the above the matter of fact is I haven’t been treated like a dunce here and have had everything explained to me thoroughly when I had questions. If you’ve got a Honda, they know what they’re doing and they’re nice about people who want to know what’s going on.
And above all of that when I first took my car in to have it checked out it cost me forty bucks for a COMPLETE inspection.
These guys are honest and real mechanics.

My ’99 Solara has over 145,000 miles and I have never changed the struts — yes, terrible of me but each time I have taken it to the dealer’s — NO ONE told me I should get them replaced. After getting 3 new tires in 1.5 years and having to put air in the tires each month and enduring bumpy rides and taking the advice of J — I finally shopped around for quotes to replace all 4 struts. Art’s Automotive was around $ 1200 to $ 1400, Downtown Toyota was closer to $ 2k. Art’s seemed to have knowledge mechanics and the place is very clean but they wanted to keep my car for 2 days. So, upon the recommendation of J, I drove to Dan Chin’s the Friday before MLK and Tony gave me a quote of $ 1243 and some change including an oil change and 4 wheel alignment. Luckily, Dan Chin’s was OPEN on MLK holiday (I had the day off) and I dropped my car off at 7:15a to be picked up at 5p. Tony was there. I told him I was very particular about my car and for the mechanic to use gloves and put plastic covers on the seats and wanted my tires at 38 psi. He wrote everything down and it was even printed on my final bill. Tony called me at 4:30p (car was due at 5p). I picked up my car at 5p and the final bill was exactly the same as the estimate (to the dollar). Unbelievable. J drove the car that even and took it over some bumpy roads (plenty to test in Oakland) and commented on the absence of the rattling noise. Each day I drive my car, I do notice a smoother ride.
I met Dan Chin when I picked up my car. He says his motto is «reasonable prices for excellent service.» He told me I needed to bring my car back in 3,000 miles and replace the front brakes (there is a sticker on my window reminding me to do this) and any problems to bring it back. Note: When I brought my car in for a quote — Tony gave me a printed quote — the other place — Art’s — did not do so.
The cons of Dan Chin are the following: the bathroom — the waiting room — definitely not welcoming — in fact, just the opposite (super scary). Floor seems to be quite greasy/​dirty.
However, I would rather have no amenities and great service than a nice waiting room and terrible service at an inflated price.
Total Cost = $ 1284.53 for 4 struts, free brakes check, oil change.
Giving Dan Chin’s 5 stars for price, reliability, service and friendly attitude.

I have gone to Dan Chin’s since the late 1980s when they were a gas station on the other side of University Avenue. I have done all my car business with them with many cars over the years, mostly Japanese brands.
***** Integrity! One time I had had repair done and my car broke down out of town. The reason for the break down was not necessarily caused by the initial repair. Dan Chin paid for the out of town repair!
***** Appeals to a budget conscious repeat visitor. If you don’t need it right away, they don’t recommend you get something fixed until it’s absolutely necessary for safety.
***** They do what they say they will do it at the promised time.
**** Sometimes parts seem a bit pricey or the options offered are few.
***** They care about return business.
***** No compromises or cutting of corners.