Simons Automotive Services

Been going to Simon for over 10 years. Simon’s is a family owned business that treats their customers like they are family. Simon and Phil are extremely knowledgeable and always reliable. I know I will get great service and I know I will be treated fairly. Family business with family values. We have four cars in our family and I wouldn’t think of taking them anywhere else.

I bought my truck to replace the brakes. It kept making noise. I brought it back and they couldn’t find the problem. Finally I took it to a different mechanic. He showed me that Simons was using the wrong part. Then I went back to Simons and confronted them. They said they would refund me the part but not the labor. I insisted they refund me. At that point, he started calling me using racial terms.

Simon is great to deal with. Old school local type of business owner that likes to work with people in his community.

I Called Simons to get a price on a new radiator and a thermostat for my nissan murano. He quoted me at $ 450 for a new radiator and $ 25 for the themostat. He said he could do it the next day I work in Santa Monica and live in the southbay so I knew I would have to take the day off of work and just get the work done. I showed up the next morning. The garage is on a small corner lot and it was filled with old cars and a boat. The cars looked like they had been there for months. They must spend all day just moving cars around to get them into one of the two bays they had in the garage. Simons called me about 2−½ hours later to tell me that yes it needs a new radiator but the thermostat was fine. Ok cool but then he mentioned to me that it was going to be $ 675 to install the radiator. I asked him why the cost went up so drastically from the phone quote and he said that they needed to look at it first and that it was just a ballpark on the phone. I asked him how soon they could do the work and he now would never commit to doing the work that day. So after discussing this issue with him on the phone for a couple of minutes, I overhear his boss in the background say «Just tell him to get his car out of here!!» They pride themselves on doing the job right the first time, as the owner told me on the phone. How about include getting the quote RIGHT the first time. No extra work was found during the examination process so I would assume it should be the same cost as the phone quote. Luckily I drove ½ a block down to precision auto who quoted me at $ 400 and they could work on it right away. They have a much better set up with several bays and cleaner garage. Never again.

Thank goodness I’ve only had to use this place twice, let me explain… it’s never good when you have to take your car into the shop. But the 2 times I used this place I was glad I did. The guys here are helpful and honest. I’ve always felt that they do honest work and they call you and keep you updated on the progress. There are never hidden charges. My vehicle is pretty distinct and they hear it coming towards the corner and almost every time they have stopped to wave since they are at the corner of Grant and Aviation. They do not nickel and dime people. When and if I have car trouble this will be my go to mechanic.

Ive lived in Redondo Beach for 34years & its Great to have a honest mechanic in my city, Phil gave me Great customer service and kept me updated on work being done.

The guys at Simons Automotive Repair are very friendly. The only issue that I have is that they did not use true Toyota parts. At the same time when I took my car in for repair, I asked if they could fix my moon roof, I had purchase the part from Toyota, as I had the part in my car. They said they could not at that time, but to come back. Yet when I returned to pick up my car; the box for my moon roof had been opened. I would have rather they didn’t open the box and have loose parts rolling around if they said they couldn’t fix it at the time. If I was in a pinch and needed automotive repair I would go back, but I would not make them my first choice.

At one point in time, these guys seemed like you could depend on them to provide quality work in a timely manner. But after several attempts in several years, it’s obvious that they just don’t care. Poor follow through, weak diagnostics, and just a very take it or leave attitude. Am I mistaken or isn’t this still a service industry where best practices and customer service should be first and foremost? Simon and team, you aren’t the only mechanic in town, in fact there is one of you on every corner. I would rather go to my dealership, pay a bit more and count on expectations to be met.

Look. This place is 5 Stars. Phil and Simon should get the Oscar for their workmanship and honesty. Both cool guys. Joel M. Lois S. Andrew S. Judy B. S.
Keep it guys and Thanks.

Simon and Phil are the best! I took my ’95 Nissan Pathfinder in to get quite a bit of work done, and was more than pleased with their impeccable professionalism, and service. Most of us have either been taken advantage of by some slimy mechanic, or have felt in our minds that we were taken advantage of. Not here. Phil communicated what was going on with all my repairs every step of the way and did his best to cut costs wherever he could. This is a small shop, so sometimes it may take them a few days to fix your vehicle, but it’s totally worth it if you have the flexibility with work, or live in the area because they’re all about doing a great job, and not a rushed job. I would totally recommend Simon’s to anyone who’s not into the larger corporate repair shops, and want honest car mechanics who have the knowledge to back it up without all the fluff and runaround. Thanks guys for great experience, and a smooth running truck.

Very honest, thorough and affordable. I’ve brought my car to them twice so far. Once for electrical issues and another time for major maintenance. On both occasions, they beat their quoted price as well as competitor prices.
While the turn around wasn’t the fastest, they were very thorough. They double check their work and let me know what work could be put off until a later date.

They are super nice which is what got me, BUT after a few experiences with them and thousands of dollars later, I now realize that they are A MAJOR RIP OFF… AND they are NOT experienced with BMWs.
Just moved to the area and saw all the great reviews on Unilocal so decided to try out Simons Automotive for my BMW. Hoping for an honest, reasonably priced independent mechanic, I went to Simon’s for a few repairs on my 10 year old car — I was surprised that their pricing was a little steep, but I trusted that they would do a great job.
They worked on my brakes and to my surprise, they charged almost as much as the BMW dealership. I bit my tongue and paid it. They also fixed my wiper which literally flew off the windshield one day, only to find a week later, the wiper coming out of place again, so I had to bring it back for them to tweek. I let all of that stuff go.
Then I wanted the keys to my car to be reactivated. The remote stopped opening and closing the doors to the car. So I called Simon to ask if he could reprogram it. He told me to bring it in and he’d take a look at it. So I brought it in. He tried the keys and sure enough, they didn’t work. So he said that he had a friend who had a computer that can reprogram keys like this and he would ask him to borrow it. He then mentioned that if I did bring it to the BMW dealership instead, they would charge me A LOT of money for programming it. So being absolutely oblivious to how these keys work, I believed him and brought the car in the next day. They kept the car for the ENTIRE DAY to reprogram the keys!!! When I picked the car up, they presented me with a bill of $ 160!!! I looked at the bill in disbelief. They said it was an effort to borrow the computer and then reprogram the keys. I let it go and paid the damn bill. Then I left, content that my keys finally worked again.
Later I get home, and my husband mentions that our former independent mechanic on the other side of town reset our keys once by pressing a few buttons and turning the keys in some sequential way to reset it.
Then I called a BMW Dealership and ask them how much it would cost to reset my keys, and the service adviser told me to just come in and he will reset it for me for no charge, in the driveway. Now what is this BS about Simon saying he needed to borrow a computer?
I was floored. I take responsibility for being completely ripped off and paying that $ 160 — I should’ve looked online how it was done, or at least call the dealership first, before going to Simon, but I trusted him! Oh well, I will write that $ 160 off to charity.
Then 2 months later, my power steering hose (which Simon replaced for $ 400 + dollars parts and labor previously) started to leak AGAIN. I brought it to ANOTHER mechanic, and they told me that there is a brand new hose in there and it is the wrong hose which is probably why it’s leaking. They are quoting me a little less to replace it yet again.
So proves to me yet again that Simons Automotive is a complete rip off.

I very recently had my car serviced at Simon’s. I usually take my car to the dealer however since the warranty is over I figured it was time to find an honest and dependable mechanic.
I landed at Simon’s via Unilocal.Simon’s service lives up to the other great reviews on Unilocal.The repairs were timely and the mechanic (Phil) talked to me in detail about the problem I came in for. Phil was able to repair my car and did additional work I strongly suspected I needed. The cost was affordable, not dirt cheap but comparable to the awesome customer service and peace of mind.

My husband and I have been going to Simons for about 3 years. We have always been impressed with their efficient and honest service. Phil and Simon are both GREAT.
Last year, after my husband had left for work– I went out to start the car and take my son to school the battery had died. I immediately called Phil and he drove to my house and jumped my car. I took my son to school and then drove it to Simons and he replaced my battery. Awesome! It doesnt matter if your car need major or minor work– they willt ake great care of you.
The prices are reasonable but most importantly– they are honest and treat their customers with care and respect.

I had been searching for that neighborhood, honest repair guy that looks out for me and doesn’t see me as a cash cow… FOUND HIM! I have never had a bad transaction, never felt I was misguided to the high dollar issues, never felt fleeced… only cared for and taken care of.
You want it done, done right, done fair — SIMON and his staff are the one’s to see.

So I decided to come here for an oil change. When I pull in the guy starts yelling at me because he assumed I was trying to cut through to another street (this place is on a corner). When I tried to tell him I wasn’t cutting through he just yelled at me more and threatened to call the police.
I’ll stay with Firestone’s, thanks.

I’ve been taking my vehicles to Simon for years. He’s a good guy, honest and charges a fair price. A few years back I purchased a used BMW from a friend and took it to the dealer for some part they had to swap out. My «service advisor» (!) told me I needed a half-​dozen repairs and even had the GALL to tell me that I «shouldn’t drive it off the lot.» Ridiculous! I showed the list to Simon (with the prices concealed, of course) and he confirmed that only 2 – 3 out of the 6 items really needed to be done, and his price was half of what the dealer was going to charge. I agree that getting in and out of his tiny lot can be challenge sometimes, but one of the guys will always stand in the street and hold the traffic so you can back up. I live close by so they will give me a ride home and back when the car is ready. No matter what you bring the car in for, Simon will check everything – fluids, air in the tires, etc.

Honest, reasonable and trustworthy privately owned business! I always take my toyota truck to Simon and recommend all my friends use him too. A millions times better than any stealership!!! He also throws in a special little something to sweeten the deal when I was in the military active duty. He’s not out to rip people off or fabricate things that could be wrong with your vehicle. D A P’s review was spot on as well.

I’ve been going to Simon since he opened & I lived around the corner. I now live in Long Beach, but I still take my car to Simon’s. Even for a simple oil change. Why? Because he actually changes your filters & checks your fluids as well as change your oil. Unlike Jiffy Lube & places like that. He plugs my car into his computer and tells me what’s wrong quicker than my dealer does.
Simon’s is reasonably priced & honest. He actually says things like, «You’re gonna need brakes soon. But probably not for another 3 months.»
I recommend him to all of my friends. But definitely call for your appointment ahead of time. Simon’s is very busy & very popular.
You can always walk around the corner & get a yummy sandwich at Guiliano’s while they’re working on your car.

Small, independent auto repair shop. I’ve taken several different cars there over the past few years, and most of the time they’ve done a good job.
They were pretty responsive to my needs, kept me in the loop regarding repair options, and as far as I can tell they were reasonably priced.
The only real downside to Simon’s is that you’ll need a shoehorn to get your car into their tiny driveway which is littered with cars about to get fixed, cars in the midst of getting fixed, or happy cars about to leave. Dropping off your car can be quite stressful, especially if their driveway is full and you have to back up onto Grant Blvd as cars are approaching to make a swift right turn onto Aviation.
But with relatively close proximity to my home and to a bus station, with fair prices and quality results, Simon has kept me rolling.