A1 Automotive Service, Inc

It was super easy to make an appointment to get my windshield replaced. And they finished my car in the time frame specified which isn’t always the case with some car repair places. It cost $ 235 to replace my windshield which was cheaper than the 2 other places I got estimates at.
Overall, I am very pleased. The only issue I had was when I went to pick up my car, no one told me not to remove the tape around my windshield. I removed half the tape while was there and one of the workers told me I needed to leave the tape on for 24 hours. It would’ve been nice to be told this when I paid.

The owner is great! Ask for Harry! Like I said, they are honest and they, truly, want to help you! The neat thing is this shop is close to many eateries and shop. So, you won’t get bored waiting for them to fix your car!!!

I brought my old car (Toyota 2001) for STAR Check. The car with engine light on. The manager was very helpful that she told me to get the BAR from government. That was the Consumer Assistance Program, which provide aid for smog check repair. That saved me up to 500 $. That was amazing. I just want to thank you guys at A1 for the suggestion that many other smog stations never tell customer. My car now is running very well without engine light on. A1 saved my «baby» and my money.

Wow! great experience! Everyone was so friendly and helpful. At lest 4 people assisted in helping narrow down the issues that I was having with my check engine light and my brakes. They listened to my issues I was having and I never felt pressured or that they were trying to upsell me things that I didn’t really need,. They were so honest and I really appreciated it! They not only drove me home while I waited for the repairs but they offered to come get me when the repairs were done. Harry was so nice as well as the young lady who greeted me when I drove up. I highly recommend.

I found out that they offer HID bulbs and help install it so I decided to do that as my halogen lights were dying out. He told me that just for the head lights, it would cost 160 dollars. Not knowing anything about HID lights, I agreed and let him do it. Now about 9 months in, the right light broke. Initially he said that these lights should last 3 years easy. But mine went out in 9 months so I took it back to him. Then he charged me 60 dollars to put in the same shi**y HID brand into my car again. If you’re charging someone 160 dollars, I would assume that it would be of decent or good quality. Then 3 months after that the left light broke. So out of convenience, I brought it to the other A1 located on Valley to get it fixed. Then the manager there (I think his name is Jack) offered to replace them for free. Then I kind of felt a little better about. Then couple months later, they MELTED. THE TRANSPONDER MELTED IN MY ENGINE BAY. I looked up the brand and these were cheap made in China HID’S. So i went online and bought myself a made in germany HID for 70 dollars and installed it myself as it was easy after looking up some youtube videos. Long story short, don’t get your HID’s here as they will put cheap HID’S made in China and will take zero responsibility for it. If you’re going to charge so much for headlights, please use a better brand. Now onto the next incident, so I decided to get new tires and rims for my car. I called A1 and they said it was 100 dollars to install them and balance them and an additional 89 to do an alignment. So I paid the 189 dollars and realized that the original wheel spacers did not fit onto the rim. Yes, that is the company that i bought it from’s fault but they wanted to know the exact specs of the wheel spacer that I need so that they can send me the right one. Now after paying 189 dollars, I asked one of the mechanics to help me measure it. Because with stuff like this, precise measurement is KEY. Guess what he did? He used his hands and said «around this much». While having some space between his two fingers. He couldn’t even MEASURE the thing for me so I had to simply guess the wheel spacer size. So i guessed the size that I needed and the company sent me my guessed size. And guess, what it was the wrong size. Because a mechanic had to guess the measurement with his fingers instead of telling me the actual number. So I was fed up with that branch so I made it over to the Alhambra branch (the place that I thought the manager was cool). Then the manager there helped me take off one wheel and measured it without even precision. He too said «maybe around 10 mm or i dont know maybe 15 mm will be okay too». ??? How can a mechanic not even measure a freaking thing. I couldn’t measure it because I dont have a jack stand at home, so I didnt have a choice but to bring it to them. Then guess what, he charged me 35 dollars after I explained it to him that the other A1 branch didnt even measure it. I complained to the owner Harry about it and he replied «you know man, we are not aa modding shop, we simply a basic mechanic shop. Thats why I always tell my customers about going original». In no way shape this is a super hard «mod» as he would like to call it. YOU JUST HAVE TO MEASURE ONE THING THAT IS ALL. Now it gets even better, I go back because the original mechanic (person who measured it with his fingers) didn’t do the alignment correctly. I went back and Harry the owner told me that I was supposed to get the alignment done with the original rims and then add the new rims onto it. Two TOTALLY different things from two mechanics from that shop. If the original mechanic (the one who measured with his fingers) knew that I had to align it with the original rims, why didn’t he tell me that? Because they want you to keep coming back so they can charge you more. That is exactly what they did. They charged me two times for alignment. Included in that original 189 dollars was balancing the wheels. Now I’ve realized that after leaving A1, my steering wheel started to shake at higher levels. After looking it up on google, I saw that it was because my wheel was balanced incorrectly. (Again, the mechanic who did it was the one who measured it with two fingers). So I go into get the tires balanced right, Harry told me that my wheels were actually already balanced and it was probably my brakes. Again, charged me 20 dollars. Then after this He recommended me to get my brakes fixed as it was down to its last 15%. Now check this out, I go get a 2^nd opinion from the official mercedes dealer in Arcadia and they said my brakes were completely fine! WTF!!! Long story short, in the beginning they are super nice to you but after awhile you see the real side of them.
–Dont get HID lights from them as they charge high and use cheap china lights and arent responsible for them
–Don’t install tires or get anything aligned here.
–Always get second opinion
–Only good thing here is free wifi

Location is convenient. Service is fast. People are friendly. Prices are fair. Cannot ask for more.

I have not written negative review for anyone in long time and I do not believe I am writing this one now.
Attracted by their polite attitude I started bringing in my cars to this shop for services from one year ago. They told me they do provide warranties for services done in their shop.
I brought my car in for warranty services today. The manager told me the mechanic that did the original repair on my car needed to correct the defects since the shop and the mechanics split all service income. That type of compensation arrangement started my problems.
Both the store manager and the mechanic tried to find excuses to void the warranty because none of them wanted to do free works. With the original invoice and payment receipt to prove warranty coverage, the store manager finally gave in and agreed to pay the mechanic for the warranty services. However, that was not the end. The manager insisted me to pay for the repair parts costs because, according to her, only service fees are waived, not the parts costs.
I do not know if my experience is unique. I would advise all customers who want to do repair services in this shop obtain detail service invoices with payment receipt and be firm with the store to protect their own rights.

Called them 5 minutes before closing and they stayed open late for me to come in for an oil change. Friendly service.
$ 29 for a 4 cylinder car regular oil change as of Jan 2016. $ 35 for 6 cyl and $ 40 for 8 cyl.
For synthetic, it’s $ 60÷68÷85.

I called in and ask the price for oil change, the lady on the phone was nice also the mechanics are really friendly. The price is really good here and the could fix pretty much everything. 4 stars because they over filled motor oil because my car doesn’t have a dip stick, but electronic gauge. Overall is a good place.

Came here for a smog check for the DMV on Dec. 23^rd and they were super quick. Told me it’d be done within 30minutes and it took about 15. The mechanic I had was helpful in answering the little questions I had. Costed $ 49. I’d come back here. No reason not to!

service is stupendous, speedy and served with a smile! they are also STAR SERTIFIED (to continue my alliteration here, i know how to spul!)
i hopped out of my car as an employee hopped in and drove it into the garage. it always takes me about 10 minutes to do my makeup, and that’s exactly what i did after helping myself to two cups of their ice cold filtered water. as soon as i finished my eyebrows, the nice girl that works there smiled at me to indicate that i was finito! i went inside, swiped my points redeeming credit card (yes, they take visa!) and i was finished! off to the car wash!
thanks A1! you guys are truly deserving of your name :)

I had my car towed to A-​1 as it did not start. Mechanic said the battery was bad. As the battery was under warranty, I brought in the replacement battery. They installed the battery and the car started. This was what the mechanic said. They (in the office) charged me $ 100.00 for diagnosing the defective battery. Felt ripped off.
Last month I went in for a smog check for my truck. Truck passed the test but I was told (again in the office) the gaskets need to be replaced as the engine oil leaked. Estimated charge was $ 275.00. Left without getting the work done. Same afternoon went to another mechanic to check for oil leaks and if the gaskets need repair. He checked and found no leaks and said no repairs were needed.
I have in the past been very satisfied with their work at A-​1. The mechanics are honest and good. Maybe the management is now the problem.

I can’t believe I’m writing this negative review.
I have used A1 several times since they opened the facility on Las Tunas. I have referred them to numerous friends and strangers.
I took my 2002 Honda with 120,000 miles to check a clunking noise. They told me it needed a control arm, ball joint, sway bar linkage. With alignment plus tax, $ 675. I would have to bring it back, leave it all day and take time off from work.
I was referred by a neighbor to Bear Frame and Wheel in Glendora, since I now live San Dimas I thought I would go on Saturday morning .
All it needed was bushings, with alignment (cost $ 264.42), while I waited.
I’m so disappointed in A1 for betraying my trust.

My go-​to autoshop! I’ve been a regular here since my house is only a couple blocks away from this place. I get my car fixed here all the time! The prices are fair and the people are friendly, willing to help you out get your car done ASAP when you need them. Great business, 5 stars! I definitely would recommend those who want to get their car fixed in tiptop shape!

Second time here for oils change! very happy with their service and price! Excellent customer service and professional staff，waiting area comfortable and clean! Will definitely come back!

Li H. Is absolutely on point. I will never, ever return or refer another family or friend to these scammers and thieves again. Do not let the fake smiles and sweet talk fool you. They do not, let me repeat, DO NOT, know how to repair cars. Take them as friendly, and they will take you as a fool. You got a major repair on hand. Harry gets on all fours and tells you your tires are messed-​up. Thanks, I have eyes to see the tread wear. They «repair» vehicles and you drive off thinking your car good. Why wouldn’t it be after spending hundreds of $$$? WRONG. Another problem arises, you take it in again. More repairs and more money spent. And the cycle goes on until you finally say enough is enough and you realize you are a victim of a scam. Do not take to either San Gabriel or Alhambra location. They are both run by the devious, dishonest, non-​righteous boss, Harry. Be warned. No, I will not pursue a lawsuit, however I will be contacting the BBB.
You can say whatever you want at this time, but the damage is done. You, nor your mechanics simply do not know how to perform major repairs. A1, you should specialize in tire repairs instead. Period. Oh, and the one star is because I have to otherwise I can’t post this review, otherwise I’d give it a –100,000,000 star rating. A junk bond rating with ZERO credibility.

This place is a staight out scam! They’ll do the first job great to gain your trust then things start to mysteriously break. I think with the new opening of their new location in Alhambra they’re stressed for money to keep it operating. So, they’re scamming their customers in their busy location on las tunas to keep their business afloat. Don’t go there, TOTAL SCAMMERS !!!
Went in for minor issues came out with a sleuth of major expensive issues. What I recommend to people is to go your dealer and simply get a diagnosis of issues your car may be having then go into a garage knowing full well what is wrong with your car to see if the mechanics are honest is their diagnosis. A good tip that I learned from my friend who is a mechanic. The only reason I’m giving a star is because the first time I went there for an oil change and oil gauge issues, they fixed it properly and correctly.
However that doesn’t dismiss the fact they’re being very fraudulent and shady now? DO NOT GO THERE !!!

I know there seems to be much love for this place and I so badly wanted to be a customer as well, but a recent visit to A1 put the brakes on that. My regular mechanic was super busy and booked up so I decided to drop in and get an estimate for a radiator flush and tire rotation. The young lady at the counter gladly wrote down the prices for me. I was shocked to learn that they were priced considerably higher than my mechanic.
My mechanic was charging $ 50 for a tire rotation— they wanted $ 75. My mechanic was charging $ 75 for a radiator flush while A1 wanted $ 95. Yikes. When I pointed this out the clerk didn’t seem to want my business shrugging her shoulders. I know it’s not always about the price but the quality of service, but I would shop around. These guys are higher than the rest.

I have been coming here for years now, since my sister-​in-​law recommended them when she learned that another shop was over charging me.
I love their service, everyone’s very nice and their prices are the best too! I’ve never had to go back for them to fix something they didn’t do a great job on. My family and I will definitely keep coming back.

Got my front brakes done with my oil change and I was outta there by 1.5 hours — awesome :)
Their brake prices are affordable and not having to sit there for hours. The guy that got my brakes came asap. Though if you gotta be somewhere, they might drive you based on distance or they’ll figure something out with you.
Also, if you post a positive review for them, show it to the cashier and as a thank you gift, you’ll get an A1 Automotive T-​shirt, nice! :)