J & G Automotive

These are the only people we trust to work on our customized Jag (see photo). Very knowledgeable and honest, great customer service.

Justin & Joe are the top drawer when it comes to British Automotive service. Top notch in every regard. Use with confidence.

There’s not many places that can care for a ’63 Jag E-​type with it’s triple SU carbs and traditional British complexities, but J&G Automotive is one of those places. I have been to a numer of other «British car experts» in the area and none have the knowledge base and capabilities of J&G’s Justin.
Super experience. No negatives.

I’ve been brining all my LR ‘s to these guys for over six years. They have always been a pleasure to work with and have stood beside the job they did. This last time they repaired something and it failed after a couple of weeks use. So they went ahead and put in several more days to try and resolve this electrical computer problem without success. When they called me to tell what transpired and suggested I take the LR 3 to the dealer I was surprised. But as they explained it was not a problem encountered before. Without any comment on my part they offered a complete reimbursement of thousands of dollars for parts and labor (shocking) never have I run across such a reputable company. All the time and material put into this LR 3 and they would not accept a cent. Good luck trying to find someone better in this Universe.

Love these guys. I don’t trust anyone else with my Land Rover. They quickly diagnose issues and do great work. They make great suggestions that actually save me money instead of feeling like I’m getting the up-​sell that so many car places give you. They are so much better than the local dealer. If you have a Rover, this is THE place to go in Marin.

My fun lil Mini was having some strange issue where if I would accelerate the car would jerk, badly. I didn’t want to risk driving all the way home to Santa Rosa, so I figured J&G was the next best option (they’ve seen my car before and took care of me very well last time).
My Pops was nice enough to drop my car off since I had to work and they managed to take look at it the same day. They didn’t find anything since my baby decided to be shy and no codes came up, but they still looked around and said my spark plugs were pretty much done.
They changed them out and I got my Mini the next day and they let pay over the phone. So far I’ve been motoring along as usual :).
They were quick and always so friendly when I stop by unexpectedly.
If I’m ever in a pinch in Marin again I would go back here again.

I don’t even remember how I originally came upon this place, but my first encounter was when I brought in a ’03 Jaguar XJ for a pre-​purchase inspection. Tim gave me feedback that made me decide not to buy the car. I later sought advice (which they freely gave) about a ’04 Jaguar XJR, which I ended up buying. Every time I have been there I have received nothing but great service. Joe (Justin’s dad), Justin, Tim, Marco are just delightful to work with. These are people I trust 100%. Justin and Tim are both Factory Certified Jaguar Technicians. They also work on Land/​Range Rover, Mini Cooper, Rover, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin. To illustrate how much integrity these people have, I must tell you a story. A check-​engine light came on and the computer indicated that a knock sensor was bad. They did the work, which was very time-​consuming as the supercharger had to be removed. After only a few miles the light came on again, and the computer again indicated a bad knock sensor. It turns out that both knock sensors (there’s one for each cylinder row) should be replaced at the same time, as they communicate with each other. They had to again do the same amount of labor, which was on them, however I did not expect them to also absorb the cost for the second sensor, which was over $ 200.00. That’s what I call customer service. I have stopped by there just to ask about something trivial and they always take the time for me, regardless of how busy they are. If you drive any of the brands I mentioned earlier, you’re out of your mind if you take it anywhere else but to J&G Automotive.

I don’t know what it says about my car when I am «the duke» of an auto repair center but the guys at J & G are top notch. They keep our Land Rover on the road. The diagnosis is right on and the work is reasonable. I can highly recommend J & G for Rover service and repair.

After numerous disappointments and outrageous expenditures at the dealership I decided to bring my LR3 to J & G Automotive. I couldn’t have been happier!
From the initial call with Joe to schedule an appointment I felt comfortable knowing my vehicle was in good hands and so was my wallet. I brought my vehicle in and was greeted by Tim one of the owners. He took his time and discussed the issues to look out for with the mileage creeping up on my vehicle. The workshop was clean and organized and I knew by looking at the other vehicles in for service I had come to the right place. I had asked for a fresh service and brakes as well as a complete inspection as my vehicle was nearing the end of its warranty. A few hours later I received a call with the diagnosis. «Your vehicle is mechanically sound and needs nothing!» I was told. I was somewhat surprised, after all this is when I was normally given a list of thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs. I was informed that my vehicle had been serviced, brakes were done and everything else was fine.
My surprise was due to the honesty and integrity of J & G Automotive. So often at the dealership I had felt duped into spending more than necessary.
I will continue to bring my vehicle to Tim, Justin and Joe at J & G. They are truly a fantastic local business with a classy hardworking attitude.
Thank you for your great service!

Just a follow up to my previous review: I had a question and concern about the XJ-​S cooling properly so I dropped in on Justin to ask him to give it a quick look, make sure the electric fan was coming on early enough, etc.
He took a quick look under the hood and said «Hang on– I’m hearing a misfire.» He circled the engine compartment and quickly identified a spark plug wire that was arcing through it’s obviously cracked insulation. I’d been hearing what I hoped wasn’t a valve noise and noticed the idle was a bit rough but didn’t know how to articulate it. There are 12 cylinders after all and a single misfire isn’t as obvious as it would be in a smaller engine.
Anyway, he took the car right then and there because sparks under fuel hoses is a safety issue and said he’d get the car back in a few days. It was ready the next day runs smoother and better than it ever has now that he’s replaced the wiring harness. And he took at look at my thermostats and confirmed the cooling system is working properly.
This is what one wants in a mechanic; someone who will identify the problems we don’t even know are there, take proactive steps to keep us on the road and address small problems before they become big repair bills.
Way to earn my trust. Thanks!
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Additional follow-​up: It’s now 1 year since we bought our ’88 XJ-​S. Working with J&G on it’s restoration/​recovery has been so great for the car and such a joy that we’ve bought a second Jag from Justin and Tim: a beautiful 1995 XJ6 VDP. It’s such a superior experience buying a Jag from people you know and trust. It may be awhile before we buy another car but I suspect we’ll look to Justin and Tim when we start looking again.
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It’s now over 2 years since my initial review of J&G. Being the owner of even one old Jag will pretty much make you a frequent flyer at your local repair shop unless you do your own wrenching (I don’t), so I have many, many transactions under my belt with J&G. They continue to consistently set solid expectations, communicate promptly and understandably when circumstances force a timeline to shift (like parts not being available or finding a nasty surprise while working under the car) and doing great work at a reasonable price. And they’re always cheerful. I wish everyone I did business with was as pleasant and customer service oriented as the J&G staff.

I’ve been bringing my 2007 Mini Cooper here for over a year, and the service has been consistently excellent. Prices are fair, and the quality of the work is great. They are at least 30% less expensive than the Mini dealers, and they have done tune-​ups, wheel bearings, and brakes on my baby. I’ve had no problems whatsoever.
Plus there is the added thrill of seeing some beautiful classic British cars. They seem to be the place if you have an older Jag, MG, Mini, Rover… there always seems to be a beautifully restored example in there for something or another (they do tend to require constant attention) and I’ve also seen incredible cars in original condition.

Usually with mechanics I have to keep up my guard and call them out, ya know. But at J&G I have found them to be trust worthy, knowledgable and super nice guys. Very honest and upfront with finding a better deal if theirs isn’t the best. I see someone on here says that they only order expensive factory made parts, but they are always up to order you the non factory versions if you ask. If you can order it online, Joe will get it for you.

Justin & his crew are great. I had a problem with vibration when accelerating in my ’68 XKE. It felt like a bad U-​joint. I had taken it to another British car mechanic who said it was due to the worn front tires, so I bought a new pair and had it aligned — same problem. I brought it back and was then told it was the engine mounts. Got that fixed and still the vibration. After the 4^th time back, I took it to J&G and they quickly diagnosed it as, guess what? Bad U-​joint. It was an expensive repair, but got done right the first time. Since then, I’ve continued to have it serviced by J&G.

This shop provided outstanding work on our truck, they did several repairs rapidly, and I felt they provided great value for the price. I would definitely recommend this shop to friends and family.

Great service! I had a problem with my MCS after SF Mini had worked on it, the air intake hose popped out as they rubber grommet was incorrectly installed by «factory trained mechanics»
I spoke with Tim who encouraged me to bring it in. When I arrived, Tim stopped what he was doing, came out to inspect, fixed the problem within minutes. He didn’t even charge me for the help.
Thanks a bunch

The guys at J and G know what they’re doing, talk plain sense — with an English and Irish lilt, and are way more reasonable on price than San Franciso Mini/​BMW where I bought and used to service my Mini Cooper S. J and G is also quick but thorough, and Joe, at the front desk, is helpful, friendly and informed. I can’t imagine going anywhere else!
Their recommendations to Diamond Tire Center and Spotless Car Wash, also in San Rafael, have also been great tips.

This place was great. Fixed my Land Rover the same day at half the price of the dealer. They were super friendly and helpful as well. They definitely have my service now.

In the trepid world of owning luxury cars, Jag Automotive has instilled the highest level of trust with me. They are not only excellent mechanics, clear on expectations but they are very fairly priced.
Several years ago I bought a Range Rover and wanted a 3^rd party warranty. Justin took the time to review the policy and helped me weigh in on the pro’s and cons of each. He has not only continued to service my RR perfectly, but I have had him do all the work on my BMW and an old Toyota work truck (which I had him completely rebuild the motor).
I cannot say enough positive things about this shop. They are excellent and very reasonably priced. I am certain I will use them for many years to come.

These guys are great. I have been taking my 2002 X-​Type here for years. It is a little drive from San Francisco, but way better than BMCD Jaguar in San Francisco where they rip you off and don’t fix it right anyway.
At Jag Automotive I actually trust these guys (and that doesn’t come easy for me). They provide me a loaner, advise me of what needs to be done, charge a fair price and follow through.

Being a car fiend (but sometimes lacking common sense), I bought a handful of a 1996 Jaguar XJ6 a couple of years ago. Almost immediately, I realized it needed an immense amount of work — including a rear differential replacement, a notoriously complex and expensive job.
Thank the gods of Coventry for Justin, Tim and the rest of the invaluable crew at Jag Automotive! They proved supremely knowledgeable, quite friendly and worked carefully at each problem until my XJ6 was in top running shape! And all while keeping the tab as low as possible given considerably amount of work involved. I have no doubt that, had I taken that car anywhere else, it would have taken longer, not been done as well and cost me much, much more.
I did eventually sell the XJ6, but I’ve continued dragging in the rest of my eclectic stable (A Suzuki Sidekick, Mazda Tribute and even an old 1971 Plymouth Satellite). The Jag Auto guys can take pretty much every kind of car you have. They’re also fast, courteous, VERY honest and simply as reliable as you could want. You might expect such efficiency and expertise from Jaguar Master Technicians but the fun banter, excellent personal level of service and pristine shop environment will make you feel like you’re a V.I.P. whether you’re bringing in a fully loaded XK-​R or a beater musclecar.
Cheers, guys!