Westside Independent VW Car Repair

Lane the owner of this place is one of the most honorable men Ive ever met, the true definition of a skillsman at your service without trying to hustle you for your cash. Hes like Leonardo Davinci of Volkswagen, now to the serious part, i came here to repair my Volkswagen passat 2002 because I had the check engine light but lyles quickly took care of the problem right away and most importantly without having to sell all my stuff to fix my car, unlike other repair shops who want to charge you a fortune to fix your car, I appriciate an honest person who can give you a hand and give you an honest opinion. I have found my volkswagen repair guy for as long as I own a Volkswagen, thank you sir, salute!
We continue working on My Volkswagen, but it is a pleasure coming here!
Dont get hustled folks, pay Lane a visit, a real pro, and honest man.

Not sure about the experiences the positive reviewers had. Sure, they may be cheaper than dealer repair shops, but most independent mechanics are. It’s not about comparing costs vs dealer, it’s about doing the right job for the right price.
This place will charge you what they want to charge you, regardless of what your car *needs*, e.g. they can give you a quote over the phone because they’ve already determined how much $$ they want to make off of you before even looking at your car.
Just because he’s blatant about ripping you off, doesn’t mean he’s a «straight shooter.» He’s just patting a naïve car owner on the head with one hand while reaching into their wallet with the other.
I’ve called this place several times for various issues, asking for a quote. After describing the problem and diagnosis he would insist a repair and price that were completely unreasonable, over the top, and obviously optimized for his maximum dollar gain, regardless of need to do the job right. e.g. he would insist on rebuilding a cheap part (very labor intensive and more $$ in his pocket), rather than replacing the part (cheaper in labor cost). I would suggest an alternative that was better long term for the car, because I know my car and I called him only after I’ve diagnosed the specific problem. He wouldn’t budge from his proposed repair solution and cost, citing business reasons. He would always go back to business reasons…
This place prioritizes making $$ over what’s good for the car and what’s good for the customer.
Talk to the owner for 30 seconds and if you know anything about cars, it’ll be clear he cares about making $$ more than what is good for the car and what’s good for you.
After my experience, I’ve asked other vw owners and mechanics about this place. This guy is the Ted Cruz of vw mechanics.
If you want a mechanic who blatantly cares more about his wallet than your car and looks at you as an easy mark, this place is for you.

Layne is just a straight up nice guy and straight shooter. I brought in my car to get the intake manifold fixed. I had been to two previous repair shops and they quoted me $ 600 – 700 $ to get it fixed. Layne was very patient with me and He told me that there might be a way to fix it differently from what I was told previously. Layne looked into the issue with my car and somehow, thank goodness found that the issue with my car specifically had an extended warranty on it. I then called the VW dealership and was able to have the issue fixed for free. If I hadn’t gone to layne and if it wasn’t for his honesty, I would’ve spent that money to get it fixed. I am so grateful for Layne and I will definitely be back there to get any other car issues fixed with him.

i absolutely recommend westside! not only did they do a first rate job and reasonably priced! but the owner lane is a really stand-​up guy.

Layne is the BEST! So nice and so honest and he’s helped me with my 2002 VW Jetta so many times! I go back again and again!

Layne was so helpful. I was in LA on vacation and my ’87 Vanagon wouldn’t start. He and his mechanic tried everything and spent hours diagnosing the problem. It turned out to be a fuel filter problem. He worked quickly to fix the problem since he knew I was from out of town. His prices were right and he was great to work with. I’m planning to go back to him whenever I need work and I’m in LA. He’s a trustworthy mechanic who has been at this a very long time.

Westside Independent VW Car Repair is amazing! They are super honest and helpful. I got a scrape on my car and he buffed it right out for me super quick! I will always bring my car to this shop from now on. They are definitely awesome! They are super fast and know what they’re doing!

Layne is a great guy, straight shooter.
Took one car here for a pre-​purchase inspection, and my passat here to swap out an engine mount. Gave me the quote over the phone (which some shops won’t) and got me in and out.
Will see you soon Layne!

Layne is one of the last great VW mechanics in LA.
I had been taking my ’73 Super Beetle to someone else who claimed to specialize in VWs but getting consistently bad work with cheap parts and overcharging me for bad very slow work.
Then I found Westside Independent VW because my car broke down after driving from my old mechanic to work.
Layne worked extremely fast and redid everything my old mechanic did wrong and now my car runs amazing. Ive been going to Layne ever since for upkeep and I will continue going to him for all my VW needs.

Brought my 05 Jetta in for a leaky coolant flange and they managed to find that my control arms were also messed up, that explains the thumping sounds I would often hear. They started working on it right away and their customer service was more than excellent. Dealer wanted an arm and a leg for parts but Layne managed to find me a better deal. I will be returning for future maintenance.

Came in with my recently purchased 2008 Jetta that was from a private seller. My wrench dashboard light on so I decided to take it to Layne’s Westside independent VW. I called mid-​morning and he was able to take me right away. As soon as I got there, they started working on it right away. I got a call 2 hours later that it was ready. The service was amazing. I will be back!
2 weeks later:
I told ya I would be back! So all of the sudden my car was acting funny. Starting but would shake and make weird noises with the check engine light flashing. I called Layne first thing Monday and he took me right away. Dropped my car off and waiting impatiently to hear the bad news. He called and told he did a diagnostic at his shop and even went to another place next door to do a second to make sure he was getting the correct reading. An option he gave me was to change out some coils to see if that is the issue. He called me back about an hour or so later to tell me that once he change the coils and started the car, it misfired. So that wasn’t the issue and that it was the intake manifold. IT GETS BETTER! Layne’s called VW in Santa Monica, gave them my vin # and they said that my car is covered under warranty! Any other mechanic would have never done this and charged me too much money! This guy is honest and in it for the marathon with his customers. Car was towed to VW and fixed!
THANK YOU!

Layne was very helpful and honest with me. He changed the battery of my new beetle according to my worst schedule. Good price, good service and very clear explanation about what he and his team do on your car. He doesn’t sell you more than your car needed, and he has a look at your vehicle in a very professional way. Grazie Layne!!!

Don’t trust the negative reviews. Everything positive said about Layne is 100% and then some. Took my Passat to Layne after having been quoted over $ 600 for a simple service at the dealership. I called Layne and he quoted me for much less and asked me to come on down. I brought my car in the morning before work and had a great chat with Layne. He told me what he would be doing and was sure to mention he would never do anything on my car without my permission first. He called me about 3 hours later and let me know my car was ready. THAT FAST!!! Then he told me there was some other work I might need, but that it could wait and didn’t need to be done immediately.
Very rarely do you find the combination of a master mechanic, honest businessman and all around great guy. Don’t have any doubts about Layne and his excellent repair shop. Just look how he even responds so kindly to the reviews people leave him, he’s the real deal. I’ll be bringing cars here for a long, long, long time. Thanks Layne!

This is the first time I have ever left a second review for a business. My bus had some serious issues with the transmission and I just thank God that I originally came here to have my work done. I won’t go I to the gory details, but Layne provided that rarest of qualities to the service he provided, true humanity. My bus has never been better, and I owe not only my vehicle’s health, but a deep personal debt to Layne.

This place has sadly become and avoid, avoid, avoid.
I heard from many that it was great awhile ago, but people have started to figure out that it has issues.
I got a check engine light when I didn’t have one when I came in. But that’s not why I am writing such a poor review. It was the dismissive service and the shocking attitude. I got returned a messed up car and the man in charge of the operation didn’t do anything but tell me, «I can’t explain it because you don’t know much about cars like me.» Um, I worked at a major car brand for a long time and have seen it all. I get it, that was just an excuse to cover up his mistakes. Still, not cool.
My neighbor used to go here with his Jetta and when I told him my experience he laughed and said I would’ve warned you.

Layne is the man. I finally pulled the trigger on an ’89 Westfalia that needed some new owner maintenance and repairs. He put in a much needed clutch (for substantially cheaper than other mechanics) as well as some other repairs and even saved me some money by offering a cash discount.
Westside Independent knows VW’s. If you own one, you shouldn’t take it anywhere else!

Amazing service! Beautiful work on my car and Layne is such a nice, honest guy. Will definitely take my bug back here for any other work I need done. Would recommend for VW owners!

Probably the best auto repair place I have ever been to in 60 years. The Santa Monica Volkswagen dealership quoted us over $ 1,000 to replace a charcoal canister they said was leaking. (after a check engine light came on). They said if we drove the car we would loose gas. I took the car over to Layne and he checked for a leak and there was no leak. It was a big, fat lie the dealership told me. He replaced the gas cap and that solved the problem. It cost me $ 109.47 for the diagnostics and the gas cap. Problem solved. I’m so glad I didn’t let the dealership rip me off for over a $ 1,000. Layne is so nice and he is honest and fair. Hard to find a jewel like him these days. Do not go to the dealership in Santa Monica unless you want to get ripped off folks.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE FOR NEW AND VINTAGE VOLKSWAGONS!!! VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, FRIENDLY & FAIR!
Layne and his team have been a blessing for my ’74 beetle, since I found them in 2010. It’s hard to find someone with knowledge (let alone passion) for the older VW’s these days.
My first experience with Layne (shop owner) was getting a new transmission put in after a valet driver destroyed it. Layne gave me a fair quote with no hassle (I was expecting to have to bargain and wince). And, he had my bug back to me by the next day (or two? can’t remember exactly, its been several years now– but it was surprisingly fast). Because of the EXCELLENT, NO HASSLE WORK he did, and friendliness of his crew, I have been going back for all my car needs since. 5 years later and I am a very happy customer. They’ve done my brakes, shocks, new E-​brake, valves/​tune-​ups, oil changes, all the works, over the years. I especially like the way he walks you through the issues (by showing you what is happening under the hood, behind the tire, etc.). And I really appreciate that he points out potential future issues (like a cracked/​worn tube, a leaky valve, loose bearings, etc) that I should look into as I can afford to. Very open and transparent workmanship. He definitely PRACTICES PREVENTION, to keep you from having expensive issues later on. I’m at the point now, where I take my car in once a year for a tune-​up, and just have him give it a look over– and let me know what is getting worn out and needs repair in the near future. I’m really grateful to have a TRUSTWORTHY REPAIRMAN.
and the biggest perk, TURNAROUND TIME IS ALWAYS SO FAST!!! i don’t know how they do such great work so quickly! Great business you have, Layne. THANK YOU!!!

Wayne is helpful, gave me a great price for the repairs to my my ’03 VW Jetta that was in a poor state, and gave me some laughs too.
Was done same-​day and he even waited a couple minutes past closing time for me to arrive.
Cash discount (yay!), wonderful guy, TRUST-​WORTHY, support your local businesses! Will be coming back here any time I need work done. On top of everything, he even explained in depth and showed me the parts that needed replacing. A+++ service!