Need Mechanic on L.A. west side

RoninLB · 02-09-2002, 07:01 PM

My brother has been going to Redline in Santa Monica on Colorado for over 10 years. The problem is that the original owner Pete sold the place and the new owner has been steadily rasing prices big time. The new owner wants $350 to only change the flexable brake hoses. He wants $650 for a major service on a perfect '88 911. I have heard on this board of some respectable mechanics in the Santa Monica/ Marina Del Rey area. My brother is not looking for "cheap". He sold me his old '77 and it was more than I could ever find else where. If this is what is happening to service prices in L.A. area in general then it will quickly be cheaper to ship the 911 cross country to greasy finger nail me. I don't like the idea of my innocent little brother getting hustled. Do you??

Jack Olsen · 02-09-2002, 07:07 PM

Otto's has a good reputation. It's in Venice.

The Valley is generally less expensive, too. I go to TRE Automotive in Burbank.

campbellcj · 10:07 PM

Is that $350 including the parts or just labor?

I would find more than .5-.75 hours labor hard to believe for that job. Basically just a quick R&R and bleed AFAIK. So if the hoses are like $250, then maybe...

I always shied away from Redline (even when Pete was still there) due to their high prices, "snobby" attitude and LONG waiting lists. Once I called them for a routine 3K service and they had like a 6 week wait. Some people might think that means they're "good". To me it either means they are slow, and/or understaffed, and/or artificially propping up their backlog to make some kind of market impression. I got similarly snubbed when I called them for a >$1K clutch job too. Never called again.

Anyways, I have only used a few shops around here that are still in business. For years I used Specialists Inc which is right down the road from Redline, on Lincoln. Fred Buche there is a very solid, "old-school" p-car wrench. Unfortunately some of their other old timers are gone now, and they have been doing more and more BMW work to pay the bills. Fred can't do everything himself anymore...plus they have no real race/performance expertise or focus, which became important to me...so I bailed.

Since around 99 I've been going to Ottos and I've been increasingly impressed. You guys might think Otto's posts here are "over the top" sometimes, but I assure you that he knows his stuff like very few others do, and he is a no-BS kind of guy when it comes down to stuff that really matters -- like your car. Also he is a hardcore racer at heart and knows way more about performance, reliability, car setup, and driving than the average "basic maintenance only" types of mechanics.

Not sure where you're located, but if you want to venture south, Callas Rennsport, Aase Motors and Hergesheimer Motorsports also all have great reputations and race-prep orientations...but I've never used them personally.

82SC · 02-09-2002, 11:12 PM

I have personal experience with Tony Callas...great guy...know his stuff...but he is a perfectionist...to him money is no issue so if you are a bargin hunter watch out...but you do get some of the best work in CA

On the recomendation of Pelican Parts I have gone to Precision Tech on Lincoln...Alex is really nice and helpful...

Dave at TRE is a really nice..and since he is local to me I may begin to use him from now on...(got to see Jack's BB there poor gal was all gutted)

Otto's gets good marks and I am gonna head over there this week to get some advice about my engine project from him....

RoninLB · 02-09-2002, 11:26 PM

Hey guys. Thanks for you time. I want my brother to know what is going on from people who know the 911 game.