Best Los Angeles P/mechanic

[dd74]

Originally posted by 911/914gary
Stevenrhee, dd74…
you guy are talking about Doug Weaver's shop PS Racing on Magnolia & 1st street in Burbank. I use him all the time. You'll find Doug to be a competent & certified mechanic, vary approachable and informative. Something I don't see in other Porsche mechanics. He works on all generation Porsche's except lacks experience in 914's. He is experienced in turobcharged and supercharged modifications. Yah…the front of his shop may look like a dump, but than his rate is lower than others. He won't do you wrong. Only drawback is that he is slow.

A long time ago I went in there; he had Porsches up the wazoo, and seemed to be the only person there. Had to have been twenty cars in various stages of disrepair. There's a nice olive green '72 or '73 out front - didn't take a good look at the car. I think it needed a rebuild. Nonetheless, this was about three years ago It's still there from what I know.

Thanks, but I'll stick with TRE. They know my car backward and forward -- which is a very good thing.

[nestorjw]

I recently posted a thread asking where to have my new starter installed, after driving down from S.F. and being away from tools and whatnot. I took Wayne's reccomendation from this post and went to Callas Rennsport. They were very good, professional and friendly. They even had the detail shop next door hand wash my car (under my supervision) I have to put in a reccomendation for them. I also understand that Tony Callas (owner) was one of the Porsche Lemans mechanics in 2000?

-Jeff

[Wayne 962]

Tony has been at LeMans many times, but I'm not sure if he's been on the "factory team."

-Wayne

[SilverPoly]

911/914gary wrote:
He won't do you wrong. Only drawback is that he is slow.

That's nice Gary, but I'm with dd74 on this one. Besides if I'm without my P-car for more than a couple days I start having withdrawal symptoms..

[Dodge Man]

I was watching Hogan's Heroes reruns and THE PORSCHE STALAG became my handle for describing PS Racing. If you like long hoods and you see the lot, it is so depressing that you will need Prozac. Please help the Porsche prisoners of Doug's engine non-rebuilds escape to freedom!!!! The $$$ is never coming back so save what is left of your Porsche while you can!!!! The PS Racing M.O. is to start disassembly and take progress payments but never finish after the rebuild is more than paid in full. I have never seen or heard of a completed 911 motor rebuild actually drive out of the lot while my 911 was held prisoner.

I spent 10 years & $10,000 to listen to Doug's empty promises and watch my new paint & interior work fade in the lot. How do you like the photo of what is left of my motor? At least most MM victims that post get some piece of junk for their money. I got nothing from PS Racing for my money!!! Read the Rip Off Report, Scam Chasers, Scam Informer, etc.... for more reports of other rebuild/repair victims and the history of PS Racing's shady evolution.

As Monty Python said "RUN AWAY!!!"


GENUINE PORSCHE EARLY TURBO/CARRERA 3.0 CASE ON THE LEFT


PORSCHE STALAG PRISONERS

[matt gineo]

Originally Posted by jbryant

What, no recomendation for Motor Meister???

Should have been green text, don't even joke about that loser, crook, s.o.b. Thank God for the great thread on Pelican, I almost sent my engine to Motorscheister.

[scottb]

Originally Posted by Dodge Man

I spent 10 years & $10,000 to listen to Doug's empty promises and watch my new paint & interior work fade in the lot.

This begs the question...why didn't you just pull the car back and take it somewhere else (and maybe sue Doug in the process)? Why did you wait 10 years and let your car rot in the sun?

Am I missing something here?

[oalvarez]

i'm relatively new to the P-car scene, but have heard many good things about Callas and Precision....having said that, my own (riding) buddy Marco and his father at TLG took great care of my car during its last service (post purchase inspection and more) and couldn't be more pleased with the attention that me and my air cooled ('87) Carrera received.

thanks again, TLG

[Dodge Man]

Originally Posted by scottb

This begs the question...why didn't you just pull the car back and take it somewhere else (and maybe sue Doug in the process)? Why did you wait 10 years and let your car rot in the sun?

Am I missing something here?

Evidently you have been fortunate enough to not have had dealings with PS Racing (or MM). You have to put the situation in the context of someone else’s life because everything always sounds simple on the surface. It was much more involved than just an AAA tow truck. Read the History, I did not seek out PS Racing. Doug is a very good con man; I will give that to him. Just read how Doug got the business from Porscha Sports. Remember back 10+ years ago the plain old 73 911 P cars were not worth $30,000 like they are now. Do the math, the value of the non-running vehicle vs. the $$ & time off work to get lawyers & police to extract the vehicle were not there. If you find someone that actually got paid for their judgment against PS Racing (or MM), please let me know. Holding pattern was an option at the time because “life is what happens to you while you are making other plans”. No, I was not the only person stuck in a bad situation with PS Racing for many years. Just Google PS Racing if you think that this is some sort of bashing or personal grudge.

Your probing to satisfy your personal curiosity was not prosed in a malicious manner; however, it was just better suited for PM. Just like the MM threads listed here on Pelican are only a small fraction of the actual victims because the victims are so afraid to be judged in the public forum. I am one of the few brave souls with thick enough skin to expose the cons in the public forum to help other people avoid similar misery and loss.

[revmax]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Peter Zimmerman dropped me this email today regarding this thread:

"I've recently been made aware of an Internet discussion that involves me. The conversation apparently started when someone asked about a good shop to take a 911 to in L.A. Your moderator, Jack Olsen, commented that I sold Red Line "in the course of a bad divorce." This is hardly the case, I sold my shop to my lead mechanic, Marc Bixen, because of a number of reasons, my divorce was not one of them. I was confident that Marc could capably carry forward with the shop I founded in 1976, and sold in 1999, and he has done just that. With new management there will always be difficulties, such as personality differences. My clientele was used to me, not Marc, and although he might not have been capable of keeping them all happy, he has surely been successful with the large majority. There is another factor to consider, Marc struggled with at least two employees who turned out something less than the Red Line standard, and has finally put together a crew of quality mechanics. He made everything right that was done wrong by the guys who didn't care, which compounds stress levels, and destroys weekends and schedules. Through it all Marc has survived, and my hat's off to him for being able to hold it together and insure that every car going out his door is not only done, it's done right. Being an independent isn't easy, being a technically current, honest one, like Marc, is horribly difficult and often underappreciated. Marc has done something few others have managed, he puts the customer first, his employees second and himself third. How do you get better than that?

Respectfully,
Peter Zimmermann
Founder and former owner, Red Line Service, Inc., Santa Monica, CA. "

-Wayne

I've used Marc Bixen at Red Line / Red Line Technik for years and he's been honest, upfront and great to work with. Like the other shops mentioned in this thread, Marc know his Porsche stuff. Also they have supported cars lately in the Grand-Am Rolex GT Series (Liqui Moly / Mitchum Motorsports #20) along with cars in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series. Bixen is switched on with the in's and out's of all the Porsche models.

Red Line / Red Line Technik is now located in Long Beach, CA.

[Thatch]

I've been a customer of Redline Service for over 30 years. Marc Bixen is the best guy in this town to service your car. He is honest and understands all the minute details of our early cars and really does everything the " factory way".


John
'83 911SC

[Uber-fanatic]

No one has mentioned Fred Garcia, owner of Valley European (Hazeltine and Oxnard in the Van Nuys area). I purchased an engine from him 5 years ago, and have had various other modifications done to my car by him (front oil cooler, new axles, new suspension, etc...) and have nothing but good things to say. I specifically like that fact that he takes pride in the engine he sold me, and is very aware and concerned with it running as well as he expects it to...so much so that I think he would have me publicly tarred and feathered if I ever put regular unleaded fuel into it. Typical price point, knowledgeable on CIS, and willing to help out with advice and suggestions.

I also work a stones throw away (literally) from Eurosport in Burbank...I'm often wondering into the garage to ask Dominic some inane question about my car. He has been nothing but gracious as well. Haven't taken the car in to have him do any work, but at least he talks to me when I ask him for advice on how to remove my heat exchangers without breaking the exhaust studs...

Went to PS Racing about 8 years ago to ask some questions about my newly purchased '74 911, and never went back. Doug seemed irritated by any question or excitement I had, and the state of his parking lot lead me to believe that this was more of a hobby of his than a occupation.

[Matt Monson]

Do people realize that this is a 9 year old thread that was bumped?

[Blackbyrd]

+1 for bringing back an old thread

I like how friendly TRE in Van nuys is,
I have dealt with Dave many times on selling/purchasing items

So I decided to take the plunge and drop off my broke down SC/ 3.2 Swap
Electrical nightmare. I had 2 other expert opinions before dropping it off.

There recommendations, estimated hours and general input matched what TRE said.

I gave up working on the car due to scheduling with work and the fact that my main transportation blew a timing belt after 350k miles....go figure

TRE has a long long Standing history and after spending 4+ hours at there shop one day I got a feel for how these guys work/run business. All their staff is very friendly, work places looks clean and cars are always going in and out (good sign)


hanging out in there shop and seeing photos of special build projects like Rob Dickinsons '69 racer, Jack Olsens 911 RSR car and the fact that I saw Magnus walkers car on a lift that day really added to my decision.

I can't wait to get my car back, I'll be posting my results afterwords since I know their work is second to none.

Although I have been curious about a shop no one else has mentioned
TLG ? And Speed Gallery in Studio city (mostly boxsters/watercooled stuff)

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Do people realize that this is a 9 year old thread that was bumped?

And yet this question seems to pop up as a newbie thread about every month or so...

Originally Posted by Blackbyrd

Although I have been curious about a shop no one else has mentioned
TLG ?

I'm a TRE guy, myself, but TLG has an excellent reputation, as well. A neighbor takes his Carrera and 914 to Marco for service.

[Mr9146]

Originally Posted by Blackbyrd

Although I have been curious about a shop no one else has mentioned
TLG ?

What do you want to know?

[oalvarez]

Originally Posted by Blackbyrd

Although I have been curious about a shop no one else has mentioned
TLG ?

i mentioned TLG a short while ago, and just a handful of messages above this one....beyond being true entusiasts, they are good people who seem to know a great deal about the marque....they took great care of my car while they had it recently, and beyond that, Marco is a riding buddy of mine, i wish nothing but good for his father and he. my only negative is that they're not closer to my home town.....prolly better for the two of us though.

TLG FTW!

[pc100porsche]

TLG NTH HOLLYWOOD ---- Nicest most knowledgeable aircooled people out there.
Marco rang a seller recently to "sound him out about a pcar I had an interest in" he rang me back to advise his findings -- no big deal ? -- He rang me in Australia !! .... to go to that much trouble for a guy who he had never met has to take some beating.
Go down to TLG and get treated by a Dad and Son team who really care about these cars and their owners......
TLG 13222 Raymer St.
North Hollywood, CA 91605
818-982-7610

[JQ911]

Just like to revive this thread. It's my 10th week here in SoCal and would need somebody close Walnut, CA to fix my fog light wirings. Before changing my valance, my rear fogs were working when:

1. Head lights off (park lights are on) fog lights switch is on - front and rear fog lights working
2. Head lights on fog lights switch is on - front and rear fog lights working
3. Once fog lights switch are off - both are not working

Now after I replaced the valance and re-installed the rear fogs

1. Head lights off (park lights are on) and fog lights switch are either off or on - both fogs are not working.
2. Once head light is on both fogs are working even if fog light switch is off, lol

[911pcars]

Electrical troubleshooting often can't be cost-estimated due to the many locations, reasons and symptoms. Sounds like an incorrect connection on/between fog and light switch.

I would normally endorse TRE and/or TLG, but for some shops a little closer to SGV, there's ArtWerks (on Washington Blvd.) or Strictly German (Colorado Blvd), both in Pasadena. Both are Porsche/German repair shops.

Sherwood