Best Los Angeles P/mechanic

[Joe Bob]

AFIK....Werks II and Bieker are the same guy....I have a close friend that got ripped off by the guy....the "son", not the Dad that started the business.

Just my $.02. I can put you in touch with him if you need a personal testimonial. Most of his comments were unprintable.

He did say, when he was good wrench when he got around to it....but his uhhh, personal life was a mess...just hearsay at this moment, just be careful if you HAVE to deal with him.

[This message has been edited by mikez (edited 08-21-2001).]

[Jim T]

I've used John Williamson ("Otto") in the past (he rebuilt a trans for me), and met him many times. I can't say that I found him peculiar, cranky, etc. etc. Seemed like a normal business-guy, car-guy shop owner to me. Has always been friendly and accomodating to me. His shop did seem to have mostly 914s and the 911s that I saw there were more, umm, "daily driver" looking cars than high dollar type 911s. His shop is certainly NOT "pretty," in any way, shape or form. Some shops have floors you can eat off of. His is not one of those!

I also used Redline in the past. Seem very knowledgeable and busy. A lot of people say Redline's prices are high, but I found them to be reasonable for the work they did for me. Clean, professional shop.

I've also used Andial in the past. Beautiful shop, of course they know a thing or two about the 911. Pretty expensive, but 100% reliable.

[caliber60]

steves porsche in orange on lincoln.

Anyone has detail contact info for this place?

[911pcars]

Bieker Engineering (the Dad) moved from his Burbank location when he "retired". I guess he hasn't. When I had machine work done to my engine years ago, Bieker's did the majority of the work with some from CE. I highly recommend both (no affiliation).

Bieker Engineering
5215 Rogue River Hwy
Grants Pass Or. 97527-4449
Phone541) 955-9777
Fax541) 955-9778
Email: bieker1@msn.com

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.com/911pcars

PS: Well, he was in the L.A. area

[dd74]

There is a Porsche place in Burbank, though. It's on San Fernando road, I think, and Hollywood Way; right before you go up into the Burbank hills. It's near the media center. They had (still have, maybe) a chatrusse early 911 in the lot. Don't know if they're still around, if the car is still around or what?

I can't remember their name because they didn't build any particular confidence in me. They quoted me a price to rebuild my old 2.7, which seemed amazingly cheap at $5.5K. I don't think the guy knew what he was talking about when he said, "It'll be a lot more powerful." I asked, "How much more powerful?" He said, "Just a lot."

But then maybe I shouldn't have asked him: "Hey, isn't just a lot' an oxymoron?"

[SilverPoly]

I've driven by that place on San Fernando in Burbank, I think I've seen their ad in like the Pennysaver or something.. not a very encouraging sign.


TRE is the place for me.

[dd74]

Agreed on TRE! They serve free coffee and baklava on occasion.

(just kidding, Dave B.)

[scottb]

TRE has been great for me! Very courteous and professional.

[jbryant]

What, no recomendation for Motor Meister???

[Steve W]

Since you are in Simi Valley, you may want to consider NARW in Reseda. Very good and meticulious, a bit expensive though. However the owner Klaus there can be kind of arrogant and snotty unless you go in there acting like 'I don't care what it costs, just take care of it'. I don't know, maybe it's just me and he thought of me as some dumb kid. Andial, in Santa Ana though, has got to be the best, not cheap, but reliable, and if they say it's gonna be done, it will be - but hey, those guys are Porsche Sports of N.A. That place in Burbank next to Media Center that quotes cheap prices for something like an engine workover, well be prepared to not see your car out of there for something like a year, and if then, probably incomplete.

[69Sman]

Redline. 310-450-7414

[Jack Olsen]

Actually, I heard that Redline hasn't been the same since the owner sold the place in the course of a bad divorce. Have you used them recently? I wouldn't want to be passing around bad information.

TRE gets my recommendation, though, hands down. (And I've got the lap times to prove it. )

[96conv]

Alex Wong at Precision Tech (Marina Del Rey) is honest, accomodating and very competent. He recently did a PPI for me and advised me to walk away from the deal. I had not seen the car as I live in Northern CA but the seller agreed to take it to Alex for the PPI. I backed out of the deal based on Alex's reccomendation and saved myself major bucks. Alex has my vote!

[caliber60]

Previous owner is beyond my generation. Current owner Mark is the finest guy. He carefully expalin every detail and charge on my $1,000 invoice for a tune-up. I have no doubt about his work. Redline is the best shop so far in greater Los Angeles. They have max 4 Porsches at the same time. No like other shops. They want to take care of you but just don't have the time.

[nostatic]

$1K for a tune up? What all did they do for that much money?

[69Sman]

former owner is Pete Zimmerman, one of the absolute very best. Current owner is Mark Bixen, worked under Pete for many years. I have noticed no drop off in service, knowledge, expertise etc, on all my cars; 356 and 2 911's; just my 2 cents. Yes Jack, I have used them recently....

[thethrill]

There are many good mechanics in Los Angeles. The real question
is who is the best mechanic for what type and vintage of Porsche! Find a wrench who SPECIALIZES on your type of Porsche, and stands behind their work!

You should consider what type of work is to be performed. You may allow the local yolkal to change your oil and do brake pads, but if you need a motor built or your MFI fixed, there are folks that specialize in these aspects of Porsche repair! Would you bring a 73S to the dealer, I doubt it! They would not know what to do or where to start!

To stretch a point, before you would allow a Dr. to perform surgery on your wife, you would have established a strong level of comfort with that Dr. Same goes with your mechanic. You need to have a comfort level with that shop, and the mechanic needs to have a comfort level with you as there customer!

There are personality and style issues with mechanics. Do you want to be just another number or do you prefer personal service?

I have used Tony @ TLG in North Hollywood since 1989, and am very satisfied! If I had a water pumper he would send me elsewhere!

Will the thrill

1979 930 Turbo
1968 Rgruppe Soft window targa
1970 911S HSR 2.0 litre race car
1972 911 E

[Lorenfb]

Most all the shops that have been mentioned are my customers
with whom I've done biz with over the last 15 years. You really
can't go wrong with any that have been mentioned.

The key point is to find a shop that you feel comfortable with
and understand their biz approach. Most all shop have a
little different philosophy in doing Porsche service.

Good luck
Loren
Systemsc.com

[Wayne 962]

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

[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.