736 San Pablo Avenue, Albany, CAMon–Fri 8–5

Berkeley, CA

European car repair for Berkeley drivers

The name comes from Berkeley; the shop is just over the city line in Albany, up San Pablo Avenue from West Berkeley.

TL;DR

The short version

  • Where: One shop, at 736 San Pablo Avenue, Albany. No Berkeley branch.
  • Getting here: ~2 mi: Straight up San Pablo Avenue from West Berkeley, no freeway needed.
  • Watch for: Steep hill descents; tight street parking; stop-and-go on San Pablo and University.
  • Drop-off: El Cerrito Plaza BART is under a mile away. Approve work from photos on your phone.
  • Book: Online in about a minute, or call 510-528-1214. Mon–Fri 8–5.

Just over the city line

The shop sits on San Pablo Avenue just north of the Berkeley line, in Albany. Downtown Berkeley is a little over two miles away, and San Pablo Avenue runs straight up from West Berkeley without a freeway.

Berkeley hills are hard on brakes

If you live in the Berkeley hills or drive the steep grades above campus, your brakes and transmission work harder than average. Long descents heat brake fluid and pads. We look for glazed pads, uneven rotor wear and old fluid on every inspection.

Street parking and the elements

Plenty of Berkeley cars live on the street. Fog and moisture are hard on wiper blades, lighting connectors and paint, and tight parallel parking takes its toll on wheels and tires. We check them all.

3 Berkeley driving conditions we account for

  1. Steep hill descents
  2. Tight street parking
  3. Stop-and-go on San Pablo and University
Albany ~0.5 miBerkeley ~2.2 miEl Cerrito ~1.6 miOakland ~6.3 miRichmond ~3.8 mi Berkeley Motor Works Approximate straight-line distances to city centers. Not a road map.

From Berkeley to the shop

~2 mifrom central Berkeley, approximate
  • DriveStraight up San Pablo Avenue from West Berkeley, no freeway needed.
  • BARTEl Cerrito Plaza station is under a mile from the shop.
  • HoursMonday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Drop off in the morning.
Get directions

What Berkeley driving does to a car

The conditions above show up in the shop as the same few jobs. For Berkeley drivers, these are the services to keep an eye on:

Which makes do we work on?

BMW, Mercedes-Benz and MINI are the core of the shop, alongside Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar and Fiat.

Services

How a visit works

  1. Book: Schedule online in about a minute, or call 510-528-1214.
  2. Drop off: Bring the car in during business hours. BART is under a mile away.
  3. See the inspection: Photos and notes arrive on your phone. Urgent items are flagged.
  4. Approve and drive: Approve what you want done. Repairs carry our 2-year / 24,000-mile warranty.

Visit the shop

736 San Pablo Avenue, Albany, CA 94706 · Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM · 510-528-1214 · Directions · Google · Contact the shop

Questions from Berkeley drivers

Do you have a Berkeley location?

No. We have one shop, at 736 San Pablo Avenue in Albany, just north of the Berkeley line.

Can I get to the shop without a car?

Yes. El Cerrito Plaza BART is under a mile away, and San Pablo Avenue connects directly to West Berkeley.

Nearby areas

★★★★★

I did a post purchase inspection for a used car I bought. They were fast and professional. Cost was reasonable.

Gabor C. · Google review · September 2025
★★★★★

I always feel confident that my car has had the best service. Scott & Mike always keep me in the know as to what has to be done, the progress of the services, & the final outcome!!!!

Donald M. · Google review · July 2025
★★★★★

Mike was very friendly and helpful from the first phone call. It felt like he really enjoys his work, and was ready to offer extra advice and recommendations. In and out the same day, and reasonably priced.

Brandon F. · Google review · July 2025
★★★★★

Mike and Scott are awesome! My wife and I have been taking our car's there for years. They're super helpful and do great work!

J D. · Google review · May 2025
★★★★★

Mike and Scott are awesome! My wife and I have been taking our car's there for years. They're super helpful and do great work!

The S. · Google review · May 2025
★★★★★

I recommend Berkeley Motor Works to everyone, super cool guys and they are very honest and up front with everything. This will definitely be the only place I take my BMW. Saved me tons of money and everything is perfect on the car.

Robb K. · Google review · May 2025
★★★★★

Scott was great, very informative, made sure I had the information that I needed and had me out in timely fashion.

Sawanya S. · Google review · April 2025
★★★★★

Mike was very responsive and helpful in replacing a water pump, thermostat, and new brake linings on my Audi SQ5 at a fraction of the cost quoted by the dealer. Not only was it thousands less, but all done in 2 days. I highly recommend this organization!

Joe D. · Google review · February 2025
★★★★★

My 23 year old Mercedes has been maintained by Berkeley Motor Works for several years. I’m alerted when service is due and any other issues are resolved in a timely manner-still passing smog!

Lynn S. · Google review · January 2025
★★★★★

I really appreciate your services. You are kind and friendly and my car Was fixed the same day. Glad it did not cost a lot to repair.

Delverine M. · Google review · January 2025
★★★★★

Berkeley Motor Works worked on my Fiat 500 E. I am so grateful. Great service. Not too many places work on Fiats. They fixed the car and as a bonus, gave it a bath.

Carole · Google review · October 2024
★★★★★

My wife and I trust none other than Scott and Mike for our beautiful comfortable Mbz 2006 S350 and our 2004 E320. These cars require care and attention, especially the air ride in the S350. Because Berkeley Motor Works always works to find the right answer, we enjoy having our 2 great cars well maintained and at reasonable price, too! Thank you Scott and Mike.

Samisoni T. · Google review · September 2024

Ready when your car is.

Book online in about a minute, or call 510-528-1214. Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

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