South Bay British Auto Repair

South Bay British Auto Repair ico

(16 reviews)

Auto Repair StationsCaliforniaLos Angeles CountyLawndaleWest 156th Street

Los Angeles County . California

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  • Intro
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  • Location
  • Reviews
  • +1 310-725-0075
  • www.southbaybritish.com
  • 4738 W 156th St, Lawndale, CA 90260, USA

Operating Hours

Monday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Sunday Closed

South Bay British Auto Repair Introduce

South Bay British Auto Repair is located at 4738 W 156th St, Lawndale, CA 90260, USA. Operating within the platform category of Auto Repair Stations, this establishment appears to specialize in the repair and maintenance of British and potentially other European vehicles. The provided customer reviews offer a range of perspectives on the environment, services, and overall customer experience at this location, with a significant portion expressing considerable dissatisfaction.

Based on the customer feedback, the environment of South Bay British Auto Repair has been described negatively by some reviewers. One customer likened the forecourt to a "scrap yard" due to the presence of numerous cars in various states of disrepair, including smashed windows and flat tires. This observation suggests a potentially cluttered and unkempt exterior appearance, which may not inspire confidence in potential customers seeking professional European car repair services. The interior of the shop also received criticism, with one reviewer noting its "dire state" and even reporting seeing a customer's Bentley body part on the waiting room floor. These descriptions paint a picture of a facility that may lack the professional and organized ambiance typically expected of a reputable auto repair station specializing in high-end vehicles.

The services offered by South Bay British Auto Repair appear to focus on the repair and maintenance of British automobiles, as indicated by their name, and potentially extend to other European makes, as suggested by one reviewer's mention of a Mercedes. One customer's experience involved a Jaguar V12 that was purportedly in perfect running condition after being repaired but was found to be misfiring and lacking power. This indicates that engine repair is among the services offered, but the outcome in this instance was unsatisfactory, with the reviewer noting that the car was not properly fixed. Another customer mentioned having a "pretty extensive South Bay tuneup" on a 1954 Triumph TR2, suggesting that they also handle tune-ups and potentially more specialized work on classic British vehicles. This same reviewer later experienced issues with fine-tuning the carburetors, which the shop addressed by making a house call and fixing the problem without additional charges, indicating a willingness to provide some level of follow-up service.

Several features of South Bay British Auto Repair can be identified from the customer reviews, some positive and others negative. A significant negative feature highlighted by multiple reviewers is the perceived lack of professionalism and quality in their work. One customer's experience with the Jaguar revealed a fundamental error in attaching spark plug leads after a repair, suggesting a lack of attention to detail and potentially inadequate mechanical expertise. The dismissive and argumentative behavior of the mechanic, as well as the aggressive and threatening demeanor towards a customer raising concerns, are also significant negative features indicating poor customer service and a lack of accountability. The mention of an "extortionate labor rate" written in black marker pen on a whiteboard raises concerns about transparency and potentially inflated pricing. The positive feature noted in one review is the flexibility and willingness to address a post-service issue by traveling to the customer's location and resolving it without extra charges. This suggests that, at least in some instances, they are willing to go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction.

Currently, there is no specific promotional information available for South Bay British Auto Repair based on the provided customer reviews. Auto repair stations may offer various promotions such as discounts on specific services, seasonal maintenance packages, or special offers for new customers. However, given the overwhelmingly negative feedback regarding the quality of service and professionalism, potential customers might be more concerned with these aspects than with any potential promotions. It would be advisable for local users to seek current promotional details directly from the shop if they are considering their services, while also taking into account the experiences shared by other customers.

In conclusion, the customer reviews for South Bay British Auto Repair in Lawndale, CA, present a mixed but predominantly negative picture. While one customer reported a positive experience with a house call to resolve a tuning issue, the other two reviews detail significant issues with the quality of repairs, unprofessional conduct, and a potentially unkempt facility. The comparison of the forecourt to a "scrap yard" and the description of the interior as being in a "dire state" raise concerns about the overall environment. The reported misdiagnosis and improper repair of a Jaguar, coupled with dismissive and aggressive behavior from the mechanic, are serious red flags. The mention of a potentially high and seemingly arbitrarily set labor rate adds to the negative aspects. Local users seeking repair services for their British or European vehicles should carefully consider these experiences and perhaps seek additional information or alternative service providers before entrusting their vehicles to South Bay British Auto Repair. The strong negative feedback suggests a need for caution and further investigation.

South Bay British Auto Repair Photos

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South Bay British Auto Repair Location

South Bay British Auto Repair Customer Reviews

Google will not let me leave a zero star.Stay away from this place. I wouldn't trust them with a bicycle. Just a look at the forecourt and it looks more like a scrap yard than a European repair shop. Many cars in various states of disrepair, smashed windows, flat tires etc. I am a experienced car hauler with over 20 years of business who picked a car for a client from them. The car was a Jaguar V12 and supposed to be in perfect running condition. It was not. I was misfiring on at least 2 cylinders and couldn't idle. It did not have enough power to drive up the ramps into the truck for transportation.I asked the 'mechanic ' why it was running so rough because it should have been smooth as it was a V12 and had just been repaired. He was dismissive, argumentative and told me the was fine,which it was obviously not.He said he had fixed it, but the car was coughing and sputtering with hardly any power. I pressed him on the issue on behalf of the owner(who was a friend)and he became aggressive,threatening and things could have really got out of hand.The car was covered in greasy hand marks on the door, trunk and hood. They did not have the courtesy to wipe off their mess. I personally own 2 classic cars(Bentley Continental Gt Speed and a mint condition '78 Mercedes 450 SL),two motorcycles(Ducati and BMW) and an 18 wheeler tractor trailer. I have had to deal with a multitude of good and bad mechanics over the last 20 years and this business is, by far, the most unprofessional 'repair' shop I have ever dealt with, and that is saying something. I cannot fathom how they stay in business. Maybe it's because of their extortionate labor rate (which is written in black marker pen on white board inside which makes it easy to change). Who does that these days? The interior is also in a dire state. I saw a customers' Bentley body part on the waiting room floor!!! I thought shops like this were a thing of the past. Do your research. I'm sure there are plenty of repair facilities who would put these amateurs to shame. Update...the reason the car was running rough was that 2 of the leads were attached to the wrong spark plugs. After they 'repaired ' it they did not correctly run the right leads to the right plugs.A proper mechanic would have spotted that immediately.

Oct 15, 2023 · Richard Lewis

As promised. Flexible and honest- had a bit of trouble with fine tuning carbs after a pretty extensive South Bay tuneup after I bought my 54 Triumph TR2 from a dealer in St Louis. They came to my house in Venice and fixed the problem with no additional charges

Sep 13, 2022 · marc lowe

I'm very impressed by my experience at South Bay British. I brought them a well loved but well used 30+ year old Caterham Super Seven in need of basically everything. The owner Nigel helped me prioritize a sensible path forward with an eye towards safety and reliability. The technical service staff, Gene, Neil, & Tracy have been a wealth of information and I’ve really appreciated their attention to detail. Looking back I can say I’ve been totally happy with every aspect of the process and more importantly the results! Cheers!

Oct 12, 2017 · Ross Harmon

This is a great shop. Family owned for decades by a master British mechanic. They really know their stuff here. Every time I have an issue with my cars I always bring them here and they fix it right away. Their work is great, and the cars they restore are beautiful. A mechanic shop like this is a dime a dozen and you can’t find better quality work anywhere else!

Mar 03, 2024 · Charles G

Clive, Nigel, Niel and John are fantastic in their service, dedication and expertise. Had catalytic converters stolen from work parking lot. They worked with the insurance and got it sorted quickly. I had other issues other than cats and they went above and beyond in getting it all taken care of. Maybe a bit pricy but you are paying for expertise and getting it done right the first time.

Oct 16, 2023 · Blair Stanford