Ackerman’s Servicing Volvos

Ackerman’s is excellent! Both in regards to customer service and car servicing. I highly recommend.
I brought my 1996 Volvo in for a checkup (I’d just bought it from somewhere else and wanted to make sure it was ok) and they did a thorough job of checking it out. I’d had some problems with the car not starting, and after looking at the car there were two potential issues/​repairs that were needed. Though they could’ve easily up-​sold me on the more expensive repair, they didn’t. They suggested repairing the cheaper one and said only if that didn’t work would we look at the more expensive option. I appreciate their honesty and integrity, as many car shops wouldn’t have done this.
Adam, Miguel, and Bruce were all excellent. Again, I HIGHLY recommend Ackerman!

Needed to get a headlight replacement on my 2012 Subaru Outback, and called Ackerman’s to make a reservation. Darren was super helpful on the phone, and I got an appointment for 2 – 3 days later.
I showed up at 8am, when they open, and Darren took my car in quickly and without a whole lot of paperwork or overhead. I felt comfortable leaving my car there, and asked them to take a quick look at my car — fluids, brakes, tires, rust??. Usually, I would be concerned about such an open ended request, and I was a *little* nervous about it.
I got a call and came back to pick up my car. The headlamp was fixed and Darren reported that he looked at the car thoroughly and really didn’t find anything. Maybe new tires in a while.
The bill? $ 23.00.
I don’t think I’ve ever driven way from a repair shop for less than 10x that amount, especially when if I’ve invited them to «check out the car, see what you see.»
Darren and Ackerman’s give a great name to mechanics and I’m DEFINITELY going back, again and again.

Called to get some info on a Volvo I bought at the auction and Bruce was super helpful and took almost 10 minutes out of his busy day to discuss vehicle history and suggest servicing different components. Thanks!

I failed my Smog Test 2 times due to not passing OBD diagnostics. After driving my Volvo myself for over 150 miles, I still failed the Smog Test for a 3^rd time. Then I turned to Ackerman’s. Adam drove my ’99 Volvo S70 on two different days on the freeway in order to reset the codes so that I could pass the OBD diagnostics & the Smog Test. It was a relief to know that my car was in good hands. Ackerman’s has been my trusted repair shop for ten years.

I left the dealer a couple years ago and looked for a AAA approved Volvo auto shop in Berkeley. I am so glad I found Ackermans Volvo– I get my AAA discount at each service–
The quality of auto repair & maintenance service has been outstanding and customer service superb.
Bruce runs an excellent shop.
He is an incredibly honest professional.
I give Ackermans 5 stars especially after they took care of my brakes and rotors a few days ago. The car started to screech last week.
I had a minor service previously scheduled; but, they managed to replace the brakes, too.
I am safer now. Thank you so much! You guys Rock!
Cris G. (El Cerrito)

I received a post card in the mail about Ackerman’s. 2004 Volvo had been consistently serviced at a Volvo dealership (ridiculous I know) which is no longer a Volvo dealership. I needed to find a new place. The post card motivated me. Called and spoke to Bruce. He asked me some questions I didn’t know the answer to so agreed to drive by. Did that, made an appointment. Service was fantastic. Bruce was great. Prices that were reasonable and didn’t gouge. We thought I was going to need a super expensive Timing Belt. They found that I didn’t need it and called me with the very good news. Made arrangements to pick up the car when they were not open. A week later I got a call AND a thank you note thanking me for my business. Customer for life. Personal, good service, honest and a discount coupon. Good business.

I’ve had my 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo since 2010 and originally took it to Ackerman’s to get some problems fixed after purchasing it. 5 years later, after having dealt with numerous false reports from oil change stations, I took it back to Ackerman’s to get it inspected and serviced during my days off from work. After taking it in, I was able to get a clear-​cut report of what actually needed to be done as well as a more than fair estimate in a very timely manner. Within a shade more than 24 hours after I had first taken it in, all of the repairs had been completed and my car was as good as new! Both services 5 years apart were nothing short of fantastic — Bruce runs an excellent operation with superb mechanics, great pricing and awesome service.

I am very picky about where I take my car. Ackerman’s is the first garage where I have never been disappointed with their service. From making the appointment to picking my car up and everything in between Ackerman’s is top notch. My car is always fixed right the first time and the management will give me a ‘to do’ list and advise me, but never pressure me about what services should be performed. I highly recommend Ackerman’s to anyone looking for a great garage to service their Volvo. After I found Ackerman’s I stopped going anywhere else.

Had my 1968 volvo P1800 taken here to have a starter installed and have a full vehicle inspection. Got the starter put in without any issues but the vehicle inspection was anything but accurate! I paid $ 280 for them to overlook so many obvious issues the car had including a major fuel leak that could easily have started a fire! To make matters worse, when I called Bruce on it, he got snotty with me and said «well your in NYC so what can I tell you». What is that supposed to mean? Since I’m in NYC I don’t matter as a customer? It was all smiles when I had the car there and was paying top dollar but now that the car is home in New York, he can care less. Lesson learned, should’ve went to Montclair.

Bruce and his staff are incredibly nice and professional. He only performs work on my vehicle that is necessary and makes great recommendations for future work. I wouldn’t trust my vehicle with anyone else.

Even after moving out of Berkeley, I make the trip to Ackerman’s to have my Volvo serviced. I trust Bruce to tell me what I need, and what I don’t need. I’ll keep coming back as long as I’m in the Bay Area.

Professional, courteous, fast, reasonable. As good an experience as you can have while getting your Volvo repaired or tuned up (mine is a 1991 Volvo 240S). It is a pleasure to deal with Bruce and his staff.

I’ve been very frustrated with my check engine light in my 2001 Volvo V40. I’ve been using a great mechanic but they really specialize in Mercedes, so I interviewed a Volvo shop in San Rafael CA and Ackerman’s in Berkeley. I ended up going with Ackerman’s: fast, efficient, gave me a AAA discount and 5% of my repair donated to my favorite charity. But the most important part was I felt I could trust Bruce Ackerman. I am a 65 year old woman and have been ripped off by the dealer; even though I live in Novato, Ackerman’s is now my new mechanic and I am happy. Thank You Bruce and crew for your integrity and high level of excellence.

I bought a used Volvo, called and spoke with Bruce about doing an inspection to check the car out for me. He told me they did a bumper to bumper for $ 140.00. A few days later, I brought it in, he quoted me $ 210. When I reminded him our telecon his reply was «we’ll see what we can do for $ 140.00.»! Disappointing. Red flag. I had it done anyway… didn’t feel like they were honest, and didn’t feel like they really inspected. Probably will never go back here. Owner (Bruce) really should hire a FRIENDLY person with better customer service skill sets to. Work the front desk. I dont live close to this place.

I’ve never imagined I’d be writing a 5 star review for a mechanic, but I love these guys so much. They do impeccable service. They’ve given me really reasonable rates and gotten my car back to me in a timely manor. They’re responsive and kind. They’ve communicate well and with great consideration. Bruce is an absolute sweetheart of a man. I’m so grateful that I found them.

I finally ended my 8 year unhealthy relationship with the Volvo dealership & moved to Ackerman’s! why oh why did I wait so long???
Bruce & his staff are awesome– attentive, knowledgeable & reliable. I get calls if the repair/​service is going to be more than originally estimated. the car is actually ready when it is supposed to be, or I get a call if they need more time. I don’t feel pushed into repairs/​service I don’t need. and I don’t end up spending %600+ every time I walk through the door.
I also love the shop’s commitment to charitable giving– don’t forget to designate a non-​profit & Ackerman’s will donate 5% of labor costs to your cause!

Bruce and his crew are everything a repair shop should be: knowledgeable, friendly, and well priced. It doesn’t hurt that they are also community friendly and seem to always go the extra mile for customer service.
I dropped my 93 Volvo wagon off for repairs before the holidays and Bruce met me on NYE day, even though they were technically closed. My car was waiting warmed up and toasty right when I said I’d be there. Turns out one of the repairs was a little trickier and I found the same problem still occurring after I picked it up. I took it back the next day and they repaired it for free and even had the car washed and detailed as a kind gesture for not getting it the first time. I understand that cars are tricky and even experienced mechanics make mistakes. The car is driving like a dream!

Don’t bother. Ackerman’s has a pleasant enough atmosphere for a auto shop, but that’s about all I’d recommend besides the friendly mechanics. They’re quite expensive and Bruce, the owner, has forgotten what customer service is.
My husband and I brought our ’06 S40 in for a 75K service and mentioned that it was making a weird «bump-​bump-​bump-​bump» sound, mainly heard on the freeway. They took the car out for a test drive and did the service, including the «33-​point inspection» and somehow missed that our shocks were completely blown. Shortly after the service we took our car into a tire shop for some new tires and they told us that our shocks have been blown for a while and had caused our rear tires to wear unevenly which caused the noise.
We were confused why Ackerman’s hadn’t noticed that issue so when I brought the car back in to have them take another look the friendly mechanic, Adam, confirmed the problem. I asked Bruce why they hadn’t caught that issue during the 75K service, especially after we brought it to their attention. Bruce’s excuse was that the mechanic had told him during our first visit, but he didn’t believe the mechanic so he didn’t pass the information on to us. So I asked how I could trust that the 75K service was done accurately and how he could compensate me for the extra time it took for me to deal with his mistake. All he did was hand me a free car wash voucher with a brief apology and didn’t offer to make sure the service was truly completed as it should have been.
When I asked him for some sort of assurance that this wouldn’t happen again all he did was lower the car, drive it to the street, leave the car running with the door open and walk into the office without a word.
Guess we’ll be finding another shop. I can’t trust that Ackerman’s accurately does what they say they’ll do. And it’s clear Bruce doesn’t fully understand how to deal with customers.

Last year, my old mechanic, Roger’s Autoworks, sold their business. I was always loyal to Roger, but now felt like I could look for a mechanic closer to home, and found Ackerman’s on Berkeley Parent’s Network.
In that amount of time, Ackeman’s has fixed a botched brake job and helped me pass smog. When I brought the car in for service today, I asked Bruce if he could do a «trip check»… something Roger charged for. «That’s part of the regular service,» Bruce replied.
Ackerman’s also has a few nice touches. They have a jar of Semi-Freddi’s biscotti and Peet’s coffee, for when you skipped breakfast rushing to bring your car in.
They also have a complementary shuttle service when you drop your car off. When I dropped my car of the first time, they asked me, «Do you need a ride anywhere?» My jaw dropped open. I had never been offered that by an independent mechanic. Also, every time I’ve brought the car in, they’ve called me back to make sure I was satisfied. That’s the true sign of an honest business. A dishonest business wants to take your money as quickly as possible, forget about you, and go on to the next customer.
Here’s the biggest surprise for me: after my first time getting my car back from Ackerman’s, my wife commented, «Thanks for cleaning the car, honey.»
«Are you high?» I am thinking! I’m not the «clean the car» type.
It turns out Ackerman’s had cleaned the inside of the car before I picked it up! Amazing. Please, don’t anyone tell her!
I’d also like to counter a couple of points here:
First, someone mentioned that they only care about you if you’re rich with a new Volvo. My volvo is nearly 20 years old. When I first came to Ackerman’s this year, I expressed an interest in maintaining the car as long as possible. Bruce was very positive about that, and encouraged me to keep it going. After all, that’s why people buy Volvos. Also, once when I was shuttle home, there was another customer who told me how Bruce resurrected her Volvo from the dead, and has kept it running for years. I find it less than credible that a good Volvo mechanic would shun that market opportunity.
Second: With regards to long waits, I was disappointed when I had to leave my car 1 ½ days when I did not pass smog. However, when I came to pick up the car, they had already taken it to the smog test to make sure it passed, so all I had to do was grab the certificate and go. I’ve rarely had to leave my car over night over my lifetime, and only once at Ackerman’s. I chocked it up to the circumstances of requiring a new part that had to be delivered. On the other hand, today’s service only took 90 minutes. I wouldn’t count on Ackerman’s being characteristically fast or speedy, there are too many factors at play.
Third: Someone said Bruce was «expensive». I’ve taken my car to 2 other of the best Volvo mechanics in town, and his prices are comparable. «Comparable» definitely means the higher end of the «mechanic» spectrum. Once I took my Volvo for a brake job at a non-​Volvo mechanic, and it was MUCH cheaper, but then, it had to be re-​done. I’ve never wanted a dealer to get their claws on me, so, I can’t speak for the dealer experience as better or worse.
Regardless, keep in mind that while Volvo’s are expensive to maintain, there is also some savings in their longevity. My 1992, acquired in 2005 cost me $ 3,000 and is running AWESOMELY. My 1981, which I bought in 1995 for $ 2K lasted 10 years. In 15 years, even with expensive mechanics, i’ve probably spent $ 12,000 total on comfortable safe cars. So, I factor in the cost of my mechanic in the ownership equation, and it really pays off. My friends are always surprised at how cheap I am when it comes to cars… I’d rather pay for iDevices and bandwidth.

My ’97 Volvo got the «check engine» light and so I assumed I was in for a multi-​thousand-​dollar kick in the teeth, because Volvos are the most expensive cars to repair on earth.
Last time it needed brakes it ended up costing me $ 2K for all sorts of crazy shit, like a broken turbo. One time. the dipstick rotted and the dealership told me it would be like $ 300 — $ 500 for a new one, because I have the «short» one they don’t make anymore, so they have to install the new «long» housing, but they have to special order it from these elves in Europe and blah blah blah. By the time the guy got done talking I realized he had actually taken my wallet out of my pocket…
Anyway, I just bought a long dipstick and cut it with tin snips, and I resolved that the next time the gd car even needed bake pads I was going to trash it.
But the car is loved by a member of my household, and so when the light came on I was on the hook for fixing it. I heard that bad gas caps were actually a frequent cause for this in Volvo’s, so I bought a new one, but no luck.
So I took it here. I was really concerned they were going to pull some mechanic shenanigans, because I am mistrustful of all mechanics. I was pretty clear «just diagnose it, don’t fix it, don’t check the turbo, don’t look in the engine at the frothy, milky blend of oil and water that is grinding the pistons away, etc…» but I was still pretty sure I was going to get socked.
But, hey, I didn’t! They sent me to the nice café next door and 20 minutes later some guy came in and was like «yeah, it was probably just the gas cap. Keep it closed tight.»
Nice! I assure you, these guys knew I was never going to be a long term customer, and they could have easily screwed me, but they didn’t. Thumbs up!