My vehicle: 2011 GTIWell, I had a terrible experience at Westside Independent VW Repair and now my car sits at the Santa Monica VW dealer. I thought I was going to be in good hands since I did my research online and saw the numerous glowing reviews of this place, but that was not the case. Given my experience I am struggling to understand how there could be so many stellar reviews.I brought my car in for two reasons; 1) to fix two issues I was having and one of them serious; 2) general service. When I had called to make an appointment I explained I was having a vibration in my left front wheel and it was getting worse and I needed to get it remedied ASAP, and that I also could use a general service. When I arrived at the shop I reiterated my issue to the receptionist I spoke with, and again with the mechanic. I went into great detail about the vibration and that it could be felt at 30mph and up, and that it would be apparent when they drove it. I also pointed out my other issue which was both passenger side windows did not work from the drivers control and I needed to reach out over to roll them up from the switch of that particular window. They said no problem well take care of it. A few hours later I received a phone call to authorize $1,050 worth of work that included new rotors and brake pads which I knew I needed, and a few other things.The next morning I got a call that my car was ready for pickup. When I arrived the mechanic wanted to show me the worn brake pads and rotors they had replaced. I asked, so this was the cause of the vibration and he said, yep, that was it. I said, great, paid and drove away. Upon reaching 30mph the vibration was still there. I checked my odometer reading against what I had written down when I dropped the car and noticed they had not driven this car at all while it was there. I immediately called back and spoke to the receptionist and told her they hadnt fixed the vibration. She was nice and said well you have to bring it back. I then said to her, It doesnt look like this car was driven at all while it was there and she said, no, it wasnt because our test driver was not in today. Are you kidding me? How would they know if they fixed the issue if they havent driven it? Why would they tell me they fixed it when they werent really sure? Oh yeah, and they didnt fix the faulty windows either. They just squeezed me for $1000 and didnt fix a single issue I was having.

If you own a VW you should know this shop. Very knowledgeable and reasonably priced.

DO NOT GO HERE.Went for a battery replacement. He replaced with a used one and the battery died promptly in couple of months.He shows you the date sticker on the interstate battery but those stickers are something he puts on. The real date of the interstate batteries are etched on the positive terminal of the battery. I went to check it and they are scratched off in the battery he installed. I was duped, hopefully you can avoid it for yourself.Not going here again.

I brought my 2012 VW Jetta SE to Layne. Had a check engine light on. He was so nice we hopped in my car and drove her around the block. He confirmed my suspicions. Once we got back to the shop he told me to hangout while they ran a diagnostic. In the mean time I admired his feathery friends....turtle doves! He showed me what was being called out on the machine. Immediately he got on the phone to figure out how much the parts would cost. We sat down and he explained what would need to be repaired. The price was quite fair including labor. Had my car back by the afternoon. Now my baby is back purring like a kitten. So thankful!

Highly recommend for anyone considering this shop. Layne goes out of his way to assist however he can and finds ways to save you a couple bucks. Can even give you some DIY advice.

So happy this shop is in Santa Monica. This is the ONLY place I will ever bring my VW to get worked on. Layne is an honest person with up front pricing, he has great mechanics on hand and he is very timely with the turn around. I had a very big job done here and it was the best thousand dollars I ever spent and I couldnt be happier. Take your classic VW to a VW professional, dont be dumb!

Layne and his team have gotten us out of a bind several times now, at short notice and without ever pushing us on the up-sell. Hes a knowledgeable guy with a quick turnaround and is down the line.I cant recommend this place enough.

All tho Ive never been here but I had an issues with my car that I couldnt figure out, Ive called multiple places they kept telling me to bring the car until I talked to Layne on the phone Gave me 20 minutes of his time and explained to me what to do to get the car back running. I was extremely appreciative. I cant thank him enough. I wil make sure to only go his shop one I need one.

Just called this place to inquire about service rates. I advised that i will bring my oil since no one caries Elf oil in stock and majority of shops do use an oil without VW approval (502.00 or 505.00, etc). I received a very rude response from whoever answered the phone. I was told to go find a gas station. All is asked for was a labor rate for oil change and spark plug replacement. I was not bargaining or low balling. I was told that shop does not deal with customer supplied parts. I dont have a problem with that, i have a problem of how it was put to me and i dont like when someone tells you where to go. Not the way to get customers in.

The last of the old school hippy VW repair guys. Stuck on Highway 1, I had a (perceived) transmission problem. Instead of a tow, Layne convinced me to drive it in. We drove it around and he referred me to a drive train specialist. I was able to drive back to San Francisco for very little money spent. He has a clean shop but funky. Not for the millennial pseudo surfers driving vans.

Absolutely the most ethical mechanic I have ever worked with. Layne is very honest and wont nickle and dime you. Brought in my 1957 Porsche Speedster that I let no one touch and he took great care of the car. He could have charged me a lot more but was honest and gave me a fair price. It is rare in this world that you meet good people like Layne. His ethics mean more than a quick dollar.-Charles Jensen

Better price than the dealership but uses the cheapest parts possible(Edit): better price than the dealer yes, but the same eye gouging rip off technique. After doing some home work I found that he put some cheap aftermarket pads on from South Korea. Probably cost him 15 bucks each set. I had Bosch on before. Do yourself a favor and buy brakes off a internet site and have a another mechanic put them on. I use pelican parts now and my mechanic puts them on for $60 per axle. I paid almost $500 for just pads at Westside vw on front and back. My bad I guess. Never coming back.

Was courteous to give his honest opinion over the phone for my tricky issue of reverselight and backup cam activating whenever i turn on my headlights. Id trust this man to fix my VW

Layne wouldn’t let me leave the shop without replacing the head gasket on my car, which was leaking oil faster than you could put it in. I told him about my financial situation and he did it pro bono - I have to visit him again soon for a different issue, but I’m happy to pay him back. He deserves all the business he can get!

Helped out in an emergency Thank you Went out of his way to assist.

Layne is honest, helpful, and great at what he does. When the VW dealership in Santa Monica seemed to invent problems for my Tiguan, Layne diagnosed the actual issue and had it fixed in less than a day. Best mechanic on the west side!

I was quoted $700 dollars at a local shop to repair my coolant leak when I was getting an oil change. I have always been happy with Layne and VW Repair so I took it to him. $140 and 2 hours later I was back on the road again. Layne is honest and does great work! Its a great shop!

I can do most of the repairs on my old type 3, but Layne took a look today and now she runs like a dream! So happy! Hes a charming gent who cares about old cars, not ripping folks off!

One of the best mechanics I have ever worked with. Not only does Layne have reasonable prices, but he was very honest and helped me out above and beyond from the time I arrived, till the time I left. Really glad I stumbled upon this shop. Very impressed.

I called Layne to ask about an AC problem I was experiencing and the little information I had from my Valvoline oil guy. The issue is quite in depth and rare, and Layne very honestly recommended a couple other people who are more specialists for my specific type of issue. He said he didnt want to waste my time and can certainly check it out, but I should at least go to the other places for an initial inspection. Layne was friendly, honest, and easy to understand. I will 100% return to his shop with all my future VW needs.Thank you, Layne, for remembering the value of customer service.

Brought my 2013 Beetle in to diagnose a mysterious clicking noise emitting from my front right wheel well. Dropped the car off in the morning and waited for the call explaining the problem. At 3pm, I hadnt received a call so I called them direct. No answer. Called again a few mins later and they answered. The mechanic claimed he heard the noise and it was a stuck rock in the tire tread. Mind you, Im not a novice to auto tech. I DIY most routine maintenance, I am a mainstream petrolhead. This guy tries to convince me its a rock in my tire. I kindly explain that its definitely not a rock.I go pick up the car at 5pm and we take the car for a spin so I can pinpoint the noise. I point it out, he cant hear it in the cabin. I put the convertible top down and get off Lincoln into a neighborhood. Still cant hear it. I bring it back to the shop and he has his assistant take a listen. Sure enough the assistant can clearly hear the noise. The main mechanic just tells me to turn up the radio and then the noise is gone. Idiot. I take it to the dealership and they repair the noise for free without me even asking with my DSG fluid exchange.If you need an audible noise diagnosed, dont go here. He is completely deaf.

These guys are the BEST!!! I was stranded on my way through Santa Monica late in the day on a Friday afternoon. They took the time out of their busy day to help get my 1960 Panel back on the road. I cant say enough good things about Westside, but I do wish they were up in NorCal.

Honest, genuine Volkswagen repair! Layne wants to help keep your car running, and he gets right to the point with no nonsense. I appreciate that he takes the time to show and explain what he did to my Passat.

Great crew, trust worthy and honest.First car shop that I didnt feel like theyre trying to make me fix things that dont need to be fixed.Saved me lots of money!Hila

Wonderful experience all around. Will be back, hopefully not too soon.

Best place I know to take a VW or Porsche to be repaired. When someone has spent there life in a field they love, it shows. He has the knowledge of a Master and knows more about VW than a good German auto mechanic. I know when he fixes a car I bring in, it will be done correct. ❤ Love this repair shop.

Diana S., 10/07/2014LAYNE GIVES 110% TO THE CARS HE WORKS ON. My son Dakota has a 69 VW Bus and it needed rebuilt engine as well as many other things. Layne was meticulous about discussing every detail with us before doing any of the work or charging us anything. He spent a couple of hours working with Dakota to make sure he knew how to properly maintain the vehicle once it left his shop. His employees are friendly and competent. He cares about every car he works on and all of the owners as well. I feel so blessed to have met him and his lovey lady. The birds and cats that reside their just show you how much he cares. I will bring any VW I own to this awesome mechanic.

THE BEST VW MECHANIC ON THE WESTSIDEI have a 71 Fastback and it was running like it had half an engine. There was no power and no idle. I PUSHED my car into Westside VW and DROVE away with a new car. Not only did Layne have my car back running in pristine like new condition within hours, but he didnt charge me arm and leg to get it that way.If you have ANY old model VW or german car, you will not regret taking it to Layne and his team. Layne is not a mechanic but an artist with these cars and he probably wants your car running better than you do(Seriously).I now have a mechanic and friend for life.Thanks Layne.-Jordan

Good work been going for 22 years

I had the unfortunate experience of having someone throw a rock at my car window but as bad as that was I feel the real crime was the after math that I had to deal with. My insurance company sent me to some local auto body repair shop where they looked at my car for 5 minutes and gave me this elaborate story about how I needed to have my seatbelt replaced because it was stuck and the accident caused it to be damaged beyond repair. I called a few local shops around to see if that checked out and as soon as I talked to Layne he immediately recognized their story as bogus. In the end almost nothing the original shop told me was correct and the repair ended up costing less than 1/5 of the original estimate. My faith in humanity has been restored as there are actually a few honest and qualified people left in the world of which Im certain Layne is one of.-Rob

Ive owned 3 classic VW vans over the past 15 years and have been through several mechanics. It gets harder and harder to find good mechanics who know these vehicles thoroughly - one cant just plug in a computer that spits out diagnostic codes for Vanagons and busses.I brought my van here after a questionable smog check, repair and tune up done elsewhere had left my van with very little power and idling extremely poorly. Layne quickly discovered that, among other things,the valves were *way* incorrectly adjusted and showed me, as I watched, the proper way to adjust these.He also found - and showed me - some rather important things my previous mechanic completely missed or ignored.. disintegrated CV boots and a leaking fuel line. Either could have stranded me (or worse) at any moment on the road.Bottom line.. my van now runs better than at any time since I bought it. Layne is highly knowledgeable, experienced, quick, reasonably priced, and a great guy that Im happy to place my trust in.

Professional and fast service! They get back to live my passat fast and easy. !

Took my 77 VW bus, that had not run in 14 years, to Westside VW. The owner, Layne, got it running again and at a fair price. Hes very kind, honest and patient and just a great guy to deal with.

Best shop for older VWs on the westside, no question. Laynes been keeping my VR6 GTI healthy for a while now with very fair prices and an overall great experience.

He helped me out alot,If your student hes easy with the pay. They fixed my car and helped me out alot. Alough I have one comment about them you have to watch them on what they fix. But over all they are honest shop.

I just made a phone call to ask about a possible repair job. Layne did some research on the internet and found out that my car was involved in a class action law suit. He called the dealership to ask about it and then called me back with the info. This is all before he met me. I have to say that this is the best customer service I have experienced. Ever. Thanks for everything!

Easily the best shop for VWs in Santa Monica, and probably in LA.

I dont own a VW, but I have done business with Layne and I can say that he has been a pleasure to work with. I also had a chance to check out his yelp page and it looks like yelp has chosen to show only a few reviews (some bad, cant please everyone) and they are filtering nearly 8 pages of great reviews! I would recommend reading them to see that Westside is a great asset to VW owners in and around the Santa Monica area.I believe his character would naturally reflect a business model geared towards customer satisfaction.

I see someone wrote a really bad review but not to worry. This was my ex boyfriend who was mad they would not fix the car cheaper because he did not have enough money. Its the story of his life as he does not have enough of enything else eather. Now he does not have me. I am posting this as Mr Repairman did nothing wrong. It was my ex boyfriend with his little mind and even smaller winnie.PS. Streight Shooter should be called little shooter if you know what I mean.

Layne is the raddest mechanic and I cant say enough nice things about him. While on a road trip my 1985 VW Vanagon broke down about 200 feet away from Laynes shop (funny how that happens) Layne understood we were trying to get back home and in a time crunch and did everything he could to get my bus healthy again. He is honest, kind, really knows his stuff. We all know VW Buses take a particular kind of talent and knowledge when repairing them, and Layne has just that.Thank you Layne for all your help!

This is the best auto repair shop ever these guys are great at there jobs, never ever had to comeback they fix it right the first time, they always give me the best price, i bought another v w cause it was easier to get, then finding a great, honest mechiac, i am a customer for life, thanks layne,

I have known Layne personally for 15 years as my mechanic and am reluctant to own any other type of car other than a VW because that would mean changing mechanics. From owning a Golf to a Jetta for the last 15 years, he has bailed me out of some situations at a fraction of what he could have charged me.He is always concerned with your satisfaction as a customer. His price is always so competitive that I am left wondering if he is making a profit on his work. The VW world will experience a great loss when Layne retires.Anyone who is not satisfied never went back to discuss their situation with him personally and should do so. However, the internet world of reviewing is now populated by these kind of hatchet jobs children that love giving one star reviews if their foot massage goes slightly awry, which is incredibly unfair to a man who knows and lives by a code of high ethics.

Great help from Lane.

Rude as hell over the phone from the start. Wouldn’t go here if you paid me after that interaction.