Olive Auto Center
Categories: Auto Repair, Smog Check Stations [Edit]
Neighborhood: Burbank264 W Olive Ave
Burbank, CA 91502 (818) 566-4204
16 Reviews for Olive Auto Center
One of Olive Auto Center's Favorite Reviews
I read about Olive Auto Center on Yelp and boy am I glad I did! My car had been making this very odd squeak as I rolled. How embarrassing - squeak, squeak, squeak. Of course, as soon as Ali gets in my car to listen to the squeak, it didn't squeak. We're driving around Burbank and I keep telling him, "I SWEAR it squeaks!" Luckily he believed me and figured out how to fix it. My car hasn't squeaked since!
I can't recommend Olive Auto Center enough. If you're looking for honest and speedy service, this is the place to go.
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I came to yelp to find a trustworthy mechanic since we all know how most of them screw the sh*t out of you. Anyways I grew up with my dad owning his own mechanic shop (in NE) and obviously took it to him for a free fix so I never really knew what a good price was. So after finding Ali on Yelp I took my car to him for a timing belt and a few other things. He was very honest and upfront about cost and a few suggested fixes so I called my Pops and asked what he thought, Ali was right on with the price and actually charges less for labor than in NE. Anyways, the place is great, they get things done on time and for a reasonable price. I recommend checking them out.
I've been going here for years. The owner Ali is as nice and honest as they come. After years of frustration and disappointment with the service of other car repair shops, I discovered this place and have never felt cheated or let down. Sometimes if the job is small he doesn't even charge me! Once he gave me a ride to work. For 8 years I have been a satisfied customer. Honesty is Ali's way of bringing you back. Notice how many people gave this place 5 stars? How many mechanics can earn that kind of respect? The best thing about him is you can pop in unexpected and get the job done quickly, even if he is busy, he will find a way to fit you in.
Went here solely off Yelpers' recs and was pretty well satisfied. Ali was very nice and courteous, and took the time to explain everything. I did get a little bit of the "your transmission fluid is the wrong color" pitch, but they were fine when I directed them to make only the requested repairs.
For sure, it cost me less than the dealership. You can definitely add me to the list of satisfied customers.
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Living near Eagle Rock and Highland Park, I'm in the middle of car-repair Disneyland. There are so many choices, some of them almost across the street.
As I was searching online for service centers I read about Olive Auto Center in Burbank (about 8 miles from home) and decided to give it a try.
Believe me, I'll be back. Ali was ready with a smile and a professional attitude. I told him that I needed a brake job, an oil change, and perhaps my cooling system flushed. I told him that I would trust him to tell me anything else that needed attention.
He did the brake job, calling me twice to let me make choices about the repair. He said, even though my car has 80,000 miles, he checked the cooling system and it looks good. He said that I needed new windshield wipers, but that to sell them to me right now would mean them baking in the summer sun until they are needed in the fall. He said that I should get them next time instead.
I am will definitely go back.
Thank you, Ali.
My car had been making a high-pitch squeal sound a low speeds and was also in need of an oil change. I was about to bring it in to the Toyota dealer when I heard of this place.
Ali (who runs the shop) was very helpful! I explained to him the problems, and he had my car ready within a few hours. No appointment needed! He charged me very honest prices for parts and labor, and I drove away with a generally good feeling.
I know the Toyota dealership would have been much slower and probably more expensive with more bullshit. Ali is exactly what I needed: A fast, honest, and helpful mechanic who has your back!
As long as I'm in the area, I will continue doing business here.
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I'm strictly bars and restaurants on Yelp, but I had to make an exception.
Ali who has run this place for yeeeears is a gem. I told him about the amazing reviews I found online here at Yelp and he just said: "I treat my customers like I'm in their shoes!" And it's true.
I was restless as I hadn't done an oil change for 5k miles. I have started to dislike my local 76 garage due to poor service, and I detest EZ Lubes, Jiffy Lubes etc. who allllways up sell us poor motorists. So even though I had a $20 voucher in hand from EZ Lube it's in the trash.
I got 5 litres of synthetic oil (for my Audi TT) @ $7, a new oil filter and labor for $65. Yes, more than the $20 EZ Lube offer, but let's be real. That would've been $45 for regular oil. Add synthetic oil and...you get what I mean.
I have no problem paying honest, nice establishments good honest money. Fair is fair.
Olive Auto may not replace my Audi dealer for services, but for regular work this is a great option.
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I found Olive Auto Center after reading all the great reviews on Yelp. I just want to say all the awesome reviews are true. Ali is fantastic and a joy to deal with. If you are looking for an honest and fair mechanic this is the place. He treats his customers with respect and does not try and sell you services you don't need. Thanks again Ali!
Damn you Wednesday!!!!
So yesterday started out like any other day for me. I went to lunch with my ex who told me he is moving in with his super cute new girlfriend, I went to the Dr's with my friend to give her dumb Dr hell in the form of direct questions since she clearly doesn't know what the hell she is talking about and then, well, then my day changed as my car said, "Check gages" and before I knew it there was steam coming from the hood of my car and that tranquil radiator smell was permeating the air and all I could think was, "Fuck me."
I was in Burbank and my usual mechanic is in NoHo or at the dealer in K-town, so with a car that was clearly pissed off and fuming, um, those trips weren't gonna happen. So I pulled out my trusty new BFF Blackberry and looked up auto repair and it reminded me of Jiffy Lube on Victory and so I drove over to see what the hell was wrong with it.
For the record, this is the best Jiffy Lube around. I took my car here months ago for an oil change and those dudes are cool, straight up and awesome. Yesterday was no exception as they immediately circled my car and made comments like, "Damn!" "Oh shit!" "Whoa"...yes, they were talking about the car, heheh.
We then opened my radiator cap to find....mud. Yep, rusty, thick disgusting looking gunk in the slushy form of, "Yeah, you're screwed, stephy." They of course, couldn't do anything to help me, but they pointed down the way a bit to Olive Auto Center and said, "He's a great guy, tell him we sent you" Normally, at one of these Jiffy places, I would think, "Yeah right, tell him we sent you...for the bend her over with no Vaseline special" since let's face it, most auto places are rip offs.
But I had no choice at this point and so I drove down the street and pulled up to this place. I pulled in and was greeted by a lovely little man named Ali. He looked at my car and said, we'd have to let it cool down a bit before he could do anything. Totally understandable and so I gave him my card, took his and went to get a drink. Hey, what else do you do when waiting for your car, don't point at me?
On my way to said drinking establishment, I quickly Yelped him to see if I was headed for Vaseline city and low and behold, 3 fantastic 5 star reviews!!! I was so excited and so pumped that Yelp was able to help ease my mind as my car was left with a total stranger.
He then called me and said he would need to keep her over night and wanted to make sure I had my house keys and didn't leave anything I needed in the car (how rad is that!). He then called me at 8:35am this morning with a full report of the damages and it is no wheres near as expensive as I had dreaded. He also was able to come up with a cheaper way to fix the problem that will save me a few hundies!
And so, my little baby of a sweet ass ride is in the very capable hands of Ali at Olive and I feel really good about it. I will report back with more when I pick it up, but so far, this experience has been great! Ahh, good mechanics, gotta love em!
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My brakes was making funny noise so I took it in and Ali told me the breaks are fine but the rotors need to be replaced because they are the wrong size and it will be $440 for front and rear(which isn't a bad price at all.) But he followed with that there are no safety issues it will only make noise. So I got away with paying $30. WOW!!! An honest mechanic, well I never....
Also Thanx again Yelp, I pulled him off this site. Consumer advocacy at it's grass roots finest!!! Ralph Nader is smiling someplace.
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This guy rocks! I took my car in today for an oil change (kinda an hour before closing ;-( . He had my car ready within an hour and charged me 26 bucks! He also suggested I get new tires (which I knew) Sweet little guy! Will def be back!
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Had them replace my battery, they checked out my old one.. told me it wasn't completely dead, but it was weak. They were very honest, and the price was right. I was in and out in 15 mins. I will be returning for all my car needs.
UPDATE: 1/21/2008
So one day my breaks went from normal to grinding.. ouch, I took my car back to Olive Auto Center to have them check it out, It was as bad as I thought, but after it was all said and done, It cost me less then I thought it would, and I had my car back within a few hours. I had options for different break pads and prices, and as always I left NOT FEELING RIPPED OFF.
Im really happy I found Olive Auto Center, as long as I live in Los Angeles, I have no reason to go anywhere else.
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A gem sitting next to the giant auto repair supermarket (Pep Boys). Ali runs a honest and quality auto shop. I took my car there 5-6 years ago for brakes..I gave Ali the green light to "tune up" my car with whatever he felt it needed...plugs, wires, cap, air cleaner?...what ever. When he called to say the car was ready to be picked up...He told me "its running fine"...and he checked under the hood and "nothing needed to be replaced"....WOW...YIKES...A shop that does not make UN-NEEDED repairs???...I have been a dedicated customer ever since..You wont regret taking your car there
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I just visited Ali today to have my battery replaced. He had me in and out in 20 minutes. I've had Ali perform my oil changes, tire repairs, you name it. Prompt, honest, service is always available at Olive Auto Center.
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Ali is the most honest auto mechanic I know. I always go to him whenever I need an oil change, and the price is always right. I once went to EZ Lube and paid three times what he charges for an oil change on my Honda Civic.
I've gotten my brakes done here, and am extremely happy with them and haven't had any problems. I once took my car in because it was vibrating when I braked, and one of Ali's employees did something with my rotors (sorry, I'm not much of a car person) and didn't even charge me. Of course, part of this might have something to do with the fact that my old job refers a lot of business to Ali's shop, but still . . .
Another time I got an oil change and asked for a tire rotation. Ali told me that he couldn't rotate my tires since they really needed to be replaced. He said I could buy tires from him and have him install it, but advised it would be cheaper (!!) to just go to Costco.
About a month ago, I took my car in for another oil change. Since my car has almost 50k miles on it, I asked Ali if there was any special services I needed to have done to it. Instead of taking advantage of my ignorance, he told me to bring my car back at 60k miles for the maintenance. I love Ali! Even though Burbank really isn't near me at all, I'll still keep going back to him.
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This is the place to go when you hear your engine knocking or notice bits and pieces dropping behind your car as you speed away. Why am I Yelping about them now? I hear that knocking along with some squealing, grinding and general discontent escaping from old reliable as we speak.
Anyhow, on two separate occasions I brought my car here for a second opinion and both times they diagnosed differently, fixed it for 1/2 the price and guaranteed their work.
My husband actually had his car towed to the Infinity dealership in Glendale thinking it was under warranty. When he received the $2800.00 estimate and discovered it wasn't under warranty. He called Ali who had the car towed to his shop (no expense) then repaired the clutch for less than half the price.
I'm considering switching to horseback since cars are so expensive to maintain these days. But, until then I will relay on Olive Auto Center for fair and reliable service.
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