I'm going to make a thread on prefered SoCal service locations. Service being:

Window Tinting
Audio Specialists / installer
Oil Changes

Or any other place that members have had excellent service. I think it would be helpful if someone says damn I need this done and they can refer to a list of places that others have already experienced good or bad service.

If there are any places that you have had good or bad experiences with please post th Name, location, Work Done, Reference Name or any other information you believe may be pertainient to someone loking for service.

I will collect and format this information after I've given plenty of time to complile the information. I look forward to your recomendations!

 

what about reputable installers who does wheels, suspensions/springs, etc?

 

Anything that relates to our vehicle........

 

I get my services done at Acura of Glendale. I think they do a decent job. As for aftermarket stuff, I don't know.

 

Mr. Heeltoe is a licensed vendor on AZ and his shop is in Lake Forest - should do a pretty good job with suspension and wheels - check the Group Sales thread. I'm going to have him put on H Techs sometime soon.

 

I get my service done at Sierra Acura in Alhambra, Mike the Service Manager is a good man.

I have not tried Acura of Glendale for service, but I did purchase my Comptech Sway Bar from them. Mike the Parts Manager seems like a cool guy and was very helpful. I like the fact that they carry after market mods for the TL for the same price as the online stores.

I picked up my sway bar last week and they had one more in stock; they are on backorder at comptech.

 

Had my H-Techs done by Mr Heeltoe. Great service, great guy and good prices.

 

Window Tinting - I'm surprised lembowski didn't post this.This is for Acura Dealerships (taken from Thomas Acura Are A Bunch of Crooks thread)

Cerritos - Ok Service / Will never use sales again
Tustin - Bad service / Good sales
Weir Canyon - Good service / N/A sales (only test drove with them)
Thomas - Bad service
Cush Acura Kearny Mesa - OK service

 

S&S on La Cienega in Los Angeles (310-657-3328) is an independent Honda/Acura only shop where I have gone for over ten years. It always gets it right, and prices are always reasonable (esp. compared to dealer) for regular maintenance and the weird stuff (A/C blower fuses, CV boots, starters, etc.) on other Hondas I've had.

One of the S&S guys, Stan, moved and opened a placed called Honcura (yes, Hondas and Acuras mostly) in Glendale, California. I haven't been there in a couple of years, but Stan is a good mechanic and trustworthy; hopefully Honcura is still around.

 

i got my TL at Keyes, which i thought the sales experience was awful, not too sure about service because I only went there once for a car wash

For my very first maintenance service (A1), i called a couple dealerships for quotes.

Costa mesa, Downey, Santa Ana dealerships all gave me crazy quotes, saying that I need to do this check and do that check (which had more than what the maintenance journal listed)

Tustin Acura was the dealership that did not seem to add "unncessary" work and charges, and the price was reasonable (even comparing to non-dealers). The service advisor at Tustin was good, he explained all the work and charges prior to work, and was very patient and polite to me (which I feel surprising because I am 25 and I expect bad service attitude toward young customers)

 

Best Window for Tinting

And I had the opposite experience compared to the Thomas Acura are a bunck of
crooks thread regarding Tustin Acura.

Tustin Acura: Good Service/Bad Sales

 

place is called C&C Auto talk to Alan or Chieu they are the oweners and are family. Do great work for the price. They do stuff from your normal dealer services including your basic oil changes, to timing belt, anything your dealer would do but cheaper and they wont rip you a new hole. Also engine swaps Alan has a is300 with the supra motor for example. They did a motor swap for me when i sold my car and do my auto work now since i also cant get under the car since i mess up my tail bone.
address is 731 W. Whitter blvd in the city of la habra, ca 90631
562-266-3800
best time to call is mid day because sometimes they work till 2am, or sometimes they come in at 9am..
Great people to work with treat you like a bud.
C&C auto can do engine work, suspension, brakes, no start, motor swaps, electrical, turbo work, superchargers, list keeps going.
Work on Acura, BMW, or any car you got. Just because you got a BMW or a M5 they wont charge you more then a Acura..
ASC Certifed...
tell them michael with the 2006 acura tl red color sent you...
cool......

 

HOUSE OF TINTS in Tustin is the go to place for tinting. Renown Fletcher Jones Mercedes sends all there customers there and that aint a bad thing. Plus the owners are real cool. They do a lot of "Bro" work (ie Lifted Trucks, flames, blah blah) but there tint work is superb. If i remember correctly its about $170 for 3yr warranty and $230 for lifetime.

 

I have since moved out of that shop, but I still do all kinds of installs...

Springs, shocks, coilovers, brakes, sways, pullies, whatever....

 

Best Window Tinting

Had mine done a couple of days ago. Amanda & Allen seems pretty cool people to deal with. Decent price 180 for Solar Gard True Grey

 

Thats great. I'm glad to know they are still doing a fine job since Carlos left and they seem to decrease the price to $180 from the $190 I heard about a few weeks ago. Thanks for the update! Good to know I can still recommend the shop.

 

I highly reccomend Automotive Instincts in Northridge. They specialize in Honda's and Acura's only. I been going there for the last 10 years and have nothing but great service.

 

werent they charging $160 not too long ago?

 

I would recommend the dashboard store in La Mesa for tinting, they did an excellent job on my ride. They stand behind there work. They asked me to come back 3 days after the job to make sure that the tint is laying down over the dotscreen properly, and when i went back they saw a couple of very fine scratches that were nearly undetectable by my eye in the drivers window and they re did the window without hesitation. Mind you this is something that I did not even notice or request.

Also I would recommend Escondido Acura for all parts purchases as they are much cheaper than any other dealers in San Diego.

examples: door lock cylinder cover Ball Acura= $16.00 EofA= $8.50
cabin filter Ball = $28.73 EofA= $18.00
oil filter Ball = $7.63 EofA= $5.60 or 5 for $28.00
brake pads Ball = $63.88 front, 73.46 rear EofA= $80.00 for the set!!!

Those are huge savings easily worth a drive to Escondido, they will ship em to ya as well

 

It went from $160 to $190 and now $180 is the latest price. Also, Carlos no longer works there, but the service is still reliable.

 

For window tints and after market parts I take it to Impex at San Gabriel. They do excellent jobs and know what they do and they double check on everything before the cars goes out to the customers. Ask for Harry or Ken or Wen.

For services other than the dealer, I take it to SRS automotive on Rosemead. The owner was a master mechanic at Gardena Honda. He will fix what ever you needed to be fix and also tells you what other things need to be done on your next visit. Ask for James

 

I second that, mr heeltoe (aka marcus) is an excellent vendor, very helpful and friendlly. He did my installs on coilovers and lips. A+ work

 

For the TL's they include installation of Moleskins ($20 per door required), which takes the price to $240, with 3-yr warranty.

 

California Tint Shop, Parthenia St. Northridge 818-885-8835, ask for David. Tint on TL $155 + 20 dollar moleskins (5 dollar for each door). Have you done in 2 hours at most. Just got mine done.

Lifetime warranty on all tint. for additional $20 you can get the 3m tint which is lifetime against fading as well

 

Did they do your quarter windows right?

 

They look fine to me

 

i dont get why everybody loves best window tinting, they wont tint over 30% on the front two windows and the guys that tint the windows dont even speak english.

i forget the name of the place, but the number is 949-633-TINT. Go here. they are a lil pricey, but they do a great job. they cut the tint out with a computer, so no razorblades touching your car. there is a lifetime warranty. they tint under the brake light etc. they do everything perfectly. i highly recommend it.

 

I had my tint done at http://www.desitint.com in Lake Forest/Irvine area - they did a great job on the TL (it was John who installed it).

He did the rear quarter windows right, and did the tint over the 3rd brake light as well (that cost just a little extra). All in all, it has been a week now - the tint has dried up nicely and looks great.

I didn't have moleskins installed, as I do not roll down the windows all that much. Two other shops within close proximity wanted to charge a mandatory extra $25 (per window) for the moleskins, which I thought was too much.

 

Sorry didn't have a problem going 30%, see that tinting the front to is illegal to begin with. Why go extremely dark?

People like going there because they do an outstanding job for $160. That is literally 1/2 the price I was getting quoted in San Diego. I don't care what language the installer speaks if the job turns out great.

 

I called HeelToe but they don't do basic maintenance...Any recommendations on independants for this type of work?

 

See post #9 if you're in West Los Angeles or near Burbank/Glendale/Silver Lake/Echo Park/Pasadena.
Otherwise, in which geographic area would you like referrals?

 

Tint & Glass-

Will do whatever type/shade you want, and do awesome work.

VIP Tint & Glass - Murrieta/Temecula area

Lowering Accessories Etc-

White Motorsports - Murrieta, Riverside

 

Progressive Electronics and Window Tint down near the Sports Arena. Does a good job. I got my front and rear windows tinted. 28% front, 6% limo tint in the back. Highly recommend him. Ask for Jason

 

Went to Best Window Tinting three weeks earlier. The tinting guys was Carlos. He's the only guy doing tinting work. Very nice guy. Very professional. So far satisfied with 40% tint all around for my type S. Recommend this place.

Note: They are appointment only.

 

Scott at ALL TUNE.
949-859-2600
I do all of my normal maintenance, but for tranny flushes, struts, etc... he is great. Never a rip off, and he is a stand up guy. He has coupons in the Pennysaver, but you really don't need them.
Jeronimo and Cherry, but get the address, because there are a ton of scam auto mechanics close by.
BTW, he does oil changes and basic work.

 

Anyone know of any good paint shops in so cal? I just ordered a new front bumper and I need it painted...clueless on where to take it. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks.!

 

Their sales people are either pushy or completely non-responsive and their service folks are a bunch of crooks. If you go for a service with tire rotation, be sure to mark your tires or they will "forget" to do it but still charge you for the whole service.

 

Black Diamond in Valencia does the best job and uses high quality tint. Valencia Acura offers excellent service and does a fantastic job. The service guys are really nice too.

 

Hi Guys,

Just got an appointment with Carlos at Best Window Tint in Tustin. Pricewise it is still $220 all around with the moleskin.

 

I send all my maintenance to this guy:

Meet Shane, at Aliso Viejo Auto Service (9493621961) in Aliso Viejo. That's in the OC ladies.