Heckmann & Thiemann Motors

I am a 20 year plus customer and until now had experienced great service. Recently, I took my beetle in because it was not running properly, They gave it back to me twice having told me it was fixed but it was still running poorly. I started to take it in a third time when I did some checking and found one of the plug wires completely unconnected. I popped it back on and it solved the problem. When I called to tell them that, they said you just need to take your business elsewhere. I was shocked and very disappointed.

We have been using them for Subaru repair/​service needs for 15 years. They not only fix problems in an A+ manner, they go the extra distance and fix or recommend preventive maintenance … They work on our cars like it was their own. Between our Subaru and German cars we have been their customer for 45 years ! Two thumbs up !!!

I have been a H T customer for over 20 years. However I will NEVER do business with them again! On August 24^th I contacted them for an appointment and H T scheduled an appointment for my vehicle for August 31. Well on Monday they didn’t get to it, on Tuesday they didn’t get to it, on Wednesday they promised me tomorrow, on Thursday they told me Friday am. On Friday at 2pm I called them, they weren’t going to get to it today. I told them to forget it. Park the vehicle out side and hide they key I would have it towed. They had my vehicle for week and NEVER looked at it. To say I’m angry is mild. I am angry that they disrespected me in such a way that took advantage of our previous relationship. So I had it towed to another reputable firm in town. I give them a big fat ZERO. Please NOTE: I NEVER once raised my voice to them. Perhaps I should have yelled and screamed, would that have helped me obtain a professional service? may be yes, maybe no, that’s not my style.

I have taken my 03 Audi A6 here for repair twice now and have had an amazing experience both times. Very friendly, Very knowledgeable and the quality of work is the best I have ever seen in an auto repair shop. Don’t settle for some random auto repair shop like I used to, this place is the best in the city by leaps and bounds.

I have an 04 Bug that hadn’t seen use in a couple years while I saved to repair it. Being that it is a VW, I was incredibly nervous taking it to just any mechanic. I saw the reviews on here for it, and decided it was worth a shot.
When I brought the car in, Ward met me and said they’d take a look at it. He was friendly, to the point, and very no nonsense about wanting to make sure it was ready to drive.
Two days later, he called, gave me an estimate, and emailed me the work order with the total amount on it so I could see for myself. The next week, I picked up the car. They were accommodating with my work schedule. Driving it off the lot, I could tell it handled and performed better than when I bought it.
They aren’t the least expensive, but their knowledge of my car and the work they did was excellent.
I will be coming back and don’t plan on taking my Bug to any other place in town.

I don’t know about these guys.
I took my VW ’87 Cabriolet there over the winter, it wouldn’t start due to a bad positive cable on the battery which is what they replaced.
It took them about a month, first they said they would call me in a couple of days, they never did, I called them and they said they were trying to find another cable from the same era car, I asked why… as in what’s the difference between one positive cable and another to which they said if I didn’t get the right one I would have the same problem, I call BS on that one, you form your own opinion. They said if they didn’t find it they would have to have one fabricated, I asked how much? They said they needed to hear back from fabricators to know. Every time I called them (about once a week to give them time and space), I would hear that they were either trying to locate the part or hear back from the fabricators. Then just under the one month mark I called them up fuming and looking for answers, they said I could pick it up right away, again… you form your own opinion on how it was immediately ready once I was angry over the phone.
I had also told them my car had some leaks since it’s a convertible and they said ‘no problem, we’ll keep it inside’ when I dropped it off, I thought that was nice to know. I don’t think they didn’t keep it inside, maybe the first night or two, but it didn’t seem like it when I picked it up, it was just sitting outside in the rain.
What I ended up with…
— One month of bicycling in the coldest month of 2014 and getting sick and still bicycling because I needed to get to work.
— A $ 200 bill for a positive battery cable, $ 24 parts $ 180 labor for two hours, now I’m not a mechanic but I have taken automotive classes and worked on cars while supervised, the cable is just a plain cable you could get at any auto parts store, the connectors they charged me for where a bolt and two nuts
— No phone calls unless I made them myself
— My back drivers side tire flat by the time I picked it up, same tire facing their office window and the car was parked closest to that window, I didn’t want to trouble them so I headed to a gas station to fill it up.
Here’s the kicker in it for me! They pointed out that the leaks where due to an accident that had bent the front of the frame and things were misaligned, which is totally true, they went on to say my car is only good for parts and the scrapyard since there’s no way to fix the frame since it’s unibody frame, I took that to heart and was bummed for a few days about it, but then realized that it’s been my daily driver for a long time now and how is a car that has been so reliable for me only good to scrap? I just started covering it up during the rain. I understand that they were pointing out it’s not a good restoration piece and all, but only good for the scrapyard or parts is what they said, they pointed out how the engine is very close to the body where the frame accordioned in, but there’s no interference and could have also said to just keep driving it but be aware as I’m putting in money into it, this part of my review has room for error and misunderstanding on my part, I did leave bummed out about my car.
So all in all, you make your own opinion, I give them one star for not calling once, stretching my trust until it went away, saying the car was ready immediately once I was angry, me having to get angry and we all know how that feels, keeping my car for a hair short of a whole month during the worst time to not have a car during the year, overcharging me on labor, and a flat tire when I picked it up.
They’re lucky to have five star reviews for replacing windshield wiper blades, giving a subaru an oil change, and a few other vague ones thrown in there to boost their ratings. I came from a great VW repair shop before them and I know what a mechanic keeping my car running is like, I also know repairs should only take a day in terms of turnover time, everything I believed from Heckmann Thiemann I believed in good faith as I was being told it, in the end, the end results didn’t match their lip service. Shady dudes, I’m sure they’ve built up a lot of trust over the years and charged a pretty penny doing it.
Well I just signed up to Unilocal so I’m writing a back log of reviews, a few bad ones and a few great ones. Good luck to everyone out there.

I have a ’99 Audi A6 and used these guys because of the high reviews. I knew my car had some issues but what brought me here was driving through an unfinished road and hitting the oil pan hard on uneven terrain. I told Ward and they fixed exactly that part of the car. They alerted me to other issues of the car and told me how long I could probably get away with having those issues go unfixed. They didn’t pressure me into anything and completely understood my priorities. Yes I am a female, but they were not condescending in the least. I use them exclusively because they do great work, they’re professional, they aren’t even as expensive as other places I looked at, and they’re direct and honest. I live 30 minutes away but they’re worth the drive.

I have never written a review for an auto shop before, but the service I received at Heckmann and Thiemann Motors has motivated me to do so. Initially, I had looked on Unilocal for an auto shop to get my ’81 VW Vanagon running again, and I called up another shop who had equally high ratings as H&T, but many, many more reviews. After listening to my description of the problem, the other shop actually referred me to Heckmann and Thiemann — props to Green Drop Auto for that, and for sending me to mechanics who really know their stuff when it comes to VW vans!
So, the long and medium of it is that my ’81, California model (that will only mean something to those who have the «pleasure» of owning one) had been sitting for about a year. Last year, it had been running rough, stalling, and finally would not start, and then, as happens with life, a year passed before I got serious about trying to get it started again. I tried my hardest to figure out the problem myself, looking first at the fuel system, and then moving on to the ignition system, and thought I had it fixed when I got it started and was able to drive it around awhile. Unfortunately, the next day it was back to not starting and running rough, so I thought it was finally time to call in the professionals.
Right off the bat, the folks at Heckmann and Thiemann were kind and courteous on the phone, and reassured me that I was talking to the right people for the job. AND they were able to get me in to the shop within a matter of days! They were able to figure out the problem and had it fixed and ready to go within 24 hours, and for a very reasonable price! «Marvin» is now back in full effect, and I was very impressed with the professionalism, skill, and courtesy I received from everyone with whom I interacted at Heckmann and Thiemann Motors. All I can say is: THANK YOU, HECKMANN AND THIEMANN for getting me back in my beloved van, and back on the road to adventure!

Short review: If you drive a Vanagon and live near the Portland area, this is the ONLY place you should ever let service it. Their skills and customer service are unparalleled.
Longer review: I drive a 1984 Volkswagen Vanagon. All but considered a lemon when it first came out, these cars are now considered serviceable (and fashionable, in Portland) now that all the design flaws and workarounds are known. But even still, these cars are prone to problems, and at least once a year something will go awry that requires a professional to address.
Enter Heckmann & Thiemann. I first visiting them three years ago after having visited a half dozen other «mechanics» in the area. And this is where Heckmann first distinguished themselves. Those other guys? Younger know nothings who did their «repair work» while keeping a copy of the manual open. H&T? Trained and certified by Volkswagen IN GERMANY. No posers here, their knowledge is bonafide.
Over time, it became apparent when H&T fixes a car, it STAYS fixed. This is especially commendable considering VW vans are not only lemons, but old lemons. Keeping them running well takes a lot of effort. But these guys diagnose the problem right out of the gate, often before I finish describing the problem. And like I said, the problem stays fixed. I’ve never had to take my car back to H&T because of a botched repair job.
Given the above, you might expect H&T to be a little bit on the cocky side and dismissive of their customers, but nope. Even their customer service and prices are excellent. They give equal time to every customer, and honest counseling for every problem. And their prices are fair. You pay for quality service, but you’ll pay market prices on parts.
So if you have a Volkswagen giving you problems, call H&T and ask for Ward. Tell them Eric sent you.

I take my 84 Carerra in routinely and they have been fantastic. They are thorough and don’t look for things that don’t need to be done. Very professional. Can’t imagine a better place to take my old lovely car!

I hate for my first review to be a bad one, but I need to share my experience with H & T.
I have an 02 manual Golf with almost 100,000 miles on it, so naturally things are starting to need repair. My engine light came on and stayed on, so I figured I should bring it into a shop known for VW work to make sure it was diagnosed correctly. I found all these great reviews for H & T on Unilocal,so I called them up, made an appointment, and brought my Golf in for some love.
The guys in the shop seemed nice enough when I dropped it off in the morning, and they told me they would call as soon as they had diagnosed the problem. Later that day, I got a phone call saying I needed $ 2,500 in repair work, and could I please authorize the job. Only after asking twice did I get a breakdown of what they wanted to do.
First off, it included a «service pack,» or in other words, checking fluids, joints, brakes, and wiper blades. Ok, no thanks. I know where to find those things and how to check them. Second, a new catalytic converter. Ouch, but ok. Necessary. Third, new brakes. Seriously? No, I know for a fact these brakes have at least ¹⁄₃ of their life left.
I went in that afternoon to talk with them and ask them to please just replace the cat and its related parts. This is where they really earned my bad review. The mechanic says to me, «now Sweetie (!), I’m not talking about the little furry kind of cat. This is a catalytic converter, which is very important to your car!»
WTF? Yes, I am a young female. That does NOT give you the right to assume I know nothing about cars or to speak to me like a child. I authorized the work to replace the cat, picked up my car the next day, paid their overpriced labor and parts, and left. I will not be returning, and I do not recommend this shop to any of my friends. The only reason they got two stars instead of one is that they did a decent job on the work.

Took one of the Subarus here for an oil change, found them to be very professional and easy to work with. Will definitely be back. A bit more expensive than the dealer and worth it.

In the last 30 years I’ved owned a VW Beetle, Rabbit, and GTI, and now three Porsches (two 356s, one Boxster). They have all gone to Heckmann & Thiemann. For care of German cars, these guys can’t be beat. They’re not always the cheapest, but the do absolutely the best work in the city. For Porsches, they are way, way, way better than Sunset.
Now, they do get busy, so it’s not always a drop-​in-​today kind of place, but you cannot beat a mechanic who has 100+ loyal customers who come to a rally every summer.

I needed wiper blades. Badly. As in I’d been driving around with that horrible dragging rubber against glass sound for over a year. I bought some at Costco, but surprise! — wipers for my car can only be ordered through Audi.
Heckmann ordered them. I went to pick them up ($ 60, fml) thinking they’d just hand them to me and I’d make puppy dog eyes at my bf till he put them on for me.
Instead they sent out a mechanic, who spent 10 minutes installing them, making sure they didn’t slap against the left side of the window like they had been and cleaned my window to boot.
No charge and no puppy dog eyes required.

I grew up in a Volkswagen family. People from Volkswagen families know each other. I’m not talking about owning fancy Jettas and what not. In my family, growing up, we had a 1979 bus and a 1982 Vanagon (one was always running and the other broken, they would just trade places), we also had a couple of different diesel Dashers at various points in time. My dad did most of the work on the cars, however, there was that rare instance when a pro was needed. That is where Heckmann & Thiemann come in. They are the trusted VW and Porsche mechanics in the area. They will always treat you right and never rip you off.
When I turned 17, I bought my first car. Of course it was a VW. It was a 1974 bright metallic green Super Beetle with a sunroof and it didn’t even idle (I got it for $ 400 and named him Kermit). It had been sitting for years and was in rough shape. My dad and I replaced the rotted out interior and got the engine running and idling.
A few months later, the CV joint went and fixing that was beyond my abilities. Mr. Thiemann took great care of me. He could obviously tell that I didn’t have a lot of money. He showed me what the parts I needed looked like and sent me to the junkyard to get them rather than ordering new expensive parts for me. He didn’t charge much to fix the car either. I am still so thankful that when I was that young and naïve, I had such a fantastic mechanic to take care of me and keep Kermit running.

It’s a rare and precious thing to find a friendly mechanic who you trust. These guys are not the cheapest, but they are honest and they do a good job, and in the long run, that will save you money. Can’t recommend them highly enough.

A month and a half ago my got cancer. The laundry list of existing quirks and problems suddenly included serious driveablitly and safety issues, so I brought it to the nearest shop (see my review for Morgan Automotive). Said shop obviously has no knowledge or experience with Volkswagens, and after two trips and $ 1500 the problem had not been fixed.
After a month of carpooling and public transportation, I made an appointment with Heckmann & Theimann, who specialize in Volkswagen, Porche, Audi and Subaru. A friend had recommended them, and I had a good feeling after reading several positive reviews. Everybody I spoke with was extremely friendly, and you could tell the mechanics took my problem as a challenge. Within a few hours they discovered several related problems that the other shop had not, even though two of which I had specifically asked them to address. They charge more per hour (labor=$ 85/​hour) than some of shops, but they are quick and thorough. They had three different technicians (including the shop owner) test drive my car for what must have totaled a few hours to ensure that the problem had been fixed, and the bill I recieved was much less than I had expected. I trusted these guys, and will definitely be going back.