Nate Smith's Optimal Auto Care

Feb 03, 2025

I am continually amazed at the service I receive from Nate Smith’s Optimal Auto. Keeping a 30 year old BMW with 300k miles on it on the road every day presents the occasional challenge. The folks at Nate’s have NEVER let me down!

Jan 31, 2025

We had a very good experience with Nate Smith Auto Care. My primary interactions were with Rigo. He was wonderful. Rigo listened first and provided excellent advice. The work was completed ahead of the original time estimate and reasonably priced. We are pleased and will return as needed.

Jan 30, 2025

Very friendly and very professional.

Jan 16, 2025

Outstanding service, as is usual! Thank you very much.

Jan 09, 2025

Great service!

Nov 06, 2024

Great service; great people

Nov 06, 2024

Listened to my concerns about a consistent oil leak from my engine. Diagnosed it correctly and repaired it at a reasonable price. Well satisfied!

Nov 06, 2024

This team is the best. They're knowledgeable, accommodating, care about your concerns and are among the most fair and honest people I've had the pleasure to work with. Go Optimal Auto!

Sep 06, 2024

When you need your car 🚗 fixed it's nice to deal with nice people that you have confidence in to solve the problem. Nate always comes through.

Aug 06, 2024

I can always count on optimum Auto Care for excellent service and use them for over 15 years fair price and knowledgeable service people special thanks to Rigo my service writer

Aug 06, 2024

I have never had such a good experience with a mechanic, and now that I’ve found them, this is where I will always take my car. I had some sudden car trouble while out of town in Monterey. A joint in seaside quoted me $3000 to fix. My fiancé reviewed it and couldn’t believe what they were charging for every day maintenance. I decided to ask a friend for a place in Santa Cruz to get a second opinion, and he referred me to Nate. $300 later, my car is working seamlessly, and Nate didn’t drain me of my money. Thank you Nate & team!

Aug 06, 2024

Nate has been taking beautiful care of my car for 15+ years. I wouldn't think of going anywhere else. The mechanics are knowledgeable and thorough, the atmosphere is friendly and caring, and the prices are conservative and fair. They go the extra mile, save me money, and keep my car running like a top. My hat is off to Nate and Meg for running a first rate business in every way! 🤜🤛

Aug 06, 2024

Nate’s is the only place I will take my Mini Cooper! They are honest and their customer service is amazing I’ve never been so happy-I’d recommend no problem!

Aug 06, 2024

Satisfaction after every visit over many years.

Jul 06, 2024

Great service. Honest people.

Jul 06, 2024

I just purchased a used 2004 BMW X3 and had a simple question about my key not working to unlock the doors, the FAT receptionist looked up from her computer and said to me in a rude tone"What do you want us to do'!! I just explained my concern and another employee got up and said I'll check it out for you, he and I went over to the vehicle, but he was unsuccessful to get it working, he explained to me he could order a new one, but there was no guarantee it would work, I told him Thanks for trying to fix it, but I must mention that you have a rude and not an eye appealing woman working for you, she should be working in the stockroom and away from the public.

Jul 06, 2024

Nate’s has always provided great service! Been going there for about 20 years

Jul 06, 2024

Prompt, accurate service provided for our daughter’s Mini. Considering the vehicle involved, the turnaround time was impressive.

Jun 06, 2024

Awesome customer service and great turn around time to get vehicle fixed.

Jun 06, 2024

Excellent service. I had bought a used BMW and had a pre-purchase inspection report from another garage. The team went through that, checked everything and saved me a fortune on avoiding unnecessary work or letting me know what could wait. The carbon cleaning process was a real game changer to performance - highly recommend that for older BMWs.

Jun 06, 2024

First time at Nate’s. They were referred by a friend. Totally happy with the results of my first visit! Since then I’ve become a regular. They treat customers well, and get the job done.

Jun 06, 2024

I no longer trust Nate Smith and his team. I brought my BMW convertible in to repair the hydraulics on the convertible roof which was leaking. This is a known issue on my car and he proposed fixing it with the industry standard solution for which he gave me a quote, and a time it would take to repair, to which I agreed. After about a week Nate called me and asked me to buy a couple parts online and bring them to him. I thought this was weird, why would I need to do this? But, Nate insisted. A week after I brought him the part the roof was operational. However, he decided not to complete the repair with the industry standard solution, but instead just replaced the broken part. This isn't what was agreed to, but at least the top went up and down during the test. Additionally, the car was very dirty with tons of leaves in the passenger and trunk area. A few months later Spring had arrived and I wanted to use the convertible top. After using it for the second time the convertible top stopped working. I brought it to Nate and asked them to fix it as the repair has a 1 year warranty. They held the car for 1 day then called me and said that because I brought them parts, which they called me and asked me to buy them, that they would only agree to investigate the cause of the problem by taking off the roof if I agreed to pay $3k in the event that the problem wasn't "their fault". Well who's fault could it then be? Nate said that the fault would be the parts I brought him, these are the exact parts he gave me the part number to buy and where to buy it from. Also, Nate would be the judge regarding what the issue with the top was. What a bait and switch. Also his prices are significantly higher than other BMW & Euro shops in the area. Don't let the cute dog make you think they are trustworthy. Edit - my response to Nate Smith's response to my review: Nate Smith presented a solution (using a longer hydraulic cable and moving the hydraulic pump location to the trunk, this solution is well documented online) and asked if that is the route I wanted to go for repairing the automatic convertible roof. We discussed this proposal and agreed to this solution. After 1 week of my car being at Nate Smith's shop Nate Smith called me and asked me to order parts for this repair and to bring them to him. This is not what a mechanic should do and is mechanic malpractice. Anyway, I did what was asked of me because I trusted the reviews of this shop. Once I got the car back you did not implement the agreed upon solution. You should perform the agreed upon solution and honor the workmanship of the solution you implemented, otherwise your warranty is worthless.

May 06, 2024

I would never take my vehicle anywhere else. This is a top-tier upper echelon level of service establishment, and also reasonably priced. Thank you Nate!

May 06, 2024

Nice family owned and operated businesses with very high integrity!

May 06, 2024

Not only did Nate’s Optimal Auto Care fix my car, but they drove it to a Smog Check to make sure it passed so I could get my registration. Incredible customer service. I will 100% go back for all future car issues!

Apr 06, 2024

I recently had the pleasure of working with Nate Smith at “Nate Smith’s Optical Auto” in Santa Cruz, CA, for the restoration of my 1973 BMW 3.0 CS. After spending a decade and a half idle in the Santa Cruz mountains, my classic car was in desperate need of expert attention, and Nate proved to be just the person for the job. From the outset, Nate was incredibly helpful and attuned to my needs. He took the time to understand my goals and budget, helping me to formulate a clear plan. Together, we prioritized essential repairs and restorations, focusing on what needed immediate attention versus what could be sourced more affordably. Finding parts for such an old model is no small feat, yet Nate excelled, meticulously gathering all the necessary components to breathe new life into my car. What stood out to me the most was Nate's professionalism and pleasant demeanor throughout the entire process. His expertise and dedication were evident, making the daunting task of restoring a vintage car seem effortless. Moreover, Nate’s commitment to keeping costs down was commendable. He managed to stay within the original bid, sparing no effort in ensuring value for every penny spent. The craftsmanship and customer service at “Nate Smith’s Optical Auto” are unmatched. Nate’s thorough approach, combined with his genuine care for both the cars and their owners, sets him apart in the automotive repair industry. Thanks to Nate and his team, my 1973 BMW 3.0 CS is alive and running well. I’m deeply grateful for the exceptional service and highly recommend Nate Smith’s Optical Auto to anyone seeking unparalleled automotive care.

Apr 06, 2024

Terrif and timely work. Always willing to get the job done and done well. 🤩

Mar 06, 2024

Easy to make an appointment. Office staff listens well and is very well organized. Excellent and prompt service. Solid experience and know how.

Mar 06, 2024

I love the friendly service I always receive AND they always do a great job of fixing my car!