Most Experienced German Auto Repair Technicians in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Autowerks Team

We have a passion for German automobiles. We know they are special and require specialized care. With over 40 combined years of experience in the industry, our knowledgeable staff is committed to providing our customers with the utmost detailed and personalized automotive care. We look forward to serving you!

Peter Van WingerdenMaster Technician & Owner

Peter was born and raised in Santa Barbara County. His interest in cars stems back from childhood where he was always tinkering and playing with cars. This interest became a passion. He enrolled in and graduated from the automotive program at the local college. A true race car enthusiast at heart, he wrenched, made modifications and upgrades to his personal cars for race track events in his parents garage. Soon family and friends turned to Peter for all their automotive care.

Peter has over 20 years of automotive experience as a technician and is ASE Master Certified and Mercedes factory trained. Peter worked for the local Mercedes Benz dealership for eight years where accolades kept accumulating. He received the highest recognition by Mercedes-Benz six consecutive years. He was invited to the Mercedes-Benz factory in Stuttgart, Germany in 2003 to celebrate that achievement and was recognized again as a “MBUSA Master Technician” in 2005, one of only six technicians in Southern California. Frustrated with the lack of personal care and meticulous attention to customers’ automobiles, Peter opened up his own German automotive shop in 2005 with that mindset. He is set out to offering his customer the personalized detailed care of an independent shop, but with the knowledge and expertise of a dealership.

  • Ed Ocampo

    Ed is a Santa Barbara native – and loves Volkswagens. Ed’s father, a career mechanic of over 30 years, mobilized Ed’s passion for fixing cars at a young age.
    As his father’s protégé, Ed learned how to fix cars and developed a great sense of pride in owning early generation Volkswagens. He translated that passion into a career at the local Volkswagen Dealership, where he worked for 15 years, learning the ins and outs of the brand through vigorous factory training and testing. During his tenure at the dealership, one of Ed’s most cherished achievements was mentoring junior talent who went on to pursue successful careers in the auto industry themselves.

    Ed is as loyal to his Volkswagen customers as he has been to the brand. He is tirelessly devoted to delivering above and beyond the expectations of Volkswagen drivers, as local customers know. If you are a Volkswagen driver in Santa Barbara or Goleta, chances are you already know Ed from his time working at the dealership. He has built a reputation for fast service and “fixing it right the first time.”

    Ed begins each day eager to greet and chat with the friendly faces of the customers he has come to know, and those he has yet to meet.

    When Ed isn’t working, he can be found learning new recipes and grilling delicious food for his friends and family.

  • Hector OrozcoService Adviser

    Hector’s passion for the automotive industry started as an adolescent, watching his father repair American Classic muscle cars. Learning from him, Hector started wrenching on his own car. All aspect of cars from concept to finish fascinated him and led him to pursue more into the automotive industry. After experiencing some terrible service of his own at automotive repair shops, Hector decided he would work in that industry with a better appreciation for customer service.

    Hector has 12 years of automotive industry experience. He started in the parts department honing his knowledge of parts; specifically with German automobiles, and eventually became Service Advisor. The ability to relate with and to better educate customers about the service being performed on their vehicle made him the trusted face in the service department.

  • Peter Van WingerdenMaster Technician & Owner

    Peter was born and raised in Santa Barbara County. His interest in cars stems back from childhood where he was always tinkering and playing with cars. This interest became a passion. He enrolled in and graduated from the automotive program at the local college. A true race car enthusiast at heart, he wrenched, made modifications and upgrades to his personal cars for race track events in his parents garage. Soon family and friends turned to Peter for all their automotive care.

    Peter has over 20 years of automotive experience as a technician and is ASE Master Certified and Mercedes factory trained. Peter worked for the local Mercedes Benz dealership for eight years where accolades kept accumulating. He received the highest recognition by Mercedes-Benz six consecutive years. He was invited to the Mercedes-Benz factory in Stuttgart, Germany in 2003 to celebrate that achievement and was recognized again as a “MBUSA Master Technician” in 2005, one of only six technicians in Southern California. Frustrated with the lack of personal care and meticulous attention to customers’ automobiles, Peter opened up his own German automotive shop in 2005 with that mindset. He is set out to offering his customer the personalized detailed care of an independent shop, but with the knowledge and expertise of a dealership.

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