Bill & Charlies Auto Repair
1206 E Oakland Avenue, Lansing, MI 48906, us
(517) 374-6100
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About this shop
- Hours
- Specialties
- Specialities:
- Loaners
- No
- Notes
Score card
They are always honest | 4.9/5 |
They are competent | 4.9/5 |
Their repair price is reasonable | 4.3/5 |
They complete the work in a timely manner | 4.6/5 |
They respond well when they screw something up | 4.9/5 |
They take the time to explain the problems and necessary repairs | 4.9/5 |
They treat male and female customers in the same manner | 4.9/5 |
They are always honest | 4.9/5 |
I would use this mechanic again | 5.0/5 |
I would recommend this mechanic to others | 5.0/5 |
They fix the problem the first time | 4.6/5 |
The shop is located in a safe neighborhood | 3.8/5 |
The hours of operation are convenient for customers | 4.6/5 |
They are near public transportation (or provide loaners, shuttle bus, rides as needed) | 4.8/5 |
Reviews
Jun 29, 1997
These guys are the best! They've kept my hunk of junk going for years. They really go out of their way to be helpful. They'll give you a ride if you need it after you drop off your car and have waited after closing time when that was the only way I could pick up my heap. Even I, an automotive idiot, can understand their explanations of problems and the possible alternative solutions. They never grunt. When my car breaks down out of town (a frequent occurence), I call them up and describe the problem. They tell me what to check and what rip-offs to watch out for when I have to take it to some random mechanic somewhere else. If it weren't for them, I'd have to buy a new car. There's no way I could keep driving this pathetic excuse for a car without their advice and help. They are also good about explaining which problems are merely annoying and which ones could result in serious injury or death -- really helps when trying to prioritize repairs.
Apr 23, 2002
They explain things in a manner you can understand and always intently listen to what you have to say. Very cooperative.
Nov 07, 2011
Apr 13, 2005
Bill and Charlie's nursed a Volvo of ours through its last
100,000 miles (we didn't find them until we were into the
last 100,000 miles). They fixed things others couldn't.
They were fair and competent. They always dealt with us as
intelligent people, carefully explaining everything. They
took the time to check for things that might go wrong. The
best example of their care is that they took the time to
trace a subtle electrical fault and did so for a reasonable
amount of money (few places will do that). These guys are a
rare find.
Apr 20, 2005
I've dealt with them for over a decade and they've gotten
two of my vehicles over 200,000 miles. Their labor charges
aren't the lowest, but their work is outstanding and
they're honest. I'd rather get things fixed the first time
with someone I trust than come back again and again.
Highly recommended.
Apr 30, 2005
Bill & Charlie's is my kind of place. Not fancy, just clean
& organized. They even have a "wall of shame" where they
put stuf up that has caused them gastric distress (it's a
small wall). They nursed my Escort through 210,000 miles.
They have even started a newsletter to keep us wannabe's up
to speed on the latest in car repair.
Aug 01, 2006
New to Lansing, I asked around my workplace for recommended
mechanics. I was hoping for some sort of congruency, but
everyone I talked to recommended someone else.
Finding Bill and Charlies here, and reading a number of
favorable reviews, I thought I'd give them a try. Talking
with the mechanics and having a few minor repairs done, I
quickly built a trusting relationship- so much so that I
trusted them to do some major suspension work on my 1993
Mercury Sable. They did a fantastic job, and explained to
me what was worn out with each part before giving me
options for replacement. They offer rides from the shop to
wherever you have to get to and always kept to time tables
and appointments. I've since moved away, but they still
remain the best repair shop I've worked with.
Oct 12, 2006
We have taken our 1997 and 2001 Saabs to Bill and Charlie's for almost as
many years as we have had them, for both regular maintenance and
necessary repairs. The mechanics and office staff are very pleasant and gladly
spend time explaining what needs to be done or what has been done. Their
list of items for a major regular maintenance check-up is more extensive
than the owner manual's, and not because they are trying to find a way of
getting more of our money. I have never thought that they recommended an
unnecessary repair. Having estabished a relationship with them, they have
several times done minor repairs without charging for the labor or parts.
Although I gave them only a "Kinda Sorta" regarding price, I recognize that we
own cars that are expensive to repair. (Some of the parts' prices have been
hair-curling.) Their prices, however, are consistently lower than the dealer's.
Nov 03, 2007
We learned of Bill & Charlie's from a note highly recommending the shop that
was put on the windshield of our then new 1997 Saab (not by them). We have
since learned that friends and acquaintances who own Saabs, Volvos, etc. are
also enthusiastic about B&C's. B&C's owner told me, "We work on almost
anything that comes through the door, but mostly cars of European and Asian
manufacturer." A recent experience we had with them is a perfect example of
B&C's MO. This summer, B&C's replaced the serpentine belt on our 2001
Saab. Two days later, when we were out of town, the idler pulley bracket (a
cast iron part mounted on the engine block) snapped in two. The out-of-
town repair shop bill came to $860. I took the invoice and replaced parts to
B&C's. Upon examination, B&C's thought at least one part - the $315 belt
tensioner - should have been reused instead of replaced. B&C's also believed
that the mark-up on the parts was out of line and that we had been
overcharged for labor. Since they had so recently replace the belt, B&C's did a
detailed forensic examination of the broken bracket, including obtaining the
opinion of a metallurgist from Michigan State University. Without going into
the details (which are fascinating), B&C's came to believe that they could well
have been at fault in weakening the offending bracket. They told me of this
conclusion as I was picking up the same car, on which they had done a variety
of repairs totalling over $600. By way of compensating us, B&C's refused to
accept a dime for that service. Needless to say, we will continue using B&C's,
including trusting them with our new Prius, for which the owner already has
his certification.
Dec 11, 2007
They have kept my family safe for years and really seem to
care about being fair.
They will tell me what needs to be done now, what is
optional, and what can wait. They told my dad when his
beloved Bronco needed to be retired, even though they
enjoyed the repair revenues, and know he would keep paying
the bills.
I once took my pretty new Honda to the local dealer. The
washer fluid sprayed out the back, but not the front. When
I called to get the estimate, the quote was over $400.00.
They said they had to replace the motor and tubing, etc. I
asked why the "dead" motor could still get the fluid to the
back of the car and not to the front and they had no
answer, just a $75 diagnostic charge and $400 estimate.
I paid the fee and took the car to Bill and Charlies. It
took them 5 minutes to use a little air thing and blow the
leaf out of the clogged wiper fluid nozzle. They wrote a
note to the Honda dealer successfully convincing them to
refund my $75. All for no charge. My wiper fluid thingy
has had no problems since and it still works great 5 years
later.
I wish more companies would treat me the way Bill and
Charlies does. Thanks Greg and Tim and the rest of the team!
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