MidWest Off-Topic: Chicago-area indie service shops for NSX

[cojones]

Starting this thread to capture comments and opinions about various Chicagoland-area INDEPENDENT service shops that can do decent NSX work.

While we are blessed to have a number of highly qualified area dealer service departments (Acura of Brookfield in Brookfield WI, Muller in Schaumburg-Woodfield area, Pauly Acura in Highland Park), its IMO always good to have some other, more convenient (and sometimes less $$) alternatives for simple work (oil changes, brake pad replacements, etc).

Folks -- please update this thread with any suggestions/recommendations. Include any caveats for folks to AVOID as well.

 

[SJJ28]

hmm, this one seems to be VERY on topic.

I think for minor work on an NSX (oil changes, brakes, etc.) any very well qualified mechanic should do. The thing to look for is someone who will care for your car while it is with them, ie: not leave it outside, ding it, beat it etc.

We can do any routine maintenance on a NSX, and care for your baby quite well i'm sure! Here at The Last Detail (www.thelastdetail.com) Give Dan, Steve, or Tom a call!!

Steve

 

[cojones]

We can do any routine maintenance on a NSX, and care for your baby quite well i'm sure! Here at The Last Detail (www.thelastdetail.com) Give Dan, Steve, or Tom a call!!

Have to tip my helmet to the folks at TLD... they DO care, and you will definitely be happy with their work.

I've started using this one shop by me -- C&H Auto. Specialization is Euro and Imports, and so far they're OK for minor stuff (oil changes, pad changes, misc accessory work).

Carlos Herrero
C&H Auto
3322 W Irving Park, between Kedzie and Kimball
773-583-6676

Carlos (proprietor) is an ex-Loeber chief mechanic (specializes in Benz, BMW and other Euros, also does a lot of older cars). I think he's pretty thorough, and throws in a lot of "initial diagnosis and assessment" work for free. Shop rate is not bad -- $65/hr.

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For folks further north, I've heard good things about the Auto Doctor in Evanston -- http://www.theautodoctor.com

Originally posted by a Chicago-area NSX guy
I have some routine work done by the Auto Doctor, in Evanston . They're competent and they specialize in Hondas and Acuras, although they will work on any make. Their basic labor rate is around $73/hour, I think.

 

[NSXaholic]

Thanks for starting this Manuel. I was thinking just the other day how it would be nice if we had a list of indie shops for work that is routine and/or stuff that dealerships would not be inclined to do.

TLD does superb work (hey Steve, what happened to our "monthly" get-togethers), but am also keen to get names of other shops, perhaps closer to home (ie, downtown Chicago). Thanks for the update on C&H Auto, Manuel. I don't have anything to contribute by way of independent shops at this time, but will certainly keep my eye on this thread.

Regards.

 

[nsxtasy]

For folks further north, I've heard good things about the Auto Doctor in Evanston -- http://www.theautodoctor.com

I use them for routine services on my NSX like oil changes, tire mounting, and brake pad changes because they're close to my home (much closer than any of the dealers), they specialize in Honda/Acura repairs, they're competent, and they're honest. However, I think they are also quite expensive for an independent shop, with hourly rates of ~$74, not that much less than dealers charge. I recently paid $94 for a swap of front brake pads, excluding the parts; I think that's high, too. And they're one of the votes in the $30-35 category in this poll.

 

[NSXaholic]

...with hourly rates of ~$74, not that much less than dealers charge...

Hey, I'll still take the ~18% discount on the hourly labor rate, when compared to Pauly and Muller's $90/hour.

PS -- Ken, it seems that you've been getting the car worked on quite a bit recently, what with a new tranny and brake pads. Anything else?

Regards.

 

[nsxtasy]

Ken, it seems that you've been getting the car worked on quite a bit recently, what with a new tranny and brake pads. Anything else?

Much of the work is related to track use; and the brake pad swap was on my ITR, not the NSX.

I didn't get a new NSX tranny; I had my current one opened up to replace the hub selector for third gear, which was crunching. While they were in there, they changed the adjustment of the rear differential. They re-attached my brake cooling ducts and replaced the front rotors, which had cracked.

They replaced the axle nuts (drive axle) on both cars. They also re-aligned the ITR.

Most of this work was done at Acura of Brookfield, because they seem to be better at the work that is associated with tracking the cars. The labor rate there is currently $80/hour.