Lindems Auto Service

Just took my car in for a front bumper reattachment and a side dent fix with paint work that I had put off due to rip off quotes from other places. The place is no frills but that’s ok by me. Ark was true to his estimate and got me my car back before Thanksgiving so my plans will proceed as planned! I was impressed with the quality of the work and the fee I paid. Will recommend!

I’m really picky and nervous about mechanics of course, like most people. I love Lindems, though. It’s quirky and dirty, which is totally fine with me. They’re efficient, nice enough, and cheap. I just had a check engine light on, and they told me exactly what was wrong and gave me a timeline for when I needed to get what fixed. It was something like $ 35 for the diagnosis, and $ 10 to get a brake light changed. It’s a good place! (I brought in a 2002 Mini Cooper.)

You know that guy who works out of his garage and he’s fabulous and specializes in keeping things running and you gotta find him? That’s Lindem’s (with a bigger garage of course). I used to have a guy like this in Chicago, Omar at O & J Auto but he’s retired and I moved.
We brought our 15-​year old car with low mileage and asked him to give us «this has to be done, this should be done, this can wait» estimate, cuz we figured the engine has a lot of life left in it.
He talked us through it, and the work we decided to do came in UNDER price and ON TIME.
ALSO, check this out — his work is guaranteed for a year! And they are part of a nation-​wide auto repair network (not linked to any auto insurance company) that means if you are on the road, his guarantee will be honored by a shop where you happen to be.
Arkady, his wife, the workers — everyone is really trustworthy, you can tell they take pride in what they are doing, and Arkady is a charmer. I’d like go and eat my lunch there on the couch if I worked close by.

My initial review stands, but I keep going back and need to reiterate it some more.
The mechanic I used from the age of 16 to 21 was a close family friend, and when I started moving to different cities, I never expected to find a trusted home again.
This is not merely the best mechanic in Milwaukee, it’s the best mechanic between Minneapolis and Boston.
Not just engine mechanics, either. Body shop and used car trading.
I’ve used the body shop on two occasions. One time, I was broke and needed a quick fix, so he patched me up enough to be passable. Another time, I had unlimited funds through insurance and he made it perfect. On that occasion, I had to appease the insurance company by seeking quotes. Concours was $ 7000, someone else was $ 4500, and Lindem’s was $ 2500. Even though Concours was the approved site for my vehicle model and even though it «wasn’t my money», I still chose Lindem’s.
The used car selection is not the market I’m in, but I once gave a vehicle to a friend for cheap. When Ark learned it was gone, he said he would have given me x for it, and I don’t talk to that friend anymore. One time, he had a decommissioned ambulance that I totally wanted for the Zombie Apocalypse.
I will elucidate upon my opposition to their no-​self defense policy. I can respect a business owner’s right to regulate what customers bring inside, but this isn’t a grocery store where I can leave equipment locked in a safe in the car. I drop the vehicle off and have to walk or bus to work and home, so this policy disarms me for the entire day. As an unpaid voluntary first responder, I prefer every option available in case of emergency.
It is a little difficult to notice, but is conveniently located across Capitol from Outpost Natural Foods Co-​Op. From the west, take a right on Palmer. From the east, I usually go a bit past it and make a U-​turn or go around the block.
If you find yourself waiting here, there’s a ton of cool stuff on the walls.
Ark and Anna, For The Win.

In and out in just SEVEN minutes!
That’s right… seven minutes to get my emissions tested and to re-​register my car, pay the registration fee and transaction fee and get a new sticker.
Boom. Seven freaking minutes.
Super convenient and while a little tight-​lipped, the employees seemed quite nice. The décor suggested a sense of humor, too.
SEVEN FREAKING MINUTES.

This is the only mechanic I have ever fully trusted, my last vehicle an 01 eclipse gt was a disaster, fixed multiple times from typical issues with someone who puts on a ton of miles on my various road trips to see different states. Everytime I price shopped and every time it was cheaper! And the work is fast, and sometimes even cheaper when you let them take all the time they need.
The owner is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met and truely cares about his customers. It’s not a very upscale place, but hidden in an area that has some questionable areas around it, it is a Hidden Gem of a man who put down roots and made a successful buisness by not killing people on costs and providing QUALITY and excellence!
This coming from a guy who will openly admit, that I still have no idea how to perform an oil change.

Recently had some car issues that had all piled up together. First mechanic I went to gave me an estimate that seemed high and I decided to do some research and get some other quotes. On the advice of a friend I took it to Lindems and was given a quote of less than half what my first was. There was no exorbitant mark up on parts and they were honest about everything. Even when I inquired about a repair that I had previously been told I needed, I was told we will check again but «We only fix what needs fixing». So instead of being told I needed inner and outer tie rods, ball joints, and a new power steering pump I found out just the power steering and inner tie rods needed replacing. And the power steering cost less for the whole repair than what ‘the other guy’ told me the part cost. Also family owned and treat you well. I cant count the number of times I’ve talked to a mechanic who talked down to me about car repairs. These guys have the opposite tact and they will have my business for as long as I live in the area.

Arkady, owner who gets his hands dirty, is a great person to work with. I’ve found him genuinely concerned & helpful… looking out for what’s cost-​effective for me to do with my vehicle.