Michael’s Auto Repair and Detail

I’ve been a customer here for 8 years and I’ve had the best experience from customer of service, to value, and overall experience. Michael and his crew can fix anything, and they are very honest and straightforward.
When I hand them my car keys, I know that they can be trusted to do high quality work at at a fair price and I have nothing to worry about.
No matter if the job is as simple as an oil change, or a complete rebuild, they will get the job done and keep you informed during the process.
I’m not sure about the car detail side of the business but the prices seem fair and they are always busy.
If you show up early in the morning, you will probably be greeted by Michael’s dad. His English is somewhat limited but he is very nice and can get you checked in.
I was recommended by a friend who had an old show car from the early 60’s that nobody was able to solve the mechanical issues with — but Michael and his team got the job done.
I’ll keep coming back as long as they are in business.

This place was horrible. First of all, they are seriously lacking when it comes to customer service. Even though the detail was only scheduled for an hour I was told I couldn’t stay in the waiting area — that I need to go across the street to a coffee shop and wait until they called me. The owner actually raised his voice at me.
Secondly, the quality of the service provided was a joke. After the «detail» there were still entire patches of dirt on my trunk and other places that looked like had been missed entirely. I don’t know whether they thought they could slack on quality because I was getting a discounted deal, but they should have been concerned about retaining me as a customer. If this had been a regular detail I would have refused to pay and I would have made them start over. I will not be going back to this establishment.

DO NOT BOTHER EVEN BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT FOR DETAIL WORK!!!
The worst customer service ever! Took my car in for an auto detail appointment using my Living Social voucher.
I can tell you right now a 5 year old could have done a much better job.
Windows not washed, dirt spots all over the car still. No tire dressing, car still wet when they gave it back to me. Dust inside, smudges on all the windows. I’m pretty sure they didn’t even wash them. The ABSOLUTE worst wash ever. Brown Bear does a better job for less.
Michaels — If you are going to invest in using Living Social or Groupon to try to generate loyal happy new customers who will brag and come back then here’s a thought… DO YOUR FRIGGEN JOB!!! Just saying…

Bought a LivingSocial voucher for a detailinig, which offered two prices: car or SUV/​truck. I drive a van, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and purchased SUV/​truck. When I called to schedule and told them I had a voucher, for some reason I had to call back, but then I was able to schedule. Dropped it off with Michael this morning, peeked in the front, and all looked great. When I got home I decided to clean the interior windows (not included), and when I got to the third seat area I began to notice it wasn’t very clean — no dressing on the vinyl, the cupholders and bins hadn’t even been wiped out. When I opened the back hatch, I could see that they hadn’t even vacuumed there. Assuming it had been overlooked, I called Michael back, only to be told that they consider that «trunk» and don’t even open the rear end. The voucher states «Excludes trunk and interior window cleaning», but I have never had a detailer consider that area as «trunk» — it has always been cleaned as part of the passenger area. We «discussed» this on the phone, and I asked what I had paid the higher price for — he said for the extra space cleaned. But they didn’t clean any extra space — only the front and middle seat areas were cleaned, and not particularly well. Michael finally said «That’s just how it is.» So now I get to clean/​detail a third of my van myself. Avoid this place at all costs.

DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR HERE FOR ANY SIGNIFICANT REPAIR. After purchasing a car from an equally dishonest dealership, Maharaja Motors. Sunny is a crook and so is his father. I bring the car to Michael to do basic maintenance and to see what else was needed. I ended up having to replace all of the brakes, plugs, radiator replaced, thermo., etc. which cost an insane amount. But, I figure that there would be nothing else to go wrong with this car.
The very next day, the CHECK ENGINE lights go off and the car is misfiring. I take the car back to Michael and more work is done. Including replacing seat belts and even more parts. I am almost into this car what I paid for it. Two days later, the darn thing wouldn’t start. Michael wasn’t rude. Just lacking any honor or taking his work seriously. After getting the car back to him once again, the starter was replaced. About two months ago the car started over heating. How can this be, I just purchased brand new parts? So I call Michael and ask him to come out and have some one finally fix this car.
Which of course he refused but was happy to invite me to bring the car back. Not going to happen. I took the car to another mechanic who said the parts were not new and the work wasn’t good. The services which should have been done were not performed. So not I am having to contact the State about he and the dealership. I was sold a lemon and Michael only made matters worse with using used parts and bad work. Do yourself a favor and take your car to a high school auto shop. You will get better service and work.

The prices on the website seemed competitive with other detailing services in the area, but their customer service on the phone frightened me away. Could not understand whoever picked up the phone — sounded like a drunken sailor taking my call from the engine room of an oil tanker.

do not buy a living social coupon for this service and definitely don’t pay full price!!! They made it difficult to schedule. Each time I called and told them I had a living Social coupon they would ask me to call back at a different, random time. They didn’t damage the car but definitely did a shoddy job. After I left a noticed my daughter’s last bite of bagel from breakfast (in the car on the way to school) was sitting on the back seat. How do you detail a car and miss a chunk of bagel sitting on a seat? There are still drips from where my coffee splashed on the console, turf from the soccer field, fingerprints and dust. They missed the details in this «detail»
I can not recommend this business.

«In 15 years, we’ve never had a single complaint.»
Those were the first words that came from the man who identified himself as Michael’s father when I informed him that the detailing job they had just done on my car had removed many, many chips of paint from the front of the car and its hood. I was also told this by one of the employees. It started to sound like talking points.
I have to agree with an earlier reviewer (who had a similar experience it seems… Wish I’d read that review two days ago) that it makes sense to inform your employees to stop working on a car when paint starts to be compromised.
I spoke with Michael on the phone (I had to insist to his father to call him), and was told I’d brought it in like that. Not one person would admit that the paint chips happened at their shop. Oh, and then I was told I either paid the full amount, or I didn’t get my keys.
I’m not going to fight them. I’m not calling a lawyer. I actually just want to sell my car (why I was getting it detailed to begin with), and still plan to. Now I guess I’ll just take a hit in the sale price.
I just wanted to post this so people know: these guys are dishonest, uncool, and basically, well, in my opinion, jerks. I’m not quite sure how they sleep at night.
I’d look elsewhere if I were you. I sure wish I had.

Horrible experience. Now need a lawyer. Also had a Living Social coupon, also had difficulty scheduling, but I did it. I bought this coupon as I have an older car that sits outside all year and needs HAND WAXING. The «detail» took the paint OFF of my car! Mike, the owner accused me of «bringing it to him like that.» Said it was my fault. After I paid for and got the car repaired, I took him the bill and asked him to do the right thing. He refused, of course, and now does not deny he took the paint off. As the business owner he should train his employees to STOP WORKING if the paint appears to be comprimsed. A most disgusting experince all the way around.

horrible customer service, the guy lied to me, was angry i had a living social deal and clearly didn’t want to schedule me. i did not trust the guy and will not be using my living social coupon — why run one if you treat your customers so poorly? (btw — email living social customer service and they will give you a refund pronto for any related issue — it wasn’t hard).
Called to make an appointment, they told me «can you come in Monday at 9am?» I could because it was labor day and I had the day off, otherwise no, I could not sacrifice being without my vehicle for the day. Arranged to get a ride after dropping off my car, and showed up at 9am as they requested, only to find the place closed. I called and left a voice message asking what had happened (assuming ok, it’s labor day, maybe they made a mistake and no worries). No response to my calls, so two days later I called back and reached the owner and explained the situation. I was polite and feeling understanding, but he was immediately hostile, one of his first questions being «are you on a living social coupon?», as if this immediately excused him to be rude to me as a customer. I asked if he had received my voicemail and explained what happened, he said no he had not received any messages, and it was labor day so of course they were closed and told me that I had missed my appointment today (the day after labor day). I responded that he had told me to come in Monday, and he rudely told me again that I had missed my appointment today and of course no one was working monday. He then told me I had forgotten to leave my number in my message (which I had but immediately called back and left it in the second message), this admitting that he HAD received my voicemail when he first told me he had received no messages. An overall bizarre situation, with unnecessary hostility. My guess is the owner is overwhelmed by the coupon users, and would rather alienate them than have to do any of the work he sold at a discount. I explained the situation to living social and they promptly gave me a refund within the hour.

I took my daughter’s car in to be detailed for a surprise birthday present for her. For a reasonable price, they did an excellent job, especially considering how messy she is. The car was like new inside and out. She messed it up again really fast, but that’s not Michael’s fault.

Never done a detailing and went there on a friend’s recommend.
Agree with other reviewers on the general description of their reviews.
Since I’ve nothing to compare previously — it was a very well done detailing job.

Not being one to write many reviews yet, I feel my experience here (and the lack of other reviews) deserves one. I’m selling my 2005 Honda Civic, and it has been in need of some love. Lots of door dings, a scrape on the right side, general evidence of having lived on Capitol Hill. It was a dirtier, more dinged up version of the car I loved so much when I bought it new. (And I have always taken a considerable amount of care with it.)
I read the two existing reviews of Michael’s, saw that they offer a ~$ 80 detail, and thought I couldn’t go wrong giving them a shot. (This is my first detail job ever, by the way.) I called and talked to someone on a Thursday, who told me to drop my car off early the next week when their schedule was more open. I dropped my car off Monday morning with very little conversation and was told I’d get a call at 4:00pm from Michael when it was ready to pick up. At 4:00pm, Michael called and told me it was ready.
And then things got exciting. The car looked fantastic; the windows and mirrors were all totally spotless, the car was nicely waxed, the tires were shiny, and the engine looked like it once had on a new car lot. I’m a fairly critical person, and the only imperfection I found was a grimy area on the back window between the glass and the rear brake light. To be fair, they would have had to remove the rear window to clean it – and no, I’m not that unrealistic. But that’s the only thing that didn’t look new.
They also touched up the paint, completely got rid of a white swipe on the front right wheel well (a gentle alley kiss in Capitol Hill scored while making room for a truck), and made every blemish disappear. I half-​wonder if they popped out some dings, but it could be my imagination running wild since the wax and touchups have done so much for the car.
The final bill was $ 95, and I’m not sure how. They did a fantastic job and even steam-​cleaned my engine. I will absolutely be going back here, and would recommend that you give it a shot.
I’m docking them one star because they’re not the friendliest folks and I felt a little stupid and unsure of what I was doing. I’m used to that feeling, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a tiny bit of reassurance or a smile.

The work I had done was the $ 89.95 detail on a 10 year old subcompact car that had been to the Brown Bear a few times, but hadn’t had a good waxing for many years. Overall, the people at Michael’s did a great job inside and out.
I added an extra star to this rating because for the money it was well worth the result.
There wasn’t much paperwork involved: I dropped off the car and a key, and wrote my name and phone number on a yellow sticky note. I was told it would be done around 2 PM and almost on the nose I was called and told the car was ready. Payment was equally paper-​sparse, receiving only a credit card receipt.
The car looked great inside and out with a few inconsistencies here and there. For example, the door openings were cleaned, but the gas cap cover area was not. Also, the cup holder lid was cleaned but inside it was not. There were a few tiny wax globs here-​and-​there, which I suspect flew over from another car being waxed. Some hair was balled up and stuck to the floor mats, but it wasn’t a big issue. The tires were overly shiny, but that diminished after a day.
I liked that the car didn’t have a strong perfume smell (just a bit of «clean» smell), and that the plastic surfaces were not super shiny or slick. The windows appeared to be well cleaned.
The only real complaint I have is that my trunk-​mounted CD player had water in the access door area.
Things to keep in mind…
* Though they run the car for a bit and keep the heat on to improve drying, the car is returned with damp carpets, so it’s best that you have a few days of warm weather or a warm garage to help dry out the car. An inexpensive «dri-​z-​air» dehumidifier might help. My car mats were especially damp but dried out well after a day indoors.
* Be sure to empty the car of everything: trunk, car seats, glove box, etc., otherwise you’ll find it all in the trunk in a bag.