Helwig Autowerkes

I took my car to Helwigs because I was experiencing a noise coming from the front end. I was told by Steve Helwig, the owner, that I needed to have both front calipers replaced. Trusting what Steve said, I told him to go ahead and do the work. When I picked up my car the noise was still there. After confronting Steve about the noise, there was no apology, no refund offered, no effort to work things out.

This was more or less a $425 guess on their part which I ended up paying for. I will never go back to Helwigs. I have never experienced or gone to a shop that does business like this. (I should add that not everyone with an email has their real name associated with it.)

Helweeg staff are always friendly and courteous. They explain everything that was done and make suggestions for anything they might be in need of future attention. It is so convenient for me to bring my car there! Will definitely be a return customer! Services: Tires, A/C installation & repair

Best customer support and service I have ever experienced! Would definitely use again. Thanks to Steve I am back on the road and my truck is working better than ever. Services: Exhaust, Electrical

Had a brake line fail on a 2001 Civic. They got me in quickly, kept me updated on progress, and finished the job quickly. Even came in less than the estimate. Very professional, very happy with the service. Service: Brakes

I went to Helwig Auto Clinic for an oil change. The prices were comparable and their customer service was top notch. They communicated well and informed me that my vehicle will need future maintenance done. They were not pushy at all and were very polite during my entire experience. I highly recommend Helwig and will be back time and time again for my auto needs.

Helwig Auto Clinic deserves a five star review for three simple reasons: 1) They're honest 2) Reasonably priced for good quality work 3) Explain the work they did in detail. The reception staff is also nice and has an upbeat fun personality. This is coming from a guy that has had bad luck with auto garages. I would recommend Helwig!

This is by far the best auto clinic I have ever used. They are honest and helpful and always take time to explain everything they do. I can't recommend them highly enough. I don't live near them anymore but I still drive a long distance to use them because they are the people I trust the most. I always come back to them.

They explained everything well and made sure I understood what their recommendations were and why with pictures and everything. They were good about finding options to try and make the repair cheaper which was very nice. Also, getting the loaner car was easy--they had it ready (and running!) for my husband as soon as he dropped the keys off.

Can't recommend them enough. If they notice anything additional wrong with your vehicle, they will talk to you and give you an estimate before charging you. Good prices. They focus on the customer first, and profits second. I would give 6 stars if I could.

Update: Helwig read this review and gave me a full refund via check and handwitten card. Does it mean what happened isn't valid? No, but I do respect their attention and care in trying to correct it. Updated to 3 stars. ----- Shockingly overpriced parts. Poor communication. Lengthy repair times. I don't take one star ratings lightly, but my experience with Helwig was truly terrible in every regard.

I took my Prius in as it had a check engine light for misfiring cylinders, a common error when the spark plugs need to be changed. The front desk staff told me it would cost $400 to replace them, including labor, and that each plug was $50. After a quick check on Google, I confirmed this was absolutely crazy. In combination with this price shock was the fact that the short ~30 minute repair, which I had made an appointment for, took THREE DAYS.

The communication was so poor with their office that twice I showed up expecting to pick up my car, only to be told that the mechanic "hadn't been able to take a look yet" and on the second day they had "missed the part ordering deadline." This is for an APPOINTMENT I had arranged weeks beforehand-- shockingly unprofessional. On the third day I pulled my car from the shop, settled my $160 labor bill (nothing fixed), and drove my car to Madison to a more reputable repair shop.

They charged $8 per spark plug (the SAME plug Helwig charged $50 for) and had me back on the road in 40 minutes. I will never go to Helwig again, even though I live in the area, and seriously discourage others from going as well. I'm sure the owner will have some sassy defense to this post, but this was undeniably the worst mechanic experience I have ever had. No excuse can change that.

This shop gets an A+ for honesty - I came in once with squealing brakes and, given the mileage on my vehicle, was dead certain that the pads were worn out, and told them so. They inspected, found that there was plenty of pad left, and put some lubricant on. Squeal gone for SO much less than a full brake job. Similarly, they traced a scary-looking oil leak to a rusty filter. Great customer service!

The team at Helwig Auto Clinic is top notch. They are accommodating, knowledgeable, sensible, and are looking out for you. If something needs to be fixed they are direct. If something can be put off, they won't do it automatically but will alert you to the appropriate consequences. I never feel taken advantage of or swindled. I don't have much knowledge about cars and feel empowered by their education and knowledge. Would recommend to anyone!