150 Reviews of Helms Bros. - Service Center
I brought my car in because the suspension in the front had dropped and because the engine light was on. I was told by the salesman (only appropriate to call him a salesman) that they'd check it out and I had dropped and because the engine light was on. I was told by the salesman (only appropriate to call him a salesman) that they'd check it out and I gave them permission to inspect the car and see what was wrong with it. I was told that the 240 charge for doing a computer reading on the car would be applicable to any repairs made to the car. Upon picking it up, the suspension was up, and I noticed that the roll bar light was on. I pressed the button for the roll bar and was covered with hydraulic fluid from the passenger side latch. I called Keith McKenna, the salesperson, and he said that he and the mechanic were flabbergasted as to why this happened. Snowy conditions kept me from bringing the car back immediately, and since the suspension was raised, I assumed it would be safe to drive for 50 miles. I was wrong. The suspension dropped after 25 miles, and McKenna claimed that he told me that the car wasn't fixed, even though he had told me how lucky I was that it was only a small fluid problem. They refused to take responsibility for the broken latch that caused the hydraulic fluid to leak in the car even though it happened at their service station. They tried to charge me 2600 dollars to fix it. When I expressed outrage, Keith McKenna accused me of "trying to get a free lunch" out of the situation. As a result of driving the car with the suspension lowered after Helms Brothers supposedly fixed it, my car incurred serious damage, and Helms Brothers attempted to charge me a ludicrous price to fix the car. Long story short, I was lied to repeatedly by the salesperson, Keith McKenna, and when the general manager got involved, I was told they'd fix the problem at cost. However, on my bill, they charged me for 2.5 hours of work at 120 an hour, which is 2x as much as any other authorized repair shop charges. My car is in MUCH worse shape than it was in when I originally brought it into the shop. I'm afraid to drive it, after picking it up the second time and driving roughly 3 miles home, I began to smell a strange odor, like something was burning. So, for 1000 dollars, I brought a car with a small problem into their shop and left with a badly damaged vehicle that will be incredibly expensive to fix. I would NEVER recommend Helms Brothers to anyone, and strongly suggest that anyone considering using them reconsider immediately. They are completely dishonest and McKenna has no knowledge of the product that he is supposed to advise his customers on. His dishonesty is blatant and he had the nerve to try and shake my hand when I came for the car the second time. I refused to shake it. Do NOT use Helms Brothers, they will rip you off and in my case, leave you worse off than where you started. More
This place is a farce...Nothing gets completed right or totally...Their service staff is either underqualified or trained to not finish something in order for you to return at a later date...I will never r totally...Their service staff is either underqualified or trained to not finish something in order for you to return at a later date...I will never recommend or send anyone I know to that facility for any reason...No one responds/returns phone calls...You have to call on your own to find out the status of your vehicle to only be told it will not be ready until tomorrow...They give the illusion of confidence but fail to deliver everytime...I hope people see this before going. More
worst service ever, no loaner car, highest price to rip you off. your car will never be ready on time. once they took your car, you will not get any information until its done. they never call you back no you off. your car will never be ready on time. once they took your car, you will not get any information until its done. they never call you back no matter how many messages you left on them. i will never take my car service there again. More
This service facililty is not very productive...Not only are they not available on weekends but you can't bring your car in at 2 o'clock and have someone look at it without having to leave your vehicle over are they not available on weekends but you can't bring your car in at 2 o'clock and have someone look at it without having to leave your vehicle overnight...This policy stands and the reps don't even ask why exactly you want to come in...If I needed a bulb changed it would have to wait until tomorrow...That is unexceptable...Also you arrive with one problem and leave with 6...Ridiculous!!!! More
My second brush with Helms Bros was not as pleasant as my first one, far from it, actually. Without going into detail, I brought my car in on a Friday for a problem with my ABS and didn't get it back til Tue first one, far from it, actually. Without going into detail, I brought my car in on a Friday for a problem with my ABS and didn't get it back til Tuesday of the following week, it cost me $2,000 (they found a few more things like leaking bushings and stuff) and when I finally picked it up one of my windows was stuck in a slightly open position and there was complimentary water all over the back seats from the complimentary wash. When I brought up the fact that the window was working fine when I brought the car in, I was treated with a shoulder shrug and a quick quote of another $400 to fix something I'm pretty sure was not broken when I had left the car with them. They didn't have the decency to offer to pay for at least half the job. I left the dealership with my window held closed with SCOTCH TAPE !!! and went to my neighborhood mechanic who sent me to a place that did the job for $275 in a couple of hours, so I didn't have to leave the car til the next day. After I got home the guy from the dealership started calling me trying to get me to go back, talking about giving me a break on the window regulator, but I never returned his calls. Too little too late, guys! I'm not going back there EVER again! More
October 2007 the alternator of my C 240 was not working properly. I brought the car for service at Helms Brothers and when I picked it up the alternator was fixed, but when the car was returned to me th properly. I brought the car for service at Helms Brothers and when I picked it up the alternator was fixed, but when the car was returned to me the air conditioner was not working. When this was brought to the attention, she insisted that it was working. Now that spring is here it is clear that the AC is NOT working. I tried to call to make an appointment for service, and waited on the phone for over 1/2 hour. I left messages and my calls have not been returned. Good luck if you need servic here. More
I went to the Helms Bros service department today for a scheduled service on my Benz. I must say the experience was outstanding. From the moment we pulled in to the time we picked up the car two hours late scheduled service on my Benz. I must say the experience was outstanding. From the moment we pulled in to the time we picked up the car two hours later (on a Saturday), my wife and I were treated like VIP's, everyone from the people who greeted us outside and took over the car to the receptionist, to the person who did the paperwork and the cashier, was extremely courteous, helpful and respectful, and the cost of the service performed was totally acceptable. I don't work for Helms Bros, I'm not related to any of them, hadn't even heard of them until a couple of weeks ago, and I don't usually submit reviews of this kind, but I was really very positively impressed and pleasantly surprised, since this is, after all, New York. More
Waited 1 and 1/2 hrs for my name to even be called after sitting in the waiting room with a sceduled appointment.I Then waited another hour for the shuttle bus to give me a 10 minute ride home. After pickin sitting in the waiting room with a sceduled appointment.I Then waited another hour for the shuttle bus to give me a 10 minute ride home. After picking up my car that Friday afternoon,($500 worth of maintainence repairs later),I was told that the car would require more work but that it was safe to drive over the weekend. Monday morning the muffler was hanging, on my way to a very important court hearing and I could not be late! I was mortified! I took the car to Rallye for the balance of its work. More
Brought my S500 in for service. When I was picking it up I noticed the left from fender and bumper were damaged and the inside of the car was full of grease. First they denied everything but when the servic I noticed the left from fender and bumper were damaged and the inside of the car was full of grease. First they denied everything but when the service writer was called into the conversation he did admit that I made it a point to show him that the car was in mint condition when brought in. They repainted my bumper and fender bit it never matched. The service manager finally told me directly that it really wasn't a good paint job from the repair ship. They repainted it again but it still looks lousy. I just got fed up and left. They are VERY BAD PEOPLE wth a TERRIBLE ATTITUDE. While waiting in the service dept. there were many people with complaints there. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. More
a mb dealer that turns down service work on a car with 100,000 miles is unacceptable. i buy used mb cars and i want to have them maintained in top shape and doing so can only be a good thing for all mb de 100,000 miles is unacceptable. i buy used mb cars and i want to have them maintained in top shape and doing so can only be a good thing for all mb dealers and customers as it helps keep the image up and maintain values for anyone who purchases mb cars. there are many good cars out their and kicking us to the curb just because we dont have a new mb is just putting another nail in their coffin. More