Brown Motor Works
4.4 (157)
4041 Broad River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 551-0991
brownmotorworks.com
Claimed
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
Reviews
Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.
Chanel716
3 days ago
Overpriced, makes up their own prices. Will give you an quote over the phone then when you get to the establishment...they will change the price . It will be double what they told you. Might as well go to the dealership for the prices they wanna charge people. Customer service is not good either. They are many other shops that will treat you better then these crooks. This is Brown motors work on Broad river Rd
Chanel P
3 days ago
This place is located on broad river Rd . Once arrived, Was given higher price than what was initially told on phone.I feel personally they take advantage of women. For the price I was given. . I could have just went to the dealership . Overpriced and just makes up charges.Go to Joes colony station on broad river. Right down the road . Nicer and better pricing. And won't make up prices out the air. Very fair and reasonable
Lady Lakin
2 weeks ago
I am extremely disappointed in this establishment due to a lack of integrity in handling my sister and her vehicle. My sister was quoted an "out the door" price on a Tuesday, which includes cost for parts, labor, and taxes, but just 2 days later, via a different associate, the total amount quoted (no changes in labor) was more than DOUBLE the original quote. Mind you, she just had a very similar experience with them, about 2 weeks prior, where one associate gave her one "final" price, but another associate, in the absence of the first associate at the time of pickup, told her that her total was almost DOUBLE the original amount.......she went ahead and paid it, but with the intention of taking it up with the original associate, "David" who told her that she was treated unfairly, and he would get her some of her money back, and he did do that, but that NEVER should have taken place. Well "David" was the one who quoted her the cost BOTH times, and once again, WHILE he was absent, the numbers changed. When my sister called to inquire about the promised loaner car, she was then told that any work that costs over $1000 requires a $500 deposit, which is the only way "NOW" she can get the loaner that was promised her so she could get to and from work, but when I asked to see a copy of their policies and procedures stating that, "Trent" could not produce such a policy, and of course he couldn't, because it did not exist. It is Good Friday, and the matter is not resolved because since "David" quoted her the price, but was off today, the matter will be taken up with David on Monday. Before we left there today, "Trent" assured us that the manager "Josh" would give us a call today before closing, and of course, he DID NOT! I will be back with an update and hopefully someone with this company will do the integral thing, but if not, I will make it known.
Parker K
2 months ago
Have gone here twice. The bill is a good bit less than what you'd expect from the dealership, and they take good care of you. My father always used them for his mercedes as well, and he never had an issue either.
Elizabeth Lisabeth Liz Lester
3 months ago
It's good to see other people got good service but I obviously got ripped off. I spent over $2,000 to have the coolant stop leaking in my car and 2 months later it's still leaking. I took it back twice and they seem to can't find the problem. Just to tell me it might be something else. I am not spending more money with you. I would never spend any more money with you. Maybe because I'm a woman they felt like they could just rip me off
Carmine Cupani
3 weeks ago
I have known the owner for 10 years. I would never hesitate to bring my car in for service. First class people.
Daniel Sheanshang
a year ago
Terrible experience. I took my 2005 VW Passat TDI in with an oil leak and they said the turbo was leaking and needed to be replaced.After $4,000, I picked up my car and the splatter shield under the engine compartment partially detached and started dragging once I got on the freeway. They were very apolegetic and ordered a new trim piece without charging. I understand that accidents happen so I tried to be patient with them. Once it arrived, they bolted (and zip-tied!) the new piece on.Driving it home that time the turbo didn't work properly and I couldn't accelerate at all on the freeway. Not wanting to drive it back there just to be frustrated again, I have since taken it to another shop that replaced a boot that was broken (that Brown Motor Works must have taken off and put back on when they replaced the turbo) and straightened out another hose that wasn't installed like it should have been.They were always nice when I spoke with them, but I've never had a more frustrating experience with an auto shop.UPDATE: In the end, the turbo they installed was faulty, so they replaced it under warranty and so far it is working fine.
Joyce Blazer
11 months ago
Kevin was exceptional in his communications with me along the way! His customer service was so impressive that I thought he was the owner!! They are all hard working and honest, with fair pricing. I would definitely take my car there again!Service: Auto engine diagnosticService: Auto engine diagnostic
Paul Burnette
a year ago
Had my daughters BMW 335i towed here for diagnostics and repairs after it completely died on her. Staff was very kind, diagnosed the car, communicated the list of repairs needed, fixed, and had her car back up and running. Being a parent that lives away while your child is at college very much appreciates honest, knowledgeable, and kind professional services when your child is in need of help. Do not hesitate to use this shop for your repairs. Very pleased and she much appreciated the unexpected car wash and candy! ThanksServices: General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine diagnostic
Onebigbird bird
2 months ago
Awesome crew RA is top notch crew of knowledgeable mechanics. I trust them 100%
G Jenkins
5 years ago
Finally! An automotive repair/maintenance shop that will service your vehicle and return it to you without body damage. Brown Motor Works has earned our business. Very professional and courteous.
Sharon Morris
a year ago
Brown Motor Works on Broad River Rd. is my go to for all vehicle repairs and maintenance. They are very nice and professional with much better pricing than the dealership. They never try to sell me anything extra or anything I don t need. The waiting room is comfortable and customer friendly and their bathrooms are always clean. They always treat me with respect and like family. As a bonus, they always wash and clean my car for me. Thank you for the outstanding service!Services: Transmission, Air & cabin filter replacement, Tires, General repairs & maintenance, Oil change
Amit Sheth
a year ago
I went to Import Plus after a minor accident-- they gave me a $1700 estimate to replace supposedly damaged Knuckle. The price seemed high (mostly going to labor) and the car was driving fine, so I decided to go to Brown for second opinion. Brown also did another alignment, but said no need for Knuckle replacement. Have not seen any problem for over six months now. Clearly, I started taking my BMW to Brown instead of Import plus that I now think was taking me for a ride!Services: Auto engine diagnostic, Wheel alignment
Timothy Moultrie
a year ago
Very professional. The estimated cost and time to repair were exactly what was stated. They offered a courtesy driver service and picked me up when the work was completed. The price and service were top notch. Highly recommend.
Jay K. Jayanthan
a year ago
We were traveling from South Florida to Pittsburgh and the car started jerking near Columbia. We were referred to Brown by a local lady and I took the car first thing in the morning. They dropped me back at the hotel. Gave me priority and did the diagnosis and informed me the issue was just one tire. They wouldn't accept payment and even washed the car. Amazing team! If I lived in Columbia Brown would be my choice for my car repair.Service: Auto engine diagnostic
T Harper
a year ago
Fair pricing to repair and good communication. They sent me a vehicle report, and I signed off on the cost no significant price adjustments right before pickup. I will be going to Brown Motor Works and the dealership foing forward.
Glenn Bullock
3 years ago
TrustworthyI brought my vehicle in for vehicle computer-generated A service which generally comes up during the end of October or the first week of November. I was contacted by Leroy several hours later and he informed me that my vehicle was in excellent condition and needed no maintenance performed and I could pick my car up. I should qualify this by saying that my 2010 Mercedes E 350 is not my primary vehicle and being retired the car does sit sometimes and as I had only driven my car 2000 miles since last service no maintenance req. They could have performed a complete A service and charged me upwards of $400.00 but they were honest and showed me they appreciated my business and this is why I will return to Browns.
Timothy Rice
2 years ago
My daughter had a horrible experience at the BMW dealer so she took her car to Leroy the next day. He was able to diagnose the problem very quickly and everything was fixed as soon as the parts arrived. With her being six hours away, we greatly appreciated the wonderful service and would definitely recommend Brown Motor Works.Service: Electrical repairService: Electrical repair
Robert Mattingly
8 years ago
Summary: They have less expertise, charge more, and provide worse service than the BMW dealership. If you have a BMW, at least check with the dealership first.First off, my car would start and then immediately die. Had it towed in, and it miraculously started running again when it hit the shop. They couldn't find the problem (which is hard to do when the car isn't showing symptoms), so they charged me for the tow and I took my car back. Totally fine.Next, I asked for a tune-up. They quoted me $500 for a tune-up on a BMW. Seemed reasonable for the kind of car, so I agreed. They then called me mid-day with my car in their shop and said it would be $890. I agreed because I didn't want to have to drive out from work and take my car back with no work done. That said, when the price nearly doubles once they have the car, that strikes me as questionable. The parts are nowhere near even $500 and I could do the job myself in an hour.Needed a new battery, asked for a quote. Just to check, I compared with the BMW dealership, whom I'd been warned to avoid. The dealership charged me less than Brown Motor Works, pointed out several major problems with my car which Brown Motor Works had missed, and then proceeded to talk me through exactly how I could fix those problems myself to save money. The dealership charged less, knew more, and provided far better customer service than Brown Motor Works. The dealership also made a point of helping me to save money and help myself. Brown Motor Works did not. I never expected the dealership to be the good guys, but in my experience, they're unquestionably the better choice.Please note, Brown Motor Work's customer service wasn't bad or unfriendly. It was quite friendly. They just didn't go out of their way or make time for you like the dealership did.
Sharon fisher
3 years ago
We were in a desperate situation heading back to Greenville from Hilton Head and the car broke down. They took the time to diagnose the problem with the car. We did not have them fix it because we had it towed to the Audi dealer since the issue was under warranty. They took great care of us while there and did not charge us for the diagnosis. The tow truck driver confirmed that they are the best around for foreign cars.
Susan Morningstar
4 years ago
I've read the bad reviews and can only guess that they were posted on the wrong business or are just plain dishonest. I have had every car I own trusted to these fine folks. Car repairs are never pleasant or cheap. Brown Motor Works does a great job and always treats me and my family like their own.
Reginald Brown
10 years ago
I blew out both my passenger side tires on the drive from Charleston to Columbia, in a crater sized pot hole on the shoulder of the interstate. Thing was so bad that an interior trim piece fell off. I got a pair of tires at a place on the way that only had one for the front, and could only track down a (very) used example that wasn't quite the right size to go on the back.Needless to say, I needed a new tire when I got to Columbia. Brown Motor Works came very highly reviewed on Tire Rack, and I gave them a call to see if they had anything in stock that would fit, and they didn't. (I have very wide wheels on the back - very hard to find tires without ordering them) So I ordered one tire from Tire Rack, and had it delivered to Brown Motor Works to have it installed.I waited in the lobby, and after getting bored of the book I was reading, took a quick walk around, I noticed that my car was done, so I hurried back in to await my bill. Car took a while, and I started to get upset, walked around back, and they were actually washing it. I seriously had $26 worth of work done, and they cleaned the wheels, vacuumed the interior of the car, cleaned the seats and the dash, and washed the exterior. I got more than my monies worth. They were polite, quick, given all that they ended up doing, and did a great job.It's seriously not often that a place treats you as well as they do here. A+, bang up job.
Robert Summer
2 years ago
They charged me $120 diagnostic fee when the car onboard computer already indicated that I needed brake service. Furthermore, I had the car serviced there two months earlier and they indicated at the time that my brake pads were close to needing replacement. Why charge a diagnostic fee when both the onboard computer and their own service records indicated that the car was in need of brake service? Complete rip off. Very poor value.Service: Auto engine diagnostic
Damien Barber
3 years ago
I went in for an alternator check and possible replacement I was charged $120 for a diagnostic fee. None of the employees wear masks and at one instance there were eight people in the building together sharing chips and salsa I recognize you cannot eat with a mask on but it's just absurd. I was charged at $120 diagnostic fee on top of an estimate of $848. there is signage that they say they reserve the right to charge a diagnostic fee if repairs are not rendered the same day but $120 for a check is absolutely ridiculous, I highly do not recommend.Service: Battery
L W
7 years ago
I give it a one-star rating only because I could not give it zero. They messed up the bill and charged me the service we never asked for. No one admits the mistake and their attitude is horrible.Will never recommend to anyone else.If you own a BMW, you should check with the dealership first. The service in this place is not cheap. We had them replace the window regulator because the dealership schedule was full and we didn't want to wait another week. This turned out to be a terrible mistake.They put an oil change service on my bill. We changed the oil not long ago at the dealership. Apparently they put somebody else's work on my bill.I called them on Monday morning. The guy answered the call obviously said some other service that caused the oil change. Until I told him that the service I requested was replacing the window regulator, he then said he would have the person in charge to call me. I never received a call from them. Then I called them while I'm out the country. Their attitude is just not acceptable! This is a terrible place.
Dan Easterling
6 years ago
Great experience! RA Brown, owner, was very kind to me, as well as informative about the alignment I did on my 2000 Merc Benz e430. Their prices are reasonable for exotic cars, i.e. Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volvo, Jaguar, etc.
Nelly G
3 years ago
Polite, kind and informativeMy horn wasn t working so I was told I could bring my car in and drop it off to have it looked at. When I got there everyone was nice and greeted me, since I had to drop my car off I was going to walk home but surprisingly I was offered a ride which was pretty cool. Had I not had a friend uber me to pick up my car when the repair was finished I m sure someone at Brown Motor Works would ve came and picked me up. I hadn t washed or vacuumed my car in quite a while because I like to go to a certain car wash but they cleaned my car and gave me a cute little trash bag lol!!!! If you have Maxcare from CarMax this is a great place to go also. If I could ve tipped them I would ve because delivery and customer service are a big deal for me so I m very appreciative and I will be returning. Thank you guys so much!!Oh and one more thing, you know when a business is in it for the money. This place isn t one of them they fix what needs to be fixed. Real genuine people. Thanks again.
Michael Callan
3 years ago
These guys do very, very good work at a great price. I've entrusted them with our 2009 Jetta and they got everything we needed fixed, and the vehicle runs better now than when we bought it.
mahesh raghavaraju
4 years ago
The staff in Brown Motorworks are very honest, humble and genuine. I would recommend this place everyone. Just came in thinking that I would need break pads work and they called and told me that everything looks fine and charged me nothing. As long as Im in South Carolina, this place will be the one I will be going to. Thank you for the honesty Sir. I dont know the name but on the card it says Scott and Leroy. This is will be my second home.
terrance bates
8 years ago
All I can say is terrible. I dropped off my car prior to them closing due to vehicle not starting unless you ran a wire to the starter and they promised to have my car back to me before 2pm the following day. They kept their promise and returned my car with a new starter and ignition switch by 12 am with a payment of 800 somewhat dollars. I never asked nor they called to confirm the ignition switch replacement and that made me wonder. Called the dealer/did research and realized that if your vehicle has a bad starter you won't be able to jump it in order to your operate vehicle. My vehicle started when you jumped it so never needed a starter and basically was charged $800 dollars for a $100 ignition switch replacement.