Burnt Mills BP

Inept mechanics. Unable to correctly diagnosis car problem. Will just put parts in your car and take lots of cash from your wallet. Awful.

Good old fashion quality service, great rates and honest work! We took our «company car» here for a state inspection. We chose this place after experiencing poor «phone» service when calling the Fairland Liberty (that’s another review). I also had a pretty good coupon for this service center found in one of the mail packets, they would even allow me to use 2 coupons, so yes please throw in an oil change! I call up, get a really nice guy who schedules me in for same day service. Check in was easy. Left the keys and walked over to Trader Joe’s to do a little grocery shopping. Received a call a little while later telling me that our Dodge Caliber (Ladybug) failed the inspection! Told me we would go over the work order in detail when I returned. Turns out Ladybug needed $ 600 worth of work. After letting my fingers do the tapping I googled average rates for the required work, found that they were charging me a fair price. I then called the seller of my new (used) car to inquire about the deficiencies. She (my mom) said that oh yeah, it could be in need of some work. Used Car Women can’t be trusted! She did agree to pay half of the repair costs. I agreed to the work, the shop ordered the parts. I dropped off Ladybug the next morning. Work was completed when promised. I paid what I felt was a decent honest price and BadaBing BadaBoom! I was on my way! Honesty and good customer service goes a long way. I highly recommend this place!

I had a headlight missing a while back. Needless to say, I had to get an inspection. I was trying to explain to the manager that I got the light fixed immediately after I got stopped, but I ended up with a suspension letter because I didnt get it checked by state police. Of course, I didn’t know this, but the manager kept saying this is how it is in Maryland. I’m an Alabama native, and I didn’t know. All I wanted to know to how NOT to get a suspension. Anyway, Connor did my inspection and Mo explained what I should do to expedite the process. Connor and Mo really brightened my day. If I EVER have anything that needs to be repaired on my car, I’m going back to those two men with the smiling faces and car knowledge.

A good friend of mine recommended Burnt Mills BP. I recently bought a used conversion van in PA, which had passed the PA safety inspection, and I made an appointment and took it to Burnt Mills for the MD inspection. Mike took it in right away, so I sat in the waiting room and I watched and listened to several customers as they dropped off their cars or picked them up. The conversations were all very positive and friendly as were the mechanics as they came in for work orders, etc.
Paul performed a very thorough inspection and came back with the good news that it had passed and made a point of complimenting me on the van and pointing out some important details. Mike made a couple suggestions for service in the future but did not try to push anything on me. I will be taking my van to them from now on.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you bring your car in for service! The only reason they get 2 stars is because they matched the REAL cost of labor after I called them out on their «upcharge».
They claim to ONLY install dealer parts. They needed 4 parts for ONE faulty issue; however, all of those parts come in the same box when you purchase the part! The difference between the dealer part and the part at Advance Auto Parts was about $ 400. They said that because it’s an old vehicle (2002), they just don’t make the part by itself anymore — «special order» part. From the dealer: $ 600. Advanced Auto Parts: $ 220.
Also, they tried to charge me an extra hour of labor even though it was NOT what they claimed it to be — a 3.2hr job for a 2.2hr job. Fortunately, my best friend owns a shop 30mi from here and I asked him to look up the labor estimate in what ALL mechanics use — AllData, when estimating labor times. THAT was a $ 90/​hr difference on top of the extra $ 400 for the part.
After telling the Staff that I would pay for the tow service to tow my truck 30mi away because I KNEW they were trying to upsell me on the job, they agreed to do the job if I got my own part. They agreed to also drop the labor down to what it SHOULD have been after I told them that I KNEW they were giving me the estimate for the wrong model of truck (rear gas tank vs. left gas tank — a difference of $ 90/​hr in labor).
All in all, after doing my own research, the total damage was $ 530 instead of the $ 1080 they tried to quote me for. Oh by the way, I gave them my number and my wife’s number for when they called to give the estimate. Coincidentally, they called my wife’s number to give HER the HIGH estimate instead of calling the primary number (mine) to give the estimate — trying to maybe take advantage of a woman? Thankfully, I was sitting there when her phone rang.
Burnt Mills BP needs to realize that they CANNOT/​WILL NOT stay in business much longer trying to jack prices up on ONE or TWO customers. Businesses stay in business through REPEAT customers. I will NEVER bring my vehicle to this service station again because I DO NOT trust them to have the integrity to provide the RIGHT service for THE CUSTOMER vs. what helps them make more money.

I’ve brought my Honda here a handful of times now and I have to say I’ve really loved the service I’ve received. The staff was is always personable, and polite. I didn’t mind waiting for my car inspection (my second in 4 months — silly MVA) there’s a Starbucks right across the parking lot. And you can pick up your vehicle anytime before 10:30pm if waiting doesn’t work for you.
Mike even gave me a deal on my second inspection since I had all the paperwork to prove that I’d had one done less than 6 months ago, and referred me to a place to get my tires replaced (the back ones are getting a bit well-​used) — which happened to be the place I’ve been going for years anyway! Haha.
I’m a fan, and I’ll keep bringing my car here.

I bring my Audi S4 here for all of my ROUTINE maintenance. I got a new battery installed for $ 180, my friend paid $ 400 at an independent audi shop. Ridiculous! They are always very honest and priced very fairly. Its a bit of a hike from DC but you get personalized service with a smile everytime. You just can’t get that kinda service everyday.