Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop

CLOSED.
Looks like it’s gone for good. All signage is removed and nothing inside.

Good, honest and friendly people. I highly recommend them!

I went there for a coolant flush only and wanted to get multi point inspection for 60k service. I specifically told them what i need to get done as per Hyundai sonata manual. Like all other auto shops and dealers they tried their best to rip me off with a big fat estimate. It is very IMPORTANT to be an educated car owner. The manual only calls out what needs to be replaced at 30k 60 k miles etc. For the coolant flush i had specifically told to flush, then clean with distilled water and then refill. I had to stand by my car all the time to make sure they do it. I heard them talking that customer is looking at their car «throw a little water in there»! They don’t even know how to do a coolant flush/​fill. I had to come back to the shop get the additional coolant out from the tank. YES THE COOLANT TANK WAS FULL AND WOULD HAVE OVERFLOWED ANYTIME. The so called mechanics are just young kids who are not very well trained. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE GOING THERE! May be a cheap oil change wouldn’t hurt but definitely not for other stuff.
Read your owners manual before you go to any auto shop or else get ripped off.

Horrible experience! I would never go back again. I was given a quote of $ 500 for break change; later someone called to say front rotor needs to be changed and new cost is $ 900!!! I refused to get anything done because they were almost doubling the price they quoted me earlier. I know that front rotors alone would not cost 400 $ more. A bit later, manager called me and said they will still do breaks at earlier quote as rotors are not in the best quality but OK to live with. I should have refused knowing they are playing games but unfortunately for me, I succumbed. He promised to give my car back by 5.15pm — but I was made to wait till 8pm. Finally when they were closing, he said — a caliper is also broken and that would be $ 250 extra. How convenient?! Not only that, he said since its time to close, I would not get my car till the next day. I was not given a loner car. He promised to work on my car first thing in the morning next day. He called in the morning and said car will be done soon. That’s about it. Then I was the one, who had to call every 2 hours till 4.30pm to finally get my car done and got it back. They didn’t provide any good reason why it took them a day and a half to do breaks and ONE caliper work done. Never provided explanation of why I was called earlier and given a quote of $ 900. Store manager had NO courtesy to say he is sorry, I felt he just avoided me. They treated this whole thing as «bussiness as usual». They pretty much got what they targeted to get out of me. I would not trust this shop (Merlin at Palatine) for any work in future and writing this review so if you are considering taking their service, you can decide it for yourself from my experience.

Rip off artists. My wife went in for an oil change. They offer their «free inspection» as always and the rep said the she needed her rear brakes worked on. My wife thought that was really strange b/​c she had the rear brakes completely redone 6 months ago. So she communicated that to the Merlin rep and he said, «Oh really, where did you get it done b/​c they need work.» My wife said, «I got it done HERE!»
That SHUT HIM up pretty quick and he said they «thought» the rear brakes needed work but they look okay now.
Hey rip off car repair shops… here’s some advice:
STOP TRYING TO RIP OFF PEOPLE!
WHEN YOU LOSE TRUSTWORTHINESS YOU WILL LOSE BUSINESS GUARANTEED!
Do you think this is the ONLY PLACE I’ve reported this feedback? Think again. When we have a local business that tries to rip off the community you will be exposed in many different ways.