My Garage by Essex has been my local repair shop for the last few years. I am always impressed by their professionalism in quotes, workshop appearance, and customer service. I have a high mileage car as my daily commuter and servicing is always unexpected, but they have never failed to promptly schedule a diagnostic inspection sometimes even the same day. My recent repair was a hefty one. The car threw a timing chain requiring an engine swap. Additional expenses needed attention due to the 200k+ miles on the odometer. Recognizing my limited budget in Clemsons college town they were able to help me greatly saving me hundreds in the long run. I waited to post this to put some miles on my new engine. Im happy to say it has performed greatly. I have another vehicle needing service and intend on taking it back to My Garage by Essex. I appreciate their attention to detail and honest opinions ensuring my safe driving in high mileage cars. If your service light comes on, stop by My Garage by Essex for an honest diagnosis and estimate. They will extend the life of your vehicle and ensure your daily driver or weekend cruiser is operating at its best. I am happy to recommend My Garage by Essex.

My son is a Clemson student, and My Garage has worked on his older model Honda twice, once to replace the alternator and once to replace the starter. They went above and beyond with service at a fair price. Highly recommended.

My Garage was truly a Godsend... My son’s Tahoe had a coolant leak, after simple diagnostic tests were run and they could still not find where it was leaking, the shop I originally took it just washed their hands of it. They did not want to mess with any diagnostics that would tie up their shop. They would not “waste time” taking apart gaskets/cylinder heads and such. I was completely lost. I was referred to call Dover Cylinder in Greenville to see who could help and he said, “If you live in Clemson, you’ve got the best shop right there - Lester at My Garage.” I had always seen the shop when driving by on Highway 93 but thought it was mostly for foreign cars. So I called and spoke to Lester. He said of course he would help me, I was so relieved!! He took such care of my son’s Tahoe to make sure to diagnose the problem correctly - which wasn’t the cylinder head at all.They are more expensive than other shops... he pays his mechanics a fair salary. You get what you pay for - I learned this lesson very well and I will continue to take all of our cars back to Lester, Roxanna, and all their top quality mechanics at My Garage. He has a friend for life!

I use My Garage for all my cars, both import and domestic. This trip was for my 2000 Suburban that I had neglected for a while for more than routine maintenance. They did a through inspection of all systems and made all necessary repairs. Charges were very fair and everything works great! Highly recommend them!

Went to get a quote for brakes to be replaced. I was quoted $900…yes $900 for maybe 30 mins of work…I immediately left and went and got all the parts from auto zone for $80 and did it myself in less than an hour…with a messed up hand. This places prices are ridiculous for simple work would definitely recommend going elsewhere or doing it yourself

I was really hoping My Garage would be our go to repair shop for my son who attends Clemson. We are out of state, he drives an older car and we need a dependable place that I know will take care of any issues. First time we brought car in earlier this year, Lester was great. Gave me a full diagnostic; took care of it as promised, etc. Recently brought car in again … totally different. Charged an outrageous price for battery replacement - labor ~$95, really? I asked if he would run diagnostic on engine light. Told me it would be $150. Cmon, really? So much for recurring clients ... at least for us. Im ok for paying a reasonable but not price gouging. After looking at these reviews that are posted, I see a trend. Out of state + college kids = $$$$. No thanks Lester. Fool me once … Ill take my business somewhere else.

I dont like to give out bad reviews, but this felt warranted.The good: this place seems quite thorough and if you desire to pay a high price for service, I would expect the work to be done well.The bad: the prices are much higher than what you can find in the area.The ugly: I called asking for a simple ballpark quote to have rotors, pads, etc. replaced. I fully understand that a more thorough inspection would be needed for a more accurate quote; but all I wanted to know was an idea of what it would cost if X, Y, or Z needed to be done (every shop Ive ever been to has been able to give me a ballpark price for their services). They would not give me this estimate and were persistent that I bring it in for a full inspection. They said this inspection was complementary, so I reluctantly agreed to bring it in. After getting a call with all the recommendations I realized that the price was much higher than expected (also much higher than the nearby shops). I decided this was too high for what I was willing to pay so I simply stated that I might want to hold off on the work. The person on the phone was very condescending and acted as if I had inconvenienced him, explaining that the car was already on the lift and he needed to know a final answer now. After the manner in which I was responded to I was certainly not going to do business with them and I told them I would take my business elsewhere. The entire time I felt as if I was being guilted into getting the work done. If they have it as their business model to give out free inspections before they will give a quote, then they should not be surprised when customers decide to take business elsewhere after receiving the estimate. Hopefully this is not how customers are normally treated, but I will not be going back.TLDR: Smug, condescending customer service. High prices.

They were extremely nice and polite and took the time to explain the quotes for each individual service which I appreciated. I liked that I was able to get my oil changed as well as my tires and brakes serviced at the same time. They did suggest other services than what I asked for-it’s their job and how they make money after all-but never tried to force them on me. It’s a little expensive for a college student to be paying out of pocket, but they were so pleasant to deal with and a job that was originally thought to keep my car through the weekend was done in the same day after I told them when I needed it back by.Overall-lovely service, just a little too expensive for my budget.

I have a rare Lotus Evora GT and they completed the required first service. Excellent service, communication and price. Thx!

If you are a college student away from home looking for dependable, reliable, and trustworthy individuals to service or repair your car (like me), this is the place you need to go.Mr. Lester Essex (owner) took care of me the minute I walked in the door. I discovered I needed new tires after an oil change. He and his staff went above and beyond to make sure I was back on the road the next day. Very honest and straightforward. I wont go anywhere else to have service done on my car.

I have used My Garage many times for several vehicles and have always had an awesome experience. They do great work for a reasonable price and will have you back up and running in no time. I highly recommend them!

My reviews are strictly facts. No opinions or objectivity. What is expensive to me may not necessarily be expensive to you. Take from it what you may.Vehicle 2015 jeep wranglerMileage. 55000Repair front brakesIssue. Out of state college student dropped off for brake issue. After talking with my daughter on phone I knew a brake caliper had seized and she would require a new caliper rotor and pads. Received a call from Lester indicating sure enough seized caliper and he would need to replace the caliper, rotor, pads and brake lines on both sides not just the affected side. Total cost for repair was $945.00.I have not seen the vehicle since repair so cannot comment on quality of repair.

Its always a pleasure and comforting to know and feel that Lester and the staff have the performance and safety are #1 when working on your car. The have earned my TRUST. VCM

Lester is great. He always takes great care of our service and repair needs.

Very Professional. They care about their customers and go the extra-mile to insure the car is properly maintained.

I have had multiple services completed on both of my Volvo’s and I’m very satisfied with the quality of service and the overall customer service experience was wonderful. Lester is absolutely wonderful at communicating and anytime I need a service my cars are in and out for the shop in no time. My cars drive GREAT and I owe it all to these guys for helping me make the necessary repairs to keep my cars well maintained. I will definitely continue servicing my vehicles with My Garage by Essex.

My battery was dying so I had to get it replaced and reprogrammed. When I brought it in, they fixed it within a couple of hours and I was on my way. However, the very next day when I was leaving my house, I had to jump my battery again. I just thought, Oh, ok, maybe I just didnt drive it enough. The next day after I drove 50+ miles to get back to Greenville, I had to jump it AGAIN. I then took it to Advanced Autoparts that day and they said my battery was going bad which was strange because I JUST replaced it two days ago. The day after that, I didnt need to jump the car, but rather I was receiving a Battery Discharging warning on a BRAND NEW battery and decided to bring it in the next day to get it checked again. The following day after coming back to Clemson, I brought it in and asked them to try to get a full diagnostic on the car. I dropped it off around 8 a.m., and did not receive any information until I called them back at 5 p.m. wondering if I could pick up my car and what was wrong with my battery. They now told me that theres a leak in my trunk that caused water to come into the trunk which they somehow didnt notice when I first got it replaced. Now, my brand new battery is going bad again because of water damage (it didnt rain over the weekend) and I have to drive 50+ miles back to Greenville again to get it serviced at the dealership because they somehow didnt see the water leakage when I brought it in. Additionally, they didnt even do a diagnostics test like I had asked. In the 8+ hours they were in possession of my car they did not care to add pressure to the tires which I expressly asked to check. They also charged me $220 for the battery but the battery companys own website charged $180. Now, the people who work here are incredibly nice and thats why I didnt give them 1 star. The owner is kind and so is his wife. However Im giving it 3 stars because:- 1: Didnt notice the water leakage until it was too late and now my new battery I paid $300+ for is going bad again. They also charged me $220 for the battery when it costs $180 on the manufacturers website. I probably could have gotten it even cheaper if I went to another store, but this was one of the only places that could re-program my battery.- 1: I dropped my car off at 8 a.m., I did not receive ANY information about my car until I had to call them myself at 5 p.m. They probably wouldnt have called me until much later in the day unless I called them myself.EDIT: The owner reached out to me after the review and cleared some things up so I added back 1 star.EDIT2: Not even a month into my new battery and now its dead again and I have to drive back to BMW in Greenville to get it repaired.

If you want to get screamed at by the staff go here. Not professional at all. They dont follow their own mask rules and try to dictate and lecture others on how other live their life. I wish I could give less stars

Worst experience ever here, extremely over priced, my employer offers this place as an employee perk to receive a 10% discount, which they didnt honor....their mechanic let my car idle for over 38 mins. and then proceeded to drive around all over town, slamming on the brakes and even taking my car up to 80 miles per hour on the road. When we confronted the owners of all the alerts and issues that were recorded with their mechanic driving my car, the husband (owner of the business) tried to dismiss our issues, even while showing him the recorded actions; his wife took it a little more seriously. Unless you want your car driven like it was stolen and you dont have a tracker on it to know exactly what they are doing you are risking your investment... Take it to the dealership you will have better results and a car that has the same amount of gas in as when you brought it in unlike us having a gas light on because of excessive idling and joy riding.......and I have informed my employer of the issues and they will be dropping them as a recommended business.....This is one local business I WILL NOT support and will NOT recommend to ANYONE!!!!!!

Best independent shop in the Clemson/Seneca area. Hands down. We bring her 2013 Range Rover and my 2014 Mercedes here for all our service needs. The price is very competitive for independent shops, and a whole lot cheaper than manufacturer labor cost. The shop is impressive, shop floor is even almost spotless any time I have been led into the shop area. They have top of the line equipment, high end tools, and are staffed with Highly trained technicians. This shop is not just some “quick lube” place, it is a real honest to god shop that can do just about anything.I have total confidence that our high strung European cars are well cared for here. Lester and Roxana are a treat to talk to and they have always been honest with me and recognize that everyone is on a different budget. As a former Dealership mechanic, I know what things are urgent repairs and know what things are easy upsells for those who are less knowledgeable. They have NEVER pulled any of these tactics or blindly recommend things that may not be necessary to me or my Significant Other. These guys are the “real deal”, I couldn’t have asked for a better shop to bring our investments to. Please give this guys a chance if you haven’t yet, there isn’t enough shops like this anymore! They are one of the good ones for sure!(Also during the time I have wrote this review, they are taking the COVID-19 outbreak very seriously, and keeping everything highly sanitary, seat covers wiping down things before returning vehicles. To me this shows me how much they care about their customers and employees! Great job!)

Quick and easy to work with. 10/10

I called about getting air lift support springs replaced. I Told the lady that answered the phone what service I needed. She asked me how did I know what I need. I responded with you can see the hole in. The response was bring it in and we will diagnose it and tell you what you need. I grew up around my granddads shop just up the road from there and I drive commercially. I can diagnose my own issues what I lack is the temperament to repair it myself. Just because someone calls to have a shop do repairs doesnt mean they dont know what they are talking about. I was going to let them start doing my repair work because my vehicle is a Lexus and everyone else acts like you are speaking greek when say Lexus. So disappointed.

The owner is very disrespectful, not honest, a job that I can do myself he asked for $660 to change a coolant reservoir that I changed for $70 and one hour work. Avoid him in any means!

I am from Maine and I go to school here at Clemson. I was really apprehensive bringing my jeep to get work done because I’ve only been to one mechanic back home and was worried I wouldn’t be able to find one I could trust. Lester at My Garage by Essex was very understanding and helpful with all of the issues with my car and I would recommend him to anyone! Amazing customer service and work.

Lester and his crew are great. Knowledgeable, honest and efficient.

I am currently a Clemson student and just got my battery replaced. Not only was it prompt, but I was able to get some studying done extremely comfortably while I waited. Very happy to have a friendly, nearby garage to service my vehicle.

Lester has assembled a group of great technicians that know what they are doing. Ive been having my cars serviced and repaired there for several years and have never had an issue with any of their work.

Ive only been here one time but I have to say that that was a great experience. I had them install four tires for me they did a wonderful job at a great price - in fact better than anyone else in the area. Additionally, everyone who worked there could not have been nicer. And on top of that it is an absolutely beautiful shop and I have never said that about any other automobile service facility.

After a pleasant talk with Lester, I now believe my unsatisfactory experience described below was due to both a miscommunication and incorrect diagnoses. While I still believe they would have done an unnecessary $2500 timing chain replacement had I not had enough knowledge of the car to not agree to their recommendations, this was not an act of dishonesty on their part but an isolated case of a mis-diagnoses. As to the work they did that I felt was not necessary to get the car back on the road until the next scheduled service interval, I should have stated much more clearly to only replace the currently defective parts necessary to clear the check engine light. I did not intend to imply they over charged for the work, just that they did work I felt was not necessary. I did not change my 1-star rating as it does reflect my opinion of this experience even though I would consider using them in the future and would recommend them to anyone wanting the best car of their car at a reasonable price.My daughters car, a 2009 mini cooper started running poorly, engine missing and car stalling out. Having heard good things about My Garage she contacted them and was told they needed to run a $150 diagnostic test to determine the problem. After having the diagnostics she was then informed of a laundry list of issues that needed to be fixed totaling about $4500 before she should drive the car. She called me in tears thinking she had severely damaged the car. When I contacted My Garage I too was given the rundown of new plugs and coils, new timing chain, new brakes and wheel bearings. After informing them I would take care of brakes and timing chain, and questioning them about the need to replace all plugs and coils, they backed off a little on the sales pitch and did say they would verify the need to replace all the coils and plugs. I agreed to the work and they ended up replacing all the coils and plugs and charging me over $700 for a repair that should have been around $200 at a honest shop.

Update: The owner has at least stopped calling me a scammer, apologized for doing so, and acknowledged that I was a customer. Still, they didn’t take responsibility for (1) the incorrect diagnosis in 2009 (that would have cost more then $3,000 if I had listened to My Garage instead of going to the dealership) and (2) for holding my car for three days before charging me a fee for ‘scanning, diagnosing, and testing’ (a diagnosis of the exact issue I asked them to repair - an issue they said they could, but didn’t actually have the correct computer equipment to do).Do yourself a favor: read all of the reviews and decide for yourself. I cannot recommend My Garage.Original Review:I’ve been here twice. On July 15, 2009, I brought my car in to have tires mounted and balanced and an alignment performed. It took almost four hours, but that is another story. Before the alignment was done the owner, Lester, came to the lobby and told me that there was play in my right rear driveshaft and I needed to replace the rear differential. He quoted a $3,000+ repair including the parts. He said it could leave me stuck on the side of the road. I did some research online which suggested he was incorrect in his diagnosis. After my alignment I took my car to the dealership in Greenville and they confirmed that no repair was needed and My Garage was wrong. This was a known misdiagnosis. A service bulletin had been out for a number of years. I assumed it was an honest mistake and gave My Garage another chance a few years later.In July of 2014 I called and asked if they could replace the air compressor on my SUV’s suspension. They said they could, so I dropped it off. Three days later they called me back to tell me they didn’t have the correct computer equipment to perform the repair (the suspension has to be recalibrated after replacing the compressor). They never even ordered the part. They refused to release my car to AAA to be towed to the dealership in Greenville until I paid their diagnosis fee. Their ‘diagnosis’ that said the compressor needed to be replaced (that they told me they could do, but couldn’t). As ridiculous as it was I just paid Roxana over the phone to be done with it.At that point they lost my business for good. Thankfully I found another local shop that is honest, dependable, cheaper, and seems to have a better grasp of the work they are doing. If you patronize this shop, do so at your own risk. I would not take any of my vehicles here again.

Very honest, knowledgeable and kind people and service. My garage have been my place for auto repairs and maintenance since two years ago. I fully trust them. Mr. Lester, Mrs. Roxana and the whole personnel are extremely helpful and nice. The space is very clean and organized. I totally recommend this place.

I am a Clemson student. I brought my car here for some engine issues and they called my dad with a $1600 quote to fix it. Thought that seemed like a bit much and also the rude snarky comments were a red flag.. So I paid the $150 fee they charged to diagnose and took my car home for Thanksiving break and guess what, $950 quote for the same exact issue (plus that price includes a few other things My Garage never even mentioned) and ZERO diagnostic fee from a different mechanic back home. Make sure do you your research before giving them your money.

Fantastic service! Always helpful, reliable and have been able to fix any issues I’ve had on my older Mercedes that would cost so much more at a dealship!I wouldn’t take my car anywhere else becauseI trust them and they are fantastic people!

I will be the first to admit that I do not know much about cars- when arriving at My Garrage by Essex, all I could tell the mechanics was that my car was making a funny noise and that I’d recently gotten it fixed for something similar. I was so happy that I went to this mechanic shop!! The staff was SO friendly, they showed me every single thing on my car that needed a repair and explained it in terms that even I would understand, and the mechanic really tried to help me get the best deal possible because he knew I was in a pinch. Everything was done in a timely manner and I have had no problems since! I would highly recommend this place to anyone in the area- they’re great people and definitely trustworthy!!

This is my go-to mechanic. They are always honest and trustworthy, they dont try to overcharge or suggest extra work for more profit. Ive taken several cars here and been satisfied everytime. They take the time needed to really checkout your car and offer their expert opinion.

They did a great job with my car. Had an outrageously tricky tire problem and needed it fixed before the weekend. They made sure to get the job done and to do it right. The customer service was great and they made sure I knew the progress the entire time. Great customer service and they know how to get the job done... Overall a great place to go!

Had an emergency repair from running over a part of a tractor trailer tire. It was close to closing time and I was in town for Clemson graduation festivities. Called My Garage and they told me I could come right in and they would get right on it. As it turned out it just took them 10 minutes to get me back on the road. I can’t thank them enough! I would give their team an 11 out of 10!!! Love these guys.

My Garage was fantastic! Lester is extremely helpful and knowledgable. He even helped me locate a reasonable tow service to get my car there. From beginning to end they were great with communication, quality of work, and pricing. I highly recommend My Garage and will continue using them for all my maintenance needs.

Great honest service. Theyre always willing to go the extra mile and explain every service that they perform. Theyll even take you out into the garage and show you anything youd like to see on your vehicle. Id highly recommend them to anyone.

At first, everything seemed great and wonderful, almost too good to be true.Thats because it WAS too good to be true.They told me it would only take a few hours to fix my problem and they told me they would contact me before making any repairs. Ecstatic, I left and waited by my phone all day for the news that my truck was ready. However, they didnt contact me until 9:30 the next morning with the not so good news that my repairs would be rather high (over $600) in price.So after consulting several other mechanics, and the Advanced Auto Parts right across the street, I found that the job should have only taken 45 minutes and should not have exceeded $300. Not only were they taking their sweet time, they over charged me and were rude doing so.Ive read several reviews that said that they were not rude or were completely nice, and Im glad that yall had a nice experience, but as for my family and I we had to put up with these crooks and their attitudes.I hope that no one goes here after reading these reviews, these people should not be relied upon until extreme circumstances.

Great owners. Very clean and professional. Specialize in German imports but work on anything. And several restaurants/bars just across the street if you dont want to wait inside.

I have been to My Garage by Essex twice with my 1999 Ford Ranger, once in Spring 2017 and once in Spring 2018.In Spring 2017, I knew my left front brake caliper was seized. When I brought it in, I was told that they would do an inspection of the whole truck, free of charge, and let me know what they found. This was a great service, since my truck is old and I bought it used. In addition to the brakes, they also discovered that my value gaskets needed replacing, which is something I would have never realized until the engine started noticeably leaking oil. They also noticed that oil was leaking on the oil pan. However, they told me that it might not necessarily be the oil pan itself, and instead could be from the leaky valve gaskets. In fact, after the valve gaskets were replaced, no more oil leaked, and their honestly and transparency saved me from paying hundreds of dollars to replace the oil pan. After My Garage replaced the front brake rotors, calipers, hoses, and pads, the truck has never stopped better or more smoothly. My garage also adjusted the rear drum brakes free of charge. The next week, one drum started rubbing constantly, and heating up really badly. I brought the truck back in, and My Garage fixed it, free of charge.The second time, I brought my truck in at 3:00 PM on a Friday, and explained to them that I needed to drive to Nashville for an interview the following Thursday. I clarified that if the work wasn’t done by then, it was no problem, and that I would drop it off again after my trip. Well, the mechanic I spoke with had the truck done by closing time on the same day that I dropped it off. They really went above and beyond anything I expected to accommodate me and help me make a safe drive to Nashville.They are not the cheapest garage in the area price-wise, but I am glad to pay a little bit more for the fantastic quality and customer service they provide. Additionally, their facility is extremely clean and professional. They even take you out to the lift to show you what is wrong with your car, especially if it was something that you were not expecting. The owner, Mr. Essex, personally called me to update me on their progress on my truck each time. Everyone I have dealt with has been very friendly. I am sad to be graduating and moving away, since I will no longer be close to this excellent garage. I recommend them very highly.

I really enjoy so much being at My Garage by Essex. I had a problem with my car, the transmission fluid was leaking. I took my car to another local garage first and they told me my car needed a new transmission $$$$ but it wasnt like that. I wanted to have a second opinion so I brought it to My Garage by Essex. They suggested to have a transmission flush fluid service and this made it!!!... Thank you so much guys! I definitely highly recommend this place. They saved me a lot of money!!

I came into town from Jersey bringing one of my kids to Clemson. We had problems with tires on the way down & triple A got us over to My Garage. With limited time (Before we planned to head home) Lester was able to locate & replace the tires on my truck quickly. I found the service excellent and pricing for the tires reasonable. Back in Jersey I have a fleet of approx 20 vehicles so we buy/install a volume of tires at great prices. These prices were right in line with the volume pricing I get in Jersey.Needless to say Im happy with the service!

I knew for a fact all I needed was a tune up. They wouldnt do it without running their own diagnostics. Wanted $150 to just do a diagnostics test. The place is a huge rip off.

I was having issues with my tire on my passenger side. I called them on the phone to discuss the issue with them and the lady that was answered was very friendly and helpful. They told me to bring the car in and they would check it out. When I bought in the car, they told me possible scenarios/solutions about the problems that I was experiencing. I left the car and later on the day, they called and we got everything handled. Overall, my personal experience with them was excellent and I would recommend it to others.

I was a customer of theirs for a couple of years, usually pretty minor issues. I brought my truck in because there was some noise coming from the rear end area. I wasnt sure if there was something wrong with the rear end or u-joints but they took a look and determined the u-joints had gone bad. Once I gave them the go-ahead to fix the problem they asked me if Id like to replace the gasket/seal in the rear end since the drive shaft would be off. I agreed.When it came time to pick my truck up I noticed the bill seemed a little high. I asked for a breakdown of the prices. I was charged twice for the labor to remove the drive shaft (extra $120); once so they could replace the u-joints and once when they put the new gasket in. I pointed out that I shouldnt have to pay that labor twice because the drive shaft was already off in order to replace the u-joints. They said thats how their computers do it and there was nothing they were going to do about it. The only way that makes sense is if they took the drive shaft off to fix the u-joints, put the drive shaft back on, then took the drive shaft back off so they could change the gasket.This all happened awhile back but I just got a call from someone asking who I recommended to which my response was, I will tell you the last place you want to go is My Garage. I explained it to them so I thought other people should know. I never took any of my vehicles back.

The worst car repair experience I have ever had. I spent $11,000.00 on repairs for my car that were obviously not done because I am still shelling out money to repair the exact things that I paid My Garage to fix. They allegedly replaced my brakes and rotors. I had to spend thousands of dollars less than 10,000 miles later to have them replaced for real. They kept my car forever and they still didnt do it right,I would never recommend them to anyone. I honestly feel like I got ripped off. Seriously dislike My Garage

Always has excellent service and employees that KNOW what they are doing! They always have great costumer service as well. This is the only place I get my car worked on!

My wife and I would not recommend this shop to anyone, forget about my family, friends and colleagues. We have been using their services for more or less five years and we finally had the last straw. A good mechanic with fair prices would not need to do tricks to get your business: such as disassembling your car without telling you when you just want an warning light checked knowing that they do not have the parts in their stock and then telling you that you need to pay twice for the assembly and disassembly if you want your car back to take it to another mechanic. That is just bad business practice.

I recently read a few reviews of My Garage in Clemson. Some were favorable and others were not. However, a couple of them were obviously vindictive, irresponsible, and factually wrong. I have a different point of view.I have been a My Garage client since they opened in 2005. I use the word “client” because that’s how they treat me, as a client as opposed to a customer. Before they opened I roamed from one auto repair shop to another, including several dealerships. On more occasions than necessary I had to return because the problem persisted.Since 2005 my family has had about 7 different cars serviced by My Garage. Never have I had to return because the problem was not repaired right the first time. On every occasion I was given an accurate estimate of the repair cost and the time it would take. If delivery of needed parts was delayed or they found additional problems, they always phoned me.I am a professor at Clemson and I’ve referred many colleagues and students to My Garage. Not once has one of my referrals reported problems. In fact, I’ve had some of my students’ parents tell me thanks for the referral. Their children were treated respectfully and honestly and Lester was more than willing to discuss automotive questions with mom and dad.The owners, Lester and Roxana Essex are consummate professionals. Lester has a degree in mechanical engineering and is a former race car driver--can’t say that about many automotive service companies. Rude and arrogant are adjectives I’d never use to describe them.All of their mechanics are certified master technicians. But they are not magicians. They can’t create parts from thin air. Today’s cars, whether they are 2014 BMWs or 2001 Jeeps like mine, have sophisticated computers at the heart of their operating systems. My Garage has invested well over $40,000 in diagnostic equipment and they know how to use it.Finally, today I stopped by to drop off my Jeep for normal maintenance. Their lot was full of cars they had serviced or were about to service. That speaks for itself.Please don’t accept the reviews of a few chronic complainers. Go see for yourself.Alan J. Winters653-5636 (feel free to call me)

This is my second experience at My Garage and all I can say is they did an excellent job. They found the problem I was having quickly and gave me great feedback on how to do everything possible so this problem doesn’t happen again.

Took my car in for a break check on one wheel..30 minutes later I was being told that I needed to replace the calipers, disks, and break pads on two tires totaling over a thousand bucks. After asking for a printed quote before making my decision the owner, Lester, refused stating that he was the engineer and that its no big surprise when I didnt understand why he couldnt simply print the quote he showed me moments before. I was surprised by how rude he was especially to some poor college student he was gouging. After reading the other reviews on this shop I believe that I may have been taken advantage of. I picked this place because the hours were convenient, but I recommend choosing some place else.

Very nice and easy service. Called me frequently to update me and remind me about my car. Best auto repair in the nearby area.

Knowledgeable mechanics friendly staff clean garage. Best time I have had getting my car serviced.

Took my car in for diagnosis of loud interior noise. Lester nailed it after a short test ride--wheel bearing. Although they were jammed, he promised to finish the work that day as I had an important trip to Hilton Head the next morning. Kudos to the entire crew for staying late to get it fixed. I gave their work a good test by driving to the Low Country and back in one day (683 miles). They got it right! This was a Subaru so dont think they only work on European cars...

I want to give them 0 star..... I notice a little noise in my car and drove to this place. They finally came up with a list worthy of almost $2500 for me to solve the problem. I went other car repair shop and found out it is only transmission fluid problem. Maybe they are good at fixing cars from Europe. That is really unacceptable to over-charge you client. I am so angry!!!!!!!! By the way, I did a car inspection on my car on Mar 17th this year (2016) and the inspection yield nothing major. I think they are really good at finding problems!!!!

This establishment is absolutely horrible. Had my wifes tires mounted and balanced here. There service was horrible and not professional at all. They did not balance the tires correctly. I drove the truck down the road and the whole truck shook to death. They wouldnt even stand behind there work to rebalance the tires. I suggest you think about going to another shop for service on your vehicle because they will never touch my wifes 60k truck again or mine.....

Great service - explained the problem with my truck well, service was fast and at a reasonable price.

Good for convenience, bad for price.I went to MyGarage by Essex in a pinch. I have to say, unless youre in a pinch like I was, you should NEVER go here. The other mechanics in the area are a much better value.As soon as I went in, they charged me a whopping $150 just to LOOK at the car. This is far beyond what I have EVER paid another mechanic. I was livid, and I felt trapped because they were the only mechanics available. I will say, the work they did do was fast and effective, and the price on the work itself was an (okay) value. I mean, $20 per spark plug is obviously a frickin rip off but oh well.I would not go back to MyGarage unless I was in a similarly precarious position needing fast service; (break was coming up and all the other mechanics in Clemson were booked up). If the owner were to contact me, give me a refund for a fair price, and make a promise to stop overcharging broke college kids (in my case $150 to tell me I need new spark plugs and my battery cleaned), I would give them a 5 star review.Until such a time as that, do yourself a favor and avoid MyGarage by Essex.

Excellent Service and very reasonably priced.I have a Mercedes GL450 and had my power steering and rack and pinion system go out. I took it to a dealership first and they wanted to charge me over $7000 to have it replaced. I then tried a local Pendleton mechanic (whom I also trust) and he was unable to even quote me a price because, unfortunately, Mercedes require certain tools to remove the rack and pinion system and most mechanics will not purchase these tools. He referred me to another mechanic in Easley - this mechanic wanted over $6000. A friend told me about My Garage by Essex so we tried for one last quote and Mr. Essex quoted me half the price. He and his wife were so helpful and courteous throughout the entire process. Their followup after my scheduled appointments are always professional and courteous to ensure that we have received a quality experience. I wont take my Mercedes anywhere else again.

Dont put yourself in the position to be taken advantage of at this mechanic. I save money and work on my own vehicles using Google and YouTube for DIY help. My wife and I recently bought a used Mercedes and wanted a second opinion verses mine. Ill get to this story later.Here we go: just because you own a European car, ie Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volvo, VW, etc., doesnt mean that you have to take it to a special mechanic with special tools and special skills. European cars are no different than domestic ones. In fact, Mercedes are built in Alabama, BMWs in Greenville, and Volvos will soon be built in Charleston. They are all held together with nuts and bolts, run on gas or diesel, and have power steering pumps, A/C compressors, alternators, spark plugs or glow plugs, need oil changes, etc. The biggest misconception about these cars is that they are somehow special and that a mechanic needs a phd to work on them and therefore will charge you $1,600 for an A/C compressor replacement, or $1,100 for a rear air spring suspension replacement. Those prices are totally outrageous! If you are going to pay that much for those services, you might as well pay those same prices or less at the dealership. This place does no one any favors.This place also does no one any favors with customer service. The owner talks to people with a type of sarcasm that I have only experienced a few very memorable times. He will talk over you. It is as if he thinks we are all southern idiots that only know how to work on Fords and Chevys. Did I mention that Mercedes is made in Forest Gumps home state?So my wife took our car for diagnostics at My Garage By Essex because she wanted a second opinion. I had diagnosed a knocking as either the power steering pump, A/C Compressor (still blows super cold), or belt tensioner pulley. They did the hook it up to a computer and read the codes thing (which Advance Auto Parts across the street will do for free) which is okay. But they didnt investigate the knock. My wife and I picked the car up and I paid the $105 diagnostic fee? They handed me several pages of error codes relating to arrows the computer generated when the battery died. No big deal at all. They told me the knock was gone. The knock was still there. I did the power steering pump for $110. They quoted $800. Anyway, the knock was still there after I did this. So I called and asked them if they would use their A/C gauges and tell me what the high and low side pressures were since they didnt diagnose the knock a few days before. I asked the lady if they would do this at no charge and she agreed to. Its a 5 minute job. When my wife took the car there, she made sure to ask the mechanic to please tell her before doing something that would generate a fee and he said sure. Needless to say, an hour later (with the car sitting for 30 minutes of that hour) and an uncertain diagnosis, my wife asks Mr. Essex to call me. He tells me that it needs a new A/C compressor which will cost between $1,400 and $1,600. I asked him what the low and high pressures were, and he told me pressures that are in the normal range. He also told me that I need a new power steering pump! I just replaced it 2 days before! He then tells me that he will have to charge me for the work that they had agreed should have been part of the $105 diagnostics 3 days before. After a short discussion, I told him I wasnt paying a damn thing and that I was 5 minutes away. He left my wife and must have gone out and told his mechanics to get ready for me. He then came back and told my wife it was $95. He got snooty with my wife and tried to talk over her. She doesnt take any junk either. She said, You listen to me and then I will listen to you. She told him what the deal was. At that point another customer walked in, his attitude changed, he handed her the keys and said Youre good.Dont be frightened because you have a very good, well-engineered, quality vehicle. Any normal mechanic can repair it and it will cost you much less. Thanks.

If you want it done right this is the place. They will only use the best quality parts and are very meticulous. You get what you pay for. Very impressed with how knowledgeable they are. If you own a european car they are the experts. The quote was right on. This is not a place for a cheap temporary fix. Some other reviews referenced rudness and sarcasim. I did not find that to be true. Very friendly, courteous and professional. The volvo we had repaired is ten years old and we got it back running like new. Would definitely recommend My Garage by Essex to anyone who quality repair at a fair price.

Extremely unpleasant on the phone, overpriced. Terrible customer service.

Great place

Good quality but a bit overpriced.

Staff is friendly