Leinster Motor Engineering Ltd 2A Leinster Avenue, London SW14 7JP

"Two for the benefit of the doubt. Firstly communication is abysmal. Ask you to bring the car in on Monday, call at 12 during a lunch break to check if it’s suitable to bring it in. Get told it’s not and half the day has passed bring it tomorrow instead. (At no point was I told it must be there at opening). Proceed to take it in at 8am. No callback all day, shop closes. Following day, call them at 12 to get a progress update (the job included a diagnosis of a brake shudder and an intermittent throttle issue - the remainder of the work requested was labour only for gearbox oil and fluid flush and replacement and a couple of simple sensor fittings.) the car hadn’t been looked at yet. 17:30 I call again and now the car is on the ramp and they are about to drop the gearbox oil and am I ok to go ahead on the labour only elements of the job (without any quote - an experienced mech could have quoted for the obvious work easily within 30 mins - not two days). They assumed I wouldn’t understand the work involved and the potential to do work in parallel. On top of that they wanted me to believe that a gearbox oil and filter change takes 20 mins or so before they shut for the night - or maybe they intended to drain and refill tomorrow… when the transmission temperature would be too low for that procedure. I don’t buy that they even had the car being diagnosed on the ramp. Nothing added up. So I assume they were buying time to keep the car in another day. I was then told they would not do any work in parallel “as this is not how they do things here” “you can’t expect us to have the car on the ramp all day” (all work could be carried out in parallel at 3h max ramp time except maybe the replacement of the thermostat and what ever throttle problem was occurring) so they will long out work to bump labour costs. Followed by being told “You must not have any money if this is my way of thinking.” I am an aircraft engineer of 15 years who is fully capable - although missing the use of a ramp currently - to carry out all of this work. Absolute charlatans with zero customer service or respect. I’d give 1 star but having not allowed them to carry out the work, I’ll assume they may at least be capable mechanics."

"Have been using Leinster motor for many year , ..these guys are helpful ,reliable and most importantly honest when it comes to repairs and costs ...."

"AVOID AVOID AVOID ! Very rude staff, the older gentleman working there was rude enough to advise me that he changed the bloody bulb and asked what else I wanted. I was called annoying for asking a question about my car by another younger gentleman. I believe that I have the right to ask a question as a customer. Also expensive labour (to be fair I was quoted before but I just went as I wanted the MOT done quickly)"

"Possibly the most helpful garage ever! I was abroad during the covid lockdowns and got ‘trapped’ by travel restrictions and flight cancellations. At some point I realised not only that my car registration was due for renewal, but also that the MOT had expired that day so that I couldn’t renew it online (and it was parked very visibly on a public road). On the off-chance I phoned Leinster, where I had taken my car for a service on a recommendation of a friend. Though they were obviously busy, it was no problem to send someone to Barnes to pick up the car, get the key from a neighbour, reconnect the battery (I had disconnected it), do the MOT, phone me abroad when it was done, and return the car (and disconnect the battery and return the key to the neighbour, I discovered when I returned). It’s fair to say that I have never experienced that level of helpfulness from any business before, particularly one labouring under the duress of Covid lockdowns and all the other challenges of these times. What amazing service! I’m still very grateful to them (Braba I think?) for getting me out of a tricky situation. Not to mention reaffirming my faith in human nature ..."