Jim Stephens Foreign Car Service

I dropped my ’08 Nissan Sentra off to Dan because it was making odd brake noises and the engine light wouldn’t turn off. I left it with him during the work day so that he could look at it. He worked on it/​drove it around for a while and called me a couple times with updates. All of his explanations were very helpful, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the service. I will definitely take my car here for any future problems, especially since I work downtown and can just drop it off in the morning!

I’ll start by saying that as a young, single woman, I am terrified of mechanics. I know very little about cars, and often feel that mechanics take advantage of that by overcharging me and pressuring me to take care of unnecessary «issues». This place is the exact opposite of what I just mentioned. I have taken my 2006 VW Beetle in a couple of times since I’ve moved to the city, and Danny has always been honest and respectful towards me. I will often get a quote from him and then call around to make sure it’s a fair price. His prices have been consistently lower than anyone else in town. I hope this trend of greatness continues!

I brought my ’86 Volvo out to Ohio from Arizona, where it was not used to this very different climate! Snow and ice took a toll on my former desert car, but on the recommendation of a Volvo-​owning friend, I began taking it to Jim Stephens. Although I no longer have that car, I am happy to shout from the top of Carew Tower that Danny is awesome and knows his stuff. Reasonable and knowledgeable. Definitely recommended for any and all repairs on your older European cars, especially Volvos!

I called Danny about a brake flush, and the price he quoted was roughly twice as much as the independent shop where I usually have my car work done. In fact, his quoted rate was even higher than what the dealership charges! He told me he could do it for the same price as quoted by the other shop, but that he would only replace the fluid in the master cylinder and would not bleed the fluid from the brake calipers (essentially skipping 75% of the work). Both the independent shop and the dealership I called said that only replacing the fluid in the master cylinder is not an acceptable way to do the procedure, as most of the dirty old fluid is still stuck in the brake lines and does not get recirculated.
Considering the high price here, you might as well just go to the dealership and get some free coffee and wifi while they work on your car. Needless to say, I didn’t have the work done at his shop.

I am a new resident to the surprisingly vibrant and hip city of Cincinnati. Finding a good and honest auto mechanic, in a place where you have no connections or knowledge, is more important then finding a competent doctor. Due to these great reviews and the convenience of their downtown location, I brought my Infiniti into Jim Stephens Foreign Car Service. The mechanics know their stuff, are accommodating and most importantly, charge you for what you need, not what they can make the most profit from. It is just another reason why my decision to move to the Queen City has been one of the few smart ones I have ever made. Thanks Chris and the other mechanics.

Danny did an awesome job with the regular maintenance on my 04 Volvo S60. I am new to Cincy and was looking for an independent Volvo repair shop that wouldn’t charge me an arm and a leg. Danny delivered. He did what was needed – nothing more, nothing less – in a timely manner. I see no reason to take my car anywhere else.

I have taken my Lexus in several times for routine maintenance and have always been pleased with Danny and the work he has done. I’m relatively new to town and quoted it against other shops and found him to be far more competitive in regards to price. Danny takes the time to explain the issue prior to commencing work and is honest about if you can wait on the service. I will absolutely continue to use this shop.

The dealer said look for a new engine. Jim said $ 149.50.
These guys are storybook great. They charge almost too little, give great advice, have deep knowledge (at least of SAAB) and they are centrally located. They don’t have much parking but forget that and take your car there if you have issues.

hands down!
the best around!
half the time they tell me how to fix it myself.
Jim Stephens Legacy lives on strong! many years ago he was a multi award winning mechanic. then He left the dealership to start his own shop. My former step father was a dodge viper specialist mechanic, worked along side Jim for many years. When I bought my 1^st Volvo, I started hearing of the legendary Jim Stephens. even tho my step father was a master mechanic, he «insisted,» I visit Jim for any Volvo issues. Unfortunately Jim has passed on from this world but his service & magic lives on thru legacy! these guys… are the Volvo whisperers…

I took my 2004 Volkswagen Golf in here today with a «check engine» light and various other small issues.
I was given a quote about an hour after I dropped the car off. Danny explained the issues to me and gave me a very fair quote, comparable or less than other places. Unlike some other garages, Danny agreed to use the headlight I had purchased from Autozone rather than charge me for a new headlight. My oil change was under $ 50 for synthetic blend.
I was able to pick my car up just before five. Danny accepted my credit card payment and showed the defective parts to me.
Ultimately, with the good service I received here and the fact that it is across the street from work, there is no reason for me to go anywhere else.

I have had three volvo 1800’s over the past 20 years, and although I have moved to Chicago, I still take my car back to Danny to be serviced for over 20 years. He’s the best. He tells you whats wrong, best way to fix it, and does it.
And when you step into his garage, old Volvo’s, MG’s, Triumphs, Jaguars, even the odd Maserati or Ferrari. As well as the newer cars people depend on every day. Great place.

I’ve had my VW repaired here several times over the years and have gotten good service and value. One two occasions I was even referred to another shop because they felt it could handle the problem better. If you have a volvo, VW or other European car you’d be wise to bring it here.

Don’t ask to speak to Jim here (he’s the late former owner of the business); Danny’s your man. He is simply the nicest, most honest and most reasonable mechanic I’ve ever met. For some reason, I used to take my 2000 Nissan Sentra to the dealership all the time, even for oil changes. Then a few years ago, after they told me that it would cost $ 200 to fix something on the underside of the car that was causing it to screech horrifically every time I turned right, I took it to Jim Stephens’, conveniently located just a few blocks from where I work, for a second opinion. Best decision ever: Danny quickly diagnosed the problem (I can’t even remember what it was now) and charged me just 50 bucks to fix it. I’ve brought my car back there for all manner of mystifying car problems since, and I’ve never once thought that Danny was trying to charge me for work I didn’t need. Now, whenever I get letters and postcards from the Nissan dealership warning me that my car is in danger of spontaneously combusting if I don’t bring it in right away, I take great delight in tossing them in the recycling bin.

I know that the phrase «honest mechanic» seems to be an oxymoron, but not when you are talking about Jim Stephens Foreign Car Service. Dan and his staff have always been super friendly, professional and efficient with all my repairs. In addition to my cars, they have also serviced my girlfriend’s cars as well as her family member’s cars, too, for around 10 years now. I have always been happy that their service is never trying to sell you what you do not need and always gets it right the first time, all at great prices. They work on any foreign car, European or Asian, not just one make. Their knowledge and experience is unmatched in Cincinnati.

I’ve been taking my Honda here for two years and Danny and the crew are always upfront with me about what does and doesn’t need to be done and the prices are always reasonable. Unlike the Honda dealer near my house (where I have had to visit once to get a part) Jim Stephens Foreign Car doesn’t try to sell me anything that I don’t need, they just focus on keeping my car running well.