Becker Automotive

Very helpful. I took my car in the day before a holiday, they got back to me within a couple of hours and were very understanding when I said I would need time to think about it. Because it was a holiday they let me keep the car there over the weekend without charging a storage fee. Prices were a tad over other places, but I would willingly pay a bit more to work with them again. They’ve got customer for life.

Becker Automotive is truly a Durham treasure! We have been taking our Volvos to Neil Becker for the past ten years. Neil is knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and kind. He gives great advice on the phone, and is always available when I have a «quick question» before going on a road trip. We use his recommendations when we need a mechanic out-​of-​state. In other words, Neil takes good care of his customers as well as their cars. Many thanks to Neil!

Wonderful experience. Took my 98 Camry here to get an oil change and have the washer pump replaced. Walked home (a few blocks away), and as soon as I sat down, got a phone call saying that my car was ready to go. Turns out the hose was disconnected, and that was it. Price for an oil change was about $ 20 less than I’d pay at a Jiffy Lube too. These guys are fast, honest, and cheap. Can’t beat that!

I have been bringing our family’s two Volvos (a 1998 and a 2005) to Becker Automotive for years. The service has always been excellent and reasonably priced. The mechanics are very thorough. If a part is wearing out, they warn me that it will need to be replaced next time. Then there is the added value. I recently e-​mailed about an occasional problem with the key of the 2005 car not turning in the ignition and Neil gave me a list of possible remedies. I mentioned that one of the seat belts was broken, so he asked me to stop by when I got off work. Finding that a penny had gotten wedged in the buckle, he took it apart, dislodged the coin, and put it back together – all free of charge.

Assholes. Spent 2000 dollars replacing the cams on my 1998 S70 T5 with them (before I owned the car, this was my brothers)… About 2000 miles after I got it the exhaust cam seal blew out. It leaked oil up until that point so I took the cam cover off. These guys used RTV sealant on the cam cover (a big no no, Volvo’s use anaerobic sealant), aftermarket cam seals (with Big gouges in them) and caveman tooling methods to install said parts. I opened it up to find very worn down used cams (brother had only put 5000 miles on it since they gave it back with «new cams») as well as the RTV and aftermarket seals. Upon pulling up to them I discussed the seals with Neal and he swore they used the Volvo installation tool and OEM cam seals. I beg to differ. Take your car somewhere else, they’ll find some way to screw it up and bend you over a barrel of Mobil 1 (and not use any!)…They just want your money.

I was new in town, so just found this place and took my volvo there for a repair, the car was making weird noises on the front wheels. The mechanic said that a part (sway bars or control arm) had to be replaced, which was $ 400 (just the part, the whole thing would cost $ 800). I SPECIFICALLY asked if only the bushings could be replaced, he said no. Then he sent me off to «ask your dad, or the person in charge, if I can start working on it». Needless to say he thought that I was incapable because I’m a woman and young-​looking. And mind you, I’m 30 and I have a PhD. So I took my car to a different place in town, where the mechanic said he has never had to change such a part in vehicles with the same model as mine, and that only the bushings needed to be replaced. I do think that they were trying to rip me off on purpose at Becker. My appearance, gender, and out of state license plate probably made them think that I was a rich Duke student that had money to waste… shame on them.

LOOKOUT I took my car here that was leaking oil. They charged me 2270 to fix it. The following week it was leaking worse. I took it back and they said it would cost me another 1000 but they would do me a favor and only charge me 880. I am going to have to pay a lawyer now in order to get any kind of compensation. email me at
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