Dearing Automotive

The folks at Dearing are great. I will echo the «you get what you pay for» theme. Phil is great as are the guys in the shop. I needed to pick my car up after they closed so I asked them to lock the key in it so could pick it up. What I didn’t expect was that someone from the shop waited in their car, on their time, for me to get there to make sure everything was ok! Trust this place to take care of your car with integrity and above and beyond service, something that is so hard to find these days. A++

Ditto the previous comment. I’m so happy with the repair service for my MBZ. Prices were WAY less than the dealer’s and the service was exceptional. They even arranged to have my car detailed while @ their shop. It’s so great to find a trustworthy mechanic! My only complaint is they wouldn’t let me drive the Lamborghini that was also being serviced :-(

I am the proud owner of 1965 Mercedes 230 SL, which I’ve had since 1983. To say I love this car is a huge understatement. I LOVE this car, but of late, I’d have to talk very sweetly to get him (Bennie), to go more than few miles without stalling. He was leaking oil and some red stuff I suspected was power steering fluid since the steering was very cranky. The gears were worse. My regular mechanic couldn’t find the leaks. A neighbor recommended Dearing. I babied Bennie all the way to Ft. Lowell on a 100 degree day, Bennie having stalled once on the journey, thinking it was probably a waste of time. Upon arrival, Phil listened intently to my complaints and even took the list of issues I’d jotted down. Imagine that, actually listening to me (vs deferring to my husband), who is convinced Bennie hates him. Anyway, he said he’d call us with an estimate early the next week, which he did. It was somewhat staggering, but after explaining what was wrong, which was also staggering, we agreed to die the work. Phil didn’t hard sell. He gave options. Anyway I picked Bennie up yesterday. He purred all the way home. I left the top up so I could try the air conditioning, which hasn’t worked effectively for years. I turned on the radio at the same time. Bennie just purred along. Idling perfectly. I am so pleased. Phil told me Mr. Dearing did a lot of the work himself because he loves old cars. These guys rock!

Don’t waste your time or money with these clowns! They are out to rip you off! Don’t take a fine car to them as they don’t have a clue how to diagnose or fix it! $ 3500 later I have brakes that squeal like a stuck pig. They suck!!!

Look, it’s expensive. But they specialize in high-​end cars and you get what you pay for, so let’s get that minor quibble out of the way and dismiss it early, because you’ll pay the same or more at a dealer anyhow. Now that we’ve covered that…
Is it weird to love your mechanic? I mean, not in a chocolate and flowers way or anything, but that immense satisfaction in the knowledge that you’re in good hands, the work will be done correctly, and the shop knows the vehicle.
I discovered Dearing through a recommendation by Dave Radmacher. Dave is tied up with the local Porsche Club chapter and works on all the older air-​cooled models. The newer water-​cooled owners, he sends the way of Dearing, and vice-​versa. So we begin with PCA-​SAR approval, and that’s kind of a big deal.
I was in there for a clutch replacement, and they mentioned the intermediate shaft bearing. It’s a costly replacement, and I think they’re blowing smoke up my rear because we’re all conditioned to think the mechanic is screwing you, right? Well at this point a gentleman behind the counter begins to hand sketch a perfectly intelligible diagram that explains everything, what model years were affected, when Porsche corrected it and how, etc. This guy KNEW what he was talking about! (And after using some Google-​fu, I verified the potential problem.)These guys don’t lie to make a sale. They suggested it because where they were working on my car was right next to the IMS, and I’d save money on the labor vs. doing it later.
I opted not to, due to budget, but I remembered. Then when I picked my car up they were washing it and finishing buffing/​drying the wheels.
I took my car back for an oil change later. They washed it again! They do it every time as a courtesy. How could I not begin to love this place?
Coming up on a major service interval, I inquire about doing the IMS bearing now. They tell me the cost of the part is cost of the part, and this service interval doesn’t get into that area of the car, so labor would still be expensive… And then they offer to cut me a deal on the service interval itself, to help ease the blow. They’re a business, here to make money and provide livelihoods to their employees, and they do exemplary and deserve every penny they earn– but still try to cut their customers a break.
Quality of work and attention to detail? These guys are absolutely worth what they charge. And if you’re a car guy, going here is sometimes like a museum visit, getting to sneak peeks at Ferraris and even a Lamborghini Countach. Dearing Automotive is one of the things I miss most about Tucson, and I’ve considered making the drive back from Las Vegas, NV just to have them work on my car.
They’re that good.