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B & L Automotive Repairs
Category: Automotive Auto Repair Auto Repair [Edit]
3830 N Kedzie Ave(between Grace St & Byron St)
Chicago, IL 60618
Neighborhood: Irving Park
(773) 463-1622
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm
73 reviews for B & L Automotive Repairs
73 reviews in English
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Review from Johnny R.
4/10/2012
I now have a go-to body shop now on the Northside... These guys.
It helped that a co-worker, and two friends had used them before, But still, I reserved judgement until I met their guys and had some work done by them. Our MDX had been hit while parked and was in need of work on the driver's side.
I worked with Gino at B&L, and he is the example of how customer service should be. He's a very fair person, and wants the vehicle to look great once it's done.
While it was there, I also asked him if his PDR guy (painless dent guy) could take out the 4-5 dings the MDX had gotten, and that worked out great too.
I reccomend B&L, and ask for Gino.
~John -
Review from Becca S.
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
There is a very obviously reason why B&L has 65 reviews and a perfect score of 5 stars. I can't say enough good things about them. I found B&L through Body Shop Bids, which is an app that lets you upload pictures of your damage and several body shops bid on the work, and you choose the one you want. B&L was the least expensive by a landslide which is what first caught my attention, but then I read the descriptions of what each body shop would do, and B&L made the most sense. They would replace the the one part that was broken and buff off all the paint that transferred to my car when I hit one of those huge concrete pillars that I swear must move around...I'm a very good driver right?! The other shops wanted to replace whole panels or do more work than was necessary. I got my car fixed yesterday and it looks absolutely perfect. Maybe not "like new", but I'm still going to be parking on the streets of Chicago where I'll get dings here and there, so there's no appeal to me having panels of my car replaced over scratches. They had also said the work would take about an hour so I decided to wait. The waiting area has free wifi, coffee, and a kid's zone! I don't have kids but it looked really fun. Also the work took even less than an hour, and my car looks amazing.
I don't have the nicest car ever, so I enjoy bargain shopping for body shops. But I will tell you, B&L isn't just the least expensive body shop I've ever been to, it's by far the best. Go go go! -
Review from Matt W.
Chicago, IL
2/13/2012
Last summer's hail hammered the hood and roof of my car. Really it looked like someone took a ball-peen hammer to it. Any part of the car facing the sky had a dent in it and my windshield was cracked many times over. I called my insurance company they came out and said it was only about $3000 in damage. From what I was told, I thought, yeah right.
So I found B & L through yelp. Bob took care of me and he said the same thing: $3000, yeah right. He called my insurance company and got them to come out and do a second estimate - coming up with over $8000 in damage. We scheduled a date and I took it in. It took about two weeks, but it was extensive extensive damage.
When I came to pick it up, I could have swore they just trashed my car and bought me a brand new one. Really it looked better than the day I bought it two years earlier. They fixed everything including things not caused by the hail. They even detailed out the interior and organized all of our items in the trunk. It is better than I ever ever could have imagined. I could not be happier with the work Bob and his crew did. Unbelievable!
The only thing was a few months later a chrome panel randomly flew off of my car while driving downstate. I think the only way it could have come loose was through the body work from last September. I took it back in and Bob said that it wasn't a part they originally replaced, but they will take care of me. I am certain they will.
So if you are reading this review, you're probably comparing autobody shops in the city through yelp. Stop. You will not find a better place. -
Review from sarah s.
Chicago, IL
5/20/2012
Very pleased with their service. I was most impressed with their communication, and honesty. They fixed a few other little dents while they had it to in to fix the big dent, under the insurance estimated price. When at first I wasn't thrilled with the results, they kept it longer and continued to work on it until I was happy. Their waiting room is clean and had up-to-date magazines, a kid's playroom, TV, and fresh coffee. They gave me a little thank you gift when I left and called to follow up on my satisfaction. One of their techs even took my car to get gas, since I was about to run out-- I paid, but still that is above and beyond good service! I would go back in a minute.
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Review from Xixi C.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/31/2012
I love this place! I wish I can take B&L with me to California. I broke my side mirror while I was moving the other day. I knew I had to get this fixed at B&L before I leave. I didn't want to go find another auto repair shop. I drove 30 miles down from the suburb just so that Gino could fix it for me. They really do such an amazing job at this place. I feel so valued and respected as a customer, no matter how small or how big of a job. I have had a $50 paint job done here, and I have also had a $5000 major car damage job done here. No matter what, they treat you the same -- with friendliness, great customer service, and quality work!
Thank you so much! I will definitely miss you guys. And thanks Gino, for the Chicago T-shirt! I wish B&L so much success. You guys really deserve it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/4/2011
I feel like I just came back from a spa salon or something. The people at B&L treat you with so… Read more »
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Review from Eric R.
IL
1/6/2012
I wish there was a way I could give them 6 stars.
I recently brought in my Toyota to have my bumper reattached after a tragic parking garage incident. I had brought it to another shop before coming to Gino at B&L. I couldn't have been happier with the quality of work, the price for service, or the staff themselves. Do yourself a favor and bring your car here first.
Thank you B and L for a job incredibly well done. -
Review from Grace L.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2011
B&L puts Mr. Roger's to shame with their incredible level of wholesome goodness.
This place deserves these 5 stars above and beyond any other place I've EVER BEEN. No joke. This place takes their job seriously and their customer service raises the bar up to a whole new level.
Let me explain.
My BF was rear-ended in the rain and his entire trunk got messed up. B&L was recommended by his insurance agent and after seeing the ridiculous reviews on Yelp he decided to give them a try. They not only cost like, half of what another place quoted, but they were incredibly flexible with when they could get the job done and understood our busy schedules and allowed us to come in on a weekend when they were closed! The job was fantastic by the way and my BF now wishes the entire car looked as darn good as his newer than new bumper.
So to get my BF to the shop to pick up his car, I drove him with my car. I swear, I am an incredibly good driver but occasionally I get a little too comfortable with those parking garage poles. My right side mirror was kind of (totally) hanging by a thread and I had yet to do something about it. Gino, one of the B&L owners, saw it and just laughed. He told me that it looks pretty ghetto and that I should stop by and let him fix it up real fast some weekday. Touche.
I finally came back on a free weekday and asked him for an estimate. He just looked at me like I was crazy and said something akin to "this is child's play, don't worry." 20 minutes later, not only has he glued and screwed in my mirror, he's also fixed up my front bumper (it was kind of falling off), and removed the hideously loud yellow paint on the side of my car from one of those silly poles from my parking garage! UNBELIEVABLE!!! Oh, and it was all by charity since it was such a simple problem in his opinion.
I really hope neither my friends or I ever get into an accident but if we do, B&L will be my go-to place. I would recommend it to everybody. Their dedication to their work is beyond anything I have ever witnessed before in my life. I am actually still reeling, thinking that high-quality businesses with truly incredible customer service like this still exist in this day and age and economy. B&L, I salute you and wish you guys the best!!! -
Review from Alice O.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 12/14/2011
I'm going to preface this review by saying that this is based solely on my experience at B and L with my VW Eos after the severe hail damage it sustained at the end of June. Anyone that knows anything about Eoses (Eoi?) know that if it has any kind of roof damage where disassembly needs to take place, than the Eos is done for--even VW knows this. The below is a review for what transpired over a 5 month period.
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When I first took my Eos into B and L, I was working with Mark, who has since left the shop. Which probably is a good thing for everyone, especially the customers. If I had to base this review on him, I would give them no stars. Anyone that calls and tells you that your car is ready when its not, can't even tell you when it will be ready, and then yells at you about how he provides excellent customer service doesn't know what customer service is. That being said, after I dealt with Mark for a month or two, I started working with Gino, one of the owners. Gino was awesome, curteous, and did everything he could to help me out.
In my situation, no one knew when the car would be ready because the roof repair was out of B and L's hands but Gino helped me with the rental cars, coordinating the repair work, working with the VW dealership, all to try and make it right. It was a long 5 months, I was becoming a regular at B and L. If I called they knew I wanted to talkt o Gino, when I showed up, all I had to do was say, "I have the Eos" and they knew who I was. Towards the end of saga, we were both asking VW and State Farm when enough was enough. Gino helped to finally get State Farm to see that the car was not getting better and should be totalled. SF, being a great company also, finally totaled the Eos at the beginning of December.
Overall, I feel Gino and B and L, minus one guy, did everything they could to make a bad situation better. I would give them 5 stars based on Gino alone, however, because of the inital interactions with Mark, the fact that my Eos never did get fixed and should have been totaled to begin with (hindsight is 20/20), and some of the other mishaps that happened along the way, I have to give them 4 stars this time. They are great people to work with and I will continue to go back to them, just never with another Eos.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/31/2011
**This is a belated review. Since this review I have had to take my car back to B & L, which I will… Read more »
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Review from Andy N.
Chicago, IL
2/27/2012
Truth. That's what this place is known for. I've come here two times for estimates on some dings and scratches on my car. Bob gave me the truth about the problems even if I didn't end up choosing them. They didn't add any issues and treated me with respect. I'd work with them again!
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Review from Jim C.
Chicago, IL
11/12/2011
Along with over 10,000 other Chicagoans, my 2009 van was virtually totaled in this past summer's hail storm. These guys came up as recommended by my insurance company, so I figured I'd keep things easy and go with them. Considering the number of drivers effected by the storm, it wasn't unreasonable that it took awhile to even get in for an estimate. Then, week's later I brought it in to finally get repaired. Bad news, they called me a few days later and asked if I would take the van back for another few weeks until they could fit me in (again). By the time I was finally able to bring it back in, I was crunched for time as my band was about to go on tour. B & L made the deadline right in the nick of time and we set out on the road...only to find that the wiper base was now scratching the windshield, a reverse light was now out, along with a few other minor electrical mishaps.
This doesn't sound so great, does it? So, why would I give 5 stars to this business? They never once bullshitted me, never spoke down to me, were as courteous and communicative as you could ever want, (seriously, all of them) and they fixed the few minor things that I found were out of whack for free as soon as I returned to Chicago. This is a policy of theirs which is written on their waiting room wall, and they go above and beyond to honor it.
Nobody's perfect, but B & L are probably as close as it gets for body repair in Chicago. -
Review from Catherine H.
Chicago, IL
2/29/2012
My husband and I have now used B&L twice for minor repairs to our cars. Here are just a few of the things we were really impressed with:
- Customer service. It was sincerely top notch. They made us feel welcome and kept us in the loop, every step of the way. Every person we interacted with at B&L, from the agents at the desk to the guys in the lot had the same level of professional courteousness.
- Communication. The team at B&L made sure to explain every part of the process to us. Everything from the repairs that were being done, to feedback from the insurance companies. They very clearly know their stuff and explained everything to us in a very clear and concise manner.
We very highly recommend the B&L team! -
Review from Jennifer G.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2012
After coming here today for the first time, I realized I have probably always been getting ripped off at other body shops. Here, they care about educating their customers on how little work is actually needed to make your car look like new again. I would have been paying hundreds of dollars for new panels elsewhere. They even found scratches I didn't noticed I had and fixed them for me--ones in locations in a completely different place than I needed work on, so that was nice that they inspected the whole vehicle for me. The customer service girl is very nice; the place is clean; every customer who walked in was treated politely. With a 5 star review on Yelp, a neighbor's recommedation, and a recommendation from my car wash, I knew my experience would be great, and it was.
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Review from Megan B.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2011
I can only echo the positive reviews here. When this idiot in a huge pickup truck merged into me (then called my insurance company and said I hit her - a story for another time), I took my car to B&L in order to get my side mirror replaced and all of the lovely scratches and dents fixed. Now my car has 100K miles on it and I'm a street parker, so the car wasn't in the best physical shape to begin with, but I got what I came from and more.
From my initial phone call to picking up my car, everything was great. They seemed genuinely happy to have my business, which is appreciated. The body work was excellent and they touched up places that had nothing to do with the accident. In the waiting room they had bottled water for customers, a nice touch. Additionally, they made recommendations for me to rent a car and had my car finished when they said it would be.
Hopefully I won't need to, but I would come back here any time. I recommended them to a coworker who got rear-ended. Thanks! -
Review from Stacey F.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2011
I got my car repaired here this week and could not believe how quick the repair was! Plus, these guys helped me transfer my belongings into a rental, dropped me off at my house, AND dropped my car off at my house. And with a lightening speed repair. Who does that anymore? Seriously impressed with the quality of service from the folks at the front desk to the shop guys. And the owner is very professional. You'd expect this from a new car shop trying to impress. But this shop has been a neighborhood anchor for years. What a great experience! These reviews don't lie.
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Review from Marianne P.
Chicago, IL
3/25/2012
I would never ever ever trust my car with anyone else except B&L. My family has been going to them for years and they have never disappointed on any level. Our cars have been repaired back to perfection in a timely manner and we have never had an issue with cost. They handle the insurance claims for us and have provided rides when alternate transportation was not available. Gino is always available to answer questions and if not available gets back to you in a very reasonable amount of time. The entire staff at B&L is friendly, patient and informative. Thanks for the great service!!!!
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Review from NASER N.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011
First time customer. All I can say is I am smiling from ear to ear!
This review is for body work that was just recently performed and my car was repaired ahead of schedule. I really enjoyed the fact that you could view the photos of the repair process on their website. Nick and the office crew kept me in informed every step of the way with emails and phone calls up until my car was ready.
Great job on the body work blended the paint with the rest of the body you honestly can't tell any damage was done the repairs were that good.
Car was clean inside and out no paint oversprays and the card did not smell like paint on the interior.
But theres more at the time of inspection the guys were polishing my front headlights turning them from dull to clear and the front end wasn't even part of the repair how great is that!
Gino came to personally thank me on my out he noticed my rear brake light wasn't working and changed the bulb on the spot free of charge!
I can't say enough good things about B and L.
Thanks B and L from a truly satisfied customer. -
Review from Amy T.
Chicago, IL
2/1/2011
B&L comes HIGHLY recommended!!
I recently got a new (used) car, and two weeks later, decided to accidentally hit a brick column in my work parking lot, leaving a large size dent on the left rear panel and scrapes on the bumper. I did some Yelp research (car repair shops scare me) and found the raving reviews at B&L and another place.
I stopped into B&L first for an estimate and was greeted by Gino, who looked at my car right away and wrote up an estimate in less than 15 minutes. Pleased with the final quote and both his personalism and professionalism, I decided to make an appointment there, without even checking out the other shop's estimate. My car was promised in 3-4 days.
When I went to see the final product, I was MORE than satisfied to say the least. The panel looked like it had before the run in with the brick column, and my boyfriend, who is very particular about cars, can vouch for that. The best part is that I chose not to have the bumper fixed since it was bound to get scratched eventually (and it cost an extra $500), and he repaired it for FREE. He said that he was too proud of his work to only fix the panel and leave the bumper all scratched. I think that shows true dedication to the quality of work performed at B&L. I feel like I got away with a steal!
My only minor qualm is that I had to call for the updates, rather than them calling me (even when they said that they would or I asked them too), and the after hours key drop box is a little sketchy feeling (but my boyfriend assured me that that was normal). -
Review from Sarah H.
Chicago, IL
9/21/2011
This is just a phenomenal auto repair company. They did a great job on my car for a reasonable price, which is hard enough to find these days, but their customer service exceeds any service company I've ever known! They were very timely with their updates and give each customer a complimentary "favor" pack, including an assortment of handy advertising items that I've been able to give to friends to refer business to B&L. Customer service and how a company interacts with the community is really important to me, so to match such high quality service with the overall value of the repairs makes this place my #1 destination for all auto repairs!
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Review from Laurel H.
Chicago, IL
10/3/2010
Everyone you'll encounter here is exceptionally nice from the receptionist to the managerial staff to the detailers to guys who aren't even working on your car. And they don't nickel and dime you here either. Brian talked me through everything my accident had done to my car--things I hadn't even noticed and let me know what I could probably live without repairing (e.g., bumper scratches because, let's face it, I live in the city and that's just a fact of life here).
The repairs were quick and as affordable as they could possibly be for someone paying out-of-pocket, and the morning I dropped off my car, they were nice enough to give me a ride to work because it was pouring rain out.
I can't recommend these guys enough. They've been around for decades, and they treat you like they want to be around even longer. -
Review from Courtney I.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2011
Some jackass hit the side of my car in a parking lot (his fault not mine, I swear!) so first thought was to head to B & L. I've gotten awesome service from them before so I knew what to expect.
The work on the car is excellent, you would never even have known I was in an accident.
Took it in on a Monday and picked it up that Thursday. I definitely recommend them to anyone who wants quality service. -
Review from Meagan S.
Chicago, IL
12/14/2011
Where to begin??
Service is impeciable! I definitely would not have expected to find such a great auto body shop. I was told 15 working days to finish my car, it took 7. I was so glad to have my car back, done to my standards, washed and vaccuumed on top of everything else. I received 2 phone calls while my car was in the shop informing me of its progress. From start to finish it was flawless.
I will definitely recommend B & L Auto Body to anyone in need. Thanks for turing my tragic event into being manageable and getting my car back ASAP. -
Review from Ina J.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2011
There are many things that I value when it comes to professional services. However, the two at the top of my list are customer service and quality.
B&L automotive embodies both of them. Every employee, that I interacted with, was professional and courteous.
The work, that was done on my car, was completed in a timely manner and of great quality. B&L also provided frequent status updates.
I highly recommend them and (thanks to Brian) I also received a great tire shop recommendation. -
Review from Stefanie P.
Chicago, IL
2/2/2011
I recently got into an accident, and rather than go where the other guy's insurance recommended, I chose to find my own repair shop.
I found B&L on Yelp, and I'm so glad I chose them.
They did a careful inspection and negotiated additional payment with the other insurance company. Everyone I met was extremely friendly, and I loved the free coffee. They hooked me up with Enterprise and even called them for me when we were late dropping off the car.
B&L called me during the repair process to update me, and they finished my repairs exactly when they estimated. My car looks good as new.
Hopefully, I don't *need* to use them again, but I would...without a second thought. -
Review from Taneka J.
Chicago, IL
3/10/2011
Soooo...the first thing that I did when I got home was to get out my stationary and write and thank-you card to B & L. Second, I heated up my dinner and now, finally, I am writing this review.
Wow! What can I say?? I am so impressed by the staff and the quality of work that I received at B & L. From my initial quote to go out of pocket to fix the giant hit my car took along it's driver-side, which was $1000.00 less than the next lowest estimate, to my switching to go through insurance, to my pre-fixing consultation, to the phone call letting me know that my car was ready for pick-up, to my post-fixing car inspection, to now...I am so impressed!!
Staff were timely, honest and warm. The repairs on my car were complete, above and beyond what I had anticipated. When I pointed out today that my left blinker was still not working post-repair, Gino had the bulb changed for me free of charge. Was this light off due to the accident?? Still not sure, but B & L took care of it for me anyway. : ) I also noticed that B & L had taken the time to paint over ALL of the minor scrapes on my bumper that I've incurred during my two years of parallel parking around Chicago. They polished up my car for me and treated me with respect throughout the entire car repair process.
As other reviewers have noted, B & L's waiting area is clean and welcoming as well!
Overall, I'm with the everyone else and I am so glad I checked out Yelp when I was looking for car repair shops...highly recommend B & L!! -
Review from Greg E.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2010
I had a parking garage gate come down on my Jeep scratching the back panel. Not a big set of scratches but enough to want it fixed. I went to B&L and they actually buffed the marks out, hit it with some touch up paint when I went in for the estimate - No charge!
These guys are great!!! -
Review from Lisa A.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 7/27/2010
Since I bought my Jeep, I have been a little nostalgic for my friends at B & L. No more totaled vehicles, thanks God.
This time, you were just trying to enjoy a sunny day, by taking the top off of your Jeep Wrangler, when Someone did not hold on to their side of the hardtop. Next thing you know, your rear view mirror is in a thousand pieces.....I went to the Jeep dealership but they wanted to charge me $75 plus labor....I went online, since it looked easy enough to just screw in, but I could not figure out which type of mirror to order....Then I remembered B & L.
My mirror was fixed and replaced in five seconds and they even gave me free bottled water while I waited the five seconds.
Thank God, now I can put Lipstick on again in the Jeep.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/17/2009
I cannot believe that this happened again, but it did, and once again, B & L to the rescue!!
This… Read more »
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Review from Ly R.
Chicago, IL
5/29/2010
Let me start out by saying that I came to B & L after reading the reviews on Yelp; I'm totally new to Chicago (to Illinois entirely) so two weeks ago when I was in a hit-and-run I had no idea where to even begin.
So, two weeks ago I was heading home from doing laundry and making a detour to get some tacos from a place I'd heard was fantastic (the tacos were so not worth it), as I'm making my way home I'm stopped behind a few cars and some dudeman in a huge F150 loses control and crashes head-on into me as I'm totally rocking out to Jeremy by Pearl Jam. As I'm singing "and he hit me with a surprise left!", said dudeman hits me on the left. Total surprise. Coincidence? Anyway, I'm hysterical considering I've never been in an accident and I'm new to this city and state and I'm out here alone. I pull over thinking this guy is going to do the same and no! He drives off. Douchebag.
I go home and immediately call insurance and then get an ear-full from my insurance man because I still have California insurance. I tell him to chill and that I'll find an auto repair shop. B & L was the first I saw on the list in my neighborhood, they had 5 stars and everyone's review glowed, I show up the next day, no appointment, no phone call, I just show up. Vanessa, the doll at the front, was great, asked me to fill out the paperwork and someone would be with me. Brian and another gentleman came out and inspected my car and told me it'd be fine to drop it off the next morning.
Cut to one week later. I picked up my car yesterday, it had been finished earlier but insurance hadn't sent the payment so I left it there. My baby looks beautiful! Everything was replaced, cleaned, painted, washed, etc. Fantastic.
They sent me off a very happy girl (not to mention Vanessa gave me a bunch of goodies and a t-shirt!). I really hope that I never have to go back, accidents are the shits, but if I do, or if anyone is reading this review, (I'm sorry for your accident, hope you're okay), then GO HERE! They're great and friendly and they get the job done quickly. You will not be disappointed. -
Review from Lauren S.
Chicago, IL
8/31/2011
The reviews are all true. This place knows the definition of great service.
I was recently in a collision (That's how most of these reviews start out, right?). I am new to the area, so I asked my Aunt who has lived here for 30 years if she knew of any good body shops and she gave B & L her high recommendation. I checked out Yelp and it seemed like most people agreed, so I gave them a shot. From my first telephone conversation with them to the phone call I received yesterday checking to see if I am still happy with all of my repairs, I experienced nothing but the best service.
My car is a bit older with more miles, so even though the damage wasn't too severe, the insurance company categorized it as a total loss. I still wanted to fix it because there was no structural damage and I really didn't want to spend money on a new car, since I only used it on the weekends and I have owned my car for 8 years, so I know it's in good mechanical condition as well. I obtained an offer from the insurance company for the buy back value, then I checked with B & L to see what kind of estimate they could give me for the repairs. They were able to find good parts in the same color as my car from a junk yard, therefore saving me hundreds of dollars on painting costs! When all was said and done, I still had several hundred dollars left over from insurance money after I paid for repairs. This was obviously a huge plus that I got to keep my own insurance money rather than spending it on superfluous paint.
The staff was extremely friendly, kind and reassuring. I'm sure most people come into a place like an auto body shop under bad circumstances, so it's nice to receive this level of service and walk out of there in a better mood. They assured me that they would take care of everything, which they did, and they even cleaned out the inside of my car and fixed a few things that weren't a result of the accident. As I way paying for my repairs, I even received a few pieces of B & L schwag, which was a nice touch.
As nice as my experience was, I hope I never need to get auto body repairs again, but if I do, I would definitely come here again and no place else. You should, too. -
Review from Elisa E.
Chicago, IL
6/17/2007
Nobody wants to write this kind of review, especially if it involves hitting another car. FYI: watch out for airheads illegally parked in front of the post office at 990 W. Fullerton, jabbering on their cell phones while wildly pulling into traffic--sans signal, natch.
The upside (apart from the fact that his Beemer looked way worse than my Escort) was a visit to the very professional operation at B & L Automotive. They fixed and painted my crumpled fender and replaced a damaged light and mirror in less than a week. To top it off, they also repaired a deep scratch on the hood and lesser ones on my "parking" bumpers at no extra cost.
Of all of the body shops I checked, they weren't the cheapest (nor the priciest), but I definitely got my money's worth, and with minimal hassle. -
Review from Brian U.
Richmond, VA
10/23/2010
Stopped buy here to have a few minor scratches looked at. Brian fixed a few in the door for free. It only took minutes and he couldn't bring himself to charge for such little work.
They live up to the reviews. I hope I never need to use them but if I do, I'm confident i'll be in good hands! -
Review from Jennifer G.
Chicago, IL
3/24/2010
Let me just start by saying there were cannolis on the counter when I walked it. Seriously!?
Okay now let me back track. I recently found my self in the super uncomfortable position of having to pay out of pocket for some cosmetic damage to my boyfriend's other girlfriend (his ford mustang). This whole situation nearly caused the end of our love affair, because the first estimate we got together brought me to my knees. After many long conversations I was able to convince my boyfriend to let me do some research and get more estimates.
Not owning a car myself I wasn't even sure where to begin, so I started my search right here on Yelp. I made a list of roughly 4 places to check out. I also asked a co-worker of mine, who enthusiastically recommended B & L with the same energy you would use to recommend you favorite pizza joint. So they were added to my list.
The day of my estimate shopping was not thrilling. For the most part every shop I went to I felt like I was either being viewed as a cash cow or a total annoyance. It was a completely different experience at B & L! First of all it was a large clean office, where I was greeted promptly and offered water or coffee while I waited for someone to take a look at the beloved Mustang. I eyed the cannoli as waited only a few moments for Gino to come out and take a look at the damage. He was truly fantastic! He really listened to me and empathized with my situation. I must say that at this point the whole experience was so great that I thought...there is no was they are going to be the lowest estimate. I told Gino the lowest estimate I had gotten so far and he beat it!
Here's where it gets good. Being that I had to get the best price I still left to check out one more shop. When I got there the shop owner told me he couldn't beat B & L's estimate and that I should go with them because "they do good work".
Well this review has gotten super long! Bottom line is that I did go with them and the service was amazing! I honestly felt like I was treated like family. The job they did was wonderful! The boyfriend is happy to have his first lady back in his life in perfect condition. He is also happy that B & L guarantees their work.
Basically B & L saved my relationship...for a great price.
Thanks again! -
Review from Ben R.
Chicago, IL
10/5/2011
If I could give B&L 7 stars, I would do it in a heartbeat; that's how strongly I feel about the level of service they provide for their customers. In my experience, businesses these days aren't focusing as much on customer service as they should be, but that's a great thing for everyone at B&L...it makes them stand out even more.
The very moment I walked in the door to get an estimate for my crushed quarter panel/bumper and my dented door, I was welcomed and offered a bottle of water. I waited for a couple of minutes then went outside with Bob to take a look at the damage. Within 10 minutes of the walk-around, I was handed a VERY reasonable estimate and Bob even knocked a few fees off for me because I was taking care of 2 separate insurance claims at once. I was sold immediately.
When I dropped off my car to get the work done a little while later everything went like clockwork and I was kept extremely well-updated on the progress. I'm talking 3 phone updates in the week my vehicle was in the shop; it made a world of difference and certainly gave the impression that they care about their customers' experiences. When I arrived today to pick it up, I was giddy like a kid on Christmas and looking forward to not driving around with a crushed front-end. Bob came up to the counter and talked to me about how everything went, and even told me they took care of a couple of things that were hidden behind the bumper and didn't see during the estimate for free! He walked me outside to my truck, and as I was admiring the pristine repairs, he noticed a couple of marks on the door that I NEVER would have noticed, and had them polish them out before I left. As I was pulling out, Gino (one of the owners) stopped me and noticed another mark I couldn't see, and had them take care of that as well. While that was being polished out, he introduced himself and took the time to talk to me while I was waiting. Gino, like everyone else, was extremely friendly and made me feel like my business mattered to them even though it only came out to a few thousand dollars. The attention to detail couldn't have been more obvious, and I am so happy to have found them. To everyone who works at B&L- You guys are the best!
I hope to never need their help again, but I'm a realist and I know stuff happens...when it does, I wouldn't even think about going anywhere else. -
Review from douglas r.
Chicago, IL
11/23/2010
Excellent customer service from start to finish. From Vanessa's quick, capable and genuinely nice assistance at the front desk to Gino's honest, straightforward recommendations, I was thoroughly impressed. This shop runs like a well oiled machine.
They should start a side business with a customer service training academy. If only all businesses had this level of customer service the world would be a better place. -
Review from Amy K.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2009
Just picked up my car and it looks beautiful. Had great customer service from the moment my husband and I walked in and all the way through.
I was referred by a coworker and later learned my brother also would recommend them. They are both very particular.
Brian Mende looked at the car, and gave us an estimate on some body work which seemed fair. We left the car late Wednesday and was promised it by the next Wednesday. When I went to call for an update (today/monday) there was a message on my phone saying the car was ready for pick-up.
They did what they promised and more. He said they'd touch up a little around the car as well as the repair, but they did much more than I anticipated. Under promising and over delivering is so refreshing and I am very happy.
Their prices may be a little higher, but you get what you pay for. They stand by their work with a guarantee. I'm sure a cheap paint job would cost them a lot less too.
Thanks for making a bad mishap a great outcome. -
Review from Wes M.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2009
If there is anyone better than these guys, I would be shocked. I would give 10 stars if they let me.
Unfortunately, I have dealt with these guys twice now. Despite both situations involving an experience I would rather forget, these guys were the one highlight of the whole ordeal. After losing faith in humanity after having my car hit by a drunk driver while parked outside my apartment (for the second time in six months), these guys restored that feeling of "You know, people in this world are alright." I could not have asked for a better experience--both times.
Fantastic customer service, great work, and you leave feeling like you really did take your car to the best. These guys came HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from my insurance and other 3d parties, and I could immediately tell why.
I am moving back to the South in a few months, but I wish I could take these guys with me. Seriously, hands-down best experience I have had in dealing with anything related to me spending money on my car. -
Review from Dwayne C.
Chicago, IL
9/25/2011
We decided to give B&L a try because of all of the great reviews and we were not disappointed. Went with the wife to get a dent fix and the mirror replaced on the passenger side and from the start the receptionist was very polite and helpful. Gino then accompanied us to her vehicle and gave us the lowdown on the repairs. He also pointed out some other little nicks that could be touched-up with a buff and stated since he was going to be buffing around the dent and mirror he would hit those spots as well. We dropped it off Tuesday around 5:45pm and they called us Friday afternoon to pick it up. When my wife saw the car she was amazed that she was unable to tell it had been damaged. About a week later she noticed the mirror looked kinda higher than on the driver's side so she thought that they had put the mirror on wrong. Before calling and making accusations we checks five other cars like hers and found out that it was just the way they made the car and you cannot tell unless you are really looking at it and you have to be sitting in the driver's seat to notice. Thanks again B&L for the excellent work on the repair, the water while we waited, and the gifts you gave us when we picked up the car.
D.C. & JWA -
Review from Lauren S.
Chicago, IL
12/1/2011
B&L is fantastic. I was unfortunate enough to get into a fender bender recently, and my dealership recommended B&L. I was incredibly impressed. Their customer service is phenomenal: they offer you a beverage while you wait for paperwork, they drive you to transit when you drop off your car, everyone is friendly and helpful, and the owners themselves personally see you off when you pick up your vehicle. Additionally, B&L keeps you updated with repairs via phone calls and email; their work is prompt and flawless; and they even wash the car and vacuum the inside before you drive off the lot. One gentleman stopped traffic to help me make a left out of the driveway! They are about customer service through and through. I would recommend B&L to anyone, and will continue to take my car there for repairs even though I live 30 minutes away.
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Review from Tim J.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2010
Two weeks ago, somebody in Wicker Park decided to back into my car while I was in a meeting and drive away without leaving a note. If you're reading this, you suck.
Insurance covered it and the closest approved body shop to my place was B&L. From the moment I walked in, these guys were extremely welcoming. This was my first time dealing with a body shop ever and these guys made it seem like we were old buds (genuinely though, not salesy).
It took a few days to get parts but they communicated extremely well and let me know when parts would be coming in, when to expect the car back, when to drop it off, etc. They even offered a bowl of water for the dog we were watching that we brought by when we dropped off the car.
When the car was done, they showed me everything they did (and extra nice things they didn't have to do but did anyway), gave me a bunch of cool B&L swag, and made sure I was 100% happy.
I hope I never have a reason to need a body shop again, but if I do (even if I move out to the suburbs), I'm going to B&L hands down. These guys were just plain awesome (ask for Brian)! -
Review from Jonathan A.
Chicago, IL
6/19/2010
The second after I talked to Gino on the phone about my car, I knew this place was very straight-up and professional.
My Jeep was in a fender bender accident with some body damage, but worst of all, both airbags deployed. If you haven't found out already, airbags can be very complicated and expensive to fix. So just because of that, and the age of my vehicle, the insurance declared it a total loss.
That sucked because my car has always been dependable and it had low miles. So I wanted to keep the car and have it fixed.
A mechanical repair place recommended B&L. And I'm glad they did.
The customer service was outstanding all around. The estimate was fair and came in within the budget of money I would get from insurance. Gino showed me some areas of repair I could save money, and all the work that they did do, was well done.
You don't want to have to take your car in anywhere, but if you have to, I'd bring it here. -
Review from Rachel F.
Chicago, IL
9/22/2010
I recently had my 2010 Cadillac SRX vandalized (keyed) and was feeling at a loss for where to take it having never needed a repair shop in the city. B & L by far had the best reviews, 5-stars from practically every reviewer, which also caused me to be a little suspicious!
I got several quotes from various shops in the city and B & L is who I chose to go with for several reasons. 1) They are extremely courteous and professional and keep a very clean office. 2) They came in with a competitive quote which was actually lower than what my insurance quoted me, so no hassles there. 3) They were very efficient in getting me my initial quote and able to take my car in almost immediately.
The service was also outstanding. I dropped my car off on a Monday morning and one of the service guys drove out of his way to drop me off at the Brown line (they usually go to the blue line) because it was more convenient for me. The work was done promptly and on time. They washed and waxed the car inside and out. The repair itself was great. There is no longer any indication that someone swiped their key along the entire back lift gate.
I would recommend this shop to any one, especially if you have a newer car. They will take care of you. And all the 5-star reviews have been verified in my mind.
