The 1989 Nissan Maxima: the finest vehicle ever made. At least, that’s what Drew Reinke hoped his own Maxima would become with a little tender love and care.
The sixteen-year-old employed every trick he had learned while repairing the cantankerous machinery on his grandfather’s farm. He made mistakes. He smashed his fingers more than a couple of times. But ultimately, he emerged the victor. He had a Maxima fit for the gods – and discovered a lifelong passion.
“So long as I was working on cars, I was happy,” said Drew. “I enrolled in my high school’s automotive program, started out at a tire shop doing mostly oil changes, and received my Automotive Service Excellence certification by the age of twenty-one.
“After all that hard work, it was good luck that gave me my greatest asset as a mechanic: my brother-in-law Michael Schmidt, who is an extremely talented auto technician, and who cofounded Benchmark Auto Service with me in 2014.
“We wanted Benchmark to defy our customers’ expectations for an automotive center. First and foremost, that means honesty. I wouldn’t necessarily say my industry is filled with crooks, but … well, let’s be fair. The ‘dishonest mechanic’ stereotype exists for good reason. I see it all the time when people come in asking for a second opinion. They’re told they need brake fluid flushes when they don’t. They’re told they have to replace parts that are in immaculate condition. They’re told they have to pay $300 for air cabin filters they could buy at a store for one-tenth as much.
“I don’t want to come across all preachy, but taking advantage of people just doesn’t sit right with me. That’s why Michael and I are on a mission. We’re proving that it’s possible to run a successful garage without any shady practices.
“We’re also unique because we educate our clients. I keep a huge pile of broken parts out back – almost enough to assemble an entire broken car. Whenever our customer shows any curiosity over a part that needs replacement, I come back with an example so I can show and explain exactly what went wrong. The guys in the shop make fun of my little ‘collection’ sometimes, but hey – it’s an auto shop. A lot of ribbing goes on here!
“We also set ourselves apart by our professionalism. Warm, friendly, personable customer service goes a long way toward softening the sting of car problems. So too does reliability. When we tell you we’re going to finish the job by a certain date and time, you can rest assured we’ll keep our word. And we won’t leave you in the dark in the meantime. If you want an update on the project, just give our office a call.
“Of course, none of that would be worth anything if we didn’t also do great work. And we do! Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with all the tools and equipment we need to make short work of any issue. We can service any make and model regardless of when and where it was made as well.
“Our team is top notch, too. My brother-in-law and I share decades of experience between us, and can quickly zero in on the source of any problem. What our younger team members lack in knowhow they more than make up for with enthusiasm. And we’re only getting better – not just through hard work, which we do nine to five every Monday through Friday, but by attending ongoing training to keep up with every new development in our industry. For example, we all just learned about GM transmissions. Come in sometime and I’ll tell you about them!”
Discover why Benchmark Auto Service has a perfect five-star rating on Google. Visit BenchmarkAutoMN.com to learn more about Eden Prairie’s family-owned auto repair shop, or call (952) 938-5550 to schedule service.