Phil is gone. Does anyone know where he is or what his last name is? It's hard to find a great mechanic! I'll give the new guys a chance, but just in case... read more

Expensive, and mediocre Philip is a good mechanic, but I've had mixed results with the others. One was a replacement power steering pump which turned out to be installed incorrectly and had to be replaced after eight months. Magazine Beach Shell wanted to charge full price for yet another replacement. I took my car to another shop and haven't been back since. read more

Been going to Phil Kwan for years. Always provide cheaper alternatives to the high prices/full repair if that will cover/fix the issue. Very reasonable, honest & Phil is a comedian/good guy. I need to get back to MBS! read more

Honest and reliable. Phil Kwan is a great guy and mechanic. I have been going to MBS for 10 years and I send friends and family there all the time. read more

I never thought I'd find a small town, friendly, honest mechanic shop when we moved to the city, but Magazine Shell has provided completely reliable service to us for the past 3 years. Phil is one of the hardest working, most accommodating people I've met, and the front desk staff are almost always friendly. There are a few mechanics with less sunny personalities, but if you ask to speak with Phil you will always get prompt reliable service. He has squeezed me in so many times, and tries really hard to work with our schedules. Once when I went there for an inspection after a very stressful and harrowing day, he was worried about me and had me sit down with a soft drink. I later overheard him telling the inspector to replace a brakelight that was out so that I could pass inspection and not have to come back in. He told him to do it for free and not to tell me so I wouldn't worry! who does that? It was so thoughtful! Thats the kind of personal attention we have received there. We have been there for many repairs and inspections, and he always gives us the option of the more expensive or the "spare parts" or "after market" option. He has also guided us through the pros and cons of each. Whenever I've talked with our mechanic friends back home about his advice they totally agree, and our insurance has never contested one of his quotes. All in all we come here whenever possible for the friendly reliable service, and suggest it to all our friends. read more

We live just down the street from this place, and have come to rely on them as our go-to mechanics. Phil always takes care of my poor old Subaru and keeps it safe and on the road. He's honest, hardworking, quick, and reliable. My car has had some serious problems in the last year, and still we can leave there feeling like we didn't get ripped off. read more

Magazine beach shell: incompetent, dishonest mechanics After reading a few good reviews, I decided to give Magazine beach shell a try. Unfortunately, my experience was generally quite different from that of many other reviewers (the lone other review here at yelp as of 6/2008 seems sincere, but one wonders if the reviewers at some other sites really were customers or agents of this business). When purchasing a used car, I asked the mechanics at Magazine Beach Shell to take a look at the vehicle to ensure there were no major problems. They gave it a clean bill of health. Two days later, after I got my new plates, the car wouldn't start...turned out it had both a dead battery and, as I discovered 2.5 weeks later, a bad distributor. The second mistake I made was to get the car back to magazine beach shell for diagnosis and repair. They took two weeks to find the problem...and charged me more than $500 for replacing the distributor. This despite the fact that the distributor was *used* and an exchange for the old one...I offered to get a new distributor off eBay for $200 but they refused. All in all, I thought they were quite dishonest, and would rather use say the Good News garage (run by the cartalk people...the only reason I didn't initially use them was because they weren't open they day I wanted to purchase the car). The vehicle has since developed coolant leaks and possibly other problems, and I've grown so frustrated that I've just let it rot in my garage. Sigh. read more

I can't speak for the other mechanics - Phil handled my car, and was honest and quick in diagnosing the problem. Unfortunately I had to get the car back before he was able to fix it; however, in spite of his spending time with the car to sort out what was wrong, he didn't charge anything for the work as no replacements or repairs had been made. High marks for honesty, and his diagnosis seems to be correct. read more

I agree w/other posts singing Phil's praises. I've been going to him for almost 15 years. Smart, brisk, and practical, he is my "go to" for any car related issues. Talk to him for five minutes and see if you don't agree. I almost don't want to share a good thing -- but people like this just deserve to be recognized for the good work that they do. read more

So when my engine is smoking by the end of the day after a routine oil change I start to wish zero stars was an option... Rant: Took my car to the shop first thing in the morning. They took 2 hours to do the change even though I had an appointment and they didn't change the filter. (To be fair, the filter sticks and has done so before for other mechanics... however, other mechanics have always given me the option to try to force it at risk of breaking it which would make it undrivable until replaced. Here, however, they said I would need to make a separate trip out there another day if I wanted them to force it cause they wouldn't have time to deal with it if it broke). Fine. whatever. Go on with my day. I notice the engine sounds a bit louder than usual but attribute that to driving it with my radio off at first for the first time in who knows how long. Driving to my friend's house that night I hear a loud sound like a pebble hitting my windshield but no car in front of me... hrrrrrm.... Turns out that was the cap of my oil tank flying off as I was driving. Luckily it landed on the ledge above the engine and stayed there and luckily it was a short drive, but even after 5 mins of driving like that it smelled like burning and there was lots of lovely smoke and lots of lovely oil covering my engine and the various other innards of my car. FYI- just cause they say they are open late, doesn't mean someone will answer your call. Finally got through to the poor office girl and after the first few mechanics didn't want to deal with calling me back the next morning, Phil called back and fit me in (gee thanks) the next afternoon (missed 2 hours of work all told for this). He claims to have cleaned all the oil off but we shall see if there's any lasting damage. I hear the oil can corrode some stuff in there if it's not removed properly... Here's hoping they're better at cleaning than screwing little caps back on. read more

I got my car fixed here with a very good price. I was very satisfied with the excellent service provided at Magazine Shell. These guys are very professional and friendly. They got me parts cheaper than many other places. I highly recommend Magazine Shell for state inspections and repairs. Would definitely come back here again. read more

Decent place. I get my inspections done here, and the inspection guy is quick and professional. Though the first time, I had no idea where to go or wait, or who to talk to, since they're not that big on customer interfacing. There's also nowhere to sit, though I noticed this year they added the two folding chairs out front. I get gas here when there's too much traffic to go elsewhere--the two gas stations on River St. advertise at, say, $3.59, and it's really $3.59. This place advertises $3.59 to compete with the River St. places, and then at the pump, you realize it's only $3.59 if you pay cash, and $3.69 if you pay credit. So generally I find it more expensive here. Overall, pretty good though--people are nice enough, and once you figure out how things work here, it's nice to have a neighborhood station to use for simple stuff like inspections and gas. read more

Awesome Awesome. I almost don't want to give a good review, because I want it to be my little secret. :) I called first thing in the morning, and they welcomed me in same day. They had my oil changed, and my suspension fixed for $265. Very reasonable. I also applaud the fact that they did not try to upsell me ONE BIT. Thank you Phil!!! read more

I drove a dying beast of a car for several years. A huge, old, ugly SUV that lived a hard life. A car so horrible, I was embarrassed to bring it to most repair shops. My dinosaur always had something break/ fail / quit on me. Being a girl with a terrible car made me feel as though some mechanics would take advantage of the situation and recommend all sorts of work that wasn't really necessary. Phil understood that I just needed to keep my ride running & he was my go to guy for several years. I believe that he was always honest with me in his assessments and fair in his price. I recently got a new ride (RIP clunker) but will still use Magazine Shell for inspection stickers and oil changes - definitely consider these guys for routine repairs! read more

Bottom line...Phil is an amazing mechanic that is able to get the job done on the cheap, within the standards of the dealers and timely. I have an Audi S4, and he is able to do all the work that the service center in Brookline charges at half the price! read more

I've had Phil work on my family's cars for at least 19 years. He is just awesome. I can always count on an honest advise from him. Always honest great work. read more

Awesome service! I've come to these guys for a few years. I've been able to walk right in and have them take a quick look at something without them asking for a dime. They never push service and they never over charge. In fact, they advised me against getting something done that another shop said was required. The only thing you should look for in an auto shop is honesty. These guys have it. read more

I've been here twice for a state inspection. No fuss either time - no wait, and done in under the quoted 15 minutes. Inspections are cash only (except for corporate vehicles), though their sign does say you can get change at the attached office. Gas tends to be the among the most expensive in the area, even higher than the two stations at the intersection of River Street and Memorial Drive. As of today, premium is $2.69, versus $2.59 just up the road. The Sunoco on Mass ave is at $2.39. read more

Been to this place twice and both times were very positive experiences. The mechanics seem trustworthy - I don't get any kind of slippery feeling from them as I do in most places. In fact, they might be undercharging. I had my headlights replaced today, and they didn't charge me for the parts, only the labor ($70). It's possible that they are rolling the price of the parts into the labor - it's hard for me to know for sure, but based on bills from other mechanics, $70 seemed reasonable for the labor. In the past I bought tires from them. I wanted to get the same tires I had purchased elsewhere previously that were twice as expensive as normal tires, and they tried to down-sell me. Again - who knows what the margins are from their perspective, but it is an unusual experience to be down-sold. My favorite thing about this place is that they work so quickly. I brought my car in today with the headlight problem on a Saturday at 12 noon and got the car back by 1pm. Seems like there is no line at all, even on a saturday! Also, as a woman, I sometimes feel that mechanics tend to talk to my husband instead of me, and I don't get that feeling in this place. I plan to go back for as long as I live in the area. read more

I discovered this place by accident when my car broke down near here. Since then I have been trusting my car repairs to Phil (for last several years). Phil has amazing skills of quickly diagnosing any kind of car problem and coming up with minimal cost ways of keeping the car on the road. If you have an older car and live nearby (located conveniently in Cambridge on Memorial Drive near BU bridge with a huge Shell sign - supposed to be historic), this is definitely the place to come for car repairs. read more

Phil and Tibor and the whole crew at Magazine Beach Shell are terrific. Efficient, clear in their explanations, super reliable they helped keep my 19-year old Subaru on the road for that many years. Also, everyone is so nice - that really does count. read more

This service station is absolutely amazing. Their main mechanic, Phil, is extremely competent and courteous. I've brought my car there to be serviced multiple times and every time I go they have done a great job. A few months ago the muffler connection broke. They said they could order a new exhaust pipe + muffler (super expensive!), or just weld the old connection back together for way less money and it would be just as good. Last month, I brought in my car because the tires were making a lot of noise. They took a look and said it was uneven wear on the tires but not a safety issue at all, and that we could easily use the tires for a while without any issue. A lesser mechanic could have said the bearings and tires needed replacing and made a lot of money off of me, but their mechanics are honest and give you all the options. They even work hard to accommodate your schedule if you have to drop off the car after work and pick it up later that evening. I cannot recommend this place enough, if you're looking for a good, honest service station, this is the place to go! read more

This place is amazing. Phil, the manager was honest and very helpful to find a solution to my car trouble. I saved a lot of money. I agree with the 5 star reviews and would recommend this place. read more

Philip and his team are great. Always personable and friendly, they've helped me out with replacing a radiator for cheaper than other estimates. When my car started to overheat again over a year later, Philip remembered me and fixed it at no charge. I trust him, which is huge. read more

Brought them the car in the morning. Filled out a small form, talked to the friendly mechanic (Phil) who confirmed that he understood what the problem was and what we wanted done - in and out in 5 minutes. 2.5 hours later, Phil called and said the car was ready! He explained what he did clearly, and was very helpful. We walked over, and the car was indeed all fixed up. Starter circuit diagnostic and starter battery replacement: $140. Not bad. Altogether agreeable experience - professional and fast. read more

Made the mistake of allowing the shop to replace a tail light during inspection.The shop manager was dishonest - charged more than he agreed to with excuse of an expensive bulb despite being a $2 part at Walmart. And the "replacement" did not work. I believe he did not even bother to do it because I could not have seen it from the driver seat. But he insisted upon confrontation later in the day that the new bulb was blown out because it was a hot day! A low power tail light? What a joke. The guy looks and sounds like a bully and kept yelling profanity when I suggested he was not being truethful. This attitude toward a small job like this? Avoid this place like plague! read more

I have been here for both, state inspection and repairs (broken clutch and flat tire), and although at the very initial moment, they may not be as welcoming as you could expect from the service point of view, the way they have always handle our problems is great. State inspections: the guy is not going to drink a beer with you if you understand what I mean. However, he is a good professional, and I really think he does a great job in assessing what is actually needed or not (I believe this is very important when having old cars and needing a fair state inspection). He is quick too, and get things done in a timely manner, so i would recommend anyone to go for this. I would rate 4 stars for him alone + an extra star (5) if he smiled half microsecond before and after handling him the car keys (so, summarizing: it is a good spot to go) Repairs: Ok, here is when I believe they earn the top 5 stars. The chief is all around the place. He really takes care of you and your circumstances and follows through the entire process of the repair (in our case, it has taken several days because it is an old car and the pieces had to be shipped from elsewhere). I do really trust his opinion, because he offered me with at least two different solutions and recommended me the least expensive when I explained about my driving history etc. In other words, he did never push to over-sell anything not needed. So overall, good place to go, call first, and despite they may be a little to short and quick by the phone, they really deserve a good review. On an extra mention: I have always seen them working with several cars, so it means that they are busy, and it is spread by word of mouth. read more

I live in Cambridge on Brookline Street and I've been coming here for 5 years. At this location, I have had State Inspections performed here on my car, patched and plugged tires, a new starter for my car and I've also had them look at and diagnose any and every concern about my car. With all of the above-mentioned jobs performed on my car I have never had any service that was slow, spotty, disconcerting, impolite or unnecessary. The work and efficiency of the staff is incredible. I am allowed to drive in, park, tell them what is going on and leave my car. Within that time-frame I receive a call back or I return for the designated or agreed upon time. My car has always been fixed, cleaned and maintained to exceed my expectations. The professionalism and hospitality of the staff is what keeps me coming back. The store manager, Tibor (I believe), is very receptive to the problems you are having and doesn't just pass you along like many other shops I've been to. Phil is one of the senior mechanics there and is extremely knowledgeable and is very quick. For the replacement of my starter in my previous car, they allowed me to buy my own part (if I wanted) and bring it in -- this just shows how flexible and accommodating they are. When I needed to have body-work done on my car Tibor referred me to a shop that he was familiar with and I received great work and at a cheap price. Never once have a I left the shop with or without my car with an unsettled feeling. Perhaps one of the most reassuring things about Magazine Beach Shell is that they constantly have local police cars, taxis and other university police cars that they are working on in their garage and/or parking lot. This review was long over-due that is why it filled with positive feedback. I've literally never had a bad experience here and I'll be coming here as long as it is open. read more

I went here a few months ago for an oil change and that was just fine, but nothing to Yelp home about. The impetus to write this review comes from new developments this weekend. On Sunday I went to start my car and found it completely dead. Blame it on the cold weather, on the warm weather, on a light being left on (which it wasn't, beeteedubs), whatever--the battery was kaput. Being a cheapskate, I had let my AAA membership expire and being a bit of a spaz when it comes to cars, I didn't have any jumper cables. I called Magazine Shell the next day (Monday--which was a holiday, but they were there) to see if they could come help, and within a hour or so, Philip had come around to my house in his own car, probably on his lunch break or something, to jump my car and check the battery. He was delightful, everything was fine, and he didn't charge me anything for it. Service with a smile. I immediately drove my now-working car to Target and bought jumper cables, since it'd be declasse for me to rely on the kindness of Philip, but I couldn't have done it without him. I don't exactly expect this kind of service in this day and age, especially in a large urban area, so I wanted to write this review to say thanks, and recommend these guys. Five stars! read more

Magazine Beach Shell is the place to go if you want an old-school small-town long-term relationship with your car mechanic. Phil gets to know your car and find ways to keep it running for years! I've never had him try to sell me the "undercoating" and the estimate matches the final charge. He treats my car as if it were his own. About the prices: you could shop around and find a cheaper place to get your oil-changed and a slightly faster place to get an inspection. But for garage work (labor and parts), the prices are cheaper or the same as any other place I've been. Finding the right mechanic is an investment. I saved thousands of dollars through Magazine Beach because my 1996 car continues to run (and run well) with 200,000 miles. read more

They were great. I called in advance. There was no line. I went right in. They fixed a tail light that was out. I was done. FAST.

This is supposed to be a garage, gas station and inspection sticker location that you'd think would help the residents. I ended up paying the inspection fee of $29 twice after such friendly comments as "that wasn't so bad was it?" and "if you don't pay the $29 again, I have to report you to the police" - the problem? he didn't think my washer fluid spurted sufficiently. Rip off service, gas and inspection! People in the neighborhood - go elsewhere! read more

Moved to Cambridge in 2004, and took my car to these guys for the state inspection and I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC SINCE THAT DAY! The Best and Most HONEST men I have ever had the pleasure to run across in this sort of business. Don't consider bringing your car to these fellas, JUST BRING IT QUICK. You will Not go Wrong. read more

never had this kind of experience with a mechanic. phil is the man. he saved me tons of money and got things working when i was afraid fixing might not be worth it. honest mechanics are hard to come by! as long as phil's here, this is where i'll go. read more

I've been coming here for 6 years and Philip has taken good care of my car. Oil changes, fixed a nail in my tire, all with fast turnaround and friendly service. On one occasion he suggested that I replace my tires due to worn treads and sure enough i had been driving on bald tires. I'm a fan. read more

The family that owns the gas station is nice but their mechanics are incompetent (at best). I would not risk taking my car there again! BTW, I went to Mem Dr. Shell based on the reviews that I saw on yelp. After my experience, I think most of the high ratings for this business may be fake! read more

Even if it is convenient, do not go to this business for your State Auto Inspection. With so many five star ratings you would think customer service is their top priority. That is not the case. After paying $35 to have my car inspected, I discovered the lid to my car armrest had been broken. I addressed this immediately with the attendant and he flatly denied breaking it and said it was broken before I came to the service station. This business responded extremely poorly to my compliant, acted defensively, and ignored any wrong doing. In addition, the interior was a disgusting mess of dirty finger prints and the sticky residue of the previous registration sticker was not cleaned off the windscreen. I called my auto dealership to order the replacement part. With it costing over $200 I will be filing a formal complaint against this business with the Better Business Bureau. read more

The customer service is very good and they are very nice, especially Ting, the person from the front desk. I had problems using the gas tank I just bought from Magazine Beach Shell Station and she came out to help me. She was very patient and polite. I highly recommend going there!!! read more

State Inspection sticker: Efficient and courteous!

Got an inspection here. Service was fast and friendly. I have an older car and often places use inspections to try to get you to do costly repairs. That wasn't the case here and it was much appreciated. read more