Diagnostics
A code is a starting point, not an answer. We read the fault with manufacturer-level tooling, then test the part before we sell you one.
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Auto Repair Services in Duluth, MN
9 things we do on foreign cars, each with its own page and the full detail. Booked by phone, Monday to Friday.
Engine Repair
Gaskets, seals, timing components, misfires and oil consumption. The work that keeps a good engine going instead of replacing it.
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Tires
Seasonal changeovers, rotation, balancing and TPMS. In Duluth the right tires matter more than almost anything else on the car.
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Transmission Maintenance
Fluid and filter service with the exact specification your transmission calls for, plus diagnosis when the shifting is not right.
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Brakes & Suspension
Pads, rotors, calipers, brake lines, struts, shocks and control arms. We check the whole corner, not just whatever is making the noise.
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Cooling Systems
Radiators, thermostats, water pumps, expansion tanks and hoses. Overheating turns a cheap repair into an expensive one very fast.
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Electrical & Electronics
Batteries, alternators, starters, wiring and battery drains, plus module coding and programming on many makes and models that most independent shops will not touch.
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Preventive Maintenance
Factory-interval maintenance done with the right oil and the right fluids, plus an honest list of what can wait until next time.
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Pre-Purchase Inspections
Bring it here before you buy it. It goes on the lift and you get the honest list, including the things a seller hopes you will miss.
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General Auto Repair
Exhaust, heating and air conditioning, steering, drive axles, seasonal tire changeovers and the everyday jobs that keep a car on the road.
Learn moreForeign Affairs, the Dealership, and the Quick-Lube Chain
Same car, three very different afternoons. Here is the honest version, including the row where we are not the right answer.
You're hereForeign Affairs
The dealership
A quick-lube chain
Manufacturer-level scan toolsNot a generic code reader
Works on more than one foreign make
Tells you what can wait until next time
Factory warranty and recall work
Best for
Keeping a foreign car healthy past 100,000 miles without dealer pricing.
Warranty claims, recalls and anything still covered by the manufacturer.
An oil change when you have 20 minutes and nothing is wrong.
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Yes Sometimes No
We left the row we lose on right in the chart. If your car is still under factory warranty for the repair you need, we will tell you to go to the dealership. We would rather say it here than after you have driven over.
Common Questions
If you are not sure, call and describe what it is doing. Half of the calls we take start with a symptom rather than a service name, and working out which one it is is part of our job, not yours.
11 foreign makes: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Volvo, Range Rover, Jaguar, Subaru, Toyota and Nissan. If yours is not on that list, call and ask.
No. We repair engines and we maintain transmissions, but full internal rebuilds are not work we take on. We would rather tell you honestly than start a job we are not set up to finish.
No. Appointments are made by phone at (218) 722-2246, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Calling means you talk to somebody who can see the real schedule.
No, not for scheduled maintenance. Federal law protects your right to have it done at an independent shop as long as it is to specification and documented. Warranty repairs and recalls still go through a dealership.
You get an exact price for your car before any work starts, and a phone call rather than a surprise if anything changes once it is apart.
Visit Our Duluth Auto Shop on East Ninth Street
Address
722 E Ninth St
Duluth, MN 55805
Phone
Shop Hours
Monday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed
Parking and Drop-Off
We are in the East Hillside neighborhood, a few minutes up from downtown Duluth and an easy run from Lakeside, Congdon, Woodland and Piedmont. Parking is free on site. If you need to leave the car before we open, call ahead and we will sort out the key.
Appointments are made by phone, not online. Call during shop hours and you will talk to someone who can tell you when we can actually get the car in.
Foreign Affairs 722 E Ninth St
Duluth, MN 55805 Get directions →
Duluth, MN 55805 Get directions →
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