[Winilyme]

Figured I'd close the loop regarding my experience with German Motorsports. Got there around 2:30 this afternoon. Quick, pleasant conversation with the gentleman at the front desk. He asked for my key so they could take the car into their garage. I sat and waited 30 minutes when he called me to the desk to explain what they found. I believe the owner of the business was there as well (I didn't get his name). Basically, the brake warning light came on because two of my brake pads are getting low. We chatted some more and I learned that they are short staffed like many other businesses - so I was surprised that they could take a look so quickly.

They topped off my brake fluid, reset the warning light, spent a few minutes explaining the issue and some more time talking in general about maintenance on my car which is approaching 100K miles (I've always used a dealer in the past so I was asking questions based on Flying Scot's note on independents below). I said I wanted to make an appointment to get the pads replaced but the 'owner I think guy' said that I still had 4 or 5,000 miles to go on those pads and he suggested I wait to get them replaced. He said he'd be happy to make an appointment for October 4 and take my money but he couldn't recommend that. Understand that I also explained to him that I typically get my car serviced in CT in the April timeframe. He didn't need to be a rocket scientist to know that he might be missing out on business but he was being honest and doing the right thing for me.

I pulled out my credit card and asked how much I owed and he said "nothing". He wouldn't accept anything for over 30 minutes of his business' time.

I'll be shifting my service timeframes such that I'm getting them done at German Motorsports in the future and, hopefully, my mileage will be limited enough between now and next spring such that I can wait to get my brake pads done there as well.

Thanks everyone - for your great recommendation.