South Portland Gardens Automotive

Drawing on half a century of automotive service, the family owned and operated Midas helps drivers to prolong vehicle vigor with factory-recommended maintenance services. Mechanics pop car hoods to perform oil changes with standard and temperature-durable synthetic solutions, taking time to inspect belts, hoses, fluids, and the air conditioner's resident penguin. Armed with efficient catalytic converters built to US EPA standards, the staff helps to shrink harmful emissions during muffler and exhaust-system checks. Trained technicians augment brake services with lifetime guarantees and curate healthy, evenly worn tires with rotations or replacements from Goodyear, Michelin, Firestone, and Bridgestone.

After developing a process to prevent cars from rusting in 1959, founder Kurt Ziebart continued to pursue automotive innovation, forming an international network of 400 locations in 30 countries. Skilled technicians update cars with a variety of detailing and protective services that keep paint jobs from fading and heal chipped windows. Their inventory contains a spread of accessories to personalize vehicles, including remote starters to heat vehicles in cold months, sunroofs to let in the summer's rays, and alarm systems to scare off falling leaves in autumn. Scratches and scuffmarks disappear with cosmetic touchups and tinted windows preserve privacy behind a thin layer of dimness. In addition to services for vehicles, Biddeford Ziebart also offers residential window tinting.

With 30 years of car-cleansing experience, Dave's Auto Care’s meticulous cleaners revamp and enhance even the dirtiest rides with agile hands and high-gloss products. During thorough hand washes, cars forfeit their dirt as human digits scrub and massage their exteriors, dab them dry, and remove telltale lawn flamingos from their tires. Technicians also extend hand treatments into three-hour cosmetic makeovers with several exterior-only options, or grab hold of paint or oversize crayons to permanently affix lettering to boats, trucks, and cars for custom graphic designs.

Hydraulic lifts puff and sigh as they slowly lift cars above Duval Service Center’s shop floor, revealing each auto underbelly to Mark Duval and his team of ASE-certified mechanics. After pinpointing common breakdown culprits, such as overheating and always being picked last for dodge ball, techs get busy re-padding brakes, clearing out exhaust systems, and performing other services that keep vehicles running smoothly. While their cars get pampered, drivers can kick back in the red cushioned chairs of the waiting area to read a magazine, or wander Duval’s Service Center’s lot of foreign and domestic used cars.

At Commercial Street Auto Care, automotive experts tackle any and every job—from window washing to lumberjacking—with such precision and attention that the company has begun calling itself “obsessive.” Using professional products by Pro and Malco, the shop’s detailing crew diligently tackles all vehicular dirt and grime with basic exterior washes and full-service professional detailing, complete with hand waxes, tire dressing, and interior conditioning. Aside from restoring shine to sullied rides, Commercial Street’s technicians peek under the hood and slide beneath the underbody to maintain and repair all systems, from swapping tires to servicing transmissions. They also vend and install professional window tints by Solar Guard, Suntech, and Madico to block UV rays from damaging the interior and thwart excessive heat from boiling Big Gulps.

At Benedict Auto Detailing, technicians scrub, shine, and dress cars with meticulous attention. They begin with hand washes to pry away every speck of dirt and then bring the paint to a crisp shine with hand waxes before sprucing up the interior. For added convenience, crews can perform express details and quick washes or drive their mobile units to driveways, offices, and widening potholes for onsite detailing.