Tillema Auto

10/19/2026

The roads between Byron Center and Grand Rapids don't get easier in November. Black ice, lake-effect snow, and salt-covered lanes show up fast — and they show up without warning.

A winter checkup at Tillema Auto covers the things most likely to let you down when conditions are at their worst: tires, brakes, battery, oil, and fluids. We tell you what needs attention and what can wait. No pressure to fix things that don't need fixing.

Just a straight answer, so you can drive into winter knowing your car is ready for it.

Give us a call this week to get on our schedule.
📱 (616) 878-5991

Mon–Fri: 8AM–5:30PM | tillemaauto.com/request-an-appointment

10/17/2026

After 30 years in the used car business, here's one thing we tell every buyer:

The sticker price is only part of the decision.

The car that costs $2,000 less upfront can cost $4,000 more in repairs within the first year. The vehicle with a clean Carfax and a documented service history is almost always worth a little more.

Here's what we look at before recommending any vehicle to a customer:

1. Service history. A car maintained on schedule is a very different investment than one that wasn't. The records tell that story clearly.

2. Accident history. Not every accident disqualifies a vehicle, but the details matter: what was hit, how it was repaired, and by whom.

3. Mileage in context. 80,000 highway miles is not the same as 80,000 city miles. How a vehicle was used matters as much as how far it went.

We put the full Carfax on every vehicle online because we want you to have this information before you walk through our door. The goal isn't just to sell you a car. It's to sell you the right one.

Browse our inventory at tillemaauto.com.
📱 (616) 878-5991 | Byron Center, MI

10/13/2026

30 years in business doesn't happen by accident.

It happens because people choose you. Refer you. Come back.

To every Byron Center family that has trusted us with your vehicles over the years: thank you. You're the reason we still love this work, and you're the reason we've never had to think twice about whether honesty is the right way to run a business.

It is. You've proven that.

If there's anything we can do for you — a car you're looking for, an honest second opinion on a repair, or just a straightforward conversation about what your vehicle needs — our door is open.

📍 2667 84th St SW, Byron Center, MI
📱 (616) 878-5991 | tillemaauto.com

10/10/2026

The used car market has changed a lot since we opened in 1995. Here's what hasn't.

Prices got complicated after supply chain disruptions. Online listings exploded. Private sellers became more sophisticated. The average buyer now does more research before stepping onto a lot than at any point in the past 30 years.

All of that is true. And none of it changes what actually makes a used car a good purchase.

A documented service history. A clean title. A seller who tells you what they know about the vehicle — including the things that aren't perfect.

The internet gives buyers more information than ever. But we've watched buyers get burned chasing the lowest price online because nobody looked under the hood before the paperwork was signed. More information doesn't automatically mean better decisions.

That's still our job. And after 30 years, we're still doing it the same way.

See what we have in stock, complete with the full Carfax on every vehicle, at tillemaauto.com.

📱 (616) 878-5991 | Byron Center, MI

10/07/2026

"I've been taking my vehicles to Tillema Auto for years. Always appreciate their friendly, knowledgable and thorough service.

Recently I had a bad battery changed out for a new one. I then received a call a day or two after to make me aware that the battery was under a warranty and they would be sending me a full refund check for the warranty amount! They didn't need to go the extra mile to do this. I would have never been aware otherwise. Really appreciate the honest business practices." -Dan Venema

Thank you for your review and continued business, Dan!

10/05/2026

Before you spend an hour searching Google for used car advice, check our blog first.

We've spent 30 years answering the same questions West Michigan drivers ask before buying a car or bringing one in for service. A lot of those answers are now on our website, free, written by the same people who work on and sell vehicles every day.

A few things you'll find there:
➡️ How to spot red flags when buying a used car
➡️ How to get your car ready for Michigan winters
➡️ Tips for buying a family vehicle that grows with your needs
➡️ Best used SUVs for Michigan roads
➡️ A local guide to Byron Center from our family

No sales pitch. Just honest, practical information from a team that's been in this business for 30 years.

Start reading: tillemaauto.com/blog

📱 (616) 878-5991 | Byron Center, MI

Visit our Tillema auto website for a variety of blog posts on auto service tips, travel tips and much more.

10/05/2026

Michigan fall is one of the best times to be on the road.

Color tours, apple orchards, long drives up north — it's all out there.

It's also the season when West Michigan drivers start asking an important question: am I in the right vehicle before winter arrives?

If the answer is no, or if you're just not sure, Tillema Auto is a good place to start.

For 30 years, Byron Center families have come to us because we do things the way a car dealer should: honestly, fairly, and without the pressure. No games at signing. No surprise fees. Just a straightforward experience from start to finish.

Here's how easy it is:
1. Browse our inventory at tillemaauto.com
2. Call us to set up a test drive
3. Drive your next car home before the first snowflake falls

Not shopping yet but your car needs attention before the cold hits? Our service center handles that too. Call Dan and get on the schedule this week.

📱 (616) 878-5991 | tillemaauto.com

09/26/2026

A lot of Byron Center buyers think depreciation is something that just happens to them. It's not.

The moment you drive a new car off the lot, you're handing money back to the bank.

That's why buying used isn't a compromise — it's a smart move. When you buy a 2015 Land Cruiser that's already taken the big hit, you keep more of your money in your pocket.

We just published a guide on how depreciation actually works so you can stop overpaying for the privilege of being first.

Read the guide and see which vehicles hold their value best: https://tillemaauto.com/blog/understanding-depreciation/

09/24/2026

You did the math. The sticker price fit the budget. Then the paperwork showed up.

Suddenly there's $1,200 in "doc fees" and "processing charges" you never saw coming. The number you planned around isn't the number anymore.

At Tillema Auto, that doesn't happen.

We price our vehicles fairly and tell you upfront what you're paying. No surprise line items in the finance office. No math you have to reverse-engineer at the last minute. Just an honest number you can actually plan around.

If you've been burned by dealership fees before, you're not alone. It's common enough that we wrote a full breakdown of the fees dealers typically charge, so you know exactly what to look for before you sign anything.

Read it here: tillemaauto.com/blog/do-car-dealerships-charge-extra-fees

📱 (616) 878-5991 | tillemaauto.com