I'm moving to Austin, TX.

[KDZROK]

he is packing up his life and moving halfway across the country

This isnt the first time he's done that.

it's a little different this time Chris...

Anyway, moving on and back on topic.

[trent]

have you ever considered going to college or automotive school?

No.

Hey Jordan. Congrats on the opportunity of a lifetime. You've certainly earned it, from the board to your own ride. We all owe you for the wealth of knowledge put here on this board.

One thing I do want to forewarn you of. I consider myself to be a pretty apt mechanic. I've done engine swaps, I've done basic maintenance, and I've done it on many different cars and trucks, foreign and domestic. I've yet to find a repair or job that I can't do, aside from a stuck bolt here or there that needs air or heat - my shop simply won't accomodate the higher voltage I'd need to run them.

That being said, I worked on a trial basis for 3 weeks at Schneller in West Newbury, MA. Mike was the best boss I could have asked for, and gave me the chance of a lifetime to wrench BMW's. I have no prior schooling, but after explaining my experience, he agreed to try me out.

His shop is a two person show - himself, and his chief mechanic, John. John knows more about BMW's in general than just about anyone I've ever met, but a year ago, knew little to nothing. He learned quick however, and is now rebuilding S50's, replacing TA bushings on 7's in a half hour, and more. Needless to say, the best worker you could ask for.

I went in with high hopes - but I also went in nervous as hell. This was the job I had dreamed of working ever since I got into BMW's - and it still is the job I dream of. Between my nervous disposition and lack of specific model knowledge, I ended up making mistakes on almost all the cars I worked on. Some were honest mistakes - but some were out of just being scared of making mistakes. I also wasn't used to working at such a fast pace, and that didn't help either. All in all, we agreed that I needed more experience and maybe some schooling before I was ready to do it full time.

I just want you to be prepared for it, as it completely took me by surprise. Sorry for the long post, but it's your life we're talking about here...no sense in cutting corners :)

Wow. Working at a shop and even with a hand in hiring, this was one of the most single most honest posts I have ever read on R3V. I have actually seen this personally a few times.

Jordan, you will honestly have to "check your ego" at the door and be willing to learn a lot more. Knowing the E30 in and out is just a flash in the pan, you will have a lot more to learn. This is a good opportunity and you have to treat it as such.

[Jordan]

Oh I know I have alot to learn, no doubt about that. I know e30's inside and out quite well, and I've worked on alot of e36's... but thats it. Most of the knowledge carries over to e28's e34's and whatnot as well, BMW seems to be in the habit of keeping shit simple alike.

Still, it doesn't worry me. I'm a quick study ;)

Terry has also noted on multiple occations he wants someone with good general knowledge and common sense that can be trained to do anything he needs done. That is definately well within my ability.

[M3 Ryan]

have you ever considered going to college or automotive school?

No.

Hey Jordan. Congrats on the opportunity of a lifetime. You've certainly earned it, from the board to your own ride. We all owe you for the wealth of knowledge put here on this board.

One thing I do want to forewarn you of. I consider myself to be a pretty apt mechanic. I've done engine swaps, I've done basic maintenance, and I've done it on many different cars and trucks, foreign and domestic. I've yet to find a repair or job that I can't do, aside from a stuck bolt here or there that needs air or heat - my shop simply won't accomodate the higher voltage I'd need to run them.

That being said, I worked on a trial basis for 3 weeks at Schneller in West Newbury, MA. Mike was the best boss I could have asked for, and gave me the chance of a lifetime to wrench BMW's. I have no prior schooling, but after explaining my experience, he agreed to try me out.

His shop is a two person show - himself, and his chief mechanic, John. John knows more about BMW's in general than just about anyone I've ever met, but a year ago, knew little to nothing. He learned quick however, and is now rebuilding S50's, replacing TA bushings on 7's in a half hour, and more. Needless to say, the best worker you could ask for.

I went in with high hopes - but I also went in nervous as hell. This was the job I had dreamed of working ever since I got into BMW's - and it still is the job I dream of. Between my nervous disposition and lack of specific model knowledge, I ended up making mistakes on almost all the cars I worked on. Some were honest mistakes - but some were out of just being scared of making mistakes. I also wasn't used to working at such a fast pace, and that didn't help either. All in all, we agreed that I needed more experience and maybe some schooling before I was ready to do it full time.

I just want you to be prepared for it, as it completely took me by surprise. Sorry for the long post, but it's your life we're talking about here...no sense in cutting corners :)

Wow. Working at a shop and even with a hand in hiring, this was one of the most single most honest posts I have ever read on R3V. I have actually seen this personally a few times.

Jordan, you will honestly have to "check your ego" at the door and be willing to learn a lot more. Knowing the E30 in and out is just a flash in the pan, you will have a lot more to learn. This is a good opportunity and you have to treat it as such.

Holy crap, I can't believe those 2 posts!!!
These words couldn't be more true.
I will share my expierence as I just started working as a dealer tech 10 months ago. I was prepared to go in there and do whatever they had for me. I was confident in my abilities but I was nervous as hell! I went from working in the parts department and going to city college for autotech to going into the shop and applying all the knowledge that I had been gaining over the last year in school and last 20 years of my life.
I couldn't believe how fast paced the workload was. I was used to getting some parts for my car and getting up at 9 on a saturday to install my new goodies. I usually spent a few hours working on my car and then I was done. At work, this couldn't be further than the truth. I was now working on one car after the next, all day for 8 hours. On any given day now, I average 8-10 cars that I work on. The work in constant and fast paced. Just as you think its time for a break because you finished a car, there is another one waiting right after it to get worked on. This cycle repeats itself day after day.
The best part about this job is how the hours pass with increible speed. Before you know it, its lunch time, and you return from lunch and turn around and the day is over. Its probably the most fast paced thing I have ever done as a job.

Good luck Jordan. Just remember that E30's are only a small part of the BMW line. I hardly ever work on E30's at work, probably once a month at most. Your job might be a little different seeing as I do mostly warranty work, but just remember that you have a lot to learn, and don't show what you think you know to a senior tech because you will quickly realise you don't know hardly anything at all. This is what happened to me, and from that day forward, I did my job and left my ego at home. I know more about E30's than anyone else at my dealership, but it pretty much stops there.

I am done now. 8)

[JeffG]

Good luck with everthing Jordan. You'll love Austin. I went to step down in houston and went to austin frequently and loved every minute of the time i spent there. Plenty to do and the people there are fun and friendly.

Also thanks for all your work you do here on the board. Nothing else out there really compares when it comes to e30 related info. Keep it up.

-Jeff

[grapedrink]

have you ever considered going to college or automotive school?

No.

Hey Jordan. Congrats on the opportunity of a lifetime. You've certainly earned it, from the board to your own ride. We all owe you for the wealth of knowledge put here on this board.

One thing I do want to forewarn you of. I consider myself to be a pretty apt mechanic. I've done engine swaps, I've done basic maintenance, and I've done it on many different cars and trucks, foreign and domestic. I've yet to find a repair or job that I can't do, aside from a stuck bolt here or there that needs air or heat - my shop simply won't accomodate the higher voltage I'd need to run them.

That being said, I worked on a trial basis for 3 weeks at Schneller in West Newbury, MA. Mike was the best boss I could have asked for, and gave me the chance of a lifetime to wrench BMW's. I have no prior schooling, but after explaining my experience, he agreed to try me out.

His shop is a two person show - himself, and his chief mechanic, John. John knows more about BMW's in general than just about anyone I've ever met, but a year ago, knew little to nothing. He learned quick however, and is now rebuilding S50's, replacing TA bushings on 7's in a half hour, and more. Needless to say, the best worker you could ask for.

I went in with high hopes - but I also went in nervous as hell. This was the job I had dreamed of working ever since I got into BMW's - and it still is the job I dream of. Between my nervous disposition and lack of specific model knowledge, I ended up making mistakes on almost all the cars I worked on. Some were honest mistakes - but some were out of just being scared of making mistakes. I also wasn't used to working at such a fast pace, and that didn't help either. All in all, we agreed that I needed more experience and maybe some schooling before I was ready to do it full time.

I just want you to be prepared for it, as it completely took me by surprise. Sorry for the long post, but it's your life we're talking about here...no sense in cutting corners :)

Wow. Working at a shop and even with a hand in hiring, this was one of the most single most honest posts I have ever read on R3V. I have actually seen this personally a few times.

Jordan, you will honestly have to "check your ego" at the door and be willing to learn a lot more. Knowing the E30 in and out is just a flash in the pan, you will have a lot more to learn. This is a good opportunity and you have to treat it as such.

Wow. Best 2 posts on this forum yet. I know exactly how it is. After working on BMWs and Porsches for the past 2 years and completly switching to composits and Ferraris it is quite different. Best of luck to you Jordan.

Why don't you go the Northernish rout and avoid all of the Cali traffic? From here in Fort Collins to our house there in Albany it is about 18 hr and from here to Austin my boss has made it in 14hr. REALLY easy fast since once you get out of Oregon it is 70-75 POSTED mph. I have only made the Colorado to Oregon trip 50+ times and would recomend it over the Cali rout and I have done that also. :roll:

[Jordan]

Well aside from the fact that there are people in Cali I want to meet and whatnot.. i don't want to cross the mountains with summer tires. There is snow in the rockys still, I just flew over them.

long, flat, dry roads are preferable when your car is packed full of shit.

[UNHCLL]

Blue Painters Tape is your best friend in the world for the drive down. Two Layers.

Looking cool be damned.

[Jordan]

Meh. If my paint was completely immaculate maybe, but like I said the front valance and lip are already chipped to fuck.

Everything else is chip free, except the fender lips and such.

As if I won't already be attracting too much attention out in the middle of the desert hauling ass.... I could be bright blue.

[brodee]

Just found this post. I already told you this, but I'll say it again, Congrats on the job!!

I've done two of the things you're getting ready to do, pack up and move to Texas, and drive down the west coast and across I10.

I moved down to Houston from Kansas in '99 for a job transfer. I had never been here and didn't know a soul in all of Texas. I left behind my home, family, and all my friends and took a chance. Turned out I met my wife down here, changed jobs a couple times and now have a great life going. One of the toughest and best choices I ever made.

You will never accomplish great things in life without taking great chances, I commend you for taking one, no matter what the outcome. Things have a funny way of working out for the good and I'm willing to bet this is one of those times for you.

Last year when I bought my 325is my wife and I flew from Houston to Reno to pick it up. We then took off and drove over to San Francisco, and then chose to take our time and drive Highway 1 all the way to San Diego, with a stop in Monterey. We then headed East out of San Diego and over to Tucson, then on into Texas and back home. 2450 miles in a 150k mile car that I had just bought. It makes for a hell of an adventure.

My only advice on your trip would be to stop in El Paso and fill up with gas. There is NOTHING in West Texas.

/end long post :D

[Madmardig0n]

Jordan, you're going to be working with my older brother! Rhett has been at Sayther for a while, and he likes it a lot. Congrats on the job man! I'm sure we'll meet at some point; the shop is like one big family.