Wondering about BMW mechanics or indy shops

[Madhatter]

You do realize this is actually illegal? I do realize it is the current practice, but it is very close to an anti-trust sort of monopoly. Automanufactures for years have been trying to keep their information from independents to run them out of business and there have been many laws against it, however, these huge companies don't really give a shit. :)

Mmm, where does it say they are required to release all service bulletins to the public? they horde their software because it is a proprietary system in use with machines like the GTOne units and the DIS machines, if you dont have the units, you cant really reprogram control units. You can still do your general servicing stuff as far as ODB II (and now canbus) goes, but that is only because it is an industry standard.

E65's suck major arse, i was doing a few of them when they were just released out here, it wasnt uncommon to have an update take 6-7 hours. Have a guess what happens if you loose power, someone trips on the cord, or some idiot turns the machine off? :o

[gstuning]

It´s funny how things work over there,

I know in europe independent shops can do everything the dealer can up to a certain degree, along the lines of sensor testing and calibrating, software update is BMW only I believe

over here their are tons of software packages that a shop can buy to connect to the ecu and do test procedures,
Also it´s amazing how constepaded the bmw tuning industry is in the US.
In the uk and germany, you can roll into numerous shops and get your car dyno tuned without any standalone or piggyback, while it´s only handful in the US that can do it.
ECU Software manipulation is taught in europe not reverse engineered.

I even have one of those software packages for testing, and I only need to build the adapter or buy it so I can run it on my laptop and do sensor testing while driving. I can´t wait to see the air my S50 motor can consume at 7000rpm :)

I´m going to be studying german this summer and next winter along with getting my student´s credentials, then I´m off to germany for
Internal Combustion engines and Automotive engineering BS degree.

I´ll make new bmw engines so you boys have plenty of work :)

I already make 51k a year by working 8hours and 4weeks paid vacation
but it´s just not the same amount of money as in the US,
how about a food cart costing a $100 (general speaking from the cheapest store) a case of beer is $80, and so on.

Nobody needs to go to tech school to change rotors, pads, tires, engine mounts, sensors, exhaust, seats, mounting parts, radiators, hoses, ecu´s and the list goes on.
The only reason is quick and effective trouble shooting and these days
and that can also be learned by working long enough in any shop
it´s often cheaper to swap in a new parts then wasting an hour on trying to fix the damaged part (customer wise)

Sorry for the really long post, just haven´t posted in the thread yet

[trent]

Mmm, where does it say they are required to release all service bulletins to the public? they horde their software because it is a proprietary system in use with machines like the GTOne units and the DIS machines, if you dont have the units, you cant really reprogram control units. You can still do your general servicing stuff as far as ODB II (and now canbus) goes, but that is only because it is an industry standard.

I realize it is proprietary. I do not have said specific laws handy, but they do have to release information. Does that mean they do it? I am not even talking about reprogramming things -- yes if you don't have the machines you can't do it. I am simply only speaking about releasing information.

[Madhatter]

i think you will find it is a different story for safety bulletins, technical bulletins on the other hand are not required to be released.

[BmwQ]

I went to UTI, and BMW STEP. Starting out at bottom in a dealership isnt something I'd really wanna do (reaching master would take a hell of a long time in this day and age doing so), so what I did was 100% worth it to me. In another 2 years, I'll be a master level tech.

Which campus you go to?
Rancho Cookamakamongoo?

Haha yes I know I slaughtered the name.

Phoenix.

What class were you? I was in class 24...Stanley, Verrone, Nelson...

[zerofreez]

Im 22yrs old and finishing up at wyotech with A's and nearly perfect attendance, and very interested in getting into the STEP program.

BMW STEP is coming to give us a presentation and do interviews on thursday. Could any of you that have gone through the process give me any pointers or advice? Also what kind of questions do they ask in the interview process and how much of a determining factor is your driving record? I have two tickets for about 10 over on my record in the past 3 years, hopefully its not a problem.

Thanks

Terry

[JeffG]

My deal-

Left home in Seattle.
Went to UTI in Phoenix.
Graduated.
Accepted to STEP in Houston.
Graduated STEP.
Moved to Portland.

At a dealership now back here in the NW. Pretty simple breakdown w/o random BS. I really enjoy what I do. There's plenty of days when it sucks balls (today I had 11 lines of complaints of squeaks, rattles, and stupidity), and I have many good days of flagging over 10+ hours while only working 8, but in the end, I make a good living and am able to live life the way I want to and have plenty left over. Just turned 22. I couldn't ask for anything else.

Any of you STEP hopefuls want to get into there, work hard. They are pretty selective. Any of you have any questions, PM me, I'd be glad to answer any you might have.

[turnofftheradio]

If it makes any difference, 10 yrs ago now, I went through gm's equivalant of the step program. I worked at a chrysler dealer, due to constant, easy work. I never did work for gm after the program. Lets face it there are more broken chryslers. After 5 years, I went to clean toilets at a school for more money, plus unbeatable benefits. I lost the enjoyment of working on cars when I did it for a living. I also worked at many independant shops. I would not go back to it. I made decent wages, but no benefits. In my opinion that is the top priority. when I first got into mechanics, qll of the old timers kept telling me, "you really don't want to do this the rest of your life." I agree now.

[zerofreez]

I wouldnt compair working at a domestic dealership or an independent to being a bmw tech.

I could have gotten a job with gm, ford, or mitsubishi with no training.

[E304life]

What class were you? I was in class 24...Stanley, Verrone, Nelson...

Class 23 hear, with Nelson, Verrone(king of fat wife jokes), Stanley, and Cummings.

Just heard that Nelson, Stanley and Cummings left because they brought in
STEP2 and were insulted by it.

[E304life]

Im 22yrs old and finishing up at wyotech with A's and nearly perfect attendance, and very interested in getting into the STEP program.

BMW STEP is coming to give us a presentation and do interviews on thursday. Could any of you that have gone through the process give me any pointers or advice? Also what kind of questions do they ask in the interview process and how much of a determining factor is your driving record? I have two tickets for about 10 over on my record in the past 3 years, hopefully its not a problem.

Thanks

Terry

They want BMW finatics working for them so talk about how much you like bmw, let them know it is your first choice and could not imagine working on another line.

As for your tickets, your ok just dont get any more. Make shure if you do get any more that you fight them, I have had 6 tickets in 6 years and none of them are on my record.

[E304life]

Mmm, where does it say they are required to release all service bulletins to the public? they horde their software because it is a proprietary system in use with machines like the GTOne units and the DIS machines, if you dont have the units, you cant really reprogram control units. You can still do your general servicing stuff as far as ODB II (and now canbus) goes, but that is only because it is an industry standard.

E65's suck major arse, i was doing a few of them when they were just released out here, it wasnt uncommon to have an update take 6-7 hours. Have a guess what happens if you loose power, someone trips on the cord, or some idiot turns the machine off? :o

Orr Autosport a local independent has a GT1 the owner said "they have to sell them to you but they dont have to make it easy or cheap"

[Jarvis]

we get paid 125% for everything but work time

That's EVERY dealership in the USA. We have it easy here... standards in Germany are much more harsh. Much more of a commitment.

I'm on the same path as Brew and go to school with Dan Gillan. We're in a 2 year program (on my first year still) and have already set up my summer co-op at the dealer Brew currently works at. From talking to our former roommate who is currently at STEP in New Jersey, apparently it's not really that hard to get in. After the first two BMW-specific classes in my first semester, I have more accumulative points than anyone else in a class of 28, and am starting off at the head of the class in a new semester. My old roommate was shocked to find out how dumb/inexperienced the majority of the STEP students were.

I'm 20 years old and fully plan on being a BMW Master Technician with my ASE LT1 certification by the age of 25.

If you work hard and stay focused it's not that hard at all.

[Jarvis]

Also what kind of questions do they ask in the interview process and how much of a determining factor is your driving record? I have two tickets for about 10 over on my record in the past 3 years, hopefully its not a problem.

When I was being interviewed for my co-op by the Service Manager at Foreign Motors West of Natick, he asked "what's your driver's record like?"
I said, "perfectly clean for the last three years, at least."
To which he responded, "good. I don't really care what you did when you were a kid."

I know that's one specific example from one specific employer, but I think almost anyone in the automotive business is going to understand you position. Don't worry. BMW is mainly worried about you as an insurance liability. If you have a recently (last few years at least) clean record, you should be fine.