The past 10 months I've been doing my dream job....

[hamann318is]

Sounds awesome. I'm starting this Fall at Clemson University to begin my studies on Mechanical Engineering. I know that Clemson has some affiliation with BMW in Spartanburg and they are not too far away. I hope to be able to get a degree and begin an awesome life.

We're rivals. I'm starting University of South Carolina in the fall with hopes of doing International Business. I bet you can't guess the language. ;)

[Jarvis]

$30K+/year for 4 years to just get a certificate and a long shot of getting into STEP is a rip off.

MassBay has an incredible program. It is sponsored by BMW, and there's only 25 students per year in it. Being generous, it costs ~$15K for 2 years - that includes tuition, books, and more than the minimum required tools you'll purchase during the 2 years of class. They don't let you graduate without doing a co-op program at a BMW dealership, and you'll have a degree in automotive technology with specialization in BMW when you do graduate. If you go into STEP (better chance after coming out of MassBay than basically anywhere else), then work full time in a dealership for 3 years and you've reached the highest level of certification as a BMW tech. I don't think there's any better way to do it.

[Bimmerfanatik]

MassBay has an incredible program. It is sponsored by BMW, and there's only 25 students per year in it.

To bad it's in fucking ASHLAND - the middle of god damn nowhere. ;)

[Brew]

Dan-

Nice job landing a spot in S.T.E.P

Dan's not in STEP yet... he's going to the same college I'm in right now, which is one of the BMW-approved STEP prerequisite schools.

[grapedrink]

yea probably but honestly, what sounds better when you go to a college party?

1. "yea, i go here"
2. "actually i work at a BMW shop building race cars"


so yea. panties drop.

You don't build race cars. You work on E39 suspension and install headers on M3s :roll: .

Hope you know and really like what you are doing. Sure its great now but in 10 years will you be make as much money, be as valuable and have as many doors to choose from as you would of if you went to college? Champ car, Indy, F1 teams won't even take a second look at your resume if there is no college education.
I speak from experience and I am just letting you know what I have done.
Senior year of highschool I took an Automotive class at the local CC. took the advance class the next year I went to college. Half way through my first year of college I got a job as a Porsche/ BMW tech. Finished up school that year working part time and going to school full time. The next year I still went to school full time and worked full time. The fallowing year I went to school full time and worked full time again. Halfway through that year I took a break from school and just worked. Had to think about things and find out if this is really what I want to do and spend the next 40 years doing. Well it turns out it is not. I will always do something in the automotive field. I have 2.5 years of automotive tech experience, composite industry, and currently restoration experience on many differnet types of cars. I am going back to school in the fall to finish up my degree. The fact that I have all of this different experiece in the automotive industry and will have a college degree here soon will open so many doors and alow me to choose where I want to work. My advice to you is don't limit your self to just one area. This is the time to go to school and get education. Take a look around at the old timers at your shop. Do you really want to be in their shoes and doing that kind of work when your their age? How is their pay? Or would you like to run your own BMW dealership? I am not saying a college education will allow you to run your own delearship or is right for everyone ( got to have a low income class) but don't close all of your doors right now. Lisson to your parents because they DO know more than you and can lead you in the right direction to achieve your dreams if you talk to them and explain. I wasn't the best student in college or highschool but I worked my way through it.

Just my .02

Have fun at what your doing. ;) :D

[rwh11385]

Dan,

Work Sober. (at least when it's my shit)


Love,
Robert

[Digitalwave]

Lisson to your parents

Wow, don't think I have ever seen anybody butcher the word Listen before :)

[Brew]

yea probably but honestly, what sounds better when you go to a college party?

1. "yea, i go here"
2. "actually i work at a BMW shop building race cars"


so yea. panties drop.

You don't build race cars. You work on E39 suspension and install headers on M3s :roll: .

Hope you know and really like what you are doing. Sure its great now but in 10 years will you be make as much money, be as valuable and have as many doors to choose from as you would of if you went to college? Champ car, Indy, F1 teams won't even take a second look at your resume if there is no college education.
I speak from experience and I am just letting you know what I have done.
Senior year of highschool I took an Automotive class at the local CC. took the advance class the next year I went to college. Half way through my first year of college I got a job as a Porsche/ BMW tech. Finished up school that year working part time and going to school full time. The next year I still went to school full time and worked full time. The fallowing year I went to school full time and worked full time again. Halfway through that year I took a break from school and just worked. Had to think about things and find out if this is really what I want to do and spend the next 40 years doing. Well it turns out it is not. I will always do something in the automotive field. I have 2.5 years of automotive tech experience, composite industry, and currently restoration experience on many differnet types of cars. I am going back to school in the fall to finish up my degree. The fact that I have all of this different experiece in the automotive industry and will have a college degree here soon will open so many doors and alow me to choose where I want to work. My advice to you is don't limit your self to just one area. This is the time to go to school and get education. Take a look around at the old timers at your shop. Do you really want to be in their shoes and doing that kind of work when your their age? How is their pay? Or would you like to run your own BMW dealership? I am not saying a college education will allow you to run your own delearship or is right for everyone ( got to have a low income class) but don't close all of your doors right now. Lisson to your parents because they DO know more than you and can lead you in the right direction to achieve your dreams if you talk to them and explain. I wasn't the best student in college or highschool but I worked my way through it.

Just my .02

Have fun at what your doing. ;) :D

Ummm, yeah, he actually does help build race cars.

Not to sound too nasty, but read the thread man. He's going to college in a month and a half, where he will graduate with an Associates degree. I'm at the same school, a year ahead of him. Our college is one of, if not the only school that offers a BMW-specific auto tech degree. I'm planning on taking more courses after I graduate and getting a Bachelors degree. On the 'old timer' thing- the smart, older guys I work with at the dealer have pretty great jobs from what I can tell. They are 'team leaders' so they dispatch repair orders and work on the more technical jobs themselves, rather than the tire work, oil changes, brake jobs, etc. They get paid well, too. (One of them drives an E39 M5)

There are a TON of opportunities right now in the automotive industry because of all the new technology and the constant education required to be a good tech. By going to Mass Bay, and possibly STEP, Dan and I will already be way ahead of the game as far as knowledge and credentials go.

I really do appreciate your insight- you obviously have experience in the field we are going into. I can't speak for Dan, but I myself absolutely love doing what I do as a BMW tech, and I don't forsee myself losing interest anytime soon. If I do, I'll have a degree to fall back on and a few other skills and interests that could support me.

[DanGillan]

hey fucky. actually I do build race cars....

i've helped turn this...



into this....


it now has an m50 in it and will soon be complete.


I also helped building this...


and will be helping to build a new motor for it before the summer is over.

there are 2 other race cars i dont have pics of either. 4 out of 6 employees have race cars. we go all over the country to race. the shop is what funds the racing. you have no idea what your talking about.
i will have a degree in automotive technology, and will have BMW certification, and eventually I have a goal of going to school for buisness and combining everything to open some sort of buisness in the field of my own. You can make good money in the field, i know a few people making triple digits doing this. you should really do a little research before you open your mouth.

[Schniddy]

How much do you make now and how much will you be making in 10+ years or so? Serious question man.

[Brew]

How much do you make now and how much will you be making in 10+ years or so? Serious question man.

Most techs start in the neighborhood of $15-20/ hour, 10 years from now its very possible to make $30/hour flatrate, pulling in 60-80 hours/ week.

[DanGillan]

what he said. and if anyone noticed im not drunk yet and its 10. what the fuck. tonight sucks.

[Bimmerfanatik]

i've helped turn this...


into this....


it now has an m50 in it and will soon be complete.

I also helped building this...


and will be helping to build a new motor for it before the summer is over.

Dan...I see a pattern....both cars have yellow covers on the headlights, and obxonious colored front bumpers....I take it that's your area of expertise? :)

[DanGillan]

BPG theme.

[Bimmerfanatik]

BPG theme.

You're taking me way too seriously. You really are sober, huh. ;)