How much to BMW techs make?

[equate975]

Im thinking about working my way into STEP for a solid job I can get out of college.

Just out of curiosity, what would a BMW Tech make a year?

[browntown]

rumor has it that the local bmw/volvo dealership pays their top mechanics 80k, just a rumor no way to confirm

[equate975]

oh snap lol

STEP looks pretty cool, apparently its free and you get to work for BMW for a year after you complete it. Also there is a good demand for auto techs now.

[Brew]

Most techs make anywhere from $18-35 and hour, but we are paid flat rate, meaning by the job. The best techs can average maybe 80 hours a week so....

STEP isn't just something you sign up for though-- you need to have maintained a certain GPA and attendance record during your automotive technology college program, and you need to go through an interview process.

[PeaveyBassist]

What Brew said is true. You need to have a very high GPA, have a good driving record, and have some kind of experience in the field before you go. After you graduate STEP, you are REQUIRED to work at a BMW Dealer for one year minimum since they are paying for your program. While in the school you need to pay basically just to live. (i.e. food, rent, etc.) I am seriously thinking about going to the program after I finish at Lincoln Tech in October.

Will

[der affe]

start buying your tools now! something most don't concider is that you must buy tools and lots of them to do the job quickly (run more flat rate time in a day by turning more cars). your garage tool set will not suffice for long. example...snap-on tool box (top and bottom with side cabinate) $4500.00. tools to fill it $30-$60K and up (not necessarily all snap-on, mac, matco,cornwell) you will need to use AIR TOOLS most home mechanics aren't used to this. example 1/2 Ir composite impact $300. wrench sets are $200-300, socket sets are $200+ etc. i cannot speak for the bmw program , but a lot of the people i have worked with in porsche that were taught in the factory school to go step by step using the factory manuals...every time. very time consuming=less pay/flat rate hours. so when they come out of school they really need to have a year of apprenticeship under an experenced tech to teach them how to work at a dealer ship, how to flag hours for every little labor op you do. and when you do something wrong/ the car "comes back" you can be back flagged. this means they will take away time from you that you have already "flagged" either on your current pay check or on the next one. just something to consider for those who want to go into the field, i see alot of people go through school (UTI or AAI out here) get in the field and get "run over" because they didn't really know what they are getting into. i like doing what i do and if you have a mechanical inclination/ understanding, i reccomend it, but just remember that it is also a lot of hard work to make that 80K! also for all those 420 people there are random drug tests and everytime you have an accident either in a car (damage it in any way) or you hurt yourself in as much that it requires medical attention you will have to give a pee test too.

[Simon S]

great points ^

as much as i like doing mechanical stuff, i'd just as soon keep it to a hobby



.

[der affe]

oh yea, and it seems to take your desire to work on cars (outside of work like your own car) away like wedding cake takes away a woman's sex drive!

[JeffG]

again, some good points brought up.

equate- not dropping the asshole "search you dumbass" remark here, but there's been some discussion about this with a lot of good information before in other threads, search and check it out, you'll find a lot of answers and good info for you to make your decisions off of. been through uti and step and in the field now for a few years. if you have any questions just shoot a pm my way.

[madjurgen]

The best techs can average maybe 80 hours a week so....

LOL...LOL

The "best" haha ya right, you mean the ones that do a half ass job and just throw the car back on the road only to have it come back next week. My dad has countless stories of your so-called "best" technician fuck-ups. Just last week one of the "best" mechanics tried to install a new engine and put the intake valves in place of exhuast ones and vice-a-versa, and tried to start it up. Turns out he didnt have to replace the engine in the first place and now he has to pay for the damages. Just one example of your "best" mechanics being a fucking MORON because he wants to get his 75+ hrs for the week. I have a million of these stories, all showcasing young people straight outta STEP/UTI. Realistically, if you take pride in your work and doing right and also value your job you will probably make around 50-70k depending on your service manager and the market.

/rant