BMW STEP Program

[kommissar]

oh and with the e30 going mobile tradition next year i think, fuck bmw again.

Wait, WHAT?

The e30 is going mobile tradition next year? God damn it. Does this mean that I'm going to have to pay far out the ass to get any and all parts for my car from the dealer?

[e30e]

As an intern for a caterpillar dealership I can tell you if you want to be a mechanic go into diesel mechanics. You end up working on a variety of equipment, small jobs, big jobs and if your work for the right company they will take care of you. There is quite of few field service techs at my store making almost a 100k a year, yes there senior techs who have lots of experience but thats how jobs work. My two friends are field service mechanics working in the mines and they love it, there unionized (mine unions are a good thing in my books), and there making really good money too. (One has 2 m3's, r1, a truck, alot of toys and the other has tons of toys and just bought a z06). Big downfall is most mechanics are alcoholics and chain smokers.

[bolognablake]

With all the cursing and throwing parts that happens in my garage, I'd probably slit my wrists if I had to do it every day.

[DaveSmed]

As an intern for a caterpillar dealership I can tell you if you want to be a mechanic go into diesel mechanics. You end up working on a variety of equipment, small jobs, big jobs and if your work for the right company they will take care of you. There is quite of few field service techs at my store making almost a 100k a year, yes there senior techs who have lots of experience but thats how jobs work. My two friends are field service mechanics working in the mines and they love it, there unionized (mine unions are a good thing in my books), and there making really good money too. (One has 2 m3's, r1, a truck, alot of toys and the other has tons of toys and just bought a z06). Big downfall is most mechanics are alcoholics and chain smokers.

This man speaks the truth. That's why I asked aaron.j what he did, seeing if anyone else came to the same conclusion I did. Fuck working on cars. I fix these now:

[aaron.j]

This man speaks the truth. That's why I asked aaron.j what he did, seeing if anyone else came to the same conclusion I did. Fuck working on cars. I fix these now:

i am actually moving into that field. currently buying some more tools. diesel/heavy equiptment. pay is better, you get to be outside and no bullshit warranty

[DaveSmed]

i am actually moving into that field. currently buying some more tools. diesel/heavy equiptment. pay is better, you get to be outside and no bullshit warranty

Abso-friggin-lutely. I actually started out as a diesel tech, working on aircraft ground support equipment. Thought I could do better at a Toyota dealer. :roll: Boy was that a mistake. I got introduced to the rip that is warranty, dealing with cheap customers, etc. Hated every second I was there knowing how nice it was working on industrial stuff. (everything is on the airline's dime, here's the part room, put on everything YOU think it needs.) It didn't help matters that I started at the dealer right around Christmas, which was another shock. (I'm supposed to make a living during the slow season? There IS a slow season?)

Now I'm happy to say im back into heavy equipment, this time cranes. No slow season, its just busy and really busy, hourly, overtime, etc, etc, etc. Not only that, it's not like these things are dinosaurs either. That Grove pictured is a full CANbus setup, electronically adjustable suspension with auto leveling via proximity switches, and that steering system... Axles 1&2 are hydraulic control, Axle 3 gets a computer controlled hydraulically adjusted mechanical link between 1&2, Axle 4 is straight computer control, and Axle 5&6 are opposite 1&2 under mechanical control, but can be unlocked and controlled independently and the computer makes sure all the wheels are pointing in the direction they are supposed to. :crazy:

Not stoneage stuff by any means! It is a little odd thinking of a 1-1/8" wrench as small though.

[homegrone30]

god damn ive been at the dealership for three months and i want a new profession now yall make me want one even more. oh well me and my brothas have been getting the plans together for a shop. oh btw is anyone a tool dealer? i had been thinking of doing that for awhile.

[E-Thirty]

I tried the dealership job at Honda for a year but didn't like what I saw, so I did some research and found a school in Georgia, where they literally take anyone with enough motivation to get into motorsports and set them up with what ever type of racing you like. I'm in only a month and a half and I had a 3 day internship with Skip Barber and now about to work on two Petty Driving Experience cars. Quite a few of the graduates are actually working with big name race teams. Like one kid with TRG who said he was the lead tech and left rear tire tire changer for the car that took 2nd place at the Rolex 24. The only catch I can find is that they only let a certain amount of people who pass the interview in once every winter quarter.

http://www.laniertech.edu/academic-programs_/motorsports%20vehicle%20technology.asp?m=4&deptid= 27