BMW technician's working at dealers?

[robbieosterman]

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[Brew]

Don't do it.

[bimmer8604]

Don't do it.

sounds like you had a bad experience.

I know for a fact that Kellie is a BMW tech and so am I. We both went to STEP so we have factory training. I dont know about other people here. There are a few that work at independent shops. I've done both, indie and dealer, and both have their positives and negatives.

Depends on your background, experience, how smart you are(both book and with your hands), and your work habits.


Kyle

[Erik j]

I work at a VW dealership, all the techs want to kill them selves. Im in the office, and paid hourly, so Im happy.

[Mike325]

I was a tech for a year at a BMW dealer and it sucks. I still work there doing other stuff and am much happier doing that. All the techs ask when I will be a tech again and I say that I don't want to. They say good idea. All of them.

[Brew]

sounds like you had a bad experience.

I know for a fact that Kellie is a BMW tech and so am I. We both went to STEP so we have factory training. I dont know about other people here. There are a few that work at independent shops. I've done both, indie and dealer, and both have their positives and negatives.

Depends on your background, experience, how smart you are(both book and with your hands), and your work habits.


Kyle

Been a dealer tech for the past 3 years. I hate to be negative but BMW is a horrible manufacturer to work for. In fact, I'm finishing this stupid ACT test right now. Of course it all depends on where you work, how much business you have, and the percentage of warranty work to customer pay. I'm unfortunately on a newer team at the shop that doesn't have much of a customer base and therefore don't get much customer pay stuff. As I'm sure you know, you've gotta bust your ass all week to make 40-45 hours if you've got all warranty work. And warranty labor times are only going down.
I think you'll get the same reaction from most techs at any of the other shops in this area.

[bimmer8604]

Been a dealer tech for the past 3 years. I hate to be negative but BMW is a horrible manufacturer to work for. In fact, I'm finishing this stupid ACT test right now. Of course it all depends on where you work, how much business you have, and the percentage of warranty work to customer pay. I'm unfortunately on a newer team at the shop that doesn't have much of a customer base and therefore don't get much customer pay stuff. As I'm sure you know, you've gotta bust your ass all week to make 40-45 hours if you've got all warranty work. And warranty labor times are only going down.
I think you'll get the same reaction from most techs at any of the other shops in this area.

i feel ya on most of your post haha. damn act test. got mine done tonight aswell. i've been lucky for the most part on getting decent amounts of customer pay work, which is nice, but yea. i'm kinda struggling to get 40-45 hours. im having to be at the dealership 730 am till about 630 at night.

If i were to do it all over again, i would have stayed at the independent shop i was at before going to STEP.

Kyle

[kellie]

I finished my ACT test the week it was released. You guy are slackerrssss!

I love my job. Everybody at my dealership is happy, we all get along, I make my hours, I get paid. There are weeks when my back kills me, I'm worn out, bruised, sick, frustrated and just wish for a job where I could sit in an office and stay clean. Every job has its pros and cons, and very few people love their job 100% of the time.

Do what's best for you. Don't base it off of what we say because everybody is different. Personally, I think BMW is a great company to work for and I enjoy doing the ACT test. Brew thinks BMW is terrible to work for and dislikes the ACT test...you won't get the same answer from any two people. Make your own decision. Who is to say you can't try it for awhile, and move on to something else if it doesn't work out?

[Jean]

I finished my ACT test the week it was released. You guy are slackerrssss!

I love my job. Everybody at my dealership is happy, we all get along, I make my hours, I get paid. There are weeks when my back kills me, I'm worn out, bruised, sick, frustrated and just wish for a job where I could sit in an office and stay clean. Every job has its pros and cons, and very few people love their job 100% of the time.

Do what's best for you. Don't base it off of what we say because everybody is different. Personally, I think BMW is a great company to work for and I enjoy doing the ACT test. Brew thinks BMW is terrible to work for and dislikes the ACT test...you won't get the same answer from any two people. Make your own decision. Who is to say you can't try it for awhile, and move on to something else if it doesn't work out?

Best reply so far.

[cferb]

I would 100% definitely try it. Even if you don't like it, you got the 6 week training, which if absolutely nothing else, you'll know how to fix your own car.

[kellie]

I would 100% definitely try it. Even if you don't like it, you got the 6 week training, which if absolutely nothing else, you'll know how to fix your own car.

The 6 week training course only really goes over E designations, engine codes, and the basics of the diagnostic equipment. They teach you about the GT-1, how to code and program, submitting PuMA cases, and I believe you go over chassis dynamics and basic electrical. My STEP teacher summed it up well. "You know just enough to get yourself into trouble." :p

[WillisE30]

For those who hate working for BMW as techs, try working for one of the big three. It makes BMW/Merc warranty times look like eternity. I will never work on domestics again after being at a Chevrolet dealer. I'm at an Indie shop now which is great for the most part but it seems that there's more room to grow and be successful in the dealer environment. Then again you have dealership politics... Pros and cons. No job is perfect and only you can decide if it's right for you.

[DaveSmed]

Really it depends on the dealer and the kind of work coming in like mentioned earlier.

For me? Never again. I absolutely positively am dead set against working on cars professionally ever again.

Heavy equipment/Fleet is where it's at. Currently I'm a crane mechanic. Before, I did aircraft ground support equipment. Both awesome jobs and (my opinion mind you) x1,000,000 better than automotive.

[kway]

Really it depends on the dealer and the kind of work coming in like mentioned earlier.

For me? Never again. I absolutely positively am dead set against working on cars professionally ever again.

Hahaha! Amen to that, brotha. I had what some would call "dream" jobs at pretty cool places, but working on cars for a living sucked regardless. Hey, I guess it's what you make of it, right? If someone does it and loves it, more power to 'em. Not me. 7 years was enough. I was starting to hate cars, my own cars were falling into disrepair (the last thing I wanted to do after working on cars all week was work on my own shit). Now that I'm out of it, when I have to do some wrenching, it's fun again.

It's not for everybody, but I guess nothing really is. Give it a shot, if you don't like it, you move on.

[blunttech]

when you think about it ben careful really has the best all around situation.
he cuts checks for the initial purchase of his cars someone else built. kellie keeps them all up for him and in return he wears panties around the house and takes the strap on occasionally.
from his persona on the board it would appear he enjoys it. you cant argue with success