BMW technician's working at dealers?

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  • robbieosterman
    Advanced Member
    • May 2004
    • 199

    #1

    BMW technician's working at dealers?

    -
    Last edited by robbieosterman; 02-09-2016, 02:11 PM.
  • Brew
    No R3VLimiter
    • Oct 2003
    • 3060

    #2
    Don't do it.
    '91 318is
    sigpic

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    • bimmer8604
      No R3VLimiter
      • Nov 2003
      • 3017

      #3
      Originally posted by Brew
      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
      1988 M3, 97 840, 99 XJ
      DILLIGAF

      Comment

      • Erik j
        E30 Modder
        • Jan 2008
        • 939

        #4
        I work at a VW dealership, all the techs want to kill them selves. Im in the office, and paid hourly, so Im happy.
        Tri color fabric for sale here!
        http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=105922

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        • Mike325
          No R3VLimiter
          • Mar 2006
          • 3685

          #5
          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.
          Originally posted by cabriodster87
          "Honey? What color is this wire? Is it the same as that one? Are you sure? I don't believe it. OK, it works. Thank you sweetie."
          Originally posted by Kershaw
          i've got a boner and a desire to speed.

          Comment

          • Brew
            No R3VLimiter
            • Oct 2003
            • 3060

            #6
            Originally posted by bimmer8604
            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.
            '91 318is
            sigpic

            Comment

            • bimmer8604
              No R3VLimiter
              • Nov 2003
              • 3017

              #7
              Originally posted by Brew
              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
              1988 M3, 97 840, 99 XJ
              DILLIGAF

              Comment

              • kellie
                Mod Crazy
                • Nov 2006
                • 702

                #8
                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?
                sigpic

                Comment

                • Jean
                  Moderator
                  • Aug 2006
                  • 18228

                  #9
                  Originally posted by 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?
                  Best reply so far.
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                  • cferb
                    E30 Fanatic
                    • May 2006
                    • 1442

                    #10
                    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.
                    sigpic

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                    • kellie
                      Mod Crazy
                      • Nov 2006
                      • 702

                      #11
                      Originally posted by 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.
                      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
                      sigpic

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                      • WillisE30
                        E30 Modder
                        • Jan 2007
                        • 831

                        #12
                        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.
                        sigpicFormer professional wrench thrower.
                        Current:
                        1988 325is S52
                        Former:
                        2008 Sparkling Graphite M3 Sedan(victim of home ownership)
                        1988 M5
                        1996 328is

                        Comment

                        • DaveSmed
                          E30 Fanatic
                          • Apr 2007
                          • 1406

                          #13
                          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.
                          -Dave
                          2003 Lincoln Towncar | 1992 BMW 325iC | 1968 Cadillac Deville

                          Need some help figuring out the ETM?

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                          • kway
                            E30 Enthusiast
                            • Feb 2008
                            • 1084

                            #14
                            Originally posted by 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.
                            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.
                            '84 318i - Lapisblau/Schwarz (in cryosleep)
                            '06 330i - Titansilber/Schwarz

                            Comment

                            • blunttech
                              Forum Sponsor
                              • Jul 2004
                              • 12850

                              #15
                              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
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