Do/would you work at a BMW dealer?

[redsubdivisions]

I currently work at a Porsche dealership and as much as I like it here, there happens to be a revolving door of parts managers. My job as a parts counter guy is pretty solid, but seeing this kind of activity makes me want to jump ship, especially when they continually hire in outside people for the manager position without even consulting me first. With that said, I just had an interview at a BMW dealership and passed it with flying colors. Not to mention they are willing to pay more and there is more volume of cars that go through BMW compared to here at Porsche.

Who here works or would work at a BMW dealer? If you currently do, is there anything BMW specific that you hate/enjoy? (besides getting parts at a pretty low price. lol that's a given)

[evandael]

well, i detail cars at one! not as high of a position/paygrade as what you're looking, but still a good job.

i get parts at cost and get to use their lifts and such. the only bmw specific thing i hate is the percentage of cars that are automatic. i don't really 'work' on them so that's all i've got.

[jason952]

Why can't you become the next manager?

[leothedrummer]

I work as the warehouse manager/storeman at a BMW dealership. It's not too different from your standard warehousing role, except for the odd occasion when I need to do a delivery myself and the parts van is being used and I end up in a car. Getting an E89, E90, E93 or F20 is always fun, especially for the looks you get when you drop parts off in one. Getting an E84, not so fun.

Anyway, I'm actually on my way out of the place. I've been here for nearly 3 years, but the atmosphere and general workplace environment is atrocious. There's no way I would have made it this long in any other department besides parts, seriously. I've found that there are three types of people here; those who are self-centred and lazy, those who hate and don't want to be there and those who are both. It's not pleasant.

There are good people there, but it's the same sort of situation that you've experienced at Porsche; a revolving door. People are disposable. The parts department has been fairly consistent whilst I've been there, but sales, service and the bodyshop seem to recycle personnel like I do my washing. And those that stay have the same mopey attitude. Can't stand it.

Bloody hell, I'm ranting now. Don't let me get you down mate, it's just the workplace I'm in and it isn't necessarily to do with the fact that it's a BMW Dealership....although the privileged, holier-than-thou mindset of some of the higher-ups probably does play a major part....ah well. At least I get along with my guys well enough that, when it comes to parts prices, I'll be set for life!

[1fastETA]

I would like to work at a BMW dealership, and it would be great to get parts for my e30 at a cost price, but I work at a Chevy dealer. It is not as bad and like he ^ said people are all the same in this kind of environment. I paint for the dealer's body shop. I've been here for like 5 or 6 years. working on BMW's would be awesome since I like to take pride in every paint job. Plus I think my e30 would then fit in the dealers parking lot.

[redsubdivisions]

Why can't you become the next manager?

your guess is as good as mine. I am pretty sure it is age discrimination. I am 24 years old and I was able to do more than what the previous 2 managers could. I'm not even kidding when I say that. The service manager and Porsche's area rep has mentioned to the general manager of the dealership that I should take on the role, but the general manager is a cheap ass and wants one manager to run 2 dealerships' parts departments on one salary. Every manager that has tried to do this has failed miserably because of the stupidly high expectations that the general manager has (he was a sales manager before this). I have talked to the general manager of the dealership about this and he has seen my performance and although it has been outstanding, his excuse was "they have more experience". That I can understand the first time around. But the 2nd manager since I've been here? That's a kick in the balls. they are already in the process of hiring a 3rd manager and although I don't have enough experience, I know how this place is ran. the way this place works is that they hire in managers from the outside and generally do not promote within.

[cale]

If I'm not appreciated in the efforts I put in, I look elsewhere for a position where I will be. Their loss for my taking advantage of a good employee, and it entirely is their fault. Sometimes managers get so caught up in their role or big headed to realize their main objective is to manage their subordinates and keep them efficient and positive. Moral is the make it or break it of any work environment.

[Vtec?lol]

I could not put up with the snobs that buy BMW's these days. it seems like every time I go to the stealer for parts, there's some asshat in there dogginf all the employees because his oil service is taking longer than 5 minutes.

[mikeedler]

I work at a dealership over here in Germany. We are a small dealer, 6 mech. and a bunch of helpers. I like it alot- the guys I work with are all ok, the work load is exteme, and we get a bit of EVERYTHING, unlike most dealerships over here where you specialize in 1 or 2 small areas.

I know our parts guys work pretty hard, but it seems BMW makes it o.k. to work for them.

^ some customers suck everywhere, it isn't just at BMW.

I don't really see BMW being much different than Porsche- I think it mostly has to do with the people you work for and with.

[lylefk]

Ask the service manager and Porsche area manager for letters of recommendation. It will help you get a new position (possibly take a step up while doing it) and will eventually get back to the general manager, who might then be forced into promote you if he doesn't have a great candidate in the works. Be aware, it will cause some bad blood between you and the GM, but if you are serious about getting promoted or leaving then it doesn't matter. If he DOES promote you, just work hard and prove it was the right decision.

[defaultName]

Unappreciated?

Do this.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=249787

:jk: Although it would be good for laughs...

[Pac1373]

It sounds like you have a poor GM who does not understand the significant benefit of building and coaching a team oriented culture in the workplace, I see examples of poor management all the time. sorry about your luck, but whatever dealership you jump to should have sound culture and a solid team with high morale, or you will be doing the same thing in another couple of years.

[redsubdivisions]

Unappreciated?

Do this.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=249787

:jk: Although it would be good for laughs...

lol I have read that. I probably would have done that at his age, but I'm 24 and am a lot different now.

[redsubdivisions]

It sounds like you have a poor GM who does not understand the significant benefit of building and coaching a team oriented culture in the workplace, I see examples of poor management all the time. sorry about your luck, but whatever dealership you jump to should have sound culture and a solid team with high morale, or you will be doing the same thing in another couple of years.

Yes, we do. infact, I will be number 30 to have come and gone. Did I mention the dealership has been open for only a year and a half?

the GM talked to me directly and he did not show any interest in what I was looking for. All he had to say that was related me leaving was, "I would like you to stay" and "don't worry about parts managers; that's my job to worry and I'll hire as many as needed until I get the right one".

The fixed operations manager, on the other hand, has tried talking to me twice about staying and is offering to raise pay or whatever is needed. He sees all the bullshit I have stepped up to and does not want me to leave, but it is ultimately my decision in the end. Unfortunately, I have seen this in the past with 2 Porsche silver techs and the previous parts guy I worked with and they were empty promises. It was all on paper, but nothing was ever changed, so they left.

I have already decided on going to BMW and when I spoke to the parts manager there, he said he wants to build a team that can stay solidly together up until he is about to leave and when it comes to that time, he needs someone to take his place. Not to mention I asked to start at $45,000/year and they gladly accepted and noted to me that it would go up from there obviously based on performance.

Sorry to go on a rant, but it seems that BMW would be a better choice for me. There are more BMWs on the road than Porsches, which means a better opportunity to get parts sold.

[der affe]

the manager turn over would make me nervious.

The last dodge dealer I worked at in parts coaxed me away from my dealership with what turned out to be false numbers (oh, those were just projected sales numbers, not the actual numbers we were doing). At that point I was stuck.

After a year of busting ass and getting the numbers back up to turning a profit, the GM hired a friend who worked for KIA and he wiped out the whole department and brought in his team from KIA. They laid me off 1 week before Xmas.

Two months later, I went into the GM's office on a saturday and took a big stinky shit on his office chair. It sat all weekend until monday when he came in for work. that soured me on working in parts and I went on to turn wrenches at an independent Porsche shop and from there went into collision work on high end cars.

Eventually I went to a Mercedes dealer in the bodyshop and it was still the same BS as any other dealer.

If you can produce and keep from being pulled into other people's drama, you can do well. I am sure you already know that though.