Does the dealer compensate you?

[typeS4]

Ok, I suppose I have a question.

Does a dealer compensate you if you chose to go with them (Some kind of cash compensation)?

You do start out hourly. So do you get to work full-time or can they throw you in part-time?

If the dealer is slow on business, does it effect your salary?

Do you have any kind of access to anything in the shop for any personal use (I'm sure there is some liability in this but just asking)?

Edit: How many days a week are you in the program? ----> I'm assuming it viable to hold a job during it even though it is quite intense.

[nickdrivesm3]

Ok, I suppose I have a question.

Does a dealer compensate you if you chose to go with them (Some kind of cash compensation)?

You do start out hourly. So do you get to work full-time or can they throw you in part-time?

If the dealer is slow on business, does it effect your salary?

Do you have any kind of access to anything in the shop for any personal use (I'm sure there is some liability in this but just asking)?

Edit: How many days a week are you in the program? ----> I'm assuming it viable to hold a job during it even though it is quite intense.


The dealer might spot you some cash to help you move. It is possible, I've seen it done. That is something you have to negotiate with your dealer when you are shopping.

Most STEP grads start hourly to build confidence and make them feel comfortable in the work environment. If they feel you are ready for flat-rate, they'll tell you.

If the dealer is slow and you are a flat-rate tech, then yes it can affect salary. However, if it is busy you can exceed your minimum and make some extra $$$.

Most dealers will let you work on your own car, on your own time. After work, Saturdays, etc. They usually let you work on family members cars only. No sneaking in your buddies car for a headgasket job. Unless they pay of course.

STEP program is 7 months STRAIGHT. 5 days a week. Usually from 7:00am - 1:30pm. After STEP is when most people go to work for a few hours.

[typeS4]

Thanks for the response Nick.

I see you love your job, can you give like 5 reasons why?

[nickdrivesm3]

Thanks for the response Nick.

I see you love your job, can you give like 5 reasons why?

Top 5 reasons why I love my job...

The Cars: Being able to work on the various types of BMWs and then test driving them after they are finished is one of the best feelings in the world. Imagine doing a motor swap on a e46 M3 and taking it out after you just finished everything up. Its in amazing feeling.

The Knowledge: Throughout all the training, you learn so much about how the cars work and and they're various features. I show people something new with their car almost everytime they bring it in. Most of the BMW owners I've delt with, dont even know how to use their headrest! They don't even know what a DSC light is, they think its a tire light or check engine light.

The work environment: Working with other techs can be really really cool or really lame. However, I got lucky when I picked my dealer so most of my co-workers are pretty cool. Always there to help and point you in the right direction. At the same time, they trust your judgement when you suggest something about a car with a gremlin inside of it. You can actually learn more from your co-worker who has been there 5 years, than you would from learning it through trial and error.

The Privledges: Once you're in the dealer environment you get the privledge of being able to basically jump into almost any car you walk infront of. As long as you have a legitament reason, you can hop into a new M6 and say to you're boss, I need to test drive this car for a comparsion to another car. (Thats a bad example but it can happen) Another cool thing is customer clientel. If a customer is really hapy with a job you did, they might request you to work on their car the next time it comes in. I have about 5 different people who do this with me. Most of them drive ///M cars so its a treat when they stop by. There are a lot more privledges you get, like being able to work on your own car and use shop tools to do so. The list goes on and on, but trust me you can get hooked up and save yourself some money.

The satisfaction factor: After you just completed a car with a "laundry list" and you basically bring the car back to life, its one of the most satisfying feelings ever. You just FIXED a car, not just a car, a BMW. A very complicated car. After numerous times you fix BMWs your confidence builds and you become more and more comfortable bring able to diagnose what the vehicle needs. Soon, others will recongize your skill and ask you to look at their cars. (im talking outside of work) Over time, you become trust worthy and people will speard the word that you are the man and you are the person to take a car to.

See these two threads...http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=745712

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=745929

If you read through my thread where I thank 94is, you'll see a list of the cars and people I bailed out of trouble before bimmerfest. That right there is an example of what a STEP grad is capable of.

[Mpowered02]

Top 5 reasons why I love my job...

The Cars: Being able to work on the various types of BMWs and then test driving them after they are finished is one of the best feelings in the world. Imagine doing a motor swap on a e46 M3 and taking it out after you just finished everything up. Its in amazing feeling.

The Knowledge: Throughout all the training, you learn so much about how the cars work and and they're various features. I show people something new with their car almost everytime they bring it in. Most of the BMW owners I've delt with, dont even know how to use their headrest! They don't even know what a DSC light is, they think its a tire light or check engine light.

The work environment: Working with other techs can be really really cool or really lame. However, I got lucky when I picked my dealer so most of my co-workers are pretty cool. Always there to help and point you in the right direction. At the same time, they trust your judgement when you suggest something about a car with a gremlin inside of it. You can actually learn more from your co-worker who has been there 5 years, than you would from learning it through trial and error.

The Privledges: Once you're in the dealer environment you get the privledge of being able to basically jump into almost any car you walk infront of. As long as you have a legitament reason, you can hop into a new M6 and say to you're boss, I need to test drive this car for a comparsion to another car. (Thats a bad example but it can happen) Another cool thing is customer clientel. If a customer is really hapy with a job you did, they might request you to work on their car the next time it comes in. I have about 5 different people who do this with me. Most of them drive ///M cars so its a treat when they stop by. There are a lot more privledges you get, like being able to work on your own car and use shop tools to do so. The list goes on and on, but trust me you can get hooked up and save yourself some money.

The satisfaction factor: After you just completed a car with a "laundry list" and you basically bring the car back to life, its one of the most satisfying feelings ever. You just FIXED a car, not just a car, a BMW. A very complicated car. After numerous times you fix BMWs your confidence builds and you become more and more comfortable bring able to diagnose what the vehicle needs. Soon, others will recongize your skill and ask you to look at their cars. (im talking outside of work) Over time, you become trust worthy and people will speard the word that you are the man and you are the person to take a car to.

See these two threads...http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=745712

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=745929

If you read through my thread where I thank 94is, you'll see a list of the cars and people I bailed out of trouble before bimmerfest. That right there is an example of what a STEP grad is capable of.

Well said...I couldn't have said it better myself. :)

One thing I think I should add...You should be willing to move (and the interviewer will definitely want to hear that you are willing to move if needed), but BMW won't just send you somewhere. In fact, when I graduated I did not get any assistance or directing from BMW or the STEP program in terms of where I should work. It was solely up to me to contact the dealerships I was interested in, and solely up to me to make the appointments and do the interviews, etc. I was pretty much applying to jobs on my own as anyone else would...I just had the benefit of having STEP credentials so that helps the hiring process. BMW had no say in where I was going, etc.
Just thought i'd add that to the discussion...

[kellie]

Yes! Alvin makes a very, very good point. I knew I'd forget something important like that. Just to add onto that, you may SAY you are willing to move and not mean it, but it's amazing how quickly things change. I was dead set on finding a job in Colorado, but I ended up in San Diego despite getting job offers in Colorado. I had classmates who wanted to work at certain dealerships or in certain states, and they ended up halfway across the country because they changed their mind. Sometimes the dealership that suits you best isn't where you thought it would be.

[nickdrivesm3]

Well said...I couldn't have said it better myself. :)

One thing I think I should add...You should be willing to move (and the interviewer will definitely want to hear that you are willing to move if needed), but BMW won't just send you somewhere. In fact, when I graduated I did not get any assistance or directing from BMW or the STEP program in terms of where I should work. It was solely up to me to contact the dealerships I was interested in, and solely up to me to make the appointments and do the interviews, etc. I was pretty much applying to jobs on my own as anyone else would...I just had the benefit of having STEP credentials so that helps the hiring process. BMW had no say in where I was going, etc.
Just thought i'd add that to the discussion...

thank you for your compliment and addition to the thread. I knew Kellie and I forgot something...

[StickSeven]

Top 5 reasons why I love my job...

The Cars: Being able to work on the various types of BMWs and then test driving them after they are finished is one of the best feelings in the world. Imagine doing a motor swap on a e46 M3 and taking it out after you just finished everything up. Its in amazing feeling.

The Knowledge: Throughout all the training, you learn so much about how the cars work and and they're various features. I show people something new with their car almost everytime they bring it in. Most of the BMW owners I've delt with, dont even know how to use their headrest! They don't even know what a DSC light is, they think its a tire light or check engine light.

The work environment: Working with other techs can be really really cool or really lame. However, I got lucky when I picked my dealer so most of my co-workers are pretty cool. Always there to help and point you in the right direction. At the same time, they trust your judgement when you suggest something about a car with a gremlin inside of it. You can actually learn more from your co-worker who has been there 5 years, than you would from learning it through trial and error.

The Privledges: Once you're in the dealer environment you get the privledge of being able to basically jump into almost any car you walk infront of. As long as you have a legitament reason, you can hop into a new M6 and say to you're boss, I need to test drive this car for a comparsion to another car. (Thats a bad example but it can happen) Another cool thing is customer clientel. If a customer is really hapy with a job you did, they might request you to work on their car the next time it comes in. I have about 5 different people who do this with me. Most of them drive ///M cars so its a treat when they stop by. There are a lot more privledges you get, like being able to work on your own car and use shop tools to do so. The list goes on and on, but trust me you can get hooked up and save yourself some money.

The satisfaction factor: After you just completed a car with a "laundry list" and you basically bring the car back to life, its one of the most satisfying feelings ever. You just FIXED a car, not just a car, a BMW. A very complicated car. After numerous times you fix BMWs your confidence builds and you become more and more comfortable bring able to diagnose what the vehicle needs. Soon, others will recongize your skill and ask you to look at their cars. (im talking outside of work) Over time, you become trust worthy and people will speard the word that you are the man and you are the person to take a car to.

See these two threads...http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=745712

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=745929

If you read through my thread where I thank 94is, you'll see a list of the cars and people I bailed out of trouble before bimmerfest. That right there is an example of what a STEP grad is capable of.

sounds like you get a real satisfaction out of your job, thats cool. are you happy with the money you make , though? you made no mention of that. when i first started working at BMW i was stoked about driving M3's and all that, but it wore off in time when i realized i wasted my time and money going to tech school. for the most part as long as you own some tools and have mechanical skills, you can get a job anywhere. I experienced this first hand at my first dealership, BMW of the hamptons. about a year or two after i started, they hired in two guys who never worked at dealers, one of the guy never worked at ANY shop!! he drove a towtruck!! and they hired these guys on at the same payrate i was getting. i spent 18 grand to go to ohio tech, and of course the bmw step after that is paid for by bmw, but still, what was the point? you do come out of there knowing alot of stuff, but i learned the most by just being out there working on the cars. You guys are probably thinkin i have such a negative outlook on this company and this job!

but really i was living in an area where an average home costs over 500 grand, and as a master tech at my shop, i would have only made about 30 bucks an hour. i was just below that pay rate, about to move up before i decided to just get the hell out of that area. its frustrating when you start a career with the mindset that you will be sucessfull, but in the end you end up just making enough dough to pay the rent on a piece of crap house. (yes a 500,000 dollar house is crap in the hamptons)

[nickdrivesm3]

You're pretty right on the money with everything you're saying. It has been slow lately and I have been suffering financially. I'm at 23$ per/hour flatrate. I've been thinking it for the past year and STEP does sell you the STEP package. They build it up and make you think you're gonna be a hot shot when you're out on the field. come to find out its a different world. But because of STEP you can figure out your day so that you can come out on top at the end of the pay period. My dealer has hired people that suck. It happens, but thats just how desperate they are sometimes.

Even though STEP builds up the training as this HUGE deal and that you will fail miserably in the field if you dont succeed and graduate and everything depends on you committing to BMW etc etc etc...The catch is that once you're out there in the field and you have BMW experiance, you can take that ANYWHERE. Even within BMW to a possible management posistion or another posistion else where. Meaning FSE, PuMA employee, anywhere looking for someone who has BMW training. Not to mention GOOD BMW training. Thats what STEP is for, to make a GOOD, properly trained tech. I'm going to post later about my current experiance. My dealer has something up their sleeve with me and its looking promising. Not to mention I get a 3$ raise once I complete E70 training and reinstate my lvl 1 status.

to be continued...