Who supplies tools and a toolbox for new STEP graduates?

[Cary27518]

Hello to all of you STEP graduates. I was always curious how life was outside Ford dealership. Mercedes-Benz dealer tried to talk me into quitting Ford and become a Master Tech with them. I turned them down and still wonder if I did the right thing.
I noticed nobody mentioned tools. Who provides tools after STEP graduation? Don’t tell me a brand new STEP graduate walks into a dealership with a brand new $10k Snap-on toolbox loaded with $50k in Snap-on tools, FLUKE meters and scopes etc. Also, it looks like BMW is working very hard to develop pride in whatever their technicians are doing. Does the dealership management see new STEP graduates as highly skilled techs or just "kids" who do stuff like oil changes, tires and watching experienced techs work and hopefully learn from them? How does it work? By the way, it takes 5 years to become a licensed auto tech in Canada. I mean from scratch. If you have a proof of 5 year experience as an auto tech, you are allowed to write a provincial license exam. If you score over 70%, you will get a “Red Seal” valid in every Canadian province. Otherwise, if you move to another province, you will have to write their exam to become licensed there. Some manufacturers offer programs similar to STEP which cuts 5 year requirement to 3 year. To get a job at a car dealership in Moscow, Russia, at some point in the past, it was necessary to have a college education in automotive engineering in addition to 3 years experience as an auto tech. And German manufacturers required knowledge of German language in addition to everything else. To make you all feel better, techs in Russia make more money than doctors. Unfortunately, doctors make very little money over there. I just found help wanted ad for a diesel fuel system specialist in Moscow, Russia. They pay up to $3500US per month, working on Russian medium and heavy duty trucks. And I found an ad for a doctor, specializing in nerve diseases. The pay was… $1300US per month. Unbelievable! Finally, there is justice somewhere… Lawyers do not make big money in Russia either.

[BrassDrummer]

Thank you for all this info. And I'm gonna go ahead and jump out on a limb, and say you provide your basic tools, the dealership will provide the scan tools and such.

[Cary27518]

What about toolbox? Do BMW dealers provide you with one, or it depends on a dealer? Lexus dealer in Raleigh provides toolboxes for techs.

[nort0188]

The guys that we've gotten from STEP have shown up with a small Craftsman bench box or two... doesn't take long for them to buy a big box though. They typically have the tools required to do all of the basic work that they'll be starting with. If they don't have a tool, it's almost guaranteed that someone in the shop will.

[Pinzon89]

Majority(around 50%) of shops PROVIDE a built in tool box. If they have been recently been renovated chances are that they have built in tool boxes. Most STEP students have to provide their own tools although I have heard of a few guys getting "tool vouchers" ranging from $500-$2000 as a little bonus when a STEP student signs on with the dealer. Now its not to common with the economic situation. And if a STEP guy was smart he would get as many tools as possible as he can while in tech school and in STEP. We can get a student discount while attending. Hope the info is helpful.:D
-Erick

[UNKACHABULL]

Soem of the newer dealers have boxes instlled with no tools in them. Snap on has a tool list that they came up with for bmw audi and stuff for 6800 with a box but your paying for that by yourself.... never heard of a dealer buying you tools. if there is one hire me!

[bowmang]

i got tools supplied to me... but i can't take them with me when i leave.

[BrassDrummer]

you also have the job I want :D

[Pinzon89]

I as well! Glad I'm graduating sooner... Now just have to wait for an open spot!

[BrassDrummer]

maybe you'll mess up your chance so I can look like a super star :D... (how can I mess up your chances? hmmmmm) haha

[biglou911]

I am a UTI student and ill be attending STEP Program next year .

[Pinzon89]

lol BrassDrummer. Good luck. I also have an advantage being at BMWNA headquarters! Going to Orlando right? lol. But either way there is enough competition in this job market for both of us already.:). And there is also a STEP class graduating July 30(another guy that wants his job) from Ontario, Ca. Right now we will be lucky if all of us just get jobs at dealerships in general; I'm happy with that...for right now.:rolleyes.
Take care,
-Erick

[Broox]

I am a UTI student and ill be attending STEP Program next year .
Have you been accepted already? You may want to keep your options open because more and more STEP centers and BMW training facilities are closing for who knows how long...

[Aamir bt]

yeah, it depends on the dealership itself. the one i went to provided me with a toolbox, rollcart with 3 drawers and expandable top, and worktable with storage under it. plus a really good tool allowance. the shop is a brand new shop so they have the same toolbox and stuff for every bay. you have to get your own tools though. i kinda like the fact that everyone gets their own tools though, as it allows you to get what you like and you treat them better.

the dealership does provide all the diagnostic tools and special tools needed to fix their own cars though, as it would be silly for people to have to buy their own tools for that stuff.

the dealership looks at step students mostly as highly trained kids who are looking to be at the top of their feild. since the dealership has to front ~$9000.00 upon hire of the step grad for tuition, they are careful who they invest in and look for a return from the student by them performing very well in the feild and being able to make the dealership money. so step kids typically are not looked at and hired for oil changes and tire changes. i have heard of some dealerships where this is the case though, but very rarely.

and as far as becoming master certified from scratch, it typically takes a minimum of 5 years to become master certified by the time you have gone to all the classes and training. so step is a BIG advantage.

[BrassDrummer]

I'm excited to start in August, but it seems so far away haha. Then again, after I finish, I know I still have abotu 4-6 years of college left to get my degree in electrical engineering.... I hate being a grown up haha

[bowmang]

I'm excited to start in August, but it seems so far away haha. Then again, after I finish, I know I still have abotu 4-6 years of college left to get my degree in electrical engineering.... I hate being a grown up haha


tell me about it.

i just started taking night classes towards a mechanical engineering degree... i feel like i'll never be done.

it's worth it though..

[BrassDrummer]

are you just going to a community college? How is your schedule too?

[bowmang]

are you just going to a community college? How is your schedule too?


currently i'm at a CC getting my gen eds done, and then i'll transfer to a 4 year school and finish out the degree.

schedule is pretty busy.. work from 730 to 4 every day, and class from 7 to 9 or 10 on monday through thursday, but it works i guess...

[Pinzon89]

So how many classes are you taking at the cc? And is it as cheap as down in SD at $20 a credit? Way nice but the books make up for the cost of the credits. And whats the cc up there again? Thanks. Take care
-Erick

[bowmang]

So how many classes are you taking at the cc? And is it as cheap as down in SD at $20 a credit? Way nice but the books make up for the cost of the credits. And whats the cc up there again? Thanks. Take care
-Erick


i'm taking two classes currently (well... one of them is volleyball... but it counts!!) and yea, it's $20 a credit... and books suck. it wasn't bad though... i got the entire semester for about $200 including a parking permit, so it's very doable.

oh.. it's ventura college

[BrassDrummer]

thats not too bad, you can always apply for financial aid and see what happens. I plan on taking a Jazz class anyways, its the career goal that I opted to leave behind (music Performance) Can't live a life while your traveling all the time..


Anyways, I'm pretty excited about the future.

[bowmang]

yea.. the reason i started at a CC is so i don't need any school loans or anything.. i haven't had any my whole life, and don't plan to start now.

before the economy took a dump, BMW had a tuition assistance program for employees taking classes the are related to their position, or future position... and they say that once things get better they are going to bring it back.. so i'm hoping for that by the time i get to a real college.

i know a little about the music thing... my girlfriend is a music education major, and she is always stressed out.. so have fun with that!!

[BrassDrummer]

I plan on doing the same with the CC then 4 year school, its so much cheaper, plus you can get the same education and more.


I just hope I end up in a dealership where Theres a good school around.

[Mpowered02]

Yeah, as has already been stated, the toolboxes depend very much on the dealership. My original hiring dealership had a beautiful new shop with really nice built-in toolboxes. Was nice, but didn't make up for the fact that the place was horribly managed, that there just wasn't enough work for the size of the shop, and that the little work there was wasn't dispatched reasonably.

One of the biggest problems I see with having built in boxes and not having a box of your own is that it can be really limiting in terms of your ability to up and leave if you are unhappy. One of the benefits of this business is that your "toolbox has wheels". If you're not satisfired with your current job, you can move to another shop. Not having your own box makes it that much more difficult. Right now, I have a friend that is still at my old dealership getting screwed in hours. He's unhappy, and i've been trying to get him to move to the place i'm at now, but he's really hesitant...mainly due to the fact that he doesn't have a box of his own. Moving would require him to plunk down the coin for a new box before he can move, but since he's getting screwed on hours he doesn't have the coin to spare for a decent new box. Anyway, just some food for thought...

[M332]

Yeah, as has already been stated, the toolboxes depend very much on the dealership. My original hiring dealership had a beautiful new shop with really nice built-in toolboxes. Was nice, but didn't make up for the fact that the place was horribly managed, that there just wasn't enough work for the size of the shop, and that the little work there was wasn't dispatched reasonably.

One of the biggest problems I see with having built in boxes and not having a box of your own is that it can be really limiting in terms of your ability to up and leave if you are unhappy. One of the benefits of this business is that your "toolbox has wheels". If you're not satisfired with your current job, you can move to another shop. Not having your own box makes it that much more difficult. Right now, I have a friend that is still at my old dealership getting screwed in hours. He's unhappy, and i've been trying to get him to move to the place i'm at now, but he's really hesitant...mainly due to the fact that he doesn't have a box of his own. Moving would require him to plunk down the coin for a new box before he can move, but since he's getting screwed on hours he doesn't have the coin to spare for a decent new box. Anyway, just some food for thought...

I don't know where your friend is at, but I've got two KRA series (top/bottom) boxes collecting dust. Would make his life that much easier for little money. ($1500)

[Mpowered02]

I don't know where your friend is at, but I've got two KRA series (top/bottom) boxes collecting dust. Would make his life that much easier for little money. ($1500)

Heh. He's here in SoCal. I'll let him know though...been trying to get him to move but in addition to the box issue, he's got all kinds of excuses. Anyway, will let you know if he's interested...

[M332]

Heh. He's here in SoCal. I'll let him know though...been trying to get him to move but in addition to the box issue, he's got all kinds of excuses. Anyway, will let you know if he's interested...

Here's a link to both boxes.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=80584&group_ID=21145&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=storage&item_ID=83269&group_ID=3531&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog