BMW step program

"Joel Ness" (joelness)
02/12/2015 at 14:32 • Filed to: None

Does anyone have experience getting in to BMW's step program? Maybe know someone who has?

DISCUSSION (17)

HammerheadFistpunch > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 14:38

There has to be cheaper step programs...have you tried the local Gym? I bet they would teach you step WAY cheaper than the Germans.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 14:46

Is this like a 12-step program?

Anima > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 14:50

Step one: Break off your indicator stalk. You aren't going to need it any more.

Step two: The left lane is there just for you. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Step three: M-badge everything.

Step four: Make a coupe version of a 4 door car and then make a 4 door version of that.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 14:53

There are a few German techs on Oppo, but I don't know if any of them started in the manufacturer's training program right out of technical school.

Jonathan Harper > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 14:55

What's that?

spanfucker retire bitch > HammerheadFistpunch
02/12/2015 at 15:01

But ze Germans 'ave ze most efficient form von steppingk.

Ze Goose Steppingk.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jonathan Harper
02/12/2015 at 15:05

BMW's Service Technician Education Program. They take technical school grads and train them to fix BMWs, and it gives them a two year credit towards BMW Master Technician status. (Normally that takes 5 years of experience plus training)

dogisbadob > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 15:10

Well first, you have to be an asshat :p

Jonathan Harper > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
02/12/2015 at 15:12

Wo. Neat. Go for it!

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jonathan Harper
02/12/2015 at 15:20

I would, but that would mean three things:

I'd have to go back to technical school and get an ASE certification

Then I'd have to do STEP

And I'd have to take a pay cut from the job I'm currently doing.

The only reason I know about this is due to the fact that one of the guys at our track days started with BMW this way. Now he's an independent shop.

Jonathan Harper > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
02/12/2015 at 15:27

PLUS! You could help me with my E30 when I finally get one :)

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jonathan Harper
02/12/2015 at 15:49

I wonder how long it would take to get BMW Master Tech status, Audi Master Tech status, and Mercedes Master Tech status.

I also wonder if they would give you a discount on the computer tools (an official VAGCOM, a BMW ICOM, and a Mercedes STAR Diagnostic System)

Tripper > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 16:21

When I was in tech school, a friend was accepted to the STEP program at no cost. He also finished top of his class. I forget what the cutoff was but only the top whatever % get offered entrance into the manufacturer programs. I was hoping to follow the same path, but I only got two months in before I decided that I like driving cars a lot more than I like working on them. Anyway, I'm pretty sure that going through a tech school is the only way unless you are already a certified mechanic.

Here are the requirements: http://www.bmwstep.com/qual.html

RallyWrench > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 16:34

UTI is hooked up with BMW STEP, and I think Wyotech may be as well. They stipulate that you have to work for a dealer for 6 months or something afterwards, but many, many grads end up at indys. The other way is to apply for a basic oil changer position at a dealer & work your way up, which I honestly think would be better.

UTI, in the feedback I've gotten, is more geared for people who know nothing about cars to begin with and are looking for a career. This is fine, and the industry needs more techs, but the approach is not for everyone. I won a scholarship there after HS, and didn't take it because I was already in a well-equipped & up to date shop, which I now run. A couple of friends took theirs, and when they came back said they should have just got jobs here & worked up with the same training because it was mostly review from our HS Auto III program. Some of the guys I've known from the STEP program are amazing on a very narrow range of cars that they've learned on, but are sort of lost on anything else, which can be hard at an independent because we see an older & more varied fleet. I don't know if other manufacturer programs are better or not, and STEP may have changed in recent years, so take that with a grain of salt.

Joel Ness > RallyWrench
02/12/2015 at 18:51

Well, let me ask you a salary question then. Game plan for me is to be a master mechanic. I know after the step program they say salary ranges 12-14 dollars an hours but after some time I could be earning 46k. Top ranges seem to be 120k. Does that sound right. I'd happily work on cars for that much.

RallyWrench > Joel Ness
02/12/2015 at 19:20

BMW Master or ASE? I'm ASE Master for what it's worth. It's not as meaningful as it sounds, I know some real hacks with Master certs. It's nice to have because you can say "yes" when people ask if you're certified, but doesn't really reflect on actual skill. It's worth raises in some shops though. But I digress...

Before I stepped into the office, I was foreman & made $25/hour plus $2/hour for every hour the rest of the crew turned. That was good for a little over $60k/year gross, plus $200/month on a gas card, and health insurance benefits, etc. That's an ok average for an experienced & productive tech in an independent shop. I know guys who make a lot more though. I'm in CA and our base shop rate is $95/hour. It's different elsewhere in the country, but $12-14 an hour is insulting for any trained tech, even fresh out of school, and even $46k is a joke for a full-fledged dealer tech. Most of those guys make at least $80k out here.

Joel Ness > RallyWrench
02/12/2015 at 21:13

Ok, because I got really excited by the idea and I'm looking for a career switch. I didn't what to get into it only to find out I won't make much money.