Starting a new job as an apprentice BMW technician
Discussion
Master tech can take decades to get to that level, and there’s senior techs I work with who have failed it before despite have 30+ years of experience. Like you said though whoever went to work for MINI and then BMW went to uni. Someone’s son did a degree in motorsports and works for McLaren. Being a technician working day to day on day on cars versus research and engineering is very different and are totally different jobs. Any enthusiasm and drive I had to work hard and carve out a decent and interesting career in the world of cars has been well and truly beaten out of me. That’s the reality of the motor trade.
A friend of mine took his mechanical skills and transferred them to working in a formula one pit crew, travels the world with the F1 team, looks great fun.
I work within a main dealer network and some mechanics moan about the job but not all.
If you want more money, quit the tools and join the sales team, that's where the money is
worse hours though!
I work within a main dealer network and some mechanics moan about the job but not all.
If you want more money, quit the tools and join the sales team, that's where the money is
worse hours though!Fair play to the lad sounds good. I think main dealers are just totally toxic, at least the one I work for is. I couldn’t dream of anything worse than going into sales, lol. Money is the last thing I want tbh although no one believes me when I say that, just being treat like a human being at work is a start. Like I said any optimism or hope I had for things getting better at my dealer has been crushed out of me. The only good outcome is leaving as far as I can see, would hate to end up like the older lads I work with who moan non stop and are trapped. Shame because I enjoy actually working on cars just the workload expected of you and the way they exploit apprentices is beyond a joke. I know manual trades always treat apprentices like crap but there’s only so much you can take, and I know people who are apprenticing in other industries where you’re actually treat like a professional.
Why don’t you try and get on scheme with a big engineering firm like Rolls Royce or similar? You’ll get rotated round different business areas, rather than just doing the same thing day in, day out as you seem to be now. Tons of opportunity for progression.
The big vehicle manufacturers do them- Toyota, etc. I know a chap who started a scheme with DHL as an aircraft maintenance technician at an airport quite recently, sounded a decent option for someone like yourself. Whereabouts in the country are you?
The big vehicle manufacturers do them- Toyota, etc. I know a chap who started a scheme with DHL as an aircraft maintenance technician at an airport quite recently, sounded a decent option for someone like yourself. Whereabouts in the country are you?
I’m from the North East and opportunities with prestigious companies are few and far between and a lot of the time you need A levels or a degree, none of which I have. I have other irons in the fire so to speak and I’m looking at leaving the world of manual, hands on work all together anyway.
Vintagejock said:
Halfords gear is alright and warranted. Snap on isn't what it was. Yes they call on us once a week.
My lads a tech who qualified via an apprentice scheme. he says the same re Halfords advanced tools, lifetime guarantee so when you wear it out or break it they swap it.Facom tools are superb, bahco tool boxes are snap on factory made at 1/3 of price, Milwaukee power tools are go to. Lots of odd bits via web sites, or Amazon.
Don’t fall in to snap on HP trap. Some dealers provide tool boxes. So,e brands use about 1/4 of the tool sizes versus others e.g. jlr vs toyota
mick1199 said:
I’m from the North East and opportunities with prestigious companies are few and far between and a lot of the time you need A levels or a degree, none of which I have. I have other irons in the fire so to speak and I’m looking at leaving the world of manual, hands on work all together anyway.
Maybe look into IT, data analytics or project management, sales or estate agent or something like that for an office job with no qualifications. I mean you can get some online but you can get into those fields without university etc.161BMW said:
Cyder said:
There's plenty of avenues that could open up to you.
I work in R+D for an OEM and a number of our technicians and engineers have started off at dealerships on apprenticeships and then moved jobs later to the OEM test workshops as technicians. Some then decide that a life of office based fun is for them and move to the engineering side, others move into the workshop management, others just enjoy working on and driving the cars on evaluations.
What is it like in R&D in an OEM ? What is the background of most of the engineering staff to get in somewhere like there ? Is the work really interesting working on prototypes etc ? Also are the technicians generally at Master Technician status ?I work in R+D for an OEM and a number of our technicians and engineers have started off at dealerships on apprenticeships and then moved jobs later to the OEM test workshops as technicians. Some then decide that a life of office based fun is for them and move to the engineering side, others move into the workshop management, others just enjoy working on and driving the cars on evaluations.
Development work is very interesting, lots of preparing vehicles for tests, running the tests, analysing results and failures and problem solving with the engineers. It can be long hard hours and short deadlines to follow the vehicle development schedule but it's interesting working on new prototype and development things.
mick1199 said:
I’m from the North East and opportunities with prestigious companies are few and far between and a lot of the time you need A levels or a degree, none of which I have. I have other irons in the fire so to speak and I’m looking at leaving the world of manual, hands on work all together anyway.
start looking for work at the Nissan plant. Either on the production line or operations. Would help if you passed your apprenticeship though.https://careersatnissan.co.uk/life-at-nissan/manuf...
mick1199 said:
Surprised anyone has replied to this as I thought the post was long dead but I still get notifications. Simple fact is the motor trade is utter s
t, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement.
This jumped out of your post at me OP. t, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement. How long have you got left on your apprenticeship?
You mention that other opportunities require degree/A-levels, which you do not have, and that the North East is not overflowing with opportunities for young people.
Playing Devil's Advocate, if you don't complete your apprenticeship then it is a massive red flag to future employers that you potentially lack commitment. I know exactly how you feel - I started my career young (aged 16) in the world of insurance and quickly realised I had made a mistake, thinking there were no opportunites available to me. However the lads I knew from those days who stuck at it (I am 50 now) have all gone on to have many and varied careers in that industry. Admittedly one of them jumped ship at the same time as me and builds cars on the track at JLR, but he couldn't be happier either.
Is there not someone in the management team you could go to and say, "I'm bored, I need some more interesting work beyond basic servicing"? Who is responsible for your development within the dealership? You need to be having that convo with them, and if not their boss, to say "look, I need more varied work to keep me interested". In life in general, if you don't ask you don't get.
PurpleTurtle said:
mick1199 said:
Surprised anyone has replied to this as I thought the post was long dead but I still get notifications. Simple fact is the motor trade is utter st, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement.
This jumped out of your post at me OP. t, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement. How long have you got left on your apprenticeship?
You mention that other opportunities require degree/A-levels, which you do not have, and that the North East is not overflowing with opportunities for young people.
Playing Devil's Advocate, if you don't complete your apprenticeship then it is a massive red flag to future employers that you potentially lack commitment. I know exactly how you feel - I started my career young (aged 16) in the world of insurance and quickly realised I had made a mistake, thinking there were no opportunites available to me. However the lads I knew from those days who stuck at it (I am 50 now) have all gone on to have many and varied careers in that industry. Admittedly one of them jumped ship at the same time as me and builds cars on the track at JLR, but he couldn't be happier either.
Is there not someone in the management team you could go to and say, "I'm bored, I need some more interesting work beyond basic servicing"? Who is responsible for your development within the dealership? You need to be having that convo with them, and if not their boss, to say "look, I need more varied work to keep me interested". In life in general, if you don't ask you don't get.
The test driver said:
PurpleTurtle said:
mick1199 said:
Surprised anyone has replied to this as I thought the post was long dead but I still get notifications. Simple fact is the motor trade is utter st, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement.
This jumped out of your post at me OP. t, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement. How long have you got left on your apprenticeship?
You mention that other opportunities require degree/A-levels, which you do not have, and that the North East is not overflowing with opportunities for young people.
Playing Devil's Advocate, if you don't complete your apprenticeship then it is a massive red flag to future employers that you potentially lack commitment. I know exactly how you feel - I started my career young (aged 16) in the world of insurance and quickly realised I had made a mistake, thinking there were no opportunites available to me. However the lads I knew from those days who stuck at it (I am 50 now) have all gone on to have many and varied careers in that industry. Admittedly one of them jumped ship at the same time as me and builds cars on the track at JLR, but he couldn't be happier either.
Is there not someone in the management team you could go to and say, "I'm bored, I need some more interesting work beyond basic servicing"? Who is responsible for your development within the dealership? You need to be having that convo with them, and if not their boss, to say "look, I need more varied work to keep me interested". In life in general, if you don't ask you don't get.
The test driver said:
161BMW said:
It been done i seen someone go into engineering at BMW. They got a degree then went to MINI Plant Oxford then BMW AG.
Do I know you? 
Would love to hear more how you found the transition, engineering degree, technician life, engineering life and cultures at Plant Oxford and AG etc though. Full respect to you.
Edited by 161BMW on Wednesday 12th April 14:25
161BMW said:
I do not think so but i seen someone do that. So if they can do it then it can definitely be done. Just technicians got to be willing to be decent at maths or get decent at it.
Would love to hear more how you found the transition, engineering degree, technician life, engineering life and cultures at Plant Oxford and AG etc though. Full respect to you.
I was a master technician but not BMW, went contracting for press support with JLR for a year then jumped into an electrical rework job at Oxford (moved on exceptionally quickly). Did a part time degree in business and move through several roles as opportunities appeared. Ended up in a senior non management but leadership role there spending a lot of time between UK, Europe and Germany. Then ended up moving to the US for a product development engineering role in New Jersey. Would love to hear more how you found the transition, engineering degree, technician life, engineering life and cultures at Plant Oxford and AG etc though. Full respect to you.
Edited by 161BMW on Wednesday 12th April 14:25
It's a good company to work for but be aware there is an unspoken glass ceiling for non-Germans, with obvious succession lines being broken to bring in "native" talent. Didn't really affect me until it did when the pandemic hit and the management picked favourites, you can guess which nationalities were looked after. Also staff on UK contracts don't get the perks the people on German ones do the biggest hit being they pulled UK staffs final salary pensions.
I'd still recommend working for them as I had a great time with them, with experiences I wouldn't necessarily of had otherwise, although I get reports from the inside that its not the place it was to work before and that doors are harder to open now. Plus generally they don't pay quite as well as other OEMs in the UK.
Still one million times better than being in a dealer, but I had the papers and experience to back it up which OP needs to complete before he goes any further.
My advice is embrace the suck for now get your papers sign off and in the mean time invest in yourself by doing part time courses in what ever direction you want to go in.
mick1199 said:
Surprised anyone has replied to this as I thought the post was long dead but I still get notifications. Simple fact is the motor trade is utter st, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement.
I don't know if you still get notifications from here or not, but it's worth a try. I was reading through this thread as I am starting a level 3 vehicle tech apprenticeship at a dealership in less than 2 weeks and I've been going through forums, youtube, reddit, etc... to see what life as a technician is really like (and it has really put me off this trade). Pages 1-3 of this thread was generally positive and had me feeling the same, but then I came across this reply of yours after 2 yrs of your apprenticeship and it honestly hit me like a truck. I'm rethinking this whole thing now and i've got to make a decision soon; but before I did that I was hoping I could get an update on your situation. t, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement. Did you really end up leaving before completing the apprenticeship or did you see it through to the end? If you did complete it, are you working as a technician for them now? And is your situation and the treatment you recieve any better? Would you recommend that I go through with my apprenticeship?
If you didn't complete it, then did you go into another apprenticeship in another field or find something else? Are you happier where you are now? Do you wish you would have done it sooner instead of the vehicle tech apprenticeship?
Swae Hawx said:
mick1199 said:
Surprised anyone has replied to this as I thought the post was long dead but I still get notifications. Simple fact is the motor trade is utter st, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement.
I don't know if you still get notifications from here or not, but it's worth a try. I was reading through this thread as I am starting a level 3 vehicle tech apprenticeship at a dealership in less than 2 weeks and I've been going through forums, youtube, reddit, etc... to see what life as a technician is really like (and it has really put me off this trade). Pages 1-3 of this thread was generally positive and had me feeling the same, but then I came across this reply of yours after 2 yrs of your apprenticeship and it honestly hit me like a truck. I'm rethinking this whole thing now and i've got to make a decision soon; but before I did that I was hoping I could get an update on your situation. t, or at least where I work it is. Awful mangement who treat you like slaves and not left alone long enough to actually learn anything to the point where 2 years into my apprenticeship I still don’t know much other than basic servicing. The people who warned me away where very much right and I was daft to ignore what everyone said, easily one of the biggest mistake I’ve made taking this job. Mechanics work for one reason. Money. That’s it. Because you can be a master tech diagnosing and fixing complex problems or a total whopper slapping brake pads on and earn similar wages. The vast majority, if not everyone I work with hates their job but are either too comfortable with the money, or just can’t be bothered to leave and start over in a different career. I’m looking at leaving as soon as possible before I even complete my apprenticeship and just cut my losses. Yes, you can argue that getting a good qualification as a mechanic can open other doors into engineering and the likes but I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, nor does anyone I work with talk about stuff like that happening. Most just leave for other dealerships or sell their soul and their spine to the devil and go into mangement. Did you really end up leaving before completing the apprenticeship or did you see it through to the end? If you did complete it, are you working as a technician for them now? And is your situation and the treatment you recieve any better? Would you recommend that I go through with my apprenticeship?
If you didn't complete it, then did you go into another apprenticeship in another field or find something else? Are you happier where you are now? Do you wish you would have done it sooner instead of the vehicle tech apprenticeship?
while at school i worked a saturday job in a local garage, small indi.
after school i got an apprenticeship in a ford dealer, was called a yts scheme back then, 2 years with an option for a 3rd, one day a week a collage, the other 5 in the workshop.
I learned alot, did the 3rd year, and once qualified the dealer kept me on.
Did every course the dealer offered, this was a mistake, the more you learned, the more complex diagnostic jobs you got, in those days we got paid on a bonus rate on book times, and you could make way more doing servicing/clutches etc, than complex stuff. This left the crazy situation where the switched on mechs normally earned less than the idiots who couldnt be trusted with more than an oil change.
A friend and i from the same garage realized this so pooled money and started our own indi.
We did very well, and had loyal customers, my friend got ill, so i took it over, ended up employing 3 other guys, plus one lady in admin.
after a decade or so, had the opportunity to move to motor sport, so sold the garage , having done well for that decade and earned way more than at a dealer.
worked in motorsport since then at various levels, from touring cars to f1, with some historics thrown in, love the old cars. did a degree in my spare time in motorsport engineering, now work for a manufacturer in wec part time semi retired.
Have seen the world and had experiences most never will.
I did always have contacts in motorsport, even before i worked in it, as i raced tho and this did help.
Its been hard graft tho, and physically im wrecked, and the travel has cost me 4 wives along the way.
But wouldnt change a thing looking back.
Things may have changed now, but my advice would be use the main dealers to get qualified, the offer way more training than an indi can, then when abit more experienced, bin them off, as there is a ceiling you cant really climb through, and go your own way, its a very transferable skill.
And in the right fields it can pay ridiculous amounts of money.
richhead said:
............, the more complex diagnostic jobs you got, in those days we got paid on a bonus rate on book times, and you could make way more doing servicing/clutches etc, than complex stuff. This left the crazy situation where the switched on mechs normally earned less than the idiots
who couldnt be trusted with more than an oil change.
who couldnt be trusted with more than an oil change.
So true, my experience of factory courses were the dealer was usually most reluctant to send anyone unless forced. One dealer who was one of the first to be associated with a prestigious German marque was offered the choice of sending techs on courses, building a modern workshop OR Lose the franchise.
Bonus chaser ..Oh yes; one fitted a clutch but didn't tighten the bellhousing bolts resulting in g/box falling out. Nothing was said.
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