Whats Up?... Im interested in attending a school for automotive tech. I'm fasinated with Bmws the 3series especially. I talked to a recuiter and will visit the NC campus in a few weeks. Wanna know if there the best choice on should i attend a local community college in my area(Atlanta,Ga)that could possibly teach me the same stuff?

 

Im not a tech but i have talked to a UTI rep in Oralndo about the same topic. Per our conversation, you must first pass the basic mechanic portion of the (whatever its called) then depending on your GPA and a recommendation you must be selected to go into the other advanced fields, (BMW, marine, ETC). I think UTI is one of the few schools that offers a BMW specific class. But your best bet would be going to any INDY shop or an actually BMW dealership and asking a tech.

 

I would start out applying and getting hired directly with a BMW dealership. Letting them know what your future plans are, and be a hard worker. A lot of times, they will pay for and send you to school themselves, and you are guaranteed a job when you get back.

 

UTI is a great school and so is wyotech, I'm personally an MMI Grad the motorcycle division of UTI, But what Kabron suggested is a great idea and would'nt hurt to try, Especially in this current economic state..

 

Many people consider UTI a waste of time and pretty pricey...but I attended the Orlando campus last year and was elected into the BMW program which taught me way more then the school it self; graduated in June & they helped in finding me a job. Since then I was hired by Lauderdale BMW and I've been there for about 4-5 months. UTI worked for me. (Just my experience with UTI not as bad as some say just take it serious)

 

Im a UTI graduate . Did the Nissan msat. And am now a line tech for Honda.
Their base course if informative and you learn some basics. Its a great way to blow 30k and not learn much. ( especially if you already have a mechanical background)
Theyre msats ( manufacture specific advance training) programs are 100 times better than base UTI. Thats where you actually learn diagnostics , troubleshooting and system operations.

My honest opinion is to start at a dealership and work your way up. 90 % of the dealers you get hired at after completing UTI start you off at the bottom regardless. Uti isnt as highly regarded as it use to be about 5 years ago.
Save your 30+k and work your way up in a dealer. Also by doing this youll see what this business is really about rather than hearing the fairy tales the recruiters make up .. 100k a year

 

BMW STEP Program

This is what you want if you really enjoy BMW's.

 

Pretty much. I wanted to work on cars so I attended UTI which was a gateway to the STEP program for me. Got accepted to STEP and learned a ton of info there, and also got job placement. UTI actually taught me some good info, what you put into it is what you'll get out of it.

 

bmw offers 2 types of schools you can attend if accepted the step program or uti i think offers what they call fast track ( its alot of vehicle specifics ) or there is a 3rd way and that is to get hired and the dealership will send you to classes as they become open . If you attend the step program or fast track alot of times you can sign a contract with the dealer that hires you to pay your school loan off if you stay for 1-2 years .you also upon graduating get a great deal from snap-on on tools .

 

lol i got hired by a dealership that promised to pay back my loans .. 2 years after. they stopped paying and said theres a new claus that states theyll pay 24 months toward tuition . I still work for them as the dealership is still a great place to work but some of the "promises" dealers and schools make are to be taken with a grain of salt.

As for the tool program thats offered through snap-on . it expires 4 weeks after you graduate. So you'd have to purchase your tools while in school.. What sucks the most is you never really realize the actual tools that youll be needing/using on the daily until you actually work in the field. At that point you really wish you had a heads up so you couldve spent the money in the right places.

I still stand by my original statement . Try getting in with the dealership first. I have seen WAY to many graduates from uti working in something else after graduation. They think they want to do this kind of work and when they actually get in the field , they realize that its not tinkering around for fun any more. Its hard work that kills your body and frustrates the living hell out of you.