Anyone here work for BMW?? Advice needed

Post Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:12 pm

Ello people,

Got a friend applying for a trainee position at the local Oxford dealership.

What is the expected pay? Also they want some expierence in the position which is parts, which they have 3 years of.. They were a bit vague other than that tbh..

Any tips? Also what's the whole (working for BMW) job like?

Good firm to be involved with?

Cheers

Post Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:18 pm

bss325i (Barry) works for BMW, i'm sure he can give you/your mate an insight

Post Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:09 pm

tez180 wrote:Ello people,

Got a friend applying for a trainee position at the local Oxford dealership.

North Oxford Garage BMW?

tez180 wrote:What is the expected pay?

Depends on what position and all BMW dealers are Franchises with the exception of BMW Park lane which is Owned by BMW UK.

For a rough idea, a first year technician apprentice for the two BMW dealers i have worked for took home approx £600 a month.

tez180 wrote:Also they want some expierence in the position which is parts, which they have 3 years of.. They were a bit vague other than that tbh..

Do you mean they are looking for someone with experience in a parts position of which your friend has 3 years of?

tez180 wrote:Any tips? Also what's the whole (working for BMW) job like?

Good firm to be involved with?

Cheers

Working for a BMW dealer is only as good as the dealer is but there a few things that are the same regardless of which one you work for.

Firstly the product, which is regarded as one of the best out there and from a technical point of view, in my opinion is the best (not being biased, i just have a broad experience of different brands, not just BMW).

Secondly is the working enviroment, BMW dealers generally are clean tidy well kept places to be with good equipment and tooling.

One of the best aspects though in my opinion is the training. Regardless of weather your in sales, service, parts of bodyshop the training is all done at the BMW academy at Wokefield Park, Reading. The training provided is very good and you gain BMW specific qualification that are recognized worldwide. If you do and apprenticeship then you will also gain industry standard qualifications such as BTEC or NVQ.

http://www.bmweducation.co.uk/careers/bmwacademy.asp

Post Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:13 pm

North Oxford Garage, owned lock stock and barrel by Bob Buckingham who started it in 1972 on Banbury Road. They moved into the current place (a redeveloped Vauxhall dealer which was called City Motors) around 7-8 years ago. They aren't part of a dealer chain so there won't be much in the way of politics - would be a great place to work in sales.
Work as a mech in one of the Pendragon or Sytner dealerships and you're earning about £1300 a month. A trainee's not earning that, but North Oxford will have a few time served 'old hands' so it'd be a good place to learn about BMW's old and new.

Post Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:17 pm

The parts manager at N.O.G is a guy called Derek Nesbitt who has been there for about 25-30 years. He's a bit of a legend. Ask him for E28 bits and he just knows the part numbers.....

Post Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:43 am

Wow top info,

I say my mate, it's actually my girlfrind

she's awfully excited for this opportunity, but if it's 600 there is no way we could rent our house

humm

you're right it is for Derek!

Yes basically they are asking for experience working in the parts department so perhaps it will be a bit mote than 6 bags.

She has the interview soon so fingers crossed

Thank you again

James

Post Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:56 am

You get some very intresting cars go through North Oxford. The parts people are bloody good there , but the used car sales people scare me as they always sneak up on me and then ask how my old man is doing

Post Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:02 am

they seem a good dealer ship for alpinas, plenty of people who work there know the score with them

Post Sun Feb 06, 2011 6:23 pm

Dose anyone know the interview process?

Post Sun Feb 06, 2011 6:28 pm

Well, enthusiasm for the marque - and mentioning the E30 - will go a long, long way.

If she's good with numbers, well organized, efficient and has an interest in BMW's then the job should by rights be hers.

Post Sun Feb 06, 2011 6:45 pm

She is a true petrol head and loved the e30 ! she knows quite abit about the machanic's and internal workings of engines, but She is just a typical woman and wants the job now.

Post Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:47 am

Well she has got the interview with Derek on Tuesday !

Got her doing some revision on old / new BMWs and getting her up to scratch with some history, should help her out

/James