Becoming a BMW tech/tuner

[Jd886]

I have been batteling for that past year and a half on what I want to do with my life. It has come down to two choices:

- Film scoring (the music in movies)/recording engineering.

or

- BMW Technician/tuner.

I have decided that I want to go into cars, considering I'll still be able to do music and not the other way around.

Does anyone know where to start? I've heard of UTI, but is there anything else? I want to also go into fabrication and research and design. My end goal is to become a tuner, and essentialy start making my own parts to produce race BMW's. But thats my END goal. I got to start small for now....

Any suggestions?

[krogerBMW]

Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Automotive would be a start. Took me 5 years but i'll be done in May, but maybe going back for a masters or MBA.

Fabrication is quite a different category from research and development/design. As design engineer you will not do too much fabrication work youself (maybe in forms of modeling or prototype) but will be sourced out by technical drawings and spec sheets. Fabrication from what I see is getting more and more automated thus the field overall will have a general decline in need of workers so for long term growth unless a hands on specialist that it has no growth.

Engineering always will be there for growth oppertunities. ALthough I don't believe I will be in the "hands" on area for my working span I am probably going to lead more into technical sales and management up to a senior level controller

On a side note... how old are you just curious but doesn't have to be answered.

[alen]

My friend considered going to UTI but it's like $40k for one year (and one year is all you'd do).

I agree with kroger though and concentrate on college with a direction in automotive. However, if you don't want to spend 4+ years on education then you could give UTI a shot.

[caracas_e30]

Theres a couple of different ways to do this. My suggestion is go to College. Later on down the road you might change your mind...and have nothing to fall back on.

College doesnt hurt. Or you could head to a BMW dealership that offers STEP scholarships. That is a lucky shot though

[Jd886]

The only problem is I only have a GED. I had a lot of problems throughout my school years, and getting my GED seamed like the best idea. Formal schooling just isn't for me. However, when it comes to things that interest me and challenge me, my performance results are extremely high.

If there isn't necessarily a way to get into this with a GED, then I will just go towards recording engineering.

Also, Math is not something that I score highly in. I simply just can't conentrate on it becuase it interests me in no way, shape or form. Will this be a problem?

I am 18, almost 19 in January.

[Yop]

do your 2 year degree at a comm college (most have automotive courses you can use for electives) then go and do the degree of Automotive Engineering and Design, has everything to do with designing, building and improving automobiles, the local college here (university central florida) has its own cart team (or something like it_) and the juniors and up get to build on it and race it, so yeah, if you want to make your own parts, thats DEFINATELY the way to go

[Jd886]

I don't have good SAT scores also.

My problem is that I am the product of what happens to people that aren't analytical, but are creative. I grew up with harsh ADD and authority problems, which set a stage of problems to happen. I still have ADD, worse than before, and regardless of whether you say "everyone has ADD", I have it severely, and it efffects my everyday.

However, now that I've matured and have grown much wisdom, my reputation and school records hinder my ability to do things, nevermind the fact I was never able to learn much self-discipline in terms of education/school.

I must resort to things that are interesting, but also challenging at the same time.

[MP3Guy]

You can always take medicine for your ADD.... For all those people who say they have ADD, they should consider trying medicine for it and see how it affects them... I do computer work PT for a psychologist whose very med-friendly... find someone like that and you're golden.

[driftz31]

Originally Posted by caracas_e30

Theres a couple of different ways to do this. My suggestion is go to College. Later on down the road you might change your mind...and have nothing to fall back on.

College doesnt hurt. Or you could head to a BMW dealership that offers STEP scholarships. That is a lucky shot though

yea i got lucky.... ill be a BMW tech at VOB in a few weeks. cant wait.

[alen]

Engineering = Math. No other way around it. Yes, you might show creativity in some fields but if you plan to enroll in higher engineering education, math is a must.

[northernp]

engineering is a BITCH major, i was in ECE but switched to business, u have to take sooooooo much math and physics its gonna be @#$@#$# hard if u dont do ok or well in it. althou im thinking of minoring in it so later on i might go back and get the degree as i was half way through the program almost. if u want some college stuff deff go to community that way u dont wast 14k+ a year at a univ. then see if u like it and then pursue it

[Jd886]

Ok, so engineering is out of the question, nevermind I wouldn't be able to get into any engeering schools.

Thats why I'm asking what other routes are there. I don't necessarily have to go into the extremely high end design aspect, but I mainly want to become a BMW tech/tuner. As years go on I will teach myself math, and then maybe decide about going into engineering.

[northernp]

theres the mechanic thing at community colleges isnt there? i know there is one at the one near my house and i was actually thinking of doing that after my univ, just to have that extra skill/knowledge

[J Clark]

Community college with an auto tech program or UTI. If you do extremely well at UTI you can go right into BMW's STEP program.

[Mark_In_PA]

Im going to UTI right now and its been pretty good. Im starting my 3rd course monday. Each course is 3 weeks long and you learn a ton. You need to get good grades in order to get into the STEP program. Me? I plan on going into Mercedes Benz when im finsihed with school. The very basic automotive program which is what im taking. Its 51 or 49 weeks long I forget. I also have the Hot Rod U program in it so I play with turbos and nitrous and all that stuff. Its gonna cost a little over $20k. Not $40k like that other guy said.