How much do Porsche or BMW service advisers make?

[Rick Lee]

I was offered a job as an Audi service adviser about eight years ago. I forget the base salary, maybe $45k, but the guy said it'd pay at least $60k the first year. Their pay back then was based on their CSI rating, which is why they're so aggressive about having customers give them good reviews. I didn't take the job, as my then boss gave me a 50% raise on the spot to beat them and keep me. But I'm just curious how this job pays these days. I know the economy sucks for high cars now, but figured some people are holding onto cars longer now, so they may be sending them in for service more. Is this a decent job? In any event, I need to be exploring other options pretty quickly.

[syncroid]

I don't know how much they make. I do know that they are usually the first at work and the last that leave. If you don't mind those kind of hours I think the money would be okay.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Given the horror stories I've heard regarding Audis right here on this board, I can't imagine how/why anyone would hold onto one a single day past the expiration of warranty...

I can't imagine a service tech's life is particularly rewarding, but it's a paycheck.

[Rick Lee]

That's probably why Audi service advisers make good money. Their job is to keep the garage booked with work and warranty work is best because customers don't see a bill and so don't get angry. I know the Audi dealership that offered me a job referred expensive non-warranty work out to independent shops to keep their CSI rating high. They didn't want angry customers complaining about $5k engine jobs and thus cutting into their CSI bonus pay. I found this out totally coincidentally when I needed some work on my old Carrera and the shop told me they were booked solid because of all the cars the Audi dealer had sent them.

[KEV951]

its a 6 figure job, with benefits, and a crapload of stress,i have been a tech for 12 years and want to become a service advisor now, dont' know where to get started, since i have only been a certified european car tech .

[Green 912]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I was offered a job as an Audi service adviser about eight years ago. I forget the base salary, maybe $45k, but the guy said it'd pay at least $60k the first year. Their pay back then was based on their CSI rating, which is why they're so aggressive about having customers give them good reviews. I didn't take the job, as my then boss gave me a 50% raise on the spot to beat them and keep me. But I'm just curious how this job pays these days. I know the economy sucks for high cars now, but figured some people are holding onto cars longer now, so they may be sending them in for service more. Is this a decent job? In any event, I need to be exploring other options pretty quickly.

Originally Posted by KEV951

its a 6 figure job, with benefits, and a crapload of stress,i have been a tech for 12 years and want to become a service advisor now, dont' know where to get started, since i have only been a certified european car tech .

it is a 4 to 6 figure job depending on where you are working and how good your tech team is. Hours are as long as you will find. I say 4 to 6 figure as 5 figures is normal but many don't make the first year. The many happy people you transact with will be overshadowed by the few *****-heads that you will be dealing with on a daily basis. you can do your part and have a service tech, car wash guy, porter or someone else along the line with his thumb up his azz frog up everything.

You are ether cut out for it or you are not. The service writers at the large multi high end brand dealership I work (and Rick Lee knows all about) at are ether lifers or 3 months (or less) and out. BTW techs often make poor service writers. Two different mindsets and skill pools.

[Rick Lee]

Well Kurt, you know me pretty well. Aside from my Potomac PCA antics, I would say customer service and interaction are my strongest suits in my current job. Am I cut out for this? Your dealership is a lot bigger than the ones around here.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Who buys the tools?

The reason I ask is my mom works for a college in the department that teaches techs for (I think) Toyota, Lexus, BMW and Ford. The students pay a pretty penny for the program and get a handful of certifications and placements and so-on after graduation. I do know that the litany of "special tools" that are needed for each year's models (diagnostic gear, etc.) are insanely expensive. If you as a tech are expected to pony up for that stuff, I imagine it could eat into your salary pretty fast, especially at the beginning. Obviously I'd expect basic hand tools and air tools to be on your own dime, but the specialty stuff? I'd ask about that. It can easily run into the thousands - tens of thousands in some cases.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Who buys the tools?

The reason I ask is my mom works for a college in the department that teaches techs for (I think) Toyota, Lexus, BMW and Ford. The students pay a pretty penny for the program and get a handful of certifications and placements and so-on after graduation. I do know that the litany of "special tools" that are needed for each year's models (diagnostic gear, etc.) are insanely expensive. If you as a tech are expected to pony up for that stuff, I imagine it could eat into your salary pretty fast, especially at the beginning. Obviously I'd expect basic hand tools and air tools to be on your own dime, but the specialty stuff? I'd ask about that. It can easily run into the thousands - tens of thousands in some cases.

EDIT - would you be a tech or an adviser? IIRC the advisers are the "point of contact" guys for the customers that have to break all the bad news to them and who ultimately bridge the customers with the technicians. If you're considering becoming an adviser it's definitely a different skill set than a technician, but it wouldn't hurt to gain a good understanding of what the techs do and how they operate. The customer service part? Well like you said, you either have it or don't - and some customers simply won't be happy or satisfied no matter what you do.

[Rick Lee]

No, not gonna be a tech. A man's got to know his limitations and I know mine.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yea I hear ya... I'd think you'd be better suited for the adviser role anyway. I imagine those guys get pooed on quite a bit though - first line of having to deal with irate customers and yada yada, "how come my $90,000 car has to be in the shop for three weeks", "what do you mean this isn't covered", "why are you claiming this was the result of excessively hard driving", blah-blah.

I think in some respects it might be easier to be a technician... But that'd be a pretty tough way to earn a paycheck too some days. Even so, I'd probably rather be a tech than work in the "complaint department" or have to deal with the public-at-large in any direct capacity. Some people enjoy and are good at that stuff, I'm not one of them. Like you say, "know your limitations". People aren't often within mine.

[Rick Lee]

Oh, I can't stand people in general either. One of the reasons I get along well with my customers and prospects, though, is because I don't deal with anyone who hasn't demonstrated a need for or prior use of our services. I don't deal with the unwashed masses and never want to. I know plenty of idiots own nice cars, but I figure most of them have at least some kind of education or maybe more dollars than sense.

[Britwrench]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Oh, I can't stand people in general either. One of the reasons I get along well with my customers and prospects, though, is because I don't deal with anyone who hasn't demonstrated a need for or prior use of our services. I don't deal with the unwashed masses and never want to. I know plenty of idiots own nice cars, but I figure most of them have at least some kind of education or maybe more dollars than sense.

The whole job is based on understanding the customer, their car, wishes, budget, being realistic on what can (and can't) be done on the vehicle, etc, etc.
You are the first company contact with the customer and regardless of you liking them (or not), making THEIR life better because the car either needs repair, maintenance or has broken, under warranty or not, is the job.

Going into it believing that that some of the clients will have more money than sense is a good way of being disillusioned very quickly.
You have to advise and guide owners, who may not be aware of how good (or bad) their car actually is. Trust takes a long time to grow and can very easily be lost.

I've been in the automotive repair business (on what one would call " luxury cars") way longer than I want to think about and learn new things everyday.

[Zeke]

Rick, I can answer 2 of your questions. I have a cousin that was a BMW service advisor in Orange County and now recently works for the big Mercedes dealer in OC. At BMW, he was making just over 100K each year. Stress, I think he can handle that OK, but he will not hesitate to tell you that BMW owners are the biggest ass holes on the planet.

Wait for his comments as the Mercedes job grows in length. But then again, he flies a similar fight path. Probably one of the most spoiled and insincere people on the planet. He was just born with that "smiling face."

His dad was the biggest con I ever knew. He is perfect for the job.

[Rick Lee]

A lot of my current job entails matching products and expectations with clients' budgets. I started in this biz when I was still a news junkie and in love with the political excitement in DC. Now I'm away from all that and am kept going despite the incredible internal BS and horrible company culture because I really do love my customers and most of my co-workers. I always told myself, if I have to work for the man, it has to be in some environment, where on my worst day, I'm still surrounded by stuff I love. Before it was the news biz. Now I work from home and make my own schedule, ride my motorcycle on trips to visit clients and it would be tough to give that up for just any other job. I could go to an office every day if I were surrounded by cool toys and doing something I know something about and have some personal experience with. I guess I need to drop a note to the service bosses at the local dealerships.

[VaSteve]

Rl, given what you have said about dealing with people, I think this is the wrong line of work for you. Most people that take their car in are not "enthusiasts" or car people. Fancy, high end cars are fancy high end baubles that need to be fixed. They don't want the banter or your expertise or whathave you. (I suspect). The enthusiasts are going to be the hard core forum readers that know everything already and suspect the Stealership (how many times have you yourself used this term) of ripping them off. I had a good enough relationship with the service guy at Arlington BMW when I was getting some work done. I mentioned that I read something on line and he's like "I cannot comment upon what you have read online...that's not our practice". I can only imagine getting that 10X a day and 90% people *****ing about the bill, deferred maintenance, etc.

Clarke on the local board is the service writer and mechanic at an independent BMW shop. I was sitting in the office when he was calling customers. People with hooptie **** that they couldn't afford to get fixed, complaining about the price of everything, etc. etc. It's stressful on the customer as well....never know how much it's going to cost, etc. etc.

Based on knowing you, I don't think you'd survive it.

[Rick Lee]

Steve, you know me outside of work. While I am honest on and off duty, I am a lot easier going, more patient and cheerful in a work environment than when slamming wrenches and swearing in the garage. You'd be surprised at how many irate customers I have turned into friends for life.

[kaisen]

Most SAs make $60ish, certainly less than $120K and if you're not making $50K, you'll leave on your own from the stress of lack of performance. The job is 'built' for about $80K at a high volume dealership. Most of those places have several SAs, so some make $50 and others make $110K. It's a sales job where you're also responsible for the production of your tech team. High stress, long hours (as others have said).

70% of customers will endure the process and not squabble. 15% are unrealistic a**holes that won't be happy no matter what you do. 15% will be absolutely love you and be your best customers. If the 15% jerks get under your skin, you'll HATE the job. Live for the other 15% and you'll make good money and enjoy your career. Work for the 70% and you'll have a job and make 'okay' money. You pick it. The other SAs that have been doing the job longer will sluff the bad work your way. Learn to spot that, fast.

'Enthusiasts' and 'researchers' are your worst customers, even though we may be one (or both) ourselves. Don't think about what YOU would do, or how YOU would like to be treated, but what they need and what the 70% expect.

I managed many SAs, indirectly, over the years. Not for me. But those guys that can do it have long, stable careers.

[Green 912]

EDIT See above^ Well said. Key in on it is a sales job. SA's are not advising, they are selling $ervice.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Well Kurt, you know me pretty well. Aside from my Potomac PCA antics, I would say customer service and interaction are my strongest suits in my current job. Am I cut out for this? Your dealership is a lot bigger than the ones around here.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Steve, you know me outside of work. While I am honest on and off duty, I am a lot easier going, more patient and cheerful in a work environment than when slamming wrenches and swearing in the garage. You'd be surprised at how many irate customers I have turned into friends for life.

Some people are pure Azz hole. You will have to be nice to them while they are peeing on your pants leg. People with a busted or in need of service car are already grumpy. Many are not car lovers and do not use any common sense at all. One guy (car owner or ham fisted tech) can bust your whole months CSI and kick you right in the wallet. Do You think you are cut out for it? You have to be Joe cool 100% of the time even when the other guy does not deserve it.

Me, I will take commercial service / sales interaction over owner / end users any day.

[asphaltgambler]

1) Expect 11/12 hour days to make any money
2) Expect no real "lunch/break" time
3) Expect to work every other Sat or every third Sat
4) Expect that the other Advisors can and will steal from you
5) Expect to be a human stress triple decker sandwich Techs/Customer/Service Manager all wanting you to smooth it each, their way
6) Expect a certain percentage of Warranty "kick-backs" where manufacturer refuses to reimberse the dealership for prior warranty work - then deducted % of your commision check
7) Expect 'Hold-backs" on you total gross commision see above BEFORE it happens - sometimes 2-3 months