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RE: Buying old cars: it's always a risk, and it depends a great deal on who you buy from. My motto is "every auction car is an abandoned car". Yeah, it's a cute and snarky thing to say, but there's the ring of truth to it. Perfect example---Doc's current project.
So the source of your purchase is very important. Would I recommend that someone by a 15 year old Mini Cooper with 100,000 miles on it? NO WAY!
But would I recommend you buy one from me? Yes. (if I were selling it)
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540500
I helped a shop figure out a misfire on a 2009 328xi back in March. The story behind it had it at the selling dealer numerous times over the previous three years including them buying it back and taking it to auction only to have it make it's way back to the dealer when it got kicked back when who-ever bought it couldn't fix it. They finally washed their hands of it through a series of sales that saw it make it back to the auction where the present owner acquired it. The folder on this thing was more than 50 pages long and included PCM, injectors, various sensors, plugs, wires, coils and all kinds of mechanical testing.
This is one of the captures that led to the solution.
The beautiful stainless steal underbelly cannot save this car now
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Total BMW family no matter how many problems she has though.
J. started off stating that his dealer had just hired a potential candidate who was going to have to move almost a thousand miles to join them. That's how far they are willing to reach out to try and find someone. However J. continued with what this new prospect has to look forward to.
J. noted that one of the tasks he can be assigned is a programming routine that has a TSB associated to it that states allow up to 2.5hours for the routine to be completed. It used to pay .9 hours but was dropped to .5hours, and now that has been dropped to .2hours.
J. points out that he can't get the car in the door in .2 let alone do the mandatory free twenty something point vehicle check which of course they don't get paid to perform and BTW is the very process that generates the additional sales that result in the classic wallet flushes. J also talks about how the younger techs are quickly learning that if they go to the schools and get training on the high tech stuff then they have to take on jobs like that programming routine while if they don't attend that training then they get to perform easier and more profitable work.
The responses to J's post which is in an educators portion of the forum serve to confirm that the abuses and neglect that prevent making being a technician a rewarding career choice are not only continuing, they are accelerating. Meanwhile the work keeps getting more complicated to the point that fewer people are capable of actually doing it at all, let alone efficiently. Something that really demonstrates how difficult the work is can be seen when one of the engineers shows up to try to deal with one of the problem cars, which BTW happens quite regularly. The engineers often are seen working on the car for hours on end. During these events the dealer techs while walking by them routinely remind them that their .2 has expired. It serves them right to have a few remaining techs that can handle this stuff but don't because they don't pay them to do the jobs. It would be appropriate at this point to also mention that there is a policy in place that prohibits existing dealer technicians from being hired by the manufacturer so that eliminates that possible career track. The dealers would scream murder if the manufacturer "stole" any of their technciains meanwhile the management does everything conceivable to chase them out the door anyway.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Now the real question is whether the public at large will be willing to support the techs or not. I've always said its going to take the consumers doing something to make things change.
I'm generally of the opinion that many unions have outlived their usefulness. But in this case they're right in what they're fighting for. The problem is I only know that from info gleaned here; otherwise I'd think they were pushing for unreasonable wages or some-such. They need better PR people.
I don't expect new cars owners to be too happy with the strikers. The techs already get blamed for everything anyway
We seem to live in a age of blaming the wrong people. But I guess that's what good PR does when it works!
https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-local-701-auto-mechanics-strike-fair-wages-work-schedule/
For better or worse, the auto unions in particular helped to create the prosperous lower-middle-class worker in America.
Now that's just about gone. It's not a good situation.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The UAW reminds me of that.
Note: To be clear, the striking mechanics are not UAW.
Sticking points include uncompensated time. With the factory reducing times and restricting technicians’ ability to properly fix vehicles within the allotted time, the mechanics ends up working at their own expense. Up to 6 hours (15 percent of their time) or more per week may not be compensated.
The mechanics are being kind here. Up to six hours of unpaid time a week? Traditionally dealers have been taught to overstaff so that they can handle the really busy day's efficiently but that makes them overstaffed just about every other day of the week. That leaves the techs having to cut each others throats to be busy. It also leads to the overselling of basic services that consumers often (and correctly) complain about. As I have mentioned numerous times, blaming the techs for that is putting the blame on the wrong people which is why the problem has never gone away. BTW techs that don't upsell these services end up losing a lot more than just six hours a week.
Other sticking points include a work schedule consisting of a flex work week, which prohibits IAM members from being able to spend time with their families, an extended apprenticeship progression of eight years, and increased health care costs.
It's supposed to be good for the consumer to have expanded hours for more convenience, but it comes at a cost for the technicians who often have kids that they would like to go to soccer practice with too.
The exodus of seasoned Journeymen mechanics leaving the industry to seek jobs that actually pay for their expertise is also a major concern, as well as draconian pay structures prohibiting the union’s ability to attract young aspiring mechanics into entering the auto repair field.
Where have I heard this before??? Hmmmm.
“The unattractive pay rates coupled with stagnation within each entry level classification restricts the trade’s ability to provide for an attractive long-term profession,” said Cicinelli, who knows first-hand the pains of attracting new talent to the industry, as IAM Local 701 is home to one of the most effective automotive training centers and apprenticeship programs in the city. “With the industry headed in this direction, who will fix the cars and trucks in our future?”
It's time for the media to get behind the techs and start asking these questions out loud in front of the consumers. Tomorrow's automotive technician/mechanic is today's math and science genius who also has the born in gift to be the mechanic of yesterday. That individual has a very high career ceiling in almost any other profession and the auto repair trade has to grow in a direction to become attractive to him/her.
I've shared more than enough examples of what today's tech really needs to be able to do. This is something I helped a shop in New York with yesterday. It started out as two different data captures with his PICO scope. To get this single picture I edited sections of them, manipulated the voltage scales to pull out the details and then over-laid one on top of the other so that the good, versus the bad cylinders could be compared in a single picture. This is for a customer of theirs that is an aerospace engineer who is an avid DIY'er and has already loaded up and fired the parts cannon at his car without solving a rough idle complaint. Then he doubted the shop's diagnosis so they asked me to recheck their data. Today's tech needs to be capable of doing all of that and at a glance know exactly what is wrong with this Subaru.
Consider that we don't even know what we will have to figure out and learn next year, and the next, and the next which is why this other statement from the union is important to repeat and highlight.
an extended apprenticeship progression of eight years
That's right. Take the smartest, highly educated, most gifted person with cars that you know and if they dropped into a shop today for a career change their apprenticeship would be about an eight year journey, with respect to the fact that the need to learn more never stops through-out their career. That is how hard the work is, and it is only going to get harder.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-naperville-mechanics-strike-st-0804-20170802-story.html
http://www.autonews.com/article/20170803/RETAIL07/170809843/1147
Active picketing is widespread across most of the 130 unionized dealerships, part of 420 new-car dealerships in the Chicago metro area, but there have been reports that some mechanics have opted out of picketing due to a "respect" for the owner, Sloan said.
Wonder why "respect" is in quotes.....
Unattractive pay rates coupled with the inability to progress or achieve a long-term profession in the field are drivers of mechanic frustration, said Sam Cicinelli
Nothing new there.
In efforts to preserve that system, the dealers offered a 5 percent annual pay increase over the next three years with further incentive premiums -- an offer the workers rejected "overwhelmingly" on Sunday, Sloan said.
A mechanic posted on the union's Facebook page that the contract, which he is not permitted to publish, "works out to 1.25 percent increase in pay and the rest is only incentive based."
I saw the proposed pay increase mentioned but in that article it could have been five percent per year or a total of five percent over several years, this article clears that up. But it's not actually a pay increase and the next section explains why.
Most mechanics work more than 40 hours a week while a small number of mechanics work less than that, but not below 34 hours, which is the weekly minimum currently guaranteed by the unionized dealerships.
Notice they don't state how many hours over the forty the techs work. Techs don't get paid overtime and with the labor cuts putting in more than fifty hours at work could see someone taking home less than forty hours pay.
"It's in the best interest of the dealers to reward their most productive technicians," Sloan said. "They have to keep their most productive technicians busy and keep their service department running efficiently."
Remember that the most productive technicians typically are the ones who sell the most services, whether they are needed or un-needed.
Achieving upward mobility and an attainable entrypoint into the industry for younger workers are also on the union's agenda.
Ilic said there is "no language for advancement" for lube techs, those who start out rotating tires and changing oil. Lube techs and others in semi-skilled positions can work without advancement in the current system "indefinitely," he said.
"The journeyman are willing to strike over these issues so young tradesmen can no longer be exploited by the language in this subpar contract," Ilic said.
So when is the rest of the media going to get behind the techs and blow this out into the open? They never had a problem with pushing the stereotypes and pretending they were knowledgeable in front of the consumers when it came to assailing the trade and its people. Now when most of that stuff has been exposed for what it really was (often times just a paid add for some toy tool) they have a chance to help start setting the record straight by showing the consumers not only how few people are trained and capable of doing the work but how bad the conditions that they work under really are.
Letting this pass without reporting about it and promoting open and accurate discussion is essentially voicing approval of the wallet flush pushing dealer management practices.
One can only hope that they get no applications at all and it would serve them right if the technicians moved on in their lives. (There are photo's of toolboxes outside of a building circulating but no confirmation of exactly how they got there or where the photo was taken)
As to "language for advancement," I'd be curious what exactly they are looking for. In the working world without unions, such language is certainly not typical. If you excel, you can move up, if there is a position to move into. I see people in my industry all the time who, after 20 years in the business, still have a title I bypassed when I was 5 years in. They are good at what they do, but they aren't cut out to take on more responsibility. Not everyone can advance.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Thank the US government for COBRA legislation, or they could really be hurting.
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Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Similar to a mechanic starting their own shop, many white collar workers like programmers can become independent contractors and charge significant hourly wages. However, as you point out, they must do everything including receivables, payables, project management, as well as the core job. That requires a lot more diligence then just showing up with one's tool box each day. Most people cannot or will not do all of this. Maybe if people were educated in these areas, they would not fear them. Or maybe certain people would still want to have extremely limited responsibility and just be able to show up with their toolbox each day. I am unclear on peoples' motivations versus the fact that the education system prepares everyone to be lemmings and whether or not that is intentional.
Something that should help individual business people today is the ability, at a reasonable cost, to outsource human resources, accounting, and payroll services. But someone has to put the numbers into the software, which still requires time and an understanding of the business flow. If I were a mechanic though, every last service would be outsourced so that I could spend 100% of my time in my expertise doing billable repairs.
Doc is there any financial education happening for techs? I am of the opinion that all of our problems as Americans are from the spending side of the equation. People making very small amounts of money have made very comfortable lives. However, someone needs to influence them to read The Millionaire Next Door, and to have an online trading account.
Regarding the dealerships looking for scabs, in this economy I say they find them easily. They will be as you say, low level techs. But it does not matter to the dealership does it? They just want a body in that service bay. Some of the striking mechanics are going to lose it all.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Working for a dealer doesn't have to be awful. I have living proof in my area. If your workers hate their job, the owner has to at least take 50% of the blame and FIX IT.
Of course, she only needs four.
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By the looks of most of the posts on their Facebook page this is going to cost them dearly and the word is getting around so they aren't going to be seeing many applications and it would serve them right if they got none at all.
https://www.facebook.com/napletoncadillaclib/photos/a.1777770029130755.1073741828.1766044913636600/1931758897065200/?type=3
We have kept the faith for years believing that eventually things would change and the career would become one that is respected for the talents that it demands.. But instead we are met with ever decreasing labor times and just under the surface the old attitude that the techs are a necessary evil and easily replaceable. There have been many discussions about the shortage of qualified technicians but little to nothing ever really done to help make being a technician a rewarding lifetime career choice. In fact look at how many advertisements actually talk about the career as being one that is only a stepping stone from which to go on and do something else. It really should not be seen as a promotion to leave the bays and become a service writer or move into management. Think about that for a moment. Take any other job in the building and one can learn to be proficient at it in a few days to a few months. Now look at what the techs really have to be able to do and realize that it takes twenty years to master the craft with the understanding that ultimately there is no finish line to needing to learn new technologies and skills. When a tech leaves the bays his/her requirement for continuing education essentially stops that means any change is a step down, not up. By all appearances this strike is going to get ugly and the pain from it is going to reach beyond the Chicago area. Hopefully some good comes from all of it and you'll know it has if/when you can look at a technician and see it as a career you would have liked to have had. If you are in management and cannot say that then you aren't doing the job that you were always supposed to have been doing
https://www.facebook.com/napletoncadillaclib/?hc_ref=ARTTinx26JPTwzF5N8yuiP-peeyLdz8LQ2QJwOx1ryJhEpeof4980UMYNSxvdbnldyo&fref=nf&pnref=story
Some dealers genuinely care about their techs. These people should become the models for negotiating, so that messes like the one we're seeing here don't have to happen.
My good friend owned and personally ran a Mitsubishi dealership for many years, and he was very successful. He had a Grade B product line but he made money, and most of his techs have been there from the day he opened.
Sure, not every tech got what he wanted, nor did every customer, but the vast majority did.
fiercely loyal to them!
This pic gives a good idea of its current arrangement. I don't THINK it is so bad as to be the source of the overheating but it is possible and definitely a fix I will make to find out.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
As far as the actual temperatures go there are multiple variables at play and they have to be considered dynamically. We can check a few specifics first but need to then quickly move onto figuring out just how much heat we are really dealing with.
First question, what is the concentration of the engine coolant to water? Is it 50/50 or is it higher ? (more antifreeze than water) Engine coolants are poor conductors of heat compared to water. While the coolant prevents freezing and raises the boiling point, higher concentrations can cause localized overheating since it doesn't conduct heat as easily as water does.
What brand and specification coolant is in the system? Some coolants are very good at preventing cavitation erosion and others can be very poor at it. If cavitation is or has been occurring it could quickly erode the vanes on the water pump reducing flow. High silicate coolants can build protection from cavitation very quickly. A lot of newer coolants (dexcool / G34, G05 Ford and most universals, G12 VW, G30 non dexcool orange like Chrysler some Ford, G40 Asians, G48, Euro's among others) can take a thousand miles to build a protective layer and could see the pump fail before that occurs. Water wetters are not a good idea with cooling systems that have differing metals in them even if they say that they help fight electrolysis. Watter wetters can reduce a coolants ability to resist cavitation. If you want to see how prone a given system might be to suffering cavitation issues then right after starting the engine cold, watch the lower hose as the engine is revved up to about 3,000rpm. If the lower hose starts to compress indicating the pump is putting it into a vacuum then you have a system where cavitation erosion is much more likely to occur.
If the coolant isn't moving fast enough that again can lead to overheating but it will have a set of symptoms that are very predictable. Low engine loads will produce less heat and the system might be able to handle that heat load. Higher engine loads will usually produce enough heat to see the engine temperature start climbing. Going back down to a low load will usually see the temperature start to move back down.
You mentioned that you checked the timing. Did you also test the vacuum (if used) and mechanical advance mechanisms? You may have checked the base timing, but if the springs are worn out for the mechanical advance or the mechanical advance ha seized, or if the vacuum advance (if used) has failed then the timing will be retarded at higher rpms and at cruise. Late timing will cause the engine to run hot. Total advance should be close to 30-36 degrees BTC by 2500rpm no load.
Honda's mention of the fan shroud might be on the right track, but you only need the fan shroud while the fan is the primary means of getting air to flow through the radiator. Similar to poor flow of coolant, poor airflow will produce very similar heating characteristics. So the next consideration is, what about the rest of the air deflectors and dams? Are the side seals in place so that air cannot flow around the radiator and then under the hood? Did this car orignally use any fillers below the radiator extending back towards the engine? Once you are going over about 20mph there should be more air flowing through the radiator than a cooling fan can move. When everything else has come up with no trouble found directed airflow through the radiator becomes high on the list of considerations.
Is this something that is taught in business schools? This idea had to come from somewhere. Most 50-something managers I know are afraid for their jobs, and have been for years. It is like they are all just waiting to get canned. Despite many being forced out at a certain age, usually those are people who have screwed up or who are not contributing anymore. There is no tangible reason to live in constant fear, but many do. This fear problem is widespread, even though 2008 clearly put an exclamation mark on it.
I like how you distinguished the product from the service, and that explains your friend's success. Problems happen. If the problem are handled well, then they are no longer problems. If the problems are handled poorly, then that will translate to the worst scenario, "This brand is awful and I am never buying it again."