Starting an Independent Shop
 

Gentlemen

I am considering the development of a European Car independent shop in the state of CT. Can anyone point me in the right direction for getting Genuine MB training, what would be the recommended get it started courses cost of turning this on ect. Of course I will also want to do VW and BMW.

Hope you're good with wiring harnesses........

That is an understatement.....have you seen his M120 into a R107 swap? :eek: He's a genius of wiring harnesses and car computers! :eek:

look for an existing repair shop for sale ~~~ the new build regulations will kill you

The only way to get MB or any manufacture training is to go through their programs. i was accepted to the MB program earlier this year when the economy was really hurting but it got canceled for the year.

to get factory training go through a tech school then applying or by getting a job a dealership where you will get sent to their school for courses on new models and manufacture certification.

Since I have met you at a meet I would try hire factory trained BMW,MB or vw techs looking to leave the dealer. Just curious in your profile you say you are an ex mb tech. Now did you just worked on them at independent shop or at a dealer? I highly douby you worked at a dealer since you would know that peridically you are sent to school for courses to get updated on the new models and procedures on how to work on them. I know a MB dealer shop foreman who goes to germany every year to learn the new models.

A shop in glastonbury ct is already doing what you plan to do.

http://www.mercedes-benzcareers.com/pages/career_tech.asp?section=career&id=2&menustate=1

I was a dealer tech 22 years ago at Rally Motors in Roslyn NY. I have been an Aerospace Engineer since. Plan would be to start with a functioning shop and higher already qualified techs but I believe I will have to fill in gaps. I would need to get trained myself as my particular roll would be troubleshooting difficult cars.

I was uner the impression MB sold there training to the public. Yes/No??

When I applied to MB elite program it was last time that the dealer paided the tution which was around 6-7k. Ether route taken to get factory training whether its applying to mercedes directly or through custom training group you are still paying for housing, gas, food and tution which is over 10k. The thing with the custom training group is you need be in a tech school or graduated recently to be considered.

It is sold to the public via custom training group but you have to pay for it.

my brother had a Euro car repair shop back in the 90's...I would work there on occasion..not ASE or anything...we only worked on SAABs, BMW, Mercedes, VW and Audi...everything was sent away...He made a pretty good living off of that shop....

Farming work away is clearly a good busines plan since you are paying more people than needed to do a job

actually, if you do the math...it's quite attractive.....say a 2 bay gas station that's no longer a gas station but has 2 lifts....you have 2 good mechanics and someone to handle the phone....add an attractive local market and figure $100 per hour per bay (and that's kind of cheap these days) for labor, add 20% for parts markup...you are looking at $10-12 grand a week...so you take out salary, lease, advertising, insurance and incidentals and you are still looking at around 3 grand a week in your pocket....with only 2 bays....that's not bad there

...and to that you add payroll taxes, business taxes, errors and omissions insurance, general liability insurance, workman's comp, OSHA compliance, employee benefits and training (if you want to attract anybody that's worth a *****), state environmental and regulatory agency compliance, state workplace occupational and safety compliance, carrying cost on parts inventory, employee right-to-know (MSDS) information, maintenance of shop tools and equipment, business licenses, etc. And oh yeah you will be a net generator of hazardous waste (batteries, fluids, etc.) and a hazardous substabce storage facility (brake cleaner, carb cleaber, BG44K, etc.), so the Fire Department and the state and local hazwaste people will be all up in your business, therefore there are associated compliance and disposal costs, etc., etc., etc. You better make damn sure you assess what all the regs are before you do this. It just ain't like it used to be...

And many people wonder why shop rates are so high.

The prices of speciality tools needed to efficiently and safely service Mercedes, BWM and other premium brands is astronomical.

It's so easy a caveman can do it

These are the reasons that have kept me from getting entrepreneural in these times.

... it's why I work on so many people's boats and cars for free, ... it's cheaper than charging them for it!