Mercedes roadside assistance

[Tiff]

Just off the phone and have been told I have a technical assessment/interview day next week for a job as a Mercedes roadside tech. Just wondered if anyone has any idea what I should expect? I'm a roadside tech just now and love the job, but working as a Mercedes tech would be a dream position for me. If the tasks are on w124's or W201's I'll fly it, but don't have too much experience with the "modern" stuff.

 

[Ted]

Can't help other than to wish you all the very best.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Just off the phone and have been told I have a technical assessment/interview day next week for a job as a Mercedes roadside tech. Just wondered if anyone has any idea what I should expect? I'm a roadside tech just now and love the job, but working as a Mercedes tech would be a dream position for me. If the tasks are on w124's or W201's I'll fly it, but don't have too much experience with the "modern" stuff.

It'll be mostly up to 5 year old cars that you attend to, after that most cars leave the dealership servicing network.

 

[Rory]

Surely on the modern stuff you plug StarDiagnose is and it tells you what to do?

 

[sjmaxwell]

My experiences have been a water leak from a pipe not properly connected by the dealers after a recall, failure to start needing a new fuse and a crankshaft position sensor being changed on a V8 CLK all done at roadside so quite a varied lot!

 

[Tiff]

I've no problem with the roadside stuff, and I think all vans carry STAR on board, just wondered what scenario's I'll be presented with for the assessment. Will they have an SLS with an intermittent non start issue, or a loose battery terminal on an old Corsa..?

 

[DITTRICH]

Best of Luck Mr Tiff!
My view is that the roadside assistance should be all about diagnosing faults. This is where genuine understanding and common sense play an important part.
Les

 

[s88]

surely they never break down!!

 

[sjmaxwell]

surely they never break down!!

One was only two days old!

Hope it goes well mr tiff

 

[219]

Just off the phone and have been told I have a technical assessment/interview day next week for a job as a Mercedes roadside tech. Just wondered if anyone has any idea what I should expect? I'm a roadside tech just now and love the job, but working as a Mercedes tech would be a dream position for me. If the tasks are on w124's or W201's I'll fly it, but don't have too much experience with the "modern" stuff.

I should think that a lot of the time you will be changing wheels for those who are either too incompetent or too self important to get their hands dirty .

 

[sjmaxwell]

That'll be me if in in a suite a don't want to get dirty!

 

[trapperjohn]

Hmmm.

Some of the stuff they may be looking for at any given time in the interrogation, sorry interview, may be.

Safety First. Your safety is paramount along with the customers and any pax on board at any situation.
Being utterly charming at all times. You will be at the coalface of "customer services"
Say as part of your research for the interview you have read up on forums about common faults in newer Mercedes. (After all you are not a member of any forum which may bash Mercedes from time to time. You are very pleased there are so few faults on the newer cars. If they ask what fault bugs customers most say trim rattles. That throws it back to production not dealer inactivity or local main dealer tech's faults.

Scenario could be a verbal or as you say - having a non starter out the back for you to get going.
Newish vehicle requiring a jump start and making sure you dont blow any sams or fry ECUs.
Verbals - Its dark and raining and very late. You have a lady driver on board with two wee ones in child seats. Car will not start what are your priorities.
Keys locked in the car and customer needs to be away pronto.
Where do you see yourself in five years time.
Tell us your fix at the roadside success rate. (Its brilliant of course) If they dont ask tell them anyway)
Tell us the worst fault you could not fix at the roadside. (They should all have been "offs" - you have obviously got each and every "failed to proceed" sorted.
Tell us about yourself always comes up as does "Why do you want this job" Let them hear and see the passion of your dream in your body language.
Last time we met you were a smartly turned out fella and I'm sure you will wear a tie and your shoes will be squeaky clean. What ever car you turn up in you be noticed by the "panel" I'm sure.

The worst car you had was never a Mercedes but the worst car you know about was a friends BMW.

Maybe give Ian or Olly a ring to see what faults they are sorting on newer Mercs.

Good Luck Tiff and I hope not to see you in your professional capacity any time soon. I would have to buy a new car anyway.

 

[Tiff]

Thanks TJ- some good points there and some I need to brush up on!

Anyway, they should be suitably impressed by my choice of car, and I'll go smart/casual. Should I leave the dog in the car or will it break the ice?

 

[Spin_bowler]

Take the dog but leave the bewildered expression at the door.

 

[Tiff]

Ah well, didn't get it, and I was the only one who turned up on the day :0 Kick in the ******** that! This IS Mercedes Benz,sir and we need Mercedes trained diagnostic techs.

Did feel a bit corporate, and reminded me I ****** HATE modern cars. Job conditions and benefits were very good but I I do like a variety- one day a Lambo with a stuck roof, the next a Misfiring Morris Minor. Sometimes I even get to swear,smoke and hit things with a hammer.

 

[grober]

That's disappointing. Was it not made clear in the job advert they were looking for Mercedes trained techs? Pity they didn't offer to send you on a course to bring you up to speed. It's not everybody that's willing to do the recovery job at all hours etc. Mercedes are very corporate. It's possible that anyone employing you would leave themselves liable if it was proved they provided a service employing non trained personnel. -------For example you get called out to a new S class whose Canbus is fried. To help the customer you try to get the car started but fail [ its a irrecoverable catastrophic failure nobody could sort at the roadside] -its recovered to the dealership- where a substantial warranty claim is submitted- during negotiations it emerges that a non MB qualified mechanic has worked on the car [ no matter how conscientious] MB walk away from the warranty claim leaving it with the dealer to sort it out. Such is the strength now of a bit of paper saying you have "been on a course" You might still be crap at the job but the employer's back is covered.

 

[Dieselman]

That's disappointing. Was it not made clear in the job advert they were looking for Mercedes trained techs? Pity they didn't offer to send you on a course to bring you up to speed. It's not everybody that's willing to do the recovery job at all hours etc. Mercedes are very corporate. It's possible that anyone employing you would leave themselves liable if it was proved they provided a service employing non trained personnel. -------For example you get called out to a new S class whose Canbus is fried. To help the customer you try to get the car started but fail [ its a irrecoverable catastrophic failure nobody could sort at the roadside] -its recovered to the dealership- where a substantial warranty claim is submitted- during negotiations it emerges that a non MB qualified mechanic has worked on the car [ no matter how conscientious] MB walk away from the warranty claim leaving it with the dealer to sort it out. Such is the strength now of a bit of paper saying you have "been on a course" You might still be crap at the job but the employer's back is covered.

Not a reference to Robert, issues...?? LOL...

 

[grober]

Experience has taught me to judge people on their performance in the job rather than any qualifications on paper. In particular when the provision of "qualifications" involves hefty revenues for the bodies providing the training/assessment. This I feel might exert an undue influence on any examination of competence [ if any] at the end of the "course" that might just include failure as a possible result. [heaven forbid] This is by no means confined to training in the automobile industry but a good example recently was the "grooming" of teachers by examination boards to boost the exam board fee income. Perhaps an indication that like most of society today apparently everything has its price -including Qualifications. Exam boards: how examiners tip off teachers to help students pass - Telegraph

PS Sorry didn't mean to sidetrack Tiff's post but simply to offer an explanation as to why they may have turned him down.

 

[Tiff]

Thanks Grober, but my diagnostic skills aren't as good as they could be, and I understand and accept that, but I would and could get up to scratch if I was given the chance- all I know up until now is self taught.Every time I've had to pass something or get up to the next level I've done it through hard work and sleepless nights. I did teach mechanics for 2 years, and the recognised qualifications I was getting the lads through were an absolute joke. I won awards and made the paper a few times, but it all felt really "false"