My dad turned wrenches for a number of years, mostly on imports, especially Datsuns, as those were the craze when he did that. Now, he is service manager an import shop in Smyrna, Georgia. They specialize in BMW, but do all work on BMW, Volvo, Acura, Honda, Toyota, Saab, and VW, and some Lexus. (We drive all Chevy's by the way).
They have all the newest and greatest equipment. Top of the line alignment machine etc. Recently, they added the CANBus (Controller Area Network Bus system). This is the very expensive piece of equipment that very few service centers (aside from dealers) have, and is becoming very important these days, on the BMWs. I am not going into details with it, as the whole CANBus system is really a bit over my head, but basically, ALL electronic components on the car are controlled by the same computer, and often the same wires. The thing that keeps the windshield wipers from coming on when you turn the headlights on is different coding for each individual item. So, if they do something so simple as replace a window motor, they have to have this 10,000 dollar tool to allow the computer to recognize the window motor, or it simply will not function. Same goes for just about everything in the car.
With this tool, and one other similar tool for VWs (besides all the more common scanners that most shops have that fit the Hondas and Toyotas etc), they can now do anything the dealer can do on any of the makes they work on, aside from body work.
Aside from the owner, and my dad, there are 3 full time mechanics there (50 hour weeks). For them, work has come in spurts recently. Some days they are real slow, and others all 8 lifts are full and there are cars outside waiting to be worked on. Real odd how things are going.
I guess you could call me somewhat of a mechanic as well. My main form of income the past few months has been working on Johnson/Evinrude outboards. I can't really say how it is going right now, as I put it aside for a bit to finish up an AP class, but I have started advertising again, so I am hoping to start getting a couple jobs back in here in the next week or two. Seeing as the marinas are so cutthroat around here, there is usually a demand for more honest/reasonable work on some of these older motors.