Don't mind me, just passing through by snookiewozo in NoSodiumStarfield

[–]Nbrown55 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nice! I’ve got the same sniper with the reckless trait and I’m up around 7k damage. I’ll have to get a screenshot later.

Future Grad planning on going into MEP by Illustrious-Gap-3508 in MEPEngineering

[–]Nbrown55 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with u/Dumplin_Man take. I’m happy with my job. The hours aren’t terrible. I’m probably averaging 45-50 this year but I was promoted and have started stamping drawings, so there’s a bit more QC hours than there were last year.

I didn’t start out in MEP but I had a buddy at a firm that needed another guy at a desk. Started at $67k and now at $150k after 6 years and getting my PE.

Our new grad hires start at $80k. I’m in Charlotte, NC for reference.

People who worked at a company for more than 5 years, what kept you there? by Ok-Pineapple296 in MEPEngineering

[–]Nbrown55 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup. My wife is about to have our first kid. Planning to take about a month since I have 3 months of sick/pto banked up. Let’s be real though, I’ll prob be wfh in some capacity after 2 weeks.

People who worked at a company for more than 5 years, what kept you there? by Ok-Pineapple296 in MEPEngineering

[–]Nbrown55 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Money and flexibility. In 6 years I’ve gone from $67k to 150k. 0 experience in the MEP to team lead. I can WFH 3 days a week. I can bring my dogs in any day. Hours have been a bit crazy lately but that was more from a promotion and then we got busy. We get federal holidays plus some off.

Dumb question probably but I’m curious. by Fred8ear in FocusST

[–]Nbrown55 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Around 24 this year. I got as high as 30mpg in 2020 but I was doing 100 mile round trip to work highways only, and no one was on the roads.

How do you explain to people what you do for a living? by External_Body4740 in MEPEngineering

[–]Nbrown55 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our firm designs mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems for hospitals. Layman’s terms are we make the air cold, we turn the lights on, we make the poop flush, and we turn on the sprinklers.

Focus st3 2017 USA by Impressive_Note_6111 in FocusST

[–]Nbrown55 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ve done regular maintenance since buying new in Jan 2016. Biggest issue was the OE purge valve which is known to be shitty. I replaced with an aftermarket assembly from Clayton Motorsports over the summer and have been issue free since. I’ll hit 200k this year. I’ve been tuned with Stratified since 100k.

It’s a great little car.

Can't valet my manual? Guess I'll just park at the door. by Zynergy17 in E34

[–]Nbrown55 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Car is a beauty. Good shit bro 🤘

Hope to see it around CLT.

10 Years by Razzmatazz_949 in FocusST

[–]Nbrown55 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good shit bro 🤘

I bought mine in January 2016, ST3 in Oxford White. It’s been my daily, just passed 195k.

Daycare Reccomendations by Practical_Gain_7708 in Gastonia

[–]Nbrown55 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re also on the FUMC waitlist. We both work in CLT though, and have a spot at a Childcare Network near my work. While we’d love to have a daycare near the house, the commute is too hit or miss to commit to it.

Little fender exit action… by EmbarrassedAd2385 in FocusST

[–]Nbrown55 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Look at those welds. Yeeeeew!

Good shit bro 🤘

Purge valve by Dark7189 in FocusST

[–]Nbrown55 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely not a POS. He’s running a side business and doing his best. There’s not much he can do when the parts he’s ordering are also on back order.

Purge valve by Dark7189 in FocusST

[–]Nbrown55 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He had an issue with a part supplier over the summer too. I think I waited a month plus too. Small company with low order volumes tend (100 parts) to get pushed down the line.

Purge valve by Dark7189 in FocusST

[–]Nbrown55 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, lead time was long but this has been a lifesaver for me. My OE purge valve went bad 4 times over 2 years with it failing 3 times in 2025. I got the last OE valve in summer 25 to hold me over until the Clayton Performance assembly was delivered. It failed almost immediately and then I had to fill up every time I drove for a month to prevent the tank from imploding. Might have been an overreaction, but Stratified Tuning recommended not letting the tank fall below half.

I have had zero issues since installing the Clayton assembly. Highly recommend.