Bavarian Autosport Parts: Performance And Quality Reviewed

Bavarian Autosport was an award-winning mail-order and internet retailer of replacement parts, upgrades, and accessories for BMW and MINI automobiles. The company was founded in 1974 as an automotive service centre specialising in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles. In addition to repair services, Bavarian Auto Service also offered an inventory of new and used parts. In 1996, the company moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and began operating under the name Bavarian Autosport. The company's website was launched in the same year, becoming an e-commerce site in 2001. In 2019, after 45 years in business, Bavarian Autosport closed its doors.

Bavarian Auto Service's history and founders

Bavarian Auto Service, Inc. was founded in 1974 as an automotive service center specializing in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles. Its first location was in Stratham, New Hampshire, and it was founded by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason. In 1977, it moved to Newmarket, New Hampshire, and began to offer an inventory of new and used parts for BMW enthusiasts in the northeastern United States.

In the late 1970s, Bavarian Auto Service began to advertise its BMW parts and accessories throughout North America. In 1983, it produced its first catalog, and in 1996, the company moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where it had built a three-story warehouse. That same year, it also launched its website and began operating under the name Bavarian Autosport.

When BMW launched the new MINI in 2002, the company began offering parts and accessories for MINIs as well. In 2003, Bavarian Autosport launched a quarterly newsletter that contained step-by-step DIY repairs, product features, and a technical Q&A with "Bavarian Otto," a cartoon character developed to make automotive repairs and maintenance less intimidating.

On March 8, 2019, after 45 years in business, Bavarian Autosport announced that it would be closing its doors. The company was an award-winning mail-order and internet retailer of replacement parts, upgrades, and accessories for BMW and MINI automobiles. It had one retail store at its headquarters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The company's former retail store and headquarters

The former retail store and headquarters of Bavarian Autosport was located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The company was founded in 1974 as an automotive service centre specialising in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles. Its first location was in Stratham, New Hampshire, but it moved to Newmarket, New Hampshire, in 1977.

In addition to repair services, the company began to offer an inventory of new and used parts, which BMW enthusiasts could purchase to perform their own repairs and modifications. In 1983, Bavarian Auto Service produced its first catalogue. In 1996, the company moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where it had built a three-story warehouse. That same year, it began operating under the name Bavarian Autosport and launched its website.

In 2001, the website became an e-commerce platform, and in 2002, the company began offering parts and accessories for MINI automobiles when BMW launched the new MINI. In 2003, the company launched a quarterly newsletter containing step-by-step DIY repairs, in-depth product features, and a technical Q&A with "Bavarian Otto", a cartoon character developed to make automotive repairs and maintenance more accessible.

On March 8, 2019, Bavarian Autosport announced that it would be closing its doors after 45 years in business. The company's remaining inventory and brand intellectual property were purchased by an Ohio-based retailer.

Bavarian Autosport's DIY videos and online knowledgebase

Bavarian Autosport, the trade name of Bavarian Auto Service, Inc., was an award-winning mail-order and internet retailer of replacement parts, upgrades, and accessories for BMW and MINI automobiles. The company was founded in 1974 as an automotive service centre specialising in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles.

In 2003, Bavarian Auto Service launched a quarterly newsletter that contained step-by-step DIY repair tutorials, in-depth product features, and a technical Q&A with "Bavarian Otto", a cartoon character designed to make automotive repairs and maintenance less intimidating. In 2008, the company started posting these Q&As online at blog.BavAuto.com, creating a searchable, online knowledge base that now contains over 1,000 Q&As and dozens of DIY videos.

Bavarian Otto, the website's DIY-instructing cartoon character, was a popular feature, with drivers swiping through tutorials with oily fingers and fiddling with parts that arrived in hand-packaged boxes. The company's commitment to providing accessible and informative content helped to build a strong community of BMW enthusiasts.

While Bavarian Autosport is no longer in business, its legacy lives on through ECS Tuning, which acquired the brand and continues to stock Bavarian Autosport-branded parts. ECS Tuning also honoured all Bavarian Autosport gift cards through April 30, 2019, and continues to support BMW CCA chapters across the country.

The company's closure in 2019

On March 8, 2019, Bavarian Autosport, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based retailer of BMW parts, upgrades, and accessories, announced via its Facebook page that it would be closing its doors after 45 years in business. The company, founded in 1974 by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason, was an integral part of the BMW community and a beloved source for parts, upgrades, and accessories for BMW enthusiasts.

The announcement came as a shock to many, as Bavarian Autosport had been a staple in the BMW community for decades. The company's fate was attributed to a developing and fiercely competitive landscape of automotive retailers, combined with a shrinking amount of DIY work. According to sources, the remaining inventory and brand intellectual property were purchased by an Ohio-based retailer and moved out by the truckload in just a matter of days.

The closure of Bavarian Autosport left employees with little to do and a lot to process. The company's legacy, however, will live on through its impact on the BMW community and the memories of its customers. The company's commitment to bringing BMW maintenance to the masses and its knowledgeable staff will be remembered fondly by many.

In the wake of Bavarian Autosport's closure, ECS Tuning stepped in to assist customers during the transition. They honoured BavAuto gift cards, provided warranty support for Bavarian Autosport-branded merchandise, and continued to stock Bavarian Autosport-branded parts on their website. ECS Tuning's involvement helped to ensure that Bavarian Autosport's customers were taken care of and that the BavAuto legacy would continue.

Bavarian Autosport's legacy and impact on the BMW community

Bavarian Auto Service, Inc., known by its trade name Bavarian Autosport, was an award-winning retailer of replacement parts, upgrades, and accessories for BMW and MINI automobiles. The company was founded in 1974 by three friends—Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason—as an automotive service center specializing in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles. Headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the company played a pivotal role in the BMW community for over four decades.

Bavarian Autosport's legacy is deeply intertwined with the history of BMW maintenance and the BMW Car Club of America. During the early years of BMW's presence in North America, the vehicles were known to be temperamental, and keeping them on the road was a challenge for owners. This is where Bavarian Autosport stepped in, becoming one of the earliest and most devoted contributors to BMW maintenance and repairs.

The company initially relied on word-of-mouth and enthusiast publications to spread awareness about their services. As a mail-order and online retailer, they also supported publications like Roundel magazine and BimmerLife. Their influence extended across the country, uniting garage-bound BMW drivers who eagerly awaited packages from New Hampshire, containing parts for their DIY repairs.

Bavarian Autosport's impact extended beyond just providing parts; they also played a crucial role in making automotive repairs and maintenance more accessible. They achieved this through their quarterly newsletter, launched in 2003, which featured step-by-step DIY repair guides, product features, and a technical Q&A with "Bavarian Otto," a cartoon character designed to make automotive maintenance less intimidating. This knowledgebase eventually evolved into a searchable online platform with over 1,000 Q&As and numerous DIY videos.

The company's commitment to customer service and their passion for bringing BMW maintenance to the masses earned them a reputation as the plucky underdog of the BMW community. They went above and beyond to deliver parts, even going so far as hand-delivering them to snowy college parking lots in New England or remote locations in the American West.

In 2017, the company suffered a tragic loss with the passing of Peter Robart, one of its founders. Despite this setback, the company continued to operate until 2019, when they abruptly announced their closure after 45 years in business. While the company may no longer be active, its legacy lives on through the impact it had on the BMW community and the memories of those who relied on their services.

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