The Demise Of Bavarian Autosport: What Happened?

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 in Stratham, New Hampshire, specializing in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles. In 2019, after 45 years in business, Bavarian Autosport announced that it would be closing its doors. This came as a surprise to many, as the company was one of the premier vendors for BMW and Mini auto parts.

Bavarian Autosport's closure was announced on its Facebook page

Bavarian Autosport, the trade name of Bavarian Auto Service, Inc., announced its closure on its Facebook page on March 8, 2019. The company specialised in selling replacement parts, upgrades, and accessories for BMW and MINI automobiles.

Bavarian Auto Service was founded in 1974 as a repair and modification service for BMW automobiles. The company expanded its services in the late 1970s to include the sale of new and used parts. In 1983, it produced its first parts catalogue, and in 1996, it launched its website.

In its announcement, Bavarian Autosport stated that it was closing its doors after 45 years in business. The company's brand legacy will live on through ECS Tuning, which will continue to stock Bavarian Autosport-branded parts on its website. ECS Tuning will also honour all BavAuto gift cards, provide warranty support for Bavarian Autosport-branded merchandise, and maintain BavAuto's support for BMW CCA chapters across the country.

The company was owned and operated by its founders

Bavarian Auto Service, Inc., which operated under the trade name Bavarian Autosport, was founded in 1974 by three friends. The company was initially an automotive service centre specialising in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles. It was first located in Stratham, New Hampshire, before moving to Newmarket, New Hampshire, in 1977.

In addition to repair services, Bavarian Auto Service also offered an inventory of new and used parts. This allowed BMW enthusiasts in the northeastern United States to purchase parts to perform their own repairs and modifications. The company began to advertise its BMW parts and accessories throughout North America in the late 1970s and produced its first catalogue in 1983.

In 1996, the company moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, into a three-story warehouse. It was also in 1996 that the company's website was launched. In the same year, the company began operating under the name Bavarian Autosport. The website became an e-commerce platform in 2001.

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

As of 2016, Bavarian Autosport was still owned and operated by its founders. On March 8, 2019, the company announced that it would be closing its doors after 45 years in business.

ECS Tuning is now carrying forward Bavarian Autosport's legacy

Bavarian Auto Service, Inc., which operated under the trade name 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 center specializing in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles.

On March 8, 2019, Bavarian Autosport announced that it would be closing its doors after 45 years in business. This marked the end of a successful run as one of the premier BMW parts houses in the world.

However, ECS Tuning has stepped in to carry forward Bavarian Autosport's legacy. ECS Tuning is a leading distributor of Genuine, Aftermarket, and Performance parts for BMW and MINI vehicles. They have come up with a plan to assist Bavarian Autosport's customers and maintain its commitment to the enthusiast community.

• Honoring Bavarian Autosport gift cards: ECS Tuning honored all Bavarian Autosport gift cards through April 30, 2019, providing customers with a seamless transition.
• Providing warranty support: ECS Tuning offered warranty support for Bavarian Autosport-branded merchandise, ensuring that customers could continue to rely on the quality and service they had come to expect.
• Supporting BMW CCA chapters: ECS Tuning maintained Bavarian Autosport's longstanding support for BMW CCA chapters across the country, demonstrating their commitment to the BMW community.
• Continuing to stock Bavarian Autosport parts: ECS Tuning continues to stock and sell Bavarian Autosport-branded parts on their website, ensuring that customers can still access the high-quality parts they trust.
• Expanding brand offerings: ECS Tuning features the same brands carried by Bavarian Autosport, plus hundreds more aftermarket and performance brands, providing customers with an even wider selection of parts and accessories.
• Carrying forward the commitment to enthusiasts: ECS Tuning is proud to carry forward Bavarian Autosport's longstanding commitment to the enthusiast community, ensuring that the passion for BMW and MINI automobiles lives on.

Bavarian Autosport was founded in 1974

Bavarian Auto Service, Inc., known by its trade name Bavarian Autosport, 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, before moving to Newmarket, New Hampshire, in 1977.

In addition to repair services, the company also began to offer new and used parts for BMW enthusiasts in the northeastern United States to purchase for their own repairs and modifications. In the late 1970s, it started advertising BMW parts and accessories throughout North America.

The company moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1996, where it built and operated from a three-story warehouse. That same year, it also launched its website and began operating under the name Bavarian Autosport.

In 2001, the company became an e-commerce site, and in 2002, it expanded its offerings to include parts and accessories for MINI automobiles when BMW launched the new MINI.

Bavarian Autosport was an award-winning mail-order and internet retailer of replacement parts, upgrades, and accessories for BMW and MINI automobiles. It was founded and run by three friends: Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason.

It specialised in parts, upgrades and accessories for BMW and MINI automobiles

Bavarian Autosport specialised in parts, upgrades, and accessories for BMW and MINI automobiles. The company was founded in 1974 as Bavarian Auto Service, an automotive service centre specialising in the repair and modification of BMW automobiles. It was initially based in Stratham, New Hampshire, but moved to Newmarket, New Hampshire, in 1977. In addition to repair services, the company also offered an inventory of new and used parts.

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. In 1996, the company moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where it had built a three-story warehouse, and began operating under the name Bavarian Autosport. That same year, it launched its website, which became an e-commerce site in 2001.

When BMW launched the new MINI in 2002, Bavarian Autosport began offering parts and accessories for MINIs as well. In 2003, the company launched a quarterly newsletter that contained 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. The company also posted many of these Q&As online at blog.BavAuto.com, creating a searchable, online knowledge base that now contains more than 1,000 Q&As and dozens of DIY videos.

Bavarian Autosport was a trusted source for high-quality BMW and MINI auto parts, accessories, and upgrades. The company offered a wide range of products, including ignition coils, valve covers, sensors, hoses, and more. They were known for their commitment to the enthusiast community and their reliable products.

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