The Evolution Of Bavarian Auto: A Comprehensive Overview

Bavarian Autosport, a Portsmouth-based retailer of BMW parts, upgrades, and accessories, closed its doors in March 2019 after a successful 45-year run. The company, founded in 1974 by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason, was known for its passionate and devoted contribution to the BMW community. With a team of long-serving employees, BavAuto, as it was affectionately called, built a strong community of enthusiasts through word-of-mouth, enthusiast publications, and its online presence. Despite some challenges with its online store and complaints about availability and shipping times, the company was a beloved part of the BMW landscape, delivering parts to customers across the country.

Bavarian Autosport closed in 2019

Bavarian Autosport, a Portsmouth-based retailer of BMW parts, upgrades, and accessories, closed its doors on March 8, 2019, after a successful 45-year run. The company, founded in 1974 by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason, was a beloved part of the BMW community, known for its knowledgeable staff and commitment to its customers.

In its early days, Bavarian Autosport operated out of a garage in Stratham, New Hampshire, and later expanded to Newmarket before settling in Portsmouth. Over the years, the company grew from a local service shop to a leading mail-order and online retailer, serving BMW and Mini enthusiasts worldwide.

The company's closure came as a shock to many, with customers expressing sadness and fond memories of the role Bavarian Autosport played in their BMW journey. The company's Facebook announcement on March 8, 2019, stated:

> "With a heavy heart, Bavarian Autosport is sad to announce that we've closed our doors after 45 wonderful years. We have loved being part of your community as we've built, raced, and repaired our cars together. We are working on options to ensure that the Bavarian Autosport name will live on. Until then, thank you for your dedication and commitment to us over all these years."

Despite the closure, the Bavarian Autosport brand lived on through ECS Tuning, which honoured gift cards, provided warranty support, and continued to stock Bavarian Autosport-branded parts. ECS Tuning also shared Bavarian Autosport's commitment to the enthusiast community and carried forward its legacy by offering a wide range of parts and accessories for BMW and Mini vehicles.

The company was founded in 1974 by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason

Bavarian Autosport, or BavAuto, was founded in 1974 by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason. The company was a retailer of BMW parts, upgrades, and accessories, and was based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

BavAuto began life as a BMW service shop, with its founders maintaining, repairing, and modifying 2002s, Coupes, and Bavarias. They also started to build an inventory of parts, which BMW enthusiasts could purchase to do their own maintenance, repairs, and modifications. The company was first located in a garage in Stratham, but soon outgrew the space and moved to Newmarket and eventually Portsmouth.

In the late 1970s, the business began advertising BMW products nationwide and, by 1983, they had created their first catalog. The company continued to expand, launching their website, BAVauto.com, in 1996, and becoming an online store in 2001. The website became a valuable resource for BMW drivers, featuring tutorials by "Bavarian Otto", the website's DIY-instructing cartoon character.

In addition to their online presence, BavAuto also had a strong commitment to the BMW community. They were longtime supporters of Roundel magazine and BimmerLife, and were involved in various events, such as the Bav Auto Show and Shine in New England, which brought together BMW enthusiasts from all over the country.

Despite its success and dedicated customer base, BavAuto faced some challenges over the years, including complaints about availability and shipping times, as well as the difficulty of searching for multiple BMW models on their website. In 2017, the company also suffered the loss of one of its founders, Peter Robart, who passed away at the age of 66.

Ultimately, the combination of a competitive market and a decrease in DIY work led to the company's closure in March 2019, ending its 45-year run as one of the premier BMW parts retailers in the world.

It was a mail-order and online retailer of BMW parts and accessories

Bavarian Autosport, a Portsmouth-based mail-order and online retailer of BMW parts and accessories, closed its doors in March 2019 after 45 years in business. The company, also known as BAVauto, was founded in 1974 by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason, starting life as a BMW service shop in a garage in Stratham, New Hampshire. Over time, it built up an inventory of parts for BMW enthusiasts to purchase for their own maintenance, repairs, and modifications.

The business began advertising BMW products nationwide in the late 1970s and published its first catalog in 1983. Its website, BAVauto.com, was launched in 1996 and became an online store in 2001. The company also supported Roundel magazine and BimmerLife, which were popular among BMW drivers.

Bavarian Autosport was a beloved and integral part of the BMW community, known for its knowledgeable staff and commitment to its customers. It was also a supporter of the BMW CCA chapters across the country. However, in its later years, the company faced some challenges, including customer complaints about availability and shipping times.

In March 2019, Bavarian Autosport abruptly announced its closure, citing a competitive market and a decrease in DIY work. The company's remaining inventory and intellectual property were purchased by an Ohio-based retailer, and its legacy was continued by ECS Tuning, which honoured gift cards and provided warranty support for Bavarian Autosport-branded merchandise.

The company was based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Bavarian Autosport, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire-based retailer of BMW parts, upgrades, and accessories, closed its doors after a successful run of over four decades. The company was founded in 1974 by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason, initially selling BMW parts out of a garage in Stratham. Over the years, the company expanded, moving first to Newmarket and then to Portsmouth, where it was based at 275 Constitution Ave.

The company's website, BAVauto.com, was launched in 1996 and became an online store in 2001. The site described Bavarian Autosport as the leading BMW and MINI parts and accessories mail-order and internet retailer in the world, with a retail showroom and distribution centre boasting over 400,000 factory original and aftermarket BMW and MINI parts and accessories.

Bavarian Autosport's success was built on a combination of factors, including its knowledgeable staff, commitment to customer service, and support for the BMW enthusiast community. The company was also known for its DIY tutorials, with its website featuring the cartoon character "Bavarian Otto", who provided instructions for BMW owners looking to maintain and repair their vehicles.

Despite some complaints about availability and shipping times, as well as the lack of wholesale pricing, Bavarian Autosport maintained a loyal customer base. However, the increasing competition in the automotive retail market and the decline in DIY work ultimately contributed to the company's closure.

The remaining inventory and brand intellectual property were purchased by an Ohio-based retailer, bringing an end to Bavarian Autosport's 45-year presence in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Bavarian Autosport was purchased by ECS Tuning

Bavarian Autosport, a Portsmouth-based retailer of BMW parts, upgrades, and accessories, closed its doors after a successful 45-year run. The company, founded in 1974 by Peter Robart, Mark Ruddy, and Dave Wason, was known for its knowledgeable staff and commitment to the BMW community.

In a statement released on March 8, 2019, Bavarian Autosport announced:

> With a heavy heart, Bavarian Autosport is sad to announce that we’ve closed our doors after 45 wonderful years. We have loved being part of your community as we’ve built, raced, and repaired our cars together. We are working on options to ensure that the Bavarian Autosport name will live on. Until then, thank you for your dedication and commitment to us over all these years.

Following the announcement, Bavarian Autosport reached out to ECS Tuning to assist in maintaining the brand's legacy and supporting its customers during the transition. ECS Tuning, founded in 1962, is a leading distributor of Genuine, Aftermarket, and Performance parts for BMW and MINI vehicles.

As part of their plan to help, ECS Tuning agreed to:

• Honour all BavAuto gift cards through April 30, 2019.
• Provide warranty support for Bavarian Autosport-branded merchandise.
• Maintain BavAuto's support for BMW CCA chapters across the country.
• Continue stocking Bavarian Autosport-branded parts on their website.

ECS Tuning is proud to carry forward Bavarian Autosport's commitment to the enthusiast community and is dedicated to ensuring that the brand's legacy lives on. With a similar foundation in family-operated services, ECS Tuning understands the value of community and is well-equipped to serve Bavarian Autosport's customers.

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