Bavarian Autosport is Closing

"Party-vi" (party-vi)
03/08/2019 at 13:17 • Filed to: None

This is a bummer. I always enjoyed getting their newsletter and ordering parts from them.

DISCUSSION (23)

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 13:22

Man, that sucks. I loved their site the newsletter as well, and bought some very useful stuff off of them when I had my E90.

Any reason mentioned why they shut shop?

For Sweden > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 13:22

Time to shop from FCP Euro and hate ourselves

Maxima Speed > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 13:24

News flash, Bavarian Motor Works is closing! Thousands of jobs lost, ten of thousands of soccer moms distraught!

Arrivederci > For Sweden
03/08/2019 at 13:25

Self- hate is actually ECS Tuning.

ihm96 > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 13:28

Damn. I have a box from them sitting in my apartment with my vanos seals that I need to put in. Just used their coils in the summer. Never had issues buying from them

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > For Sweden
03/08/2019 at 13:30

Is that more or less self-hatred than when ordering from Summit?

I mean, on the one hand, good tools and some actual racing equipment, but on the other, “Old Guys Rock” t-shirts. *vomiting*

functionoverfashion > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 13:33

What?!! I mean, I can’t say their pricing was actually amazing, with numerous competitors doing the same kind of thing - oembimmerparts, FCP Euro, Pelican, etc. BUT.

As a native NH person, this is a huge bummer. I know people who work there, too.

On top of that, my go-to independent BMW shop closed up after something like 40+ years in business recently, too. Less for service than for sales, they will be missed. There’s a good independent shop right in my town, but their labor rates are much higher than another place I know and trust, so I just don’t end up there much even if they do know BMWs better.

someassemblyrequired > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 13:36

Surprised, I would have figured they’d have been at least mildly profitable and could have sold out to someone or to the employees.

someassemblyrequired > For Sweden
03/08/2019 at 13:41

FCP used to be legit, this was their original location in Groton, CT:

Kinja'd!!!

functionoverfashion > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 13:41

I also just learned this from reading the wikipedia entry:

As of 2016, Bavarian Autosport was still owned and operated by the three friends who founded the company. [2] [3] [4]

I wonder if these guys wanted to retire and there was no one to take over? I mean, it seems like they would have sold the business... but I don’t know their finances (or those of the business)... ugh.

Party-vi > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/08/2019 at 14:01

Nope, just that they’re working to keep the BavAuto name going. Not sure what that means.

StudyStudyStudy > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 15:08

SHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

They have an order of mine on back order.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 15:10

Sadness. Well, I guess I can cross BMW off my list of old cars I’ll buy in the future.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 15:11

It means ECS will buy it, and it will suck in the future.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > functionoverfashion
03/08/2019 at 15:20

I’m actively trying to buy a business that’s in the range of what these guys probably were size-wise, and the truth is there are just far more sellers than buyers. Some 80% of businesses with less than $5mm a year in revenue go unsold.

I wonder if these guys wanted to retire and there was no one to take over?

This is often the biggest issue. Non-owner management at firms like these can be pretty limited in number and ability, and typically won’t have the financial ability or connections to purchase it from the owners without the owners retaining significant financial risk.

diplodicus forgot his password > Arrivederci
03/08/2019 at 15:33

I buy from ECS a lot this is very true.But t hey’re so much closer to me than FCP and the prices are usually better too. And some stuff FCP just straight up doesn’t have. Like front lower control arms for e28s.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 15:39

Well, shit. After ECS ruined Turner, one less place to go.

Party-vi > StudyStudyStudy
03/08/2019 at 16:00

ah, shoot would be right in that case.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 16:12

Da mmit. I liked Bavauto. They just did that major overhaul of their website too.

StudyStudyStudy > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 16:34

Phone number is disconnected too. Dang it...

seoultrain > Party-vi
03/08/2019 at 16:57

Shit, that's a surprise. RIP, BavAuto

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Arrivederci
03/08/2019 at 18:47

“HERE’S PARTS FOR YOUR AUDI.”

I own a Porsche. Your system knows this.

“HERE’S PARTS FOR YOUR AUDI.”

I don’t fucking own an Audi. I own a Porsche.

“WE DO PORSCHE TOO!”

Great. Do you have -

“FLUIDS, BRAKE PADS, RANDOM JUNK, AND A RENNLINE CATALOG SCRAPE!”

(N ote: I’m local and just snarking. They are acutely aware that they don’t have serious Porsche chops. Their Cars & Coffee is worth the trip . )

functionoverfashion > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
03/08/2019 at 21:24

That’s really interesting, and also not surprising. I managed a business that was doing 1.2-1.4 in revenue annually and we all worked so hard to get there; I knew everything about it and yet I probably wouldn’t have wanted to take ownership of the place. So yeah.