Nav VI gone again!

[crustybeemer]

Out for a ride yesterday and my Nav VI started doing un commanded actions AGAIN! Re booted several times - no change! Brought it into the house to warm up (+15C outside!) No change! My 4th Nav VI in 6 years! Have 6 other Garmin GPS's ranging in price from $100 to $800, some of which are much older and have not had any problems with any of them!

 

[paul_f]

Out for a ride yesterday and my Nav VI started doing un commanded actions AGAIN! Re booted several times - no change! Brought it into the house to warm up (+15C outside!) No change! My 4th Nav VI in 6 years! Have 6 other Garmin GPS's ranging in price from $100 to $800, some of which are much older and have not had any problems with any of them!

I totally understand your frustration. I do not have a Navigator but I am currently on my fifth Garmin 595 since June 2019. I’ve not been riding much because of COVID. This fifth version, not being used very much took three days to fully charge.

Like you, I’ve had several Garmin GPSs which all worked well in the past. Getting my final two replacements was not easy. Garmin constantly told me that they were were not having problems with this model which I find hard to believe.

 

[steveaikens]

I ran a Nav IV [4] - no issues. It went with one of the bikes I sold.

Bought a Nav V for my 2015 that's been flawless as well. I use my XT for navigation now and just use the Nav v for data. Huge difference in how they work and now that Garmin has corrected the flaws with the XT - as long as you keep it up to date - IMO, it's a far better GPS.

 

[HWYHOUND]

Just sent my 3rd NAV VI back today. I really thought this last one had the previous issues resolved. I had not had any issues all season, about 14k miles. Noticed a few glitches, screen changing randomly, after returning from Nova Scotia. Yesterday it went total bonkers. Fingers crossed that #4 is the answer.

 

[jkjohnson]

JUst replaced mine, again, in October

Mine (already a replacement device) developed the dreaded screen dysfunction issues in early October, but Garmin again replaced it, even though nominally out-of-warranty. The replacement version has a different screen interface, functionally the same, but different lettering and graphics on the initial page. Just got the replacement this week.

I rode 3000 miles in October, from Portland, OR to Houston, TX, and other places, and figure that not having an onboard GPS (besides my phone) on that ride cost me a day or two of additional travel and motel $$$ because of the wrong turns and backtracking that I made. (It took me 4 days with the GPS to get back to Portland, with the GPS, then 6 days to get to Houston without the GPS) Hard to imagine living without a GPS these days and the NAV VI works very well when it works. I've got my eyes on a new bike with the new screen now.

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

I sold #4 after I got it from Garmin and then got the XT. Haven't looked back since. The bike's TFT provides all the info I need anywayl. The XT is faster and has topographic maps built in as well, which is quite useful for a GS rider.... YMMV

 

[radiofun1]

You guys might want to consider the Connected Ride cradle. Allows use of a smartphone with either Bmw's gps navigation or Google map. Simple, inexpensive, reliable...and does the job.

 

[GTRider]

I’m on a replacement Nav VI that I received back in March, and last weekend on my way home from a West38Moto training this one went into “ghost mode”. It mostly cleared up by the time I got home, but after 800 miles of being unusable I’ll be swapping it again. And, I’ll continue that until the problem is truly fixed or warranty runs out and swap is discontinued. Garmin has been good about handling the swaps.

After that, I’ll be switching to a ZumoXT and this mount:
https://www.adapter3dmotorrad.com/en/product/e-navxt/

You can see the installation process demoed by our own Adam Chandler here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDFdg5JjmS8

You do lose WonderWheel capability with this setup, but I’ll happily trade that for GPS reliability.

Best,
DeVern

 

[crna59]

You guys might want to consider the Connected Ride cradle. Allows use of a smartphone with either Bmw's gps navigation or Google map. Simple, inexpensive, reliable...and does the job.

I second this..... with one caveat... Works perfectly with most iPhones.. but I just got the iPhone 14 and with a screen protector on the camera lens, it does not fit into the cradle. If you turn it 180 degrees, it "somewhat" fits.

 

[tburk]

I second this..... with one caveat... Works perfectly with most iPhones.. but I just got the iPhone 14 and with a screen protector on the camera lens, it does not fit into the cradle. If you turn it 180 degrees, it "somewhat" fits.

Thanks - that's good info. My iphone 11 is not nearly as bright and easy to read as the nav vi. The vi came with my 2018 gsa, and I have not had any problems.

 

[Talmadge_W]

Apologies for the hijack!

Just purchased a ‘23 GSA which is my first bike w an OEM GPS mount. I know BMW has branded GPS units that are modified Garmin designs but looking to understand what all models will latch in & power up with the factory mount as my old Garmin 276 CX obviously won’t. I’m not interested in music or communications but just need a solid solution for routing and moving map functionality.

Appreciate any direction!

 

[michiganr80rt]

#4

I got my 4th Navigator VI last week. I do have to say that Garmin has the exchange process down. I reported the failed Nav on Friday, got the RMA and UPS label in less than an hour, and got the replacement the following Thursday.

 

[lee]

Apologies for the hijack!

Just purchased a ‘23 GSA which is my first bike w an OEM GPS mount. I know BMW has branded GPS units that are modified Garmin designs but looking to understand what all models will latch in & power up with the factory mount as my old Garmin 276 CX obviously won’t. I’m not interested in music or communications but just need a solid solution for routing and moving map functionality.

Appreciate any direction!

A 660 will fit and power up but will not integrate with the bike.

 

[60aviator]

Apologies for the hijack!

Just purchased a ‘23 GSA which is my first bike w an OEM GPS mount. I know BMW has branded GPS units that are modified Garmin designs but looking to understand what all models will latch in & power up with the factory mount as my old Garmin 276 CX obviously won’t. I’m not interested in music or communications but just need a solid solution for routing and moving map functionality.

Appreciate any direction!

Find a Nav V (they last) and still have Wonderwheel function.
Or get a Zumo XT and adapter so it will go into mount and never get hooked by Wonderwheel.

 

[lee]

Find a Nav V (they last) and still have Wonderwheel function.

I agree. You can find used ones for around $300 on the ADV forum.
Here's one for $300 shipped.
https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/nav5.1608199/

 

[gordonb]

I'm really liking my Nav IV. 10 years strong!

 

[Talmadge_W]

Thanks everyone for the good input! It sounds like the Nav V is a preferred choice based on cost / benefits - at least until a Nav VII is announced (1 week after I purchase something else).

 

[GTRider]

Thanks everyone for the good input! It sounds like the Nav V is a preferred choice based on cost / benefits - at least until a Nav VII is announced (1 week after I purchase something else).

There most likely won’t be a Nav VII, as BMW is moving toward TFT screens and phone apps for navigation. And, there’s not a large enough demand for Garmin to continue extending the line on their own, let alone the licensing issues that would involve.

Owners of bikes equipped with BMW’s NavPrep mount can continue to swap failed Nav VI units until Garmin and/or BMW discontinue that program, then switch to the ZumoXT and use the Italian mount to fit the XT into the BMW NavPrep mount. That yields a faster full-function GPS that doesn’t respond to the wonder wheel.

That last part isn’t a real issue for owners of TFT-equipped bikes as most of the info the NavVI gleans from the LINbus can be displayed on the TFT via the wonderwheel and mode button. It does create an issue, tho, if there are multiple bikes in the stable and not all are equipped with TFT. In my case, I run everything—phone, Nav, music, etc—from my NavVI so I can move the GPS between bikes without having to relink things.

I’m on my third NavVI, and searching for a map case for my GS, one that doesn’t require a tank bag.

Best,
DeVern

 

[ramble]

Good Luck with the map case. I still use a map along with the Nav VI, but have not done the old routine of large print highway numbers and symbols for navigation for a few years. Perhaps if the Nav continues I won't need to.

 

[PGlaves]

Well, since neither my K75s nor my G310GS, nor my Chevy Colorado have a Wonder Wheel, or anything "connect" I am perfectly happy with my Zumo 660 gps. And since I am mostly trying to navigate to Seattle or Duluth, and not some address in a recent subdivision called Meadow Mountain Acres or whatever, the fact that it doesn't have last week's most recent updated maps phases me not a bit. I can always take my iPhone out of my pocket and use Google maps for the details of that last mile or two. I also usually have an old Garmin II+ or 276C as a second GPS displaying a data table.

When on a trip I always have a map available. My routine is to stop at a rest area or welcome center and get a State map. If not I will cut the page out of the Rand McNally Atlas I buy new each year.

No system is perfect. One time a few years ago Voni and I were riding one of those delightful double letter roads in south-central Missouri. The road was generally going from east to west but was curvaceous and from time to time would be actually aligned south to north. So we pulled into a small town with a northerly heading. And after I missed the left hand turn in the middle of town I detected after a mile or two that we were angling back north east. I pulled over and signaled we needed a U turn. Arriving back in town I pulled over. Voni rides up beside me and utters words I shall never forget: "Two GPSs and a map and you still get lost." Yep! That was at that moment a fact.