BMW System V Helmet with WCS-1 Bluetooth Communication System

Hello All:

I bought one of these things a few days ago, just in case I ever need to have Bluetooth communication between my helmet and something else that I might be using on my motorcycle. (You never know when some manufacturer might announce a new gadget that uses Bluetooth - for example, see this recent discussion: BMW Navigator III - With Bluetooth).

I thought I would share some pictures with you, and give you a quick description of the helmet and communication system.

The helmet itself is very nice, it is carefully made and of good quality. It's not very heavy for a full-face helmet - only about 1,600 grams. My previous helmet was an Arai SZ Ram-II, which is an open face (jet) helmet, and it weighed 1,250 grams. This is the first time I have ever purchased a full-face helmet. Normally I am allergic to full face helmets (I hate being all closed in), however, because the front flips up on this thing and because the opening to look out of is quite large, I am so far pretty happy with it. That says a lot, because I never, ever would have thought I would buy a full face helmet.

It is possible to ride around with the front part (the visor and chin bar) in the up position, and it is also possible to easily remove the visor and chin bar - without tools - and convert the helmet to a conventional 3/4 coverage jet helmet. So far, I have been content to use it as a full face helmet.

It is very quiet, so far as blocking out engine noise, but you still hear the sounds of wind turbulence inside it, same as any other helmet. BMW claims that this is the quietest helmet around, which might be true if you are wearing it while sitting in the bleachers at a football game, but once you start riding, you get wind noise (buffeting from the outside), same as any other helmet. It's neither better or worse than any other helmet in that respect. It is very comfortable to wear, and aerodynamically well designed, it does not get tossed around by the wind if you turn your head.

The Bluetooth function works very well. You just pair the helmet up with some other Bluetooth device, such as a portable telephone or a yet to be announced GPSR, and voila, the thing works - you can both listen and talk. Once the initial pairing procedure has been completed, the helmet then recognizes the other devices automatically once you get within range of them. It works well when you are riding the motorcycle, and works up to about 20 feet away from the moto if you are stopped and off the moto. By this I mean it is possible to carry on a phone conversation from about 20 feet away from your moto, if your phone happens to be in the tank bag or pannier.

Sound quality is very good. The helmet supports two different sound quality profiles - one for utility communication (rider to passenger, rider to telephone, or yet to be announced gizmo to rider), and another, higher quality profile for listening to music. So far, I have only used the utility profile, and it is fully satisfactory, at least as good as any other intercom system.

All in all, it is a typical BMW accessory - very carefully thought out, high quality, a bit ahead of the rest of the market, and expensive as hell.

Michael

BMW System V Helmet with WCS-1 Bluetooth Communication System
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:BT_Helmet_1:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/BT_Helmet_1.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:BT_Helmet_2:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/BT_Helmet_2.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:BT_Helmet_3:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/BT_Helmet_3.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

Price

Hello How much does one of these cost? looks like something I would be interested in.


Cheers for now djack

djack said:

Hello How much does one of these cost? looks like something I would be interested in.


Cheers for now djack

Click to expand...

around £550

Ah! See you also have a Breitling - like most aviators

Or is it a Rolex?

Michael,

Any idea if this kit can be retro-fitted to a "normal" systen V helmet or even a system IV?

I have been looking around at GPS's, intercoms, phone connectivity and other gadgets and looks like bluetooth will be the was to go in the future to get all these bits to talk to each other.

Dale

I could swear...

Dale said:

Michael,

Any idea if this kit can be retro-fitted to a "normal" systen V helmet or even a system IV?

Click to expand...

I put a reply into this query...yes it can be retro fitted to the System 5, emailed my dealer for a quote, £240.00. Called in to see them this morning to arrange for it to happen and was advised not to have it done as there are problems in that when the system is being used, ie phone music etc the battery only lasts about 2 hours, seems there have been a few complaints about this. Anybody having this problem

Also asked about the Navigator III and it is being priced at £998 same as the Navigator II.

Mick.

Mick_rw said:

there are problems in that when the system is being used, ie phone music etc the battery only lasts about 2 hours, seems there have been a few complaints about this.

Click to expand...

Damn - I was getting all excitied, but two hours is no where near enough for what I need one for (i.e week+ long touring in EU with 5 - 8 hours a day in saddle). In fact 2 hours would barely give me enough music for my commute for 2 days!

Let's hope they get this sorted - and they may have a customer in 'ampshire.

Mark

Pan, Thanks for posting that write-up. I'd be very interested to see how you get along with it over time. I.e battery life etc

Thanks again!

Mick, Dale:

The instruction manual that comes with the communication system states that the batteries have to go through a few charge/discharge cycles before they reach full capacity.

Before I bought this helmet / Bluetooth package, I took one out on test for a weekend - didn't charge it, and it worked all weekend. I haven't charged mine now for 4 days (since I started using it) - I want to let the batteries deplete fully before I charge it - and so far, after about 6 hours use, it is still going strong. It's doing quite a bit of work, because I am getting all the GPSR information (directions, speed camera alerts, traffic messages, phone calls, etc.) directed into the helmet. In fact, it's getting as bad as flying a plane, with all sorts of different audio inputs coming at me from all directions - I wouldn't be surprised to hear the thing yelling "Terrain, Terrain, Pull up, Pull up" sooner or later...

Michael

Michael,

Many thanks for the info - is really good to hear from someone who has actually played with the thing as opposed to trying to scrounge info from the dealerships

Have had a look at the manual for the WCS (downloadable from motorrad.com) but there is something I seem to be missing .....

can you connect more than one bluetooth device to the helmet at one time? i.e. in a perfect world I want to talk to the pillion, have phone connected, have GPS connected and be able to listen to music - all wirelessly! How will the system know what to give priority to? My phone (sony erricsson W800) has a very good MP3 player on it, so can listen to music with it and it auto shuts off the music when a call comes through, but what happens when the pillion talks or the GPS wans to give directions? BMW MUST have solved this problem, I just cant figure out how .....

Also very keen to hear more of your comments on the "as yet to be announced" device. currently thinking about a Garmin 276 and am wondering if I should wait a few months.

Thanks again for the info,
Dale

Manual states 9hr battery life on "normal use", best performance after 20 full re-charges, operating life 3 years.

Batteries are NiMH, so pretty old/reliable technology - been used in cell phones for years. Cant see why they should give a problem.

Dale

Hi,
I'm very interested in this helmet but have one question. Starcom 1 have recently released a bluetooth module for their intercom system. Will this module work with the BMW helmet?. When i asked Starcom the same question they replied thet it's designed to work with mobiles and there are no good quality bluetooth helmets available on the market although "we" are developing one for release in the near future ?

Any thoughts

Cheers
Davy

If the new Intaride system is as good as it looks then it will put all the rest out of business. For the complete system including headsets it is not much more expensive than the setup for one B*W helmet!

Dale said:

...can you connect more than one bluetooth device to the helmet at one time?

Click to expand...

Hello Dale:

As far as I can figure out (from interpreting the user manual and installation instructions), the helmet is limited to two Bluetooth connections at any given time: One can be to a cell phone, and the other can be to another WCS-1 helmet. This means you can have your phone connected, and also have intercom capability with your passenger. The passenger can have a different phone connected to their helmet, but the passenger can not speak or listen to the phone connected to the driver's helmet (or vice versa). I'm reasonably confident I have interpreted the user manual correctly here, but keep in mind I have less than a week of experience with the helmet.

To accomplish what you want to do - connect multiple devices - what you would need to have is something that functions as a central switching hub. For example (and, of course, I'm just discussing theory here... ), you would need a GPSR that can connect to your helmet in such a way that the helmet thinks the GPSR is a phone, and thus the helmet is treated by the GPSR as a handsfree headset - the same way things are done when the helmet is connected directly to a phone. Now, you would need to connect your phone to the GPSR. You would then connect your MP3 player to the GPSR (or, simpler even still, just play your MP3's on a GPSR that has MP3 storage and playing ability). Now, you would have all sorts of different inputs coming to your helmet from one device - the GPSR. You would then use the control interface on the GPSR (screen or remote) to manage the audio that is going to the helmet. For example, speed camera alerts would take priority over everything, then voice guidance for navigation, then phone calls (incoming or outgoing, controlled by the GPSR, which is connected via Bluetooth to the phone in your pocket), then intercom communications from the passenger behind you.

The intercom from the passenger behind you would be direct (helmet to helmet), not via anything else. Everything else would be via the GPSR.

All this is, of course, strictly imaginary only. Gee, I wonder when some clever GPSR manufacturer might release something that does all this. Oooops - gotta run, my phone is ringing...

Michael

Dale said:

Many thanks for the info - is really good to hear from someone who has actually played with the thing as opposed to trying to scrounge info from the dealerships :-

Click to expand...

If that was a dig at me I went into the dealer to buy the system not scrounge info, If I am told by the people who sell this kit tell me not to purchase because it has a problem I am not going to pay £240 on a piece of kit that might not work properly. That is why I put the info on here for two reason. To let people who were considering buying one of a potential problem and for people who were using the kit to let us know if there is a problem with the battery.

Mick

PanEuropean said:

Hello Dale:

As far as I can figure out (from interpreting the user manual and installation instructions), the helmet is limited to two Bluetooth connections at any given time: One can be to a cell phone, and the other can be to another WCS-1 helmet. This means you can have your phone connected, and also have intercom capability with your passenger. The passenger can have a different phone connected to their helmet, but the passenger can not speak or listen to the phone connected to the driver's helmet (or vice versa). I'm reasonably confident I have interpreted the user manual correctly here, but keep in mind I have less than a week of experience with the helmet.

To accomplish what you want to do - connect multiple devices - what you would need to have is something that functions as a central switching hub. For example (and, of course, I'm just discussing theory here... ), you would need a GPSR that can connect to your helmet in such a way that the helmet thinks the GPSR is a phone, and thus the helmet is treated by the GPSR as a handsfree headset - the same way things are done when the helmet is connected directly to a phone. Now, you would need to connect your phone to the GPSR. You would then connect your MP3 player to the GPSR (or, simpler even still, just play your MP3's on a GPSR that has MP3 storage and playing ability). Now, you would have all sorts of different inputs coming to your helmet from one device - the GPSR. You would then use the control interface on the GPSR (screen or remote) to manage the audio that is going to the helmet. For example, speed camera alerts would take priority over everything, then voice guidance for navigation, then phone calls (incoming or outgoing, controlled by the GPSR, which is connected via Bluetooth to the phone in your pocket), then intercom communications from the passenger behind you.

The intercom from the passenger behind you would be direct (helmet to helmet), not via anything else. Everything else would be via the GPSR.

All this is, of course, strictly imaginary only. Gee, I wonder when some clever GPSR manufacturer might release something that does all this. Oooops - gotta run, my phone is ringing...

Michael

Click to expand...

So, if someone were to manufacture such a system ... ;-)

A few things would need to be sorted:

- easy audio inputs from external sources (ie. iPod) rather than relying on the internal memory of the GPSR solely, alternatively you could provide add-on memory cards, but that makes things awkward with multiple audio libraries, etc

- a source of good quality retro-fit BT headsets for helmets, BMW obviously have the Sys. V as a 'from scratch' design, but competitors (like Dainese, etc) have useless penetration with their designs. The WCS-1 kit is really only for BMW helmets, you need a good quality kit for all the Arai, Shoei out there ... Schuberth's new kit is supposed to be impressive, with BT and active noise cancellation via a passive/active mic pair in the helmet ...

- helmet charging/battery life ... would be nice to last a days worth of riding at least (ie. 8hrs) with audio playback (a far reach I know!), with easy charging system for *two* helmets from one (wall) charger

- the 'hub' interface would need to be good and simple to setup with good automated re-pairing for devices that come back into range. I'm thinging here of wandering off with your phone, MP3 player and a helmet, then returning and having them all seamlessly re-engage

- ability to dial (if only via speed-dial) whilst moving would be useful, alternatively voice commands for nominated numbers would be great. ie. your running late, the last thing you want to do is pull over, you voice command SWMBO to 'douse the charred roast'

Anyone want to buy a hardly used Starcom1 Advance, as I think my new GPS (mid-april del.) might cause me to rethink my on bike arrangements ... ;-)

Anyone recommend a good BT transmitter for an iPod?

Bluetooth system 5

I hope this is info is useful, I have paired two helmets and they work well,also Paired a Tom Tom Rider sat nav to one of the helmets and my phone through the TTRider.
The sat nav interrupts communication between the helmets but thats not a problem and it all works well.
I note the comments re charge time but the manual is clear that you need to discharge up to 20 times before maximum talk time is achieved.

As far as I can figure out (from interpreting the user manual and installation instructions), the helmet is limited to two Bluetooth connections at any given time: One can be to a cell phone, and the other can be to another WCS-1 helmet. This means you can have your phone connected, and also have intercom capability with your passenger. The passenger can have a different phone connected to their helmet, but the passenger can not speak or listen to the phone connected to the driver's helmet (or vice versa). I'm reasonably confident I have interpreted the user manual correctly here, but keep in mind I have less than a week of experience with the helmet.

To accomplish what you want to do - connect multiple devices - what you would need to have is something that functions as a central switching hub. For example (and, of course, I'm just discussing theory here... ), you would need a GPSR that can connect to your helmet in such a way that the helmet thinks the GPSR is a phone, and thus the helmet is treated by the GPSR as a handsfree headset - the same way things are done when the helmet is connected directly to a phone. Now, you would need to connect your phone to the GPSR. You would then connect your MP3 player to the GPSR (or, simpler even still, just play your MP3's on a GPSR that has MP3 storage and playing ability). Now, you would have all sorts of different inputs coming to your helmet from one device - the GPSR. You would then use the control interface on the GPSR (screen or remote) to manage the audio that is going to the helmet. For example, speed camera alerts would take priority over everything, then voice guidance for navigation, then phone calls (incoming or outgoing, controlled by the GPSR, which is connected via Bluetooth to the phone in your pocket), then intercom communications from the passenger behind you.

The intercom from the passenger behind you would be direct (helmet to helmet), not via anything else. Everything else would be via the GPSR.

All this is, of course, strictly imaginary only. Gee, I wonder when some clever GPSR manufacturer might release something that does all this. Oooops - gotta run, my phone is ringing...

Michael[/QUOTE]

QUOTE "To accomplish what you want to do - connect multiple devices - what you would need to have is something that functions as a central switching hub. For example (and, of course, I'm just discussing theory here... ), you would need a GPSR that can connect to your helmet in such a way that the helmet thinks the GPSR is a phone, and thus the helmet is treated by the GPSR as a handsfree headset - the same way things are done when the helmet is connected directly to a phone. Now, you would need to connect your phone to the GPSR. You would then connect your MP3 player to the GPSR (or, simpler even still, just play your MP3's on a GPSR that has MP3 storage and playing ability). Now, you would have all sorts of different inputs coming to your helmet from one device - the GPSR. You would then use the control interface on the GPSR (screen or remote) to manage the audio that is going to the helmet. For example, speed camera alerts would take priority over everything, then voice guidance for navigation, then phone calls (incoming or outgoing, controlled by the GPSR, which is connected via Bluetooth to the phone in your pocket), then intercom communications from the passenger behind you".

Navigator III (but not all of the above, yet )

shedracer said:

...Navigator III (but not all of the above, yet )

Click to expand...

Uh, who says 'not all of the above'?

I agree with the 'yet' part, but I'm not so sure I would agree with the 'not all of the above' part. You might want to visit the Garmin website and review the specs for the 27xx and 7xxx series of GPSRs - these already function as MP3 players with virtually unlimited storage capacity (ca. 600 megabytes, assuming an entire continent of maps is also loaded). Anyway, I'm not going to say any more about this subject, lest I get into trouble.

Concerning battery life - I guess I must have been given the battery life that the other person was supposed to get, I have ridden 300 miles with this now (about 8 hours of use) with constant intercom use, and the helmet has still not asked for a recharge. I have very limited experience with it, but so far, battery life appears to be the least of my worries.

Here's some pictures showing all the bits involved in the BMW WCS-1 communication system - I took these photos as I assembled and installed it. It took quite a while (ca. 3 hours) to install it, it is a very detail-oriented and fiddley job. If you get one of these things, you will need a Torx 10 screwdriver that has a very strong bit on the end of it - I bent a few el-cheapo's out of shape before I gave up and went out and bought a $15 Snap-On Torx 10 screwdriver. You will also need a very brightly lit workbench - trying to install black components into a black helmet cavity lined with black fabric is like trying to find a black cat in a coal mine at night.

What comes with the WCS-1 kit
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:Helmet_Assembly_1a:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Helmet_Assembly_1a.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

Helmet partially disassembled, beginning of installation
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:Helmet_Assembly_1:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Helmet_Assembly_1.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

Note that considerable helmet dis-assembly is required
For this you require two workshop guides: One being the workshop guide for WCS-1 installation, the other being the workshop guide for System V helmet maintenance and repair. Make sure your BMW dealer agrees to provide you with this 'internal' information before you lay your money down!
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:Helmet_Assembly_2:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Helmet_Assembly_2.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

The guts of it
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:Helmet_Assembly_3:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Helmet_Assembly_3.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

Installation Complete, first charge cycle
It took 6 hours to charge it the first time. It is important to fully discharge the batteries before recharging them. If the battery is frequently recharged before it is depleted - as might be the case with a 'demonstration' helmet - full battery storage capability will be compromised.
<a href="http://www.hostdub.com/PanEuropean:Helmet_Assembly_4:full"><img src="http://www.hostdub.com/albums/PanEuropean/Helmet_Assembly_4.jpg" alt="hostdub.com"></a>

Michael