BMW Navigator III - Should I buy?

[gsbiker]

My local BMW dealer has a Nav 3, extra buttons, cradle & power lead + 2yr guarantee which totals £740. I could buy it for £640 now compoared to Tomtom Europe for about £390 and Zumo for about £400. My short list was TomTom R2, Zumo 550 & BMW Nav3. I've not tried the TomTom R2 but I own a 910 TomTom for my car so I have a good idea what they're like. I've had on test a BMW Zumo for the last few days and only been using it in my car with no sound but I get the idea. I prefer the map drawings of the TomTom but the Garmin bike sat navs apparently are much better? I like the BMW Navigator III but I'm not sure if I would be making an expensive mistake buying it. Whats throwing me is there's is a hint that a Zumo 660 may be coming out soon OR I could buy a Garmin 2820 for about £300 from here...

http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/details/garmin-streetpilot-2820-bluetooth/10257/#prodOptions_a

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=120347649144

I know the Nav3 + Garmin 2820 have no internal battery and there's more personal configuration available compared to TomTom and Zumo units. One of my goals is to have ease of use MP3 for longer trips but I prefer iPod quality rather than mone via bluetooth so an autocom box will be required for that I guess. Anyway I would be grateful for suggestions to help me make a good decision?

Cheers
Paul.

 

[chasr]

A lot of questions, but all the right ones

I think £640 for the Nav III is too much. The 2820 is (pretty much) the same unit, but without the extra buttons (which are not essential). Powering & mounting the 2820 is not expensive.

The Zumo has an internal battery, so this might be more useful 'downroute.'

The 2820 has a bigger screen, but then it is a bigger brick - not a problem on the GS, but you can't just shove it in your pocket without spoiling the cut of your suit!

There are always rumours of new units.

Garmins are good. Support is good. Tom Toms are playing catch up, and they don't have Mapsource - which is a must for serious motorcycle use.

I like the 26/27/28** units and won't change to a Zumo. That said, I think you'd be best going for a Zumo.

hth

 

[gsbiker]

A lot of questions, but all the right ones

I think £640 for the Nav III is too much. The 2820 is (pretty much) the same unit, but without the extra buttons (which are not essential). Powering & mounting the 2820 is not expensive.

The Zumo has an internal battery, so this might be more useful 'downroute.'

The 2820 has a bigger screen, but then it is a bigger brick - not a problem on the GS, but you can't just shove it in your pocket without spoiling the cut of your suit!

There are always rumours of new units.

Garmins are good. Support is good. Tom Toms are playing catch up, and they don't have Mapsource - which is a must for serious motorcycle use.

I like the 26/27/28** units and won't change to a Zumo. That said, I think you'd be best going for a Zumo.

hth

Thanks for your suggestions - good to here from people who are in the know! Can you tell me why you think the Zumo would be better for me?

cheers

 

[chasr]

I don't have one, although I've played with them.

But, to answer your question;

It's a Garmin.
It will come with Mapsource.
It has an internal battery.
Lots have them, and like them.
It is a generation on from the 28** series - although that doesn't make it better.
It's reasonably priced.
It's easy to use, but you can really get involved with Mapsource as well.
The 28**/Nav III is a discontinued unit.
You shouldn't be disappointed.


But you might be with a Tom Tom Rider (try a search), and it doesn't have Mapsource.

 

[Bikerbrady]

I have had the Tomtom version 2 and I have to say much prefer the Zumo 550 which I now have

My set up is as follows

Autocom 200
Autocom isolated stereo lead to aux1 on autocom unit
Bluetooth connection from zumo to Autocom dongle
Bluetooth connection from zumo to sony w880i phone
Pocketgps camera datbase installed to zumo using garmin poi loader
2009 maps installed foc from garmin
MP3's loaded to sd card and played in stereo through autocom headset
It has mapsource and you can play around with poi's and routes on your pc


It works flawlessly, the only common gripe is cradles failing but garmin replace these without any fuss.

If you get one make sure you put dielectric grease on the power lead into the cradle and on the pins on the cradle and this will help keep the moisture out.

Their customer support in my experience has been great too.

Biker

 

[gsbiker]

I have a GSA just like the photo. Can the 2820 / NAV3 be positioned on the yoke as per the arrow or can it only go above clocks? The Zumo can go anywhere can't it?

 

[chasr]

My 2610 (same size) is mounted where you say, but isn't attached to the bar. I bought a RAM ball attached to a bolt which replaces one of the (4) handlebar ones. With a short RAM arm, I can move the GPS so as not to obscure the instruments and to avoid reflections from the sun/bright sky.

Sadly, I can't remember the web site I bought it from.

There are RAM mounts which attache to the handlebar, but the stud fitting looks better.

 

[gsbiker]

My 2610 (same size) is mounted where you say, but isn't attached to the bar. I bought a RAM ball attached to a bolt which replaces one of the (4) handlebar ones. With a short RAM arm, I can move the GPS so as not to obscure the instruments and to avoid reflections from the sun/bright sky.

Sadly, I can't remember the web site I bought it from.

There are RAM mounts which attache to the handlebar, but the stud fitting looks better.

Is it something like this?

http://www.ram-mount-uk.com/ram-b-149za-q1.htm

 

[Berin]

There are handlebar mounts that will allow you to mount either a Zumo or a Nav III where your arrow is.

I've just changed a 2610 for a Nav III plus. I've also used a Zumo 550 quite lot as my wife has one.

Personally, I prefer the Nav III. The software is more sophisticated than the 2610 (full postcodes, for instance) and closer in "feel" to the Zumo. But, the Nav III allows more configuration, including a most useful feature which allows you to route to avoid motorways. All the other units, as far as I can see including the Zumo, allow you to set preferences to avoid major roads, which then takes out A roads - the Nav III allows you to specifically select to avoid motorways, as well as setting things like your autozoom preferences, choice of data fields to display.

I also find the cradle buttons easier to use than the buttons on the Zumo, and they have more functionality. I like the 3D view (Zumo has it too) and the POI data bases are good.

When using Mapsource, I find the Zumo a bit clunky - when you plug the USB in, it takes a while to go into it's mass storage mode, then you can download your new routes or whatever, and then when you unplug it it then goes though an install routine to be able to use them.

However, Mrs Berin much prefers the Zumo as she finds it easier to use.

Good luck with your choice

 

[gsbiker]

My comments in red.

It's a Garmin. 2820 + Nav3 are also
It will come with Mapsource. Doesn't 2820 + Nav3 have Mapsource also?
It has an internal battery. this shouldn't be a problem?
Lots have them, and like them. Prob because Zumos were originally cheaper
It is a generation on from the 28** series - although that doesn't make it better.
It's reasonably priced. 2820 for £305 delivered, Zumo £400
It's easy to use, but you can really get involved with Mapsource as well.
The 28**/Nav III is a discontinued unit. If Zumo 660 comes out soon so will the 550 be discontinued
You shouldn't be disappointed.

As you can see I am biased towards the Nav 3 / 2820 but I'm not saying no to the Zumo just trying to compare them and seeing the benefits of both. To be honest I'm drawn to the BMW Nav3 more because... it's black and has the 4 extra buttons and could have one tomorrow? I know I'm mad I think the let down for me with the Nav3 is no MP3 but there again bluetooth = mono playback which is crap! I rode 160 miles back in the summer listening to my Iphone via V-Moda headphones and playback was good! I want to at least match that sound quality if possible. So I'm not sure if looking for a built in MP3 player will give me that?

 

[gsbiker]

There are handlebar mounts that will allow you to mount either a Zumo or a Nav III where your arrow is.

I've just changed a 2610 for a Nav III plus. I've also used a Zumo 550 quite lot as my wife has one.

Personally, I prefer the Nav III. The software is more sophisticated than the 2610 (full postcodes, for instance) and closer in "feel" to the Zumo. But, the Nav III allows more configuration, including a most useful feature which allows you to route to avoid motorways. All the other units, as far as I can see including the Zumo, allow you to set preferences to avoid major roads, which then takes out A roads - the Nav III allows you to specifically select to avoid motorways, as well as setting things like your autozoom preferences, choice of data fields to display.

I also find the cradle buttons easier to use than the buttons on the Zumo, and they have more functionality. I like the 3D view (Zumo has it too) and the POI data bases are good.

When using Mapsource, I find the Zumo a bit clunky - when you plug the USB in, it takes a while to go into it's mass storage mode, then you can download your new routes or whatever, and then when you unplug it it then goes though an install routine to be able to use them.

However, Mrs Berin much prefers the Zumo as she finds it easier to use.

Good luck with your choice

Hi Berin, thanks for your info much appreciated! I have 2 questions for you,

1. Doesn't Nav3 use MapSource? If it does not then doesn't it make it less user friendly because you can't plan routes on your PC?
2. What's the difference between Nav3 and Nav3 plus?

 

[Fanum]

I think you'd be insane to pay £640 for a bike GPS.

 

[gsbiker]

I think you'd be insane to pay £640 for a bike GPS.

Mmm that might be true, but I was insane buying a bike for £13000 also!

 

[beemerboy9]

Difficult to get decent MP3 stereo from the 2820 as some units suffer from interference from the TFT display. GS Rich agrees with this. I used a wired #1298 Autocom audio cable with my 2820 to get high quality mono - and I am happy with this because I don't need stereo on the bike.
This is not an issue for the NavIII as it has no MP3 player.

The reason for no MP3 is that the 4 extra buttons on the NavIII HIDE the area on the LHS side of the unit where the 2820 has the stereo output and the microphone input. So........

...... because there is no microphone input, the ONLY way to get mobile phone sound up to and down from the helmet is by using the bluetooth headset functionality = more complexity.

I use earplugs with micro-loudspeakers so I personally would not want to go this route at all, though others with greater patience have made the necessary electrical modifications.

I do not believe a NavIII is worth 50% more than a Zumo 550 or a 2820 ..... but it's your money and your buttons!

 

[Berin]

Hi Berin, thanks for your info much appreciated! I have 2 questions for you,

1. Doesn't Nav3 use MapSource? If it does not then doesn't it make it less user friendly because you can't plan routes on your PC?



2. What's the difference between Nav3 and Nav3 plus?

1.Yes - it uses Mapsource and the CN series maps (Zumo uses CN NT). it just takes less time to load stuff in than it does with the Zumo.
2 It's some software, including, I think, the Avoid Motorway option. But all the current Nav III's say "Navigator III" on the unit, it should say Navigator III+ on the software start up page. I think the III+ was an update to III

I'd try to talk them down from £640, though.

 

[Berin]

...... because there is no microphone input, the ONLY way to get mobile phone sound up to and down from the helmet is by using the bluetooth headset functionality = more complexity.

Or use an Autocom - I've used the MP3 player in the zumo, and to my ears it just doesn't sound very good. I use an MP3 player via Autocom, and Ultimate Ear in-ear monitors, and the sound is very good. Likewise my bike to bike PMR radio is via the Autocom and I could plug my phone in via this also. But I don't want to talk to anyone on my mobile when I'm on the bike.

 

[gsbiker]

I'd try to talk them down from £640, though.

That may be harder than you think, I was quoted £720 which includes everything then he reduced it to £640 so I can't see how they will drop any further. If they do, it won't be below £600! I like the sound of the Nav3, but for £300 I could buy a 2820. I can't ignore the price difference!

PS; I've noticed how much better the Zumo screen is to my TomTom 910. It's much brighter. Is the Nav3 + 2820 the same as the Zumo?

Also; where have you positioned your Nav3 on your bike?

 

[Ash]

i have the answer-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Garmin-Street...3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:2|65:1|39:1|240:1318.
i have used this seller first class service.
and this unit comes with warranty.
PS
i have a new 2820

 

[beemerboy9]

Or use an Autocom - I've used the MP3 player in the zumo, and to my ears it just doesn't sound very good. I use an MP3 player via Autocom, and Ultimate Ear in-ear monitors, and the sound is very good. Likewise my bike to bike PMR radio is via the Autocom and I could plug my phone in via this also. But I don't want to talk to anyone on my mobile when I'm on the bike.

Thankyou for correcting me - the word "headset" should not have crept in there - it was a slip of the "keyboard". At the time I was thinking of the ill-fated first incarnation of the BMW System 5 helmet with integral bluetooth - which is the interface that BMW intended the NavIII should be used with. Hopefully the mark 2 bluetooth for release in 2009 will be more reliable - the couriers are usually terrific development guinea pigs.

 

[beemerboy9]

PS; I've noticed how much better the Zumo screen is to my TomTom 910. It's much brighter. Is the Nav3 + 2820 the same as the Zumo?

Yes, same screen technology.