BMW official mount for GPS

[B-Road Explorer]

I ordered my first GS (R1200GS) last weekend, and I want to put a sat-nav on it as soon as I get it (around 1st July). I asked my dealer if they could fit a bracket and sort out the wiring as part of delivery. He was helpful and looked up parts but basically stalled me because he said BMW are launching the BMW Zumo to the UK in the next few days, and until then he couldn't tell if any new or better parts were coming.

Looking at the parts there was an official bracket, for putting the GPS (presumably the current one) above the clocks. It was a sort fo U-shaped loop of tube.

Does anyone know if this existing part is any good for a Zumo?

Also, I believe it has been out in the US for some time. Is there a Zumo-specific bracket that is better, in the US? Just anticipating whether we will get that too.

Further, I understand the standard Zumo power wiring isn't plug-straight-in compatible with BMW wiring loom. There must be an official BMW part for this though in the US? Does anyone know if that is the case?

I'm new to the BMW bike dealer experience. I'm unclear at this point if they would be happy fitting 3rd party bits for me, and I don't want to ruin my new bike with my cack-handedness. I know Touratech do the wire I want. I've also seen the Migsel bracket, which looks interesting. Is it really more functional than the standard BMW part?

Sorry, lots of questions there. I haven't even bought the Zumo yet, but I want to line everything up so I can have it in place from day 1.

If its not too controversial a question, is the BMW version of the Zumo still considered inferior? And going forward as well as just today? I've read about the firmware issues, and I'm quite sensitive to that sort of thing, as I find it really bites that my phone (SE P1i) gets updates from SE all the time but O2 don't push them out until months later. I don't want that on a sat-nav too.

Oops better stop rambling!

 

[Slowdown]

http://www.migsel.com

http://www.zumoforums.com

 

[trebor]

I have two parts supplied by BMW which, when assembled, places the Zumo above the clocks, one sounds like the U shaped bracket you describe, it matches the screen mounting bracket. The two legs of the U mount to the existing screen bracket such that the bottom of the U is a few inches above the clocks, providing a horizontal bar to mount the zumo mount (i.e. it is mounted as an upside down U). The other part clamps to this horizontal bar and has the Zumo fastened to it. It places the Zumo in a similar position to where it would be mounted on the GSA, on the upper GSA screen support bar. The screws that came with the bracket the Zumo is mounted to were too short, I had to use the ones that came with the Zumo (for mounting on the Ram mount). Also I had to stand the Zumo off the bracket slightly using 4 nuts as spacers otherwise the Zumo didn't sit quite right due to an obstruction on the mount. Despite this, I'm very please with the result. I suspect that the bracket the Zumo is actually mounted to was designed for the earlier Garmins (26xx, 27xx series), I think that this may be the improved bracket that the dealer is referring to. The U shaped part is probably still the same.

I'm not at home at present but if no other info is forthcoming when I get home, middle of next week, I can take a picture of the arrangement and give you the part numbers.

Bob

 

[B-Road Explorer]

Slowdown: Thanks for the URLs, I was sceptical of the ZumoForums link at first because if you don't have an account you only see one, fairly uninteresting, topic group. But after I registered for an account I saw the light - there is a lot more going on! I can see now that the bluetooth stuff I was asking about in my other thread is not fully realisable yet. Mono bluetooth it is then I guess.

Trebor: Thanks for the info, that is exactly what I was thinking of. From your comments, I guess the Migsel part probably does do a better job, purely in terms of working right away without any modifications. I'll have to see what my dealer comes up with on the new official parts and also if they can fit the Migsel for me.

 

[colin.carter]

Hi Sir,
I bought the Zumo 550 and banged it on a new 08 GS in 20 mins.
The Std kit also comes with a full car fitment kit included which has proved very useful on a number of occasions (and a useful little carry pouch when you take it off your bike).
To be fair I just used the cable supplied in the box after fixing a BMW sourced din plug onto the bare wires. I ran the wire back to the rear socket in 5 mins, cable tied it to the frame and now just plug it in when I need it.
The supplied U-bolt fixing actually works quite well although I have changed to something fancier now.

I could be wrong but I would also expect anything with a manufacturers brand on it to be way more expensive. I think the new Honda Sat Nav is a Zumo 550 but sells for about £750! (and no car kit).

I think you can buy Zumo 550s for sub £350 now.

 

[stubox]

Hi Sir,
I bought the Zumo 550 and banged it on a new 08 GS in 20 mins.
The Std kit also comes with a full car fitment kit included which has proved very useful on a number of occasions (and a useful little carry pouch when you take it off your bike).
To be fair I just used the cable supplied in the box after fixing a BMW sourced din plug onto the bare wires. I ran the wire back to the rear socket in 5 mins, cable tied it to the frame and now just plug it in when I need it.
The supplied U-bolt fixing actually works quite well although I have changed to something fancier now.

I could be wrong but I would also expect anything with a manufacturers brand on it to be way more expensive. I think the new Honda Sat Nav is a Zumo 550 but sells for about £750! (and no car kit).

I think you can buy Zumo 550s for sub £350 now.

What he said! Tho I've kept the U clamp on the bars.

Stu

 

[B-Road Explorer]

What I did

OK so in the end I did buy a standard Zumo 550, from Amazon, probably the cheapest for a non-white-box, and it did come with latest mapping. I also bought the Migsel mount. The mount arrived in about 4 days too, much quicker than I was expecting

I haven't actually got my bike yet, but my dealer phoned today to say it arrived in the crate today and I can pick it up at the end of the week, yippee!!!

On the downside, I've been trying to find a proper CAN-bus power lead for the Zumo. Touratech don't have them in stock, and as said by others on other threads, my dealer isn't allowed to order me the part to solder on to my own lead.

On the other hand, my dealer has been telling me all along that BMW were about to bring the BMW-branded Zumo 550 to the UK, and he got those in his delivery today. If anyone wants them, they are £495. So not as steep as the last generation but still not as good a deal as the standard - unless you particularly want the BMW 2-year warranty.

Also, he said that he now has a part number for the BMW Zumo power lead, but it's not recognised yet by the ordering system

So I've got a long way towards what I set out in my 1st post, but I've got a hurdle to pass still. At this point I'm thinking I'll have to wire direct to the battery to get started and sort it out properly later.

I did read that the cradle can draw some small but significant power even when the Zumo is off/removed. Is there an easy way to include a switch? Or is that solenoid territory?

 

[Wapping]

OK so in the end I did buy a standard Zumo 550, from Amazon, probably the cheapest for a non-white-box, and it did come with latest mapping. I also bought the Migsel mount. The mount arrived in about 4 days too, much quicker than I was expecting

I haven't actually got my bike yet, but my dealer phoned today to say it arrived in the crate today and I can pick it up at the end of the week, yippee!!!

On the downside, I've been trying to find a proper CAN-bus power lead for the Zumo. Touratech don't have them in stock, and as said by others on other threads, my dealer isn't allowed to order me the part to solder on to my own lead.

On the other hand, my dealer has been telling me all along that BMW were about to bring the BMW-branded Zumo 550 to the UK, and he got those in his delivery today. If anyone wants them, they are £495. So not as steep as the last generation but still not as good a deal as the standard - unless you particularly want the BMW 2-year warranty.

Also, he said that he now has a part number for the BMW Zumo power lead, but it's not recognised yet by the ordering system

So I've got a long way towards what I set out in my 1st post, but I've got a hurdle to pass still. At this point I'm thinking I'll have to wire direct to the battery to get started and sort it out properly later.

I did read that the cradle can draw some small but significant power even when the Zumo is off/removed. Is there an easy way to include a switch? Or is that solenoid territory?

Call BuMW Battersea. They will get you the plug, no problem. It's a car part and they service cars, too. They will post it to you. I think mine was £7, or something similar. The TT lead is £30+ and you can bet the BuMW complete lead will not be cheap.

It's a few minutes work to solder the Zumo power lead on. See the thread. It's just + and - No need for any jiggery-pokery or US plugs......

My cradle draws zip. There again it's wired to the dedicated socket, that switches off with the Canbus. Still tricky to see how the cradle on its own draws power. The only thing I can guess at is if you have the aerial (for the traffic info) attached that might draw power, if wired direct to the battery? But as it needs the Zumo in place (and bike powered) to make the traffic info work, that seems doubtful.

PS The Migsel mount is a doddle to fit.

 

[B-Road Explorer]

Oh, I didn't consider it might be a car part too! But I remember reading something in a brochure for the E90 (new 3 Series) about how they had reduced weight partly through changing to a bus-based wiring loom. D'oh!

I shall try my BMW car dealer. The parts guy has always been helpful in the past