Nowt but trouble!

[Skippy]

My Garmin has been a very poor "investment".

Bought as a BM accessory in 2005 at huge expense (well over £1200 Sucker) and had replacements due to a defective screen ( a white-out streak across it making a 1cm wide stripe horizontally throught the middle). BM didn't register the "new" ones (now on the 3rd) with Garmin and caused a nightmare of problems eventually resolved by me doing all the running.

Well bollox! IT@S HAPPENED AGAIN rendering the unit unuseable FFS. And I'm pissed off.

Now, anyone know if it's fixable or do I just bin it and get a new one? Should I stick with Garmin despite their poor support (or do I blame BM??) or go for something else? Should I buy a second hand one so it fits the existing cradle?

Advice please.

Skip.

 

[Taff]

What unit is it?

 

[andyclift]

Now, anyone know if it's fixable or do I just bin it and get a new one? Should I stick with Garmin despite their poor support (or do I blame BM??) or go for something else? Should I buy a second hand one so it fits the existing cradle?

Sounds like you have a BMW Navigator II which (in 2005) my dealer talked me out of buying, suggesting I could get a Streetpilot 2720 for half the price and it's a much better satnav. I got one and he was right.

If yours is a Nav II it's only a modified Garmin Streetpilot 2610 so it may be worth giving Garmin a call. I have found their service exceptional. If that's not an option, a 2720 or 2820 would fit the cradle (but not allow use of the BMW extra buttons) and a new 2820 is less than half the price you paid.

But why worry about a new cradle, it's a very minor part of the overall cost. I think I would just but what I wanted and bolt on a new cradle.

 

[Skippy]

BMW Motorrad Nav II

I think it's v9
The one with the extra buttons etc and BM locations etc pre-programmed.

 

[Clive]

If you chuck it, I'll have it for spares.

Spares, as in pull to bits if mine breaks, rather than the Novice meaning

 

[Skippy]

Beat me to it....

Sounds like you have a BMW Navigator II which (in 2005) my dealer talked me out of buying, suggesting I could get a Streetpilot 2720 for half the price and it's a much better satnav. I got one and he was right.

If yours is a Nav II it's only a modified Garmin Streetpilot 2610 so it may be worth giving Garmin a call. I have found their service exceptional. If that's not an option, a 2720 or 2820 would fit the cradle (but not allow use of the BMW extra buttons) and a new 2820 is less than half the price you paid.

But why worry about a new cradle, it's a very minor part of the overall cost. I think I would just but what I wanted and bolt on a new cradle.

How do you get the good service? do they have dealers or is all by phone?

 

[andyclift]

When I scratched the screen on mine I phoned them to ask cost of repairs. They said send it back and they would let me know and it could take up to 14 days.

I stuck it in a Jiffy bag with a covering letter saying not to repair it until I had OKed the cost and sent it on a Tuesday. On Thursday, same week, a courier turned up with a brand new system and a FOC invoice. They had not just replaced the head unit I sent them but sent a complete retail system with all the accessories.

I have since phoned a couple of times with queries on software and they were very helpful, in one case spending an hour on the phone helping me with a "work around" to something I wanted to do but the software would not let me.

Many years back I emailed Garmin UK with comments that their (then) DOS PC software for my Garmin 12 was rather poor. The reply from their Sales Manager said it was not poor - it was complete crap - and offered to send me a copy of their new Windows software when released. When it came out a year later they sent me a copy.

That's what I call good service.

 

[Skippy]

I'll try again.

Spoke to Garmin this morning and they're checking on a couple of things ??and calling back.

I know Garmin is the dogs berries and all that but my own previous experience was not so good. We'll see what happens.

Anyway, if I want an "upgrade but also want to keep the existing wiring and cradle (with it's features) what am I looking for?

Do I "keep" my codes and maps of Europe and transfer them or assume new ones??

Sorry to be such a div on this! Never have really got to grips with it and probably need some tuition from an expert.

Skip.

 

[andyclift]

As think you have realised, buying the Nav II was probably not the best investment when compared with the price of a Streepilot 2610 which it was based on.

From memory the main "features" of the BMW version was the extra buttons on the mount, a compass page and a list of BMW dealers.

- The extra buttons on the mount do nothing you can't do from a Streetpilot screen
- Have you ever used the compass screen, not much use unless you are off-road in a desert.
- BMW dealer POIs can be downloaded from this site.

If you want to keep the same type of unit think about a Garmin 2820 which is basically a BMW Navigator III at half the price. I think it's "extras" are about the same as the Nav II but do you need them. It is the same body as your existing unit so should be no problem fitting the cradle but the "extra" buttons won't do anything.

As far as the mapping is concerned I don't think the 2610 handled the latest NT maps but the 2820 should read them - but what maps would you need to keep as if you buy a new unit it will come with the latest 2008 European maps. It should read any old maps OK if you need them.

The other option is the Zumo which has special "bike" features but loses some of the 2820 features. You need to compare specs on Garmin's site to see what fits your needs. The Zumo needs it's own cradle but it's no big deal to bolt on a new cradle.

 

[Skippy]

Hmmmm. There's a surprise!

Spoke to Garmin this morning and they're checking on a couple of things ??and calling back.

I know Garmin is the dogs berries and all that but my own previous experience was not so good. We'll see what happens.

Anyway, if I want an "upgrade but also want to keep the existing wiring and cradle (with it's features) what am I looking for?

Do I "keep" my codes and maps of Europe and transfer them or assume new ones??

Sorry to be such a div on this! Never have really got to grips with it and probably need some tuition from an expert.

Skip.

Still waiting for the call back..........

 

[Hustler]

Still waiting for the call back..........

And did they ever call back ?
Just wondered like.