Replacing a BMW Nav VI with a Chinese GPS unit - advice needed.

[Nick V]

Hi again all. As per subject line.

I've officially exhausted every local avenue in South Africa trying to get my Navigator VI sorted.
BMW SA and Garmin SA have both made clear, in careful passive-offensive legalese, that they don't give a damn.

With that, I'd like to try one of the Chinese equivalents.
I see a wide variety on AliExpress, but I have zero personal experience with any of them, so am hoping for specific recommendations.

What bike will the device be used on?
A 2015 R1200GS with BMW Navigation Preparation, and MultiController.

What functions do I actually need?

• Reliability. All I really need is a GPS that does what it says on the tin. I've never actually had a bike-specific GPS that was up to standard. My 2010 Tomtom Rider, various Garmin Zumo 4x0 and 5x0 devices, and now the Nav VI - all sub-standard.
• A touch screen not infested with poltergeists (oooh er obviously.)
• Full GPS functionality.
• Ability to update the GPS's map base.

What would be 'nice to have'?

• Access to a speed camera warning database.
• A bigger touch screen than that on the Nav VI.
• As much of the Nav VI's 'My Motorcycle' Functionality as possible. Things like real-time readings of the bike's operating parameters.
• A 'heads-up display' function that can show vehicle speed and tacho, and maybe one or two other functions like fuel quantity, engine temperature and tyre pressures.

Fire away.

 

[Barnoe]

Carpuride 702BS Pro

Fits straight on from box, Job done.

 

[Wapping]

• Reliability. All I really need is a GPS that does what it says on the tin. I've never actually had a bike-specific GPS that was up to standard. My 2010 Tomtom Rider, various Garmin Zumo 4x0 and 5x0 devices, and now the Nav VI - all sub-standard.
• A touch screen not infested with poltergeists (oooh er obviously.)
• Full GPS functionality.
• Ability to update the GPS's map base

Many of the devices are dumb devices, that simply replicate what is on your phone’s screen. They do not hold maps or provide GPS based route calculation in their own right; the phone does all that.

That said, there may be some with true GPS capability inbuilt?

PS The Nav VI and earlier devices (and now the XT) were - in the main - very good standalone GPS devices. What did you find wrong with them?

 

[Barnoe]

That said, there may be some with true GPS capability inbuilt?

The Carpuride W702 Plus has its own android operating system and GPS independent of a phone.
You can run Carplay or Android auto with it too if you want. £299

Its comes with front and back 1080 dashcam too, but you don't have to plug them in if you don't want too.

 

[Nick V]

The Nav VI and earlier devices (and now the XT) were - in the main - very good standalone GPS devices. What did you find wrong with them?

As the Zumo 4x0 and 5x0 devices got older, I had a cradle crap out on me with water corrosion, and the buttons were falling out of almost all the units themselves. Not to mention battery failures (which, to be fair, is typical on a handheld device over 10 years old).

My Nav VI has the 'ghost touch' issue, and often refuses to connect with the satellite net. Like I said, BMW SA and Garmin SA have both made clear that they're not interested in helping.

 

[wessie]

The Carpuride W702 Plus has its own android operating system and GPS independent of a phone.
You can run Carplay or Android auto with it too if you want. £299

Its comes with front and back 1080 dashcam too, but you don't have to plug them in if you don't want too.

even less with the code FALL28 from the front page https://carpuride.com/