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/

 

[Nick V]

Thanks to all who've commented or contributed suggestions!

Looking at the Carpuride website (despite functionality that lists prices in ZAR, the page is blocked if I don't access it through a VPN - weird), it seems:

• There are currently five different BMW-specific models available.
• Only two (W502/702BS and W602BS) can be operated with the BMW MultiController. (W502BS and W702BS are under the same product listing).
• According the the site's 'Compare' function, none of the five have GPS functionality built in.

Keeping in mind that if I buy a Carpuride, it'll be getting GPS info from a Samsung Galaxy A57...

1. What are you ladies and gents using for navigation and speed camera alerts? Google Maps? Waze? Other?
2. South Africa isn't like the UK - between major centres, mobile dead spots are the norm, not the exception. Do any of you have offline maps loaded to your linked phones? If so, which providers do you use?

 

[grantmac]

Not familiar with the Capuride but my guess much the same as the Chigee and others.
You don't need constant internet connection with your phone. You need to ensure your maps are loaded onto your phone - be selective as the whole globe takes up a huge amount of space and you probably only need Africa and South Africa at that.
Make sure your own routes you wish to ride are synced. I use MRA and it automatically syncs my routes to my files and phone.
Then before I leave home I set my MRA app to ´´off line navigation´´. This means I can navigate without having to have any 4/5G connection. Its quite reliable.
I was a big Garmin fan until i finally moved to the MRA app and Chigee. Much more versatile. I like to listen to music enroute and I can even do that all off line via Spotify downloaded songs to the phone.

 

[AccyStan1200]

Not sure it will be much use to you, I’ve had a Nav6 for a few years, had its issues but at the moment is working ok. Jumped at a Chigee when Nippy Normans had a deal on them. I got the 6” version which on reflection is too small, struggle reading some of the info, which wasn’t an issue on the Nav6. Getting pre planned routes on the Nav6 was a bit of a faff for me, no issues with the Chigee, using MyRoute app. Only advice would be get a 7” version of whatever.

 

[Barnoe]

Thanks to all who've commented or contributed suggestions!

Looking at the Carpuride website (despite functionality that lists prices in ZAR, the page is blocked if I don't access it through a VPN - weird), it seems:

• There are currently five different BMW-specific models available.
• Only two (W502/702BS and W602BS) can be operated with the BMW MultiController. (W502BS and W702BS are under the same product listing).
• According the the site's 'Compare' function, none of the five have GPS functionality built in.

Keeping in mind that if I buy a Carpuride, it'll be getting GPS info from a Samsung Galaxy A57...

1. What are you ladies and gents using for navigation and speed camera alerts? Google Maps? Waze? Other?
2. South Africa isn't like the UK - between major centres, mobile dead spots are the norm, not the exception. Do any of you have offline maps loaded to your linked phones? If so, which providers do you use?

Sports Bike Shop sell Carpuride as does Amazon and Ebay.
SBS does free next day delivery too - there is a good bit of info on their website also.

THIS LINK is BMW compatible with android and GPS built in.
This is the one i would buy if i was buying today, mine does the same but it relies on my phone for Apps and GPS, dont get me wrong its been flawless but this newer version would be better.

 

[Wapping]

The Carpuride W702 Plus has its own android operating system and GPS independent of a phone.

Thank you.

 

[grantmac]

there was a guy on here selling the Chigee at very reasonable prices. Maybe not much help to you in South Africa unless someone can bring it to you. If its not urgent I can maybe help with getting it to South Africa but only in November. You´d have to arrange further collection from our offices in CapeTown. Send me a DM if interested.

 

[Wapping]

1. What are you ladies and gents using for navigation and speed camera alerts? Google Maps? Waze? Other?
2. South Africa isn't like the UK - between major centres, mobile dead spots are the norm, not the exception. Do any of you have offline maps loaded to your linked phones? If so, which providers do you use?

1. I’d guess that here in the UK, most would use Google Maps and / or Waze. I think they are now the same thing anyway.

2. Google Maps are a popular download.

Because I use MyRoute’s Navigation app, I download their mapsets. My sacrificial iPhone has no SIM card in it. It works fine as a simple GPS / navigation device, running permanently in off-line mode. I don’t bother about displaying it through a device that mirrors the phone.