My BMW Navigator VI is possessed

[BobAin'tStoppin']

I think I've seen reference to backing up your Garmin. Haven't done it, but couldn't you back up the bad one and then restore to the replacement? Then you'd be all set up with little effort.

This whole thread is unsettling. My June trip os over 6k miles, all on secondary roads that I've never been on. No way to have a full backup plan other than Darrell's spare gps, which I don't have. My plan is if the rig goes whacko, I'll just get a new route from the phone and slab the remainder of the trip.

[Grumpy Goat]

This whole thread is unsettling. My June trip os over 6k miles, all on secondary roads that I've never been on. No way to have a full backup plan other than Darrell's spare gps, which I don't have. My plan is if the rig goes whacko, I'll just get a new route from the phone and slab the remainder of the trip.

Bob - that is a good backup plan, although it sounds like it relies on a cell connection. I leave that as my Plan C, where my initial backup Plan B is to use CoPilot which I find pretty good, inexpensive and has downloadable maps so does not need a cell connection. Here is a link to it on the AppStore.

[darrell]

I think I've seen reference to backing up your Garmin. Haven't done it, but couldn't you back up the bad one and then restore to the replacement? Then you'd be all set up with little effort.

This whole thread is unsettling. My June trip os over 6k miles, all on secondary roads that I've never been on. No way to have a full backup plan other than Darrell's spare gps, which I don't have. My plan is if the rig goes whacko, I'll just get a new route from the phone and slab the remainder of the trip.

I’ll look in to how I could back up the current unit and get all the screens set as I prefer to use them.

An option is to watch for someone on advrider, eBay, or forums selling their Nav V for around $250 - $300 and purchase that and keep it as a spare. You can load your routes in there and have a back with you. I’m not ready to give my Nav V up permanently, yet.

[Grumpy Goat]

Like Darrel suggests, I advise anyone who already has a Nav V to keep it as a spare to the Nav VI until they figure out this problem and actually implement a proper solution. Until now I have never heard a rep admit that it was a supplier of bad parts issue, which means if this is true they still have issues since some replacements (with the good parts?) still have this problem.

For me (who does not have a Nav V as a spare), I refuse to go and buy one to use as a spare. Its the principle of the thing. While I love the jog wheel function and integration with telemetrics etc., I would give that functionality up in a spare, and get a $20 app for my phone instead. And when I can't read the phone acceptably, I'd put the money towards the $500 Garmin Zumo XT. But that is just me.

I don't have an issue spending big money on a premium bike. I do have BIG problems spending money on BS issues and accoutrements that such a bike seems to attract.

[Liteitup]

Zumo 660 will fit, I assume the 665 will as well.
I carry my 660 on long trips.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Last night it popped into my head that I prolly still have the retired 660 in a box somewhere. I retired that one because the screen was getting too dim to see in sunlight. Got the Nav 6 because of all y'all saying it was worth it. Will get out the old 660 and see if I can update maps and fit the route in it.

[darrell]

Last night it popped into my head that I prolly still have the retired 660 in a box somewhere. I retired that one because the screen was getting too dim to see in sunlight. Got the Nav 6 because of all y'all saying it was worth it. Will get out the old 660 and see if I can update maps and fit the route in it.

Good decision Bob. We should not have to do this but it is what it is with the Nav VI right now.

[Lee]

I don't remember if routes get backed up but Garmin Express automatically saves your contacts and favorites. When you connect a new device it will ask if you want the information loaded to the new device.

[Grumpy Goat]

Last night it popped into my head that I prolly still have the retired 660 in a box somewhere. I retired that one because the screen was getting too dim to see in sunlight. Got the Nav 6 because of all y'all saying it was worth it. Will get out the old 660 and see if I can update maps and fit the route in it.

Good plan Bob. The 660 would be a good backup and at the right price.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Well - I found my old 660 in the attic. Battery is going to be on charge for a while :-) It has maps from 2017, and I don't think I can put the current map on there without paying, even though I have it on the computer. I loaded the routes in and they seem to work. Total of 18 routes - one for each day of the trip. It really surprised me how slow this old thing is compared to the newer 6. Importing the routes took a long time. But it appears that I now have a back up incase of issues. It remains to be seen whether it will really work in the field.

Thinking of getting the bike out today. 50 degrees and possible showers in the next hour, then clear.

[darrell]

Well - I found my old 660 in the attic. It remains to be seen whether it will really work in the field.

Create a short route on the 660 to you favorite lunch spot today and see if it gets you there.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

So I did my first run of spring. Had to replace the low beam, which had popped on the last ride in the fall. Got a Philips Crystal Vision ultra at $30. Here's hoping. Supposed to be about 3500K white and more than 3000 hours. The ride reminded me of why I like bikes.

[Pyrrho]

For those of you who've had their Nav VIs replaced by Garmin... what proof of purchase was required? Looking at used units on eBay now and wondering how stuck I'd be when the screen decides to have a shit fit.

[darrell]

For those of you who've had their Nav VIs replaced by Garmin... what proof of purchase was required? Looking at used units on eBay now and wondering how stuck I'd be when the screen decides to have a shit fit.

Just register the unit when you receive it so Garmin knows you are the owner and they will not ask for anything to replace. I’m on my 5th one and never have been asked to provide any ownership proof.

[Pyrrho]

My Nav6 got all weird a few times on my trip from AZ to WI, and it was from rapid changes in temp & humidity from hot/dry to not-as-hot/more-humid. After re-acclimating overnight in a motel parking lot it'd be okay the next morning. I had a Connected Ride cradle with me so I switched to that and was fine, but I honestly still prefer using the Nav6 and keep it connected nearly 24/7. The issue hasn't returned since, almost 1,500 miles later. ??

[Liteitup]

Welp, number 3? or 4? I'm not sure.

Coming back from Kerrville yesterday my Nav 6 started ghosting. Luckily I know that route and just use the gps to keep track of arrival time, etc.

Just got off the phone w/Garmin, return and replace.

[Grumpy Goat]

Welp, number 3? or 4? I'm not sure.

Coming back from Kerrville yesterday my Nav 6 started ghosting. Luckily I know that route and just use the gps to keep track of arrival time, etc.

Just got off the phone w/Garmin, return and replace.

Bummer, but good to hear that they are still honouring their policy / warranty and replacing the unit. I would bet that all they are doing when they get the bad unit is replacing the screen, cleaning it up and then putting it back on the shelf for the next replacement request.

Fingers crossed, mine (#2) has not started ghosting yet (knock on wood) but it seems to have developed an inordinate sensitivity to traffic and always warns me about delays and proposes alternative routes. Trouble is, the traffic often turns out to be non-existent, so you don't know whether you should ignore these warnings or not. Years ago when I first got it, the Smartlink-based warnings used to be pretty reliable.

[Lee]

Fingers crossed, mine (#2) has not started ghosting yet (knock on wood) but it seems to have developed an inordinate sensitivity to traffic and always warns me about delays and proposes alternative routes. Trouble is, the traffic often turns out to be non-existent, so you don't know whether you should ignore these warnings or not. Years ago when I first got it, the Smartlink-based warnings used to be pretty reliable.

Traffic congestion warnings has always been bad on my Nav V and we're rarely in heavy traffic or near a city.
I have Traffic shut off on my Nav and I don't see a way to shut it off in Smartlink.

[Pyrrho]

Just got back from a weekend trip to St Louis. Nav stopped responding to touch input during the trip but fortunately I had a ConnectedRide cradle with me. Time for a call to Garmin...

[runnerhiker]

We are getting it from all sides. The BMW Connected app is not nearly as good as Apple Car Play. The Garmin GPS's are unreliable. It's a good thing we (mostly) know where we are going.