My BMW Navigator VI is possessed

[Grumpy Goat]

Test ride done today. Unit ran fine for about 2 minutes. Then whammo, all haywire again. So back at the house I went online to Garmin and did a chat with Debi. My initial inquiry detailed the issue. Her initial response, 'stand by, I'm working up an exchange'. Pretty good service! So I'm still a satisfied Garmin customer.

Good to hear that Garmin CS continues to be responsive, even if their product quality is "iffy" ...

[darrell]

Spent 2 minutes on the phone with Garmin today to have them send me my 3rd Nav VI. Worked fine all summer on the bike. Today using in the pickup on my way to an appointment it went nuts to the point I could not even use the buttons to shut it down. Had to pull the battery. Called this afternoon and new one is being shipped overnight so if it gets out today I’ll have tomorrow. Will send old one back once I get the new one.

They did confirm my 2nd one that just failed is part of the new batch of screens so that concerns them.

[Olgry1]

Garmin's customer service appears to be great.

Garmin's ability to fix the issue with the Nav VI however does not reflect positively on their engineering capabilities. If I am not mistaken this problem has been around for months.

I have both a Nav V and Nav VI and have to carry both given the Nav VIs history.

I regret ever buying the Nav VI.

[darrell]

Garmin's customer service appears to be great.

Garmin's ability to fix the issue with the Nav VI however does not reflect positively on their engineering capabilities. If I am not mistaken this problem has been around for months.

I have both a Nav V and Nav VI and have to carry both given the Nav VIs history.

I regret ever buying the Nav VI.

I too carry both my Nav V when using my Nav VI expecting it to fail at any time. I really thought my upgrade of maps last spring took care of mine but today it happened. It did not take the person but one minute to say they needed to send me a replacement. Their customer service is great but I hate having to update the new one I receive and then set it up like I prefer to use it.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

If this failure ever happened to me on a trip, I'd be in big trouble. I generally am riding places I've never been before and have little idea where I am. For Colorado I had back up paper info just in case.

[Grumpy Goat]

If this failure ever happened to me on a trip, I'd be in big trouble. I generally am riding places I've never been before and have little idea where I am. For Colorado I had back up paper info just in case.

Bob, I can well imagine ... I am in the same boat.

[Grumpy Goat]

Garmin's customer service appears to be great.

Garmin's ability to fix the issue with the Nav VI however does not reflect positively on their engineering capabilities. If I am not mistaken this problem has been around for months.

I have both a Nav V and Nav VI and have to carry both given the Nav VIs history.

I regret ever buying the Nav VI.

From what I have heard, if your eyesight is good then the Nav V is the one to get / keep, since aside from the screen brightness, the Nav Vi has been a failure - pure and simple. At that price it should be better, and these band-aid fixes they keep offering (good as Garmin Customer Support is) does nothing to fix the problem. Clearly whoever is supplying their screens does not spend enough time actually product testing or their QA is non-existent.

I suspect with the advent of the TFT screens on the bikes, there will be no more BMW Navigators and that the Nav VI is the last one. Consequently I don't expect there to be any real fixes ... just exchanges until they get tired of doing this. I also suspect that the replacements may be refurbished units as opposed to new with a new design screen.

[Lee]

. For Colorado I had back up paper info just in case.

I always carry a document bag full of maps
I like maps. Debbie is the same way. When we rode two up she always had a map in a waterproof bag and did the navigating.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Got my exchange NAV 6 via UPS today. The thing looks brand new, but apparently isn't. Booting up found the map was 2017 version. So I registered the unit with Garmin and updated. All appears to be working. Will test in the morning as we will have mid 50's temps tomorrow. Will head to Shelburne Falls for breakfast at the Bakery. Good stuff.

As an aside, Garmin instructs to remove the battery when returning, which I did. The replacement came with a new battery, so now I have a spare!

[darrell]

Got my exchange NAV 6 via UPS today. The thing looks brand new, but apparently isn't. Booting up found the map was 2017 version. So I registered the unit with Garmin and updated. All appears to be working. Will test in the morning as we will have mid 50's temps tomorrow. Will head to Shelburne Falls for breakfast at the Bakery. Good stuff.

As an aside, Garmin instructs to remove the battery when returning, which I did. The replacement came with a new battery, so now I have a spare!

I received mine yesterday and updated everything today. Still need to put on the bike to update a few items that can only be done when communicating with the bike. Bike is at dealer for a major service, new tires and Tractive suspension being added. Looked at new suspension parts today before they started installing.

Mine also had maps from 2017.2. I called Garmin and spoke to someone who said my replacement unit was brand new and in fact was assembled on Nov 5, 2020 and they had just received. He said as far as he knows all the units come with 2017.2 maps. Doesn't make sense to me but then my 2nd one I just sent back today also had 2017.2 maps.

As you state they told me to keep the battery from unit 2 and a new battery was included in unit 3 but nothing else like cables, screw driver, manual, etc.

[Lee]

Mine also had maps from 2017.2. I called Garmin and spoke to someone who said my replacement unit was brand new and in fact was assembled on Nov 5, 2020 and they had just received. He said as far as he knows all the units come with 2017.2 maps.

Seems strange to me they would load a new unit with old maps.
I trust it's a new unit, but why use old maps?

[darrell]

Mine also had maps from 2017.2. I called Garmin and spoke to someone who said my replacement unit was brand new and in fact was assembled on Nov 5, 2020 and they had just received. He said as far as he knows all the units come with 2017.2 maps.

Seems strange to me they would load a new unit with old maps.
I trust it's a new unit, but why use old maps?

If my research is correct and my memory still functions as I hope it is I believe the Nav VI was released in the 2nd quarter of 2017. So maybe that is why all are loaded with 2017.2. I just checked with a friend of mine who bought at NAV VI in the fall of 2018 and he has never updated it. It has 2017.2 maps loaded on it right now.

[Lee]

]If my research is correct and my memory still functions as I hope it is I believe the Nav VI was released in the 2nd quarter of 2017. So maybe that is why all are loaded with 2017.2.

Are you thinking your unit was made in 2017 instead of 2020?
What's the build date on the box?

[darrell]

]If my research is correct and my memory still functions as I hope it is I believe the Nav VI was released in the 2nd quarter of 2017. So maybe that is why all are loaded with 2017.2.

Are you thinking your unit was made in 2017 instead of 2020?
What's the build date on the box?

They didn't ship this replacement in a box just the unit and new battery telling me to keep the other items and remove the battery that came with the original unit. My 2nd unit came in a box with the full kit of everything included. I'm guessing plastic parts of the units are made someplace/screens another place and then shipped someplace else for the internal components and maybe even another to load the software.

All I know this 3rd one loaded software and map updates. I'll get a chance to drive the pickup using it if I go someplace other then the health club. If it fails I'll just call and get another sent to me. I have my Nav V as a backup if it fails and I need it when traveling.

[Grumpy Goat]

Got my exchange NAV 6 via UPS today. The thing looks brand new, but apparently isn't. Booting up found the map was 2017 version. So I registered the unit with Garmin and updated. All appears to be working. Will test in the morning as we will have mid 50's temps tomorrow. Will head to Shelburne Falls for breakfast at the Bakery. Good stuff.

As an aside, Garmin instructs to remove the battery when returning, which I did. The replacement came with a new battery, so now I have a spare!

Good to hear, and a spare battery for your troubles. I can't remember what I did but I don't have a spare battery.

[Grumpy Goat]

If my research is correct and my memory still functions as I hope it is I believe the Nav VI was released in the 2nd quarter of 2017. So maybe that is why all are loaded with 2017.2. I just checked with a friend of mine who bought at NAV VI in the fall of 2018 and he has never updated it. It has 2017.2 maps loaded on it right now.

I think it is quite possible that the production software loader that loads the maps on the units was never uploaded over the years since they recommend that you ensure that your unit has the latest maps and firmware and you would have to check it anyway.

[BobAin'tStoppin']

Exactly Darrell. Just back from breakfast. (It's 3pm here). A one tank ride to eat. The nav worked fine. Must admit that I really like having a map display while riding. Shows upcoming curves or towns/villages etc.

[Lee]

I don't have a spare battery.

I talked to a rider in Colorado this summer who had his Nav VI stop working because of a bad battery. He said it was the 2nd time it has happened.
I carry a spare now.
I called Garmin and they sent me two new batteries free because ours do not last long when not being used.
If I remember right the battery only costs $20 if you want to buy one for a spare.

[Liteitup]

I bought my S1000XR in October. I swapped my Nav VI over to it and have mostly ignored the RS. The XR apparently doesn't have TPMS(at all) or ambient temp going to the Nav VI (does have temp on dash).

I swapped the Nav VI back over to the RS yesterday thinking it would adapt and show TPMS readings. It did not. The dash TPMS readings took longer than usual to begin, especially the rear, but appear to work properly.

Is this normal? How do I get TPMS readings back on the Nav VI?

[Grumpy Goat]

I bought my S1000XR in October. I swapped my Nav VI over to it and have mostly ignored the RS. The XR apparently doesn't have TPMS(at all) or ambient temp going to the Nav VI (does have temp on dash).

I swapped the Nav VI back over to the RS yesterday thinking it would adapt and show TPMS readings. It did not. The dash TPMS readings took longer than usual to begin, especially the rear, but appear to work properly.

Is this normal? How do I get TPMS readings back on the Nav VI?

You did not mention whether the ambient temp reading was restored once you put the Nav VI back on the RS.

I would do 2 things in this order:

1. Clean the contacts on the back of the Nav VI and on the cradle
   
2. Reset the Nav VI.
   

Yes you may lose from data but if there is nothing wrong with the Nav VI then whatever telemetry is offered by the RS should come straight through the Nav VI, unmodified.

If that fails then you might want to try another Nav VI in the cradle and see what it says.

Could also be that the TPMS transmitter batteries are getting weak.