BMW Navigator VI (Garmin) Issues & Warranty
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- In this video I will talk about the BMW Motorrad Navigator VI that can be purchased with BMW motorcycles or later added as an aftermarket add-on. The Navigator VI provides some great information from the motorcycle which is why I purchased it. Unfortunately, I have had two them replaced under warranty because of known issues and eventual complete failures. I really like having this unit on the BMW R1200GS because of the details, but you will have to watch the video to find out if I recommend the purchase for your BMW motorcycle. Keep in mind it is important to have reliable navigation when doing adventure motorcycle travel and camping in remote offroad areas.
Thank you Matt, good to know that I'm not the only one. I'm also on my third unit in 2yrs all replaced under warranty through BMW but still very disappointing that you can't rely on it. BMW have now shifted to a wireless charging mobile phone cradle for future models. But loss for Garmin and unbelievable they couldn't get it sorted and save the contract.
I bought one of these for my wife's GS and we've had issues with it doing many of the things you've described. I found that disconnecting the battery and reconnecting helps for a while but yeah, can't trust the thing. Thank you for your helpful video, looks like I will be giving Garmin a call. Although, I'm not sure why they don't address the issues instead of just sending out new ones.
I just bought my first GS and I think I will go with a zumo XT. I had a zumo 595 that was fantastic!
You are a very patient man!
I wish that were true. I am working on it.
Easy to fix. These units doesn't like cold weather. Remove it from the bike, place it horizontally in front of a heater/heat pump for a couple of hours to warm up the gel in the touch screen. Make sure the unit it self warms up to 25 to 30 deg Celsius and that will solve the ghosting/ frozen screen. Remove it from the bike and place in pouch indoors at good room temperature when not in use.
@@adriaangeyvanpittius2787 thanks for the tip. I ride in freezing temps a lot, this just didn't work for me.
Thanks for sharing this.
BMW connected app is the better and simpler option for navigation imo. And it´s free.
And, if you have a bike with TFT, all the info ( temperature, tire pressure, fuel, everage speed, etc ) is already available. Who needs that info on two screens on top of each other?
I have the Nav 6...and is´t up for sale at a very good price🙄
Thx for this review !
I am also on my second unit and unfortunately they have sent me two reconditioned ones and no I am calling them again to get another used one. Same issues as you have described.
I real pain in the ass. These units are awful.
I have had 5 of them since 2017. And yes they do get swapped for a new one, even the latest so called infallible one, lasted only three months . The trouble I have with your solution is that I'm a traveller and not a weekend rider. I really do not like being without a sat nav for two weeks. So no 5 was sold immediately, while still in the box and I got me an XT. You obviously do not have the TFT screen because that has the information you have on your screen readily available, two clicks down. So yes with the pre 2018 models said screen is nice, but once you have the TFT screen it's redundant. Btw the XT uses Garmin Drive which has actual weather info and also Traffic info that is rather up-to-date. You can send GPX files to it over the air (like from MRA's website on your phone and even update it via Wifi. No computer necessary! But thanks for the video anyway!
My Nav 6 failed me twice. I have a ZUMO XT now. It doesn't work with the wonder wheel but hopefully it will be more robust.
Mine were replaced with refurbished units. I would love to know how you got new ones. I was told they aren’t making new. It’s a software issue.
@@johnhenning4478 No it’s a hardware issue. The screen doesn’t fit well in the housing. Dirt gets in and then it goes awry. The new version with the Make life a ride screen was the latest version. It has a black background and white lettering. It’s still no good though…
mine crapped out at 1 yr about 7k miles. i was very disappointed with BMW service that the dealer could'nt process the replacement. my bike was in for service and they said you have to deal with Garmin. i would give BMW a big fail on that for the cost of this unit with BMW.... with that said Garmin as always was excellent, new unit in 2 weeks. well see how this one works...
I've been through four Nav6s in the last three years and all were replaced by Garmin free of charge. Garmin does know of the "issues" with this system but doesn't seem interested in fixing the problems. As I can no longer trust the GPS iv moved over to the Garmin Zumo XT which is half the price and easy to fit into the old cradle. Yes, you lose the Wiz Wheel but I can live with that.
Great tip on switching over to Zumo,
Hi Mike - just bought a 2016 R1200RS with a cradle for the nav only (delivery next week) Does the Zumo fit that cradle? BR Claus
Mine was changed 4 times but what I realized is the gps changed previous versions was a white bmw box then the last version was a grey box so something has been changed and works fine so far
I have A 2017 RT I'm on my 5th or 6th Nav VI warranty lasts 5 years in USA, But I m covered until sometime in 2023 for replacements. I guess I will have to buy A new bike next year because I will be on number 7 or 8 by then.
Thx Matt for sharing your experiences - so I won't get an Navigator VI and order a Garmin Zumo instead.
I sent mine back today for the fifth time and was told that there will be a new model out in mid 2023 and there will be some kind of offer for those who have had so many problems he didn’t say exactly what they would offer maybe a trade in ? That would be nice .he also said it may be called the nav 7 or have a different name. They have the best customer service and have been working hard to fix the issues I love my nav 6 when it’s working just disappointing can’t depend on it.
Thanks for letting everyone know the possibility of a replacement unit. I agree, I love it when it works. Cheers.
I have the BMW Nav VI on my R1200RS and this worked OK for 6 months, then the screen started to flip to different menus. This was intermittent and I found that taking the Nav VI into the dry house for a couple of days and not leaving it on the bike seems to make it stop screen flipping. From this I concluded that it was moisture ingress around the edge of the screen that was causing my Problem.
As the unit was purchased second hand, I was unable to return it to BMW. I have therefore cleaned the edges of the screen and put a bead of good quality silicone around the edge this appears to of stopped the problem (has been working fine for the last six months), although I still remove the unit from the bike when not riding. Please note I live in South Wales UK and the weather can be very wet sometimes and also the bike is left under cover outside when not used.
Great tip for those out there that xant return their units. Thanks.
Just sent a service request for my 3rd failure.....like you say they are great with satisfying the warranty but this is getting old. I have a 19 GSA and the other two went bad on the trickle charger. I disconnected the last one and kept it in the house over the winter. Always take it off when the bike is parked because the other part is when it goes bad and gets stuck in a boot loop is crushes the motorcycle battery. These GPS's have cost me 2 batteries.
Honestly I now use the 1k dollar Garmin as a backup to my phone.
Same here, can't trust it, even new. Very disappointing.
I am in the process of getting my 3rd unit. You would think they would have fixed this by now. I am relying on my phone.
Hard to understand!
When the motorcycle is your only means of transport the problems are amplified. At 50k kilometres (31k Miles) I'm onto my 6th replacement. The units are faulty. I've had the bike coming up to 3 years, but I won't give up until they sort the problem permanently. Just don't understand why it's taken so long to find the problem. Zumos were superior.
What a terrible experience. Unfortunately I dont think these will be properly fixed based on the feedback I get here.
What is the warranty on a new 6
Just got one trying to figure everything out
Just saw this comment. I think one year, but Garmin has been replacing them well past warranty. However, I hear, unconfirmed, Garmin has stopped supporting this model because of all the issues. Garmin customer service is great.
I have a Nav V mine does the jump dance thing its crap--Im moving to Garmin XT2.----Garmin say the Nav is to old to service and they don't keep any parts.
The Nav line of GPS units have been the worst. I think the integration of motorcycle information into the unit was too much. This new GPS should work really well for you. Cheers.
I am officially on replacement #8
That's terrible.
@@advmatt I will say, Garmin has done well by backing their products. I'm not mad with them at all!
@@mikemaes1006 understood. I just reached a point I couldn't trust the device anymore and had to use other navigation devices. It was an irritant for me.
Ive had my Nav VI for 3 1/2 years and many times have had to plug it into my laptop and update it do to it jumping to different screens and acting lost. Now my updates have expired and this last time it started screen jumping and seemed totally lost I put it on the charger in an open area and it ended up calibrating itself and is now working fine. I can't trust it but at least for now its working. I would like to know if there is mounting hardware to mount on my phone so it fit where the Garmin goes? I have a 2015 R1200RT.
I was keeping mine up to date and it didn't seem to help. A phone mount where the GPS sits would be perfect.
@@advmatt BMW now delivers that and you can control the phone with the scroll wheel and use the Connected App. I think the older RT's will be a bit of a problem though. But when you have a cradle like on the GS, it works als so with the pre-TFT bikes, as long as there is a scroll-wheel.
Good to know, I need to look into it.
@@advmatt I switched to phone nav during a long trip when NAV VI started freaking out, but had to put the phone away in fog/mist/rain as it's not waterproof. Any ideas for a cover, or a phone, that's waterproof where I can plug it into the bike and have power?
@@davecoombs1072 I use a Samsung Galaxy S8. It is waterproof but I still keep it in a waterproof case. As long as the power port stays dry 8t works great. If it gets wet then I have trouble.
I just send my second unit back to Garmin, they will send me a third one but I have to wait 6-8 weeks
Bummer. I replaced two as well. I have heard of others replacing more.
Concern of relying on your phone is what happens when you lose cell service?
Use phone apps that dont need service for navigation. I am currently using Locus Maps. I can download the area I am riding and plan a route from my computer. The route gets saved to my phone while I have service and go from there. It works really well.
@@advmatt cool. I did not know that was an option. Thanks!
Which phone app are you using for nav?
I use Locus Maps. You can load GPS files from your computer to your profile then download from the cloud to your phone. It's pretty easy to use and has offline maps you can download. No cell service required.
@@advmatt Nice, thank you. Unfortunately not available for iPhone. 😐
@@acimdotnet try GIAI.
No, I didn't answer yes to any of these questions, but I'm first!
S
Hello! Do these gps have also offroad maps? Are they often updated?
I had a difficult time using this GPS for offroad riding. Most dirt roads are not included in the mapping or routing. I am not sure how often the maps are updated.
@@advmatt thanks for the feedback!
Ok, l have had 7 units replaced....... you get refurbished units not new ones in a sealed box.
These things are terrible.
Replaced mine Friday walked into bmw they gave me a new one no questions asked
That is good to know.
@@advmatt my friend is on his 5th in two years
That's awful. BMW and Garmin really failed with these.
Just back from a long trip with a new Nav VI. All true. Locations of restaurants/gas stations are wrong. Trouble importing GPX files, changing destinations mid-trip, ghost-scrolling through screens/menus... Do I want delete saved places? No! Time spent trying to back out of these unwanted screens and return to my route view, while riding. Both annoying and dangerous. So disappointing. I cannot rely on it. Waste of $850, and the replacements don't sound much better.
Frustating!
You need to put in 250 points on the route so that it will not recalculate off the route
That is a lot of work to put in 250 waypoints. There are better routing options for my use. It's good to know there is a work around, thanks.
@@advmatt there is a setting in base camp we’re you instruct base camp to create a route with those call it breadcrumbs that force the nav VI to stay on course. Takes seconds. I think basecamp is over complicated but there are ways to fix what you are describing. Unfortunately there’s you need to find the help on you tube just search for it it’s all there.
I purchased a Garmin Zumo XT and have been unimpressed with how outdated a "modern" Garmin GPS is.
The Garmin often cannot find a place I am looking for so I fall back on Google...
Garmin does do an excellent job of being visible in any light condition, and my older eyes appreciate the large screen! - Frank
I’m having The same issue with finding stuff easily. Compared to my iPhone maps
@@theSkavenger84 Frustrating right? SHEESH its not an inexpensive device, I expected it to make my phone obsolete. - Frank
It sucks when you have no phone service which I thought this unit would be perfect for but not so much…
My NAV VI took me to a "restaurant". The checkered flag was on a section of road where there was nothing. It was not off by a little. It was not even close to anything. There was no building there, nor had there ever been a building there or a building anywhere near it. It was just woods. WTF?
same as most other people on here the Nav 6 doesn't work, 5 months from new, on a tour to Spain and it stopped working!!!, I would have thrown it over a cliff, had I not needed to try to exchange it, just stick to Tom Tom
They replace defective units with newer defective units.
Seems to be what is happening. This is a failed product.
could you please tell me what was the phone number you used to contact Garmin ? thanks
Try this website. You answer the questions and it will get you started with the return process. support.garmin.com/en-US/ql/?focus=topics
Funny. All the reasons you give for buying it have nothing to do with navigation.
You need to search route building on base camp.
I used route building on Base Camp. I found it clunky and it didn't work well for offroad routing. Many of the roads I wanted to ride didnt exist in Base Camp and did in other routing apps.
$800+ for a GPS/SatNav ???????????
It's such a shame this piece of shit is the only unit that integrates with the GS. It's scandalous.
It's as crappy as the 4. It looks good on the RT and that's about it. Programming it is mission impossible, it loses connectivity with the phone all the time. Google maps rules all these.
Don't get one I'm on my 3rd one its utterly crap .
Hi Matt, just likle mentioned by you , I am having a lot of issues with my GPS too, could you share with us the GARMIM PHONE NUMBER ... tks
You have to go through Garmin support. Use this link to get where you need to go. support.garmin.com/en-US/ql/?focus=topics
I love this dude!! I think that it could be of use to research a service such as P R O M O S M.
1 I'm glad your happy.
2. No I don't need a navigator six I have a phone.
3. I would never invest in a bmw.
Happy travels.