Garmin/BMW Motorrad GPS

[Deek]

Just bought a 2006 R1200RT with the Garmin/BMW BMW Motorrad III Navigator GPS unit. I thought its operation would be identical to the Garmin 2610s I use already but that doesn't seem to be the case. I cannot find much information on the USA version of this GPS at Garmin's site, although they have info for the European version.

 

I THINK this GPS uses City Navigator software, but I don't know which version. I'm assuming it's a North American version, but haven't used it much yet to know for sure. I already have many versions of MapSource software, but suspect I will have a problem using them on this unit due to Garmin's "unlock codes".

 

I have downloaded the Owner's Manual from Garmin, but there is not much info on using the PC software that I suppose came with the unit. I do not have that software, but I plan to contact the seller to see if he does.

 

If anyone has such a GPS and can tell me what PC software (Mapsource) it uses I'd appreciate it.

 

Worse comes to worse I will buy another re-conditioned Garmin Quest just to get the City Navigator N America 2008 at about $100 just to get a DVD software and unlock code!

 

For you who may not know, Garmin's Mapsource software now can be unlocked on only 1 GPS - it used to be two units, but they stopped that with the CNNA 2008 version.

[JR356]

Hi,

 

Lookup info on the Garmin 2820,that is what the Nav III is based on.

You can use the latest CN software(version 9),not sure if the Nav III/2820 requires the regular or NT version.

 

Yes,get the unlock codes and original software/cables/etc from the previous owner!!

 

JR356

[Deek]

Thanks JR356, will do.........

[Deek]

I contacted Garmin and ordered, at their suggestion, Garmin "Map Update 2009" DVD that included the Product Key. I was told that is what I needed since I did not have the original Garmin disk for the 2006 1200RT I purchased. I was told this software used the "NT" architecture.

 

I tried installing the software, but it's a no go: I get this error message :

"There is not enough free disk space..........".

 

I checked and I have near 4 gb free disk space on my laptop's HDD. The error message says I need 535 mb more. My desktop PC with 300gb free died last week so I'm stuck with a laptop until I can get a replacement. I tried deleting enough files, but that error message just keeps repeating, always anywhere from 300 to 500 mb more free space is required.

 

Does this product really take nearly 5 Gb of HDD space? I find that hard to believe. There is nothing on the DVD indicating that requirement, and the tech support person did not mention that either. I'm on hold with tech support right now, but please reply is you have any suggestions............I may be on hold still 4 days from now...

[Pat St. Jean]

Does this product really take nearly 5 Gb of HDD space? I find that hard to believe. There is nothing on the DVD indicating that requirement, and the tech support person did not mention that either. I'm on hold with tech support right now, but please reply is you have any suggestions............I may be on hold still 4 days from now...

 

Well... A DVD can, theoretically, hold 4.7 gigs if it's single layer and 8.5 gigs if it's dual layer. Even if none of the data's compressed on a single layer DVD you could go over 4 gigs, and with compressed files on there, all bets are off.

 

At this point there's only a few options.

 

You can clean stuff off off the laptop until there's enough free space to install.

 

You can wait for the desktop to get fixed.

 

You can see if there's a "custom" installation option that lets you pick and choose what to install. You might be able to shave some space off, but you run the risk of leaving something off that you'd like to have.

 

Pat

[John Bentall]

Deek,

The 2610 unit gives a 2 dimensional plan view of where you are going and uses City Navigator maps.

The later BMW NavIII/Garmin 2820 units give a 2 dimensional plan view and the option of a 3-D birds-eye view of where you are going and uses City Navigator NT maps. In either case new maps or updates of old maps cost money to unlock , but the map disks themselves are free or downloadable from Garmin website. The BMW version of the Garmin maps contain extra files with BMW dealer waypoints, so you need these ideally.

The BMW Nav III and Garmin 2820 GPS units have different firmware. This is because the 2820 has music capability and the NavIII does not. Don't try to add the 2820 music capability to the BMW Nav III - it can't be done. Use the free Webupdater software (or downloadable free from Garmin) that comes with the Garmin maps to search for updates for the unit as required.

The Mapsource PC route planning software is the same for NT and non-NT machines. When you plan routes you tell Mapsource what maps set (V4.0 non-NT or CN2008 NT, say) you are using and it picks up all the relevant maps. Mapsource can be downloaded free from the Garmin website.

An old Quest will not have the correct maps for the NavIII. A Quest 2 might if it uses NT maps.