BMW fixing the Garmin 660

[mdisher]

Putting back the (4) buttons that are missing.

https://www.engadget.com/2009/07/06/bmw-kic...motorrad-navig/

Adding their Dealers a POI's so you'll have that info when your FD goes south.

Other than that nothing else good mentioned.

 

[MartyA]

If what THEY say is true - UV protection, fuel spill protection, vibration protection, etc, then it is really "motorcycle ready" not just "motorcycle friendly."

 

[BIODSL]

It still peeves me that Garmin took a Nuvi, tried to repackage it and pawn it off as a replacement to the zumo 550. The BMW treatment (the did the same thing for the Street Pilot series) helps, but I won't be buying one. My next GPS will be a 478. Now if only we could get Garmin to make a left handed version.

 

[SkooterG]

Garmin GPSMap 478 currently $571 shipped from Amazon. :dribble: Damn good price. Wish I had the money.

Screw the 660. :angry2:

 

[bramfrank]

Those that follow(ed) my rants at zumoforums.com or have read my reviews at epinions.com already know how I feel about the Zumo 660.

STAY AWAY from the Zumo 660 unless and until Garmin does what it has to in order to resolve the huge number of outstanding bugs and makes the device useful for touring by improving screen display detail and more. Besides, the screen itself is virtually unreadable when the sun shines brightly overhead - it may not have some of the extra high end features, but at least the 276/376/378/478 can display road detail over a wider area and can be read in ALL lighting conditions.

I've yet to play with the GPSMAP 640, but aside from the fact that it is HUGE, it seems as if it has some pretty decent attributes. I HAVE heard that there are some basic functions that should be available in automotive mode that can only be accessed when in marine, which could be deal breakers . . .

 

[jmdaniel]

Garmin GPSMap 478 currently $571 shipped from Amazon. :dribble: Damn good price. Wish I had the money.
Screw the 660. :angry2:

And screw Garmin, after they refused to stand behind their crappy 550 mount, telling me there were "no systemic issues" with the design. Bullsh*t! :angry:

 

[mdisher]

Garmin GPSMap 478 currently $571 shipped from Amazon. :dribble: Damn good price. Wish I had the money.
Screw the 660. :angry2:

And screw Garmin, after they refused to stand behind their crappy 550 mount, telling me there were "no systemic issues" with the design. Bullsh*t! :angry:

Uh yeah, I call BS on that one. I've been through 3 mounts, all provided by Garmin free of charge in my now 3 years of having a 550? I seem to finally have a good one though.

The last of which I did have to pre-pay for but they did refund my money after I sent it in.

They honestly cannot be saying there are no systemic issues, or early manufacturing issues are they? If so feel free to point them to my account.

-MD

 

[CHRIS_D]

Garmin GPSMap 478 currently $571 shipped from Amazon. :dribble: Damn good price. Wish I had the money.
Screw the 660. :angry2:

And screw Garmin, after they refused to stand behind their crappy 550 mount, telling me there were "no systemic issues" with the design. Bullsh*t! :angry:

Uh yeah, I call BS on that one. I've been through 3 mounts, all provided by Garmin free of charge in my now 3 years of having a 550? I seem to finally have a good one though.

The last of which I did have to pre-pay for but they did refund my money after I sent it in.

They honestly cannot be saying there are no systemic issues, or early manufacturing issues are they? If so feel free to point them to my account.

-MD

That's bull I'm too on my 2 mount which is just starting to act up a bit but not enough to go through the hassle of returning.

 

[jmdaniel]

OK gents, you call BS, here is proof. This is the last email I got from Garmin CS on the topic. I bought my 550 on 3/13/08, meaning it is out of warranty, but barely.

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>Subject: Re: Static when playing music (KMM13387078I15977L0KM)

To: "Jeff Daniel"

Date: Friday, June 26, 2009, 8:56 AM

Dear Jeff Daniel,

Thank you for contacting Garmin International. I would be happy to assist you. I again can understand your frustration but I need to explain the importance of you doing the troubleshooting steps that have been sent to you. If you do not even acknowledge that you received troubleshooting to attempt to correct the issue then Garmin cannot just send you a mount. I have discussed the issue with my supervisor and there are no systemic issues with the mount therefore we will not be sending a replacement. Beyond that the device is not under warranty, neither are its accessories so we still would have to charge you for a replacement piece. I am sorry that you feel this is poor customer service but these are necessary steps to trying to resolve your issue.

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

With Best Regards,

Monica W

Product Support Specialist

Garmin International

913-397-8200

800-800-1020

913-440-8280 (fax) Att: Monica W

www.garmin.com

The troubleshooting they wanted me to do? Check that I was running the latest software? I did, and am. Do a master reset? Why? It's a hardware problem, Garmin, not a OS problem. You know it, I know it, and the many replacement cradles you sent out proves that. I got a typical CS, reading off the typical checksheet, not for a minute actually thinking of what the issue actually is. The bolding in that response is mine, not theirs; I just wanted to highlight the most ridiculous part of the response.

If one of you two can offer up a Garmin CS contact that can actually help me, I would appreciate it. Otherwise, I stick with my story, which is that Garmin doesn't back up their poorly designed product. :angry2:

 

[mdisher]

I won't say the process isn't a pain in the ass, it can be. A lot of it depends on the CS agent you get, no doubt.

-MD

 

[Alex]

I'm on my 2nd mount and that swap was really easy with my card being charged while the origional mount was on its way back to them. However, I had a cracked page change button (3rd from the top) and they wanted $200 for a refurb to be sent to me. WTF? I waited a few months, now it has completely fallen out but I still have it. I called them back and they informed me that it is only $150 now for the replacement of any garmin. I feel so lucky now.

 

[mdisher]

I'm on my 2nd mount and that swap was really easy with my card being charged while the origional mount was on its way back to them. However, I had a cracked page change button (3rd from the top) and they wanted $200 for a refurb to be sent to me. WTF? I waited a few months, now it has completely fallen out but I still have it. I called them back and they informed me that it is only $150 now for the replacement of any garmin. I feel so lucky now.

yep... I lost my top button too.

Was lucky to find it on the side of the road when I noticed it at a stop. I shelled out the $150 cause My XM also quit working but my puck worked on another unit. Still overall been very happy with the device.

 

[Mcgyver74]

Yaknnow, these issues are making me more and more NOT want to buy a Garmin.....

 

[MartyA]

Yaknnow, these issues are making me more and more NOT want to buy a Garmin.....

Now that we are basking in the Garmin glow, what else is there?

In-law gave me a Magellan Triton. He couldn't get it to work, so I took it to play with it. I got it to work, learned to program a short route. Then I registered it, it updated itself, and when I went outside it froze looking for satellites. Tried rolling it back, no change. 3 emails and 2 phone calls to Magellan went unanswered. It is a paper weight now.

 

[jmdaniel]

Yaknnow, these issues are making me more and more NOT want to buy a Garmin.....

I told the fine folks at Garmin that I was going to post my experiences on the message boards I subscribed to. That cradle they screwed me on may cost them a few sales. Penny wise, and pound foolish... :angry2:

 

[Knifemaker]

Don't know about mount problems. In the 2+ years I have had my Zumo 550 the only issue I have had with the mount is the little rubber thingy that covers the docking connection when the Zumo is not on the bike, broke off. They are sending me a new one.

The only other problem I have had with the system is the tip of the "ciggerette lighter" power cord for use in your car fell off without me noticing and only recently did I find all the parts for it. (Luckily the parts were the same from my Miata's 12 volt air pump so I was still able to use the Zumo on a recent car trip when I discovered the missing pieces)

So if you use the car charger thing alot be sure to check that the tip is screwed on tight.

I would have to say that anything made from plasitc has an increased chance of breaking (compared to metal) , rubber has a limited lifespan, and any time you are un-plugging and plugging in your Zuno to it's mount it would cause wear on the parts.

But they do seem to stand behind their products and I would still stick with Garmin if I was looking for another GPS.

Hopefully they will come out with something even more motorcycle freindly than the rather disappointing 660.

KM