I have been holding out to get a new NAV system. Up to now I have been leaning toward the TomTom Go 700, but after reading more about the Nuvi 350, I think I'm changing my mind.

Anyone here have the Nuvi? Feedback, comments, critiques?

 

look towards the bottom of this thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t=18343&page=3

 

Thanks! I'm hoping we can attract more discussion directly related to the Nuvi here in this thread as that one was titled for the 2610.

You mentioned that you want to get bits at newministuff to integrate it with the stereo... Which makes me wonder how the integrated speaker is? ...say on a scale of 1-5? Is it difficult to hear at highway speeds? Is it real tinny - like in a tin can?

What audio output connections are there? Do you only need the Navigation Interface from newministuff, or is there more than meets the eye?

Thanks!

 

the internal speaker is fine, but i run my music loud, so sharing the car
audio system is preferable. there's a review of a similar setup using
a garmin quest over at motorfile.

i have an aux input for my stock radio which i normally use w/ my ipod.
i did try using the nuvi (powered thru the cigarette lighter) with the aux input
and discovered that (at least on my vehicle), the aux input keeps disappearing
due to ground loop problems.

installing a dedicated nav input and a dedicated power takeoff (from the radio)
should remove the ground loop problems. or i could simply run
the nuvi off its internal battery; however, i really like having it come on
and off with the ignition key.

 

Great information, thanks!

While I'm handy, I know next to nothing about modifying the stereo system. However, after reading your post, I feel almost confident that I could order the right items and set this up! I vaguely recall the review on MotoringFile, but since I didn't need the information at the time, I didn't pay much attention to it. I will check it out again.

...just for my clarification, does the Nuvi have a stereo output - like a headphone jack?

BTW, I am feeling ever more confident that this is what I'll be purchasing instead of the TomTom.

 

the nuvi has 1/8th stereo headphone jack just like the ipod.

just to clarify, the aux input never dropped out if i ran the nuvi off it's internal battery.

since it has a very slow usb 1.1 interface, it's really slow to load big mp3's.
much more satisfying to load the mp3's onto SD card, then stick the SD card
into the nuvi.

as mp3 players go, the ipod does a better job.

if you need a portable gps, i'd give the thumb's up to the nuvi.
i suspect the price will fall significantly, when the tomtom one gets introduced to the states.

 

And now the Nuvi 360 is about to be available. I can't believe that more people here do not have the Nuvi 350 though, or have so little to say.

H

 

Hey,

I've got the 350 - and I like it a lot. I had the predecessor -the C330, and it was also an excellent unit. I like the garmins better than anything else I have tried - the graphics are great, 3d view is excellent, there's a lot of info there, and they rarely send you off on tangents. Has great features like speed, time elapsed, time of arrival, etc. Very easy to use.

I don't use the sound much - and just use the built in speaker- so I can't comment on hooking it up to the car audio... You can select a "dirty english girl" voice which I think fits the mini like a glove...

I can suggest a mount, though. You will laugh...

Mine is mounted on the included suction mount - attached to the included mounting plate, which is attached (it's self adhesive) to the inverted cap of a can of spray paint - which fits perfectly and tightly in the driver's side cup holder. It looks great, and is right next to the shifter - but does not get in the way. It's also very close to your leg - but doesn't touch.

I like it down there, because I found having it in the window to be distracting - especially at night. I am using a remote antenna, which is magnet mounted right behind the factory mini antenna. If you mount in the back, you'll need an extension cord for the antenna - the antenna cord is only about 8 feet - so buy one extension. Also, the unit runs on 5VDC - so you need to use the factory power adapter. I didn't want it to hog the lighter socket - so I attached wires from the fuse box to the adapter, insulated it, and mounted it with zip strips behind the knee panel on the driver side. Wires are routed through the vented door at the bottom of the center console - under the switches. Looks great, works great.

Got mine from gpsnow.com - a solid dealer that carries just about everything.

Good luck.

Mike

 

Brilliant! I love that idea! I just got a Garmin C330 was trying to figure out a clean way to mount it in the MINI (I hate the windshield mount). This will work great.

Last weekend I just placed the C330 in storage bin behind the shifter and ran it on battery. Believe it or not I kept a signal in there 100% of the time. Perhaps my sunroof lets the signal pass better than the non-sunroof, but I was impressed.

I'll mount mine like you suggest and run it off battery w/o external antenna. I bought a 12V USB car charger to recharge when needed.

 

I'm shocked that it's getting a signal down there, but that's great. The battery seems to last a long time as well.

When you're checking out paint caps, just be aware that they come in many, many sizes that are really close. I tried a few to find one that was perfect.

Mike

 

I bought the 350 at Sam's club of all places. They just got them in. It's a very easy to use GPS and I find that I am using the internal battery for short trips and the plug-in for longer trips. I am using the winshield mount right below the rear view mirror. It's not too bad, although I'm thinking of other mounts...I just don't want to install an external antenna.

mike leavitt - can you give more details on the hard wire? Did you get a cig lighter adapter and strip the wires?

Thanks

 

I just ran a wire to the fuse box, and another to a ground, connected them to the power adapter that came with the nuvi, and wrapped the mess in tape - then zip stripped the extra wire behind the knee bolster. I ran the power and antenna wires down the console by the radio, and out through the little hinged panel under the switch panel.

Mike

 

Thanks !

 

Think it's a great navigation system... have it since some 6 month's... barely use it with the speaker, very easy to use system...

PS: works very well on the dragon also!

 

Helmut? Very American name.

But to get back on topic, I decided to wait for the 360.

Herbert

 

A newly kindled interest in motorcycles has put a bit of a kink in the budget for things in the MINI. I must also admit to not having looked at the GPS systems for a while now. What are the primary differences between the 350 and 360? How soon is the 360 to be available?

 

The 360 has bluetooth and I think that's all. Also I saw a Garmin motorcycle adapter for the 350 (360) on ebay...

 

hmmmm...... !! Really?! That's not good news for the 'ol pocketbook.

 

here it is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RAM-Motorcycle-B...QQcmdZViewItem

 

:D Oh boy. I think I've got to get crackin' on those "moonlighting" opportunities and increase the discretionary spending fund!

 

Hard wired the 12v adaptor and hid the wires. Also mounted an external antenna on the top part of the windshied using a suction mount and hid that wire. The ext antenna makes a big difference - if you are considering the ext. antenna - I highly recommend. You can find aftermarket ones relatively cheaply on ebay.

Thanks to Mike Levitt for his ingenious mounting system which I used...

I will try to post some pics soon...

 

We like pics! Be sure to include any hints you have for hiding the wire. I have never been very good at that part - at least not good enough for my own liking.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d=1#post985891

 

Actually I like your idea....that is how I mounted mine. Did you still have ground loop problems when you connected your power that way?