Hi Guys,

I've looked and looked but couldn't find anything on this topic in the forum so here goes:

I would like to link a Garmin GPS to my factory Bluetooth system and was wondering if anyone has had any experience or luck. Here's what I do know so far.

I own the following Garmin units: Nuvi 360, Zumo 550 and Streetpilot 2820. All of these units have Bluetooth "Capability", although they are a bit different.

The Nuvi has what I will called "Limited" capability as it is ONLY designed to link to a phone and display the address book and provide microphone and speaker capability, but will NOT link to a bluetooth headset as confirmed by Garmin tech support......basically only one channel for bluetooth.

Both the Streetpilot and the Zumo can support multiple Bluetooth connections simultaneously, in application I can link both the headset and the phone at the same time. This is nice because you can get the turn by turn (TBT) directions through the headset but if the phone rings it displays who is calling and when answered you talk through the headset and the GPS TBT directions are muted although you do hear a small "Ding" in the background when there is an event (like a turn) coming up on the GPS which reminds you to look at the display....pretty cool actually.

So here is what I was wondering if anyone has done; With one of the multiple channel GPS' link it to the Mini's Bluetooth system and get TBT directions through the radio just like a factory (Permanent) system, muting of the radio on not only calls but for TBT as well again just like the factory system.

Chances are I'll be the trail blazer here and plan to do so later this week when I take delivery of the new (2nd one for us) MCS at Long Beach Mini.

I'm thinking I'll use the Zumo as it is actually a little more user friendly and is smaller than the Streetpilot. It was actually designed for motorcycle use (Which it does quite well actually) and you can buy a factory hardwire kit which includes the wiring loom as well as a recepticle for the unit and is only a 2 wire connection so could easily be installed with a proclip mount.

It's a bummer that the Nuvi360 (Garmin dealer installed) unit only has the limited Bluetooth capability.....on the other hand if my theory actually works (not proven yet) then it might be understandable that BMW/Mini would choose the 360, as a more sophisticated unit could actually provide many (possibly too many) of the same features of the factory $2000+ system for about a 1/3 the price.

I'm interested to see if anyone has any experience here....in any case I'll report back shortly when I have the car and have had a chance to experiment a bit.

Thanks for having me here,
Paul

 

Well I hooked the unit up with the auto mount that came with it and confirmed that the Zumo was functioning. I was able to get voice commands to work through my bluetooth headset......so I knew the unit was working (bluetooth wise anyhow).

I WAS able to pair the Zumo with the Mini through the Pairing procedure and the unit was displayed as connected. The issue is that the commands and volume from the Zumo do not seem to trigger the switchover through the radio.....all the settings on the Unit are correct and the Mini seems to be paired but no volume through the car.....I am perplexed.

I'd really like to make this work but now I seem stuck and would certainly appreciate any suggestions.

Paul

 

We have a Nuvi 360 that my wife uses in her R53. From my experience, the bluetooth setup in the Nuvi 360 acts as a headset not a sending unit. We have a 360 and I've paired it with my wife's cell phone. In that setup it operates as a headset. I doubt it would function as a sending "base" unit.

Good luck! I hope you are able to get something to work for you.

 

Exactly....the Nuvi 360 will not act as a "Base unit" but the Zumo 550 as well as the Streetpilot 2820 will and do act as a base unit. The Zumo550 does and has acted as a base station and will even connect to the Mini's Bluetooth system but it will not send the audio over....or at least interrupt the radio when it does come over if that is actually happening

I had such high hopes but guess I'll just get the mounting and power kit for the Nuvi360 and use it in the mini. My issue is that this is my traveling GPS I take with me on business trips all through the USA and Europe and hate to have the wife without it when I am traveling.

Any similar experiences would be appreciated!

 

The Zumo is a little different compared to the rest of Garmin's line. It can have 2 bluetooth connections simultaneously. One to a phone, one to a headset.

However I don't think it will work with the Mini's system completely. The problem is similar to what my phone was doing before I replaced it. It was connected, but not able to dial. It would drop the bluetooth connection to the phone as soon as it started dialing, then reconnect. The phone would dial but the call was not routed through the car and the phone wasn't usable since it thought it was connected to the car the whole time.

Paul, normally the Zumo would be paired with a phone and a headset. Can you tell if the Zumo is seeing the connection to the Mini as a phone or a headset?

 

I would lean toward it seeing it as a phone and that is why it isn't sending the audio to it like it would a headset.

 

The Zumo actually was paired as a headset, at least as far as the Zumo was concerned.....which of course is why I am perplexed. I can pair the mini and my BB Pearl to the Zumo at the same time with the Mini assumed to be the headset....most likely it won;t work till someone (mini or Garmin) modifies their software.

I plan to give Garmin Tech Support a call sometime next week, but I am not optimistic as they will most likely not be motivated to make any changes on their end as they are the OEM supplier for the Mini aftermarket unit (Nuvi 360).

I really appreciate the input though....I'll keep trying and update if anything changes....any other ideas are certainly welcome

Paul