Went to garmins website and they show a Nuvi inside a MINI Cooper! Thought it was pretty cool!.
http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us

 

Uh oh! People might start to realize that they could just buy a Garmin Nuvi for $300 instead of paying their dealer $750 for the same thing! Okay, maybe it won't be as slickly integrated, but I'm sure you can figure out something with that $450 you just saved!

 

Sweet .... My dealer wanted 1100.00 for a nuvi 360 with MINI bracket not including installation charges ...

I did my own install for $600.00 .... This includes the Kuda bracket and Nuvi 760 GPS (great deals to be had online with aggressive shopping). This is a nuvi 760 with the FM traffic unit hidden under the dash. GPS reception is excellent and so is the traffic stuff.

 

Does this unit receive XM as well?
I know some of them do, for traffic as well as entertainment.

 

I'm getting a Garmin NUVI 660 for my birthday this month... comes with live traffic updates and FM capabilities. Also has an MP3 and hands-free cell phone interface. But don't believe it comes with XM capabilities.

The unit costs $325. Installation can't be THAT hard.... right ??

 

No XM stuff. It does the bluetooth and MP3 (do not why you would want to do that though ....), the #1 thing I wanted was for the ability of European maps when I travel overseas. Otherwise other model Nuvi's would have done the same for less money.

The only hard part is getting the speedo ring bezel off if you use the Kuda mount. Real PITA since you have to take a number of parts off the dash and at times feels like you are going to break them. There are instructions with pics on NAM on how to do it. Just plan on spending the day to do it right and clean win scratches

 

Thanks.

 

looks great!

 

Well then... I doubt I'll be doing the Kuda mount !

I didn't want the nav unit to be right there behind the steering wheel anyway. I'll either use the included winshield mount or I'll get the dashboard mount.

Thanks for the info !

 

OR, better yet, save $1,800 on getting the mini built in Nav, and acutally be able to search the POI database and find things in it which you can not do for the most part on MINI's software due to a major software bug.

 

I went with nuvi 360, hard wired in with the factory mount, and then purchased a "switch interuptor" from MIke at www.newminisuff.com.

Hooked up this huge wiring harness, which plugs in the back of the radio with factory connectors attached. Very simple, and now as I play my ipod/iphone, listen to the radio, directions interupt and play through the front speakers. After the "lady" says her directions, music is resumed.

Very cool mod IMO.

Tommy

 

That's exactly what i'd be looking for, but this one is for an earlier model, no?

 

Anyone know what mount they used to get the gps on the left of the tach?

 

That is a MINI Cooper mount. Give me a bit and I will post the part number for it.

 

Bluetooth for phone calls, address book on phone integration to map info. I wish it could sort the address book by user location too, lol. For instance if I were on my way to someones house, it would be cool, if when I pull up their number I wouldn't have to page through all the contacts to get to them..but it doesn't do that.

MP3 player is huge. With a 4GB or 8GB card, it becomes the iPod. Better because I have it plugged into the Aux port--touch screen, shows full song info, and can navigate among songs easily or I sort them into Albums for my playlists. I've also got the OEM iPod interface, but I don't have an iPod, lol. By using the Nuvi as your entertainment system, the audio from MP3 music is muted for nav directions or incoming calls. I just upgraded to the 360 from the 350 and love the BT.

On the R53, the speedo ring is hot glued in place. To remove it you have to remove the whole center piece along with the dash vents. It's not that bad. Just a couple of screws. But I realize this is the R56 forum, so not sure which CR PW JB is talking about since he's got all first gens in his sig, lol.

I'm actually making a new custom mount for my Garmin--to fit between the head unit and speedo. It doesn't block access to the headunit, CD, speedo or any gauges. It also puts it in closer reach for controlling it, and the built in mic is closer as well for better sound pickup--though I bought an external mic as well. Best of all it keeps it low so it's not visible unless people look inside--doesn't sit high up on the dash like the Kuda.

This is just a cardboard mockup, but having run it this way for several weeks, I like it.



I also made a custom mount for my phone and Valentine Remote

 

Finally found it, had the wrong ETK cd's loaded

Part number for the installation kit is 65900427292 and you end up with this (you supply your own Nuvi 360):

 

What are you saying, Richard, the Garmin NUVI 660 won't work in a first gen MINI ?

 

Has anyone ordered the r56 factory mount for the nuvi 360 and done their own install? I've read many posts with different part numbers and comments that the factory instructions are vague. I have the nuvi, but would like some advice (pics, tips, accurate instructions) from someone who has done it before buying the factory mount.

 

(sorry for offtopic, but gott ask!)

Octaneguy,
What phone is that in your picture, is it running pocket pc or windows mobile, and lastly, what homescreen are you running. I love that homescreen!

 

It's a TMobile Wing PocketPC overclocked to 247Mhz and cache size reduced from 12MB to 6MB I believe. It's running Windows Mobile 6 Pro with the SPB Mobile Shell--that's their Now Screen. They just updated the software and it rocks. I changed the theme to black. I've got all the important info at my fingertips now.

Read about it here
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/prod...obileshell/?en

Bluetooth to the Garmin 360 makes it usable in the car--even the speech recognition works better. I just installed the Garmin remote mic and looped it around the driver side (side window) flip down visor (not the driver side windshield visor) so now the remote mic sits just above my head. Callers say my voice is much more clear with almost no background noise.

**Update:
I got really fed up with TMobile. I switched to AT&T and bought the Tilt which is a Wing on steroids. 400MHz CPU, 128MB RAM and 256MB ROM. It's not perfect, but it's far better than the Wing and I am much happier with 3G speeds and not TMobile GPRS/EDGE.

 

The factory instructions are available on MotoringFile in the DIY section. And, yes, they are vague.

 

I can deal with vague instructions as long as they are accurate.

 

The Kuda mount on an R50, R52 or R53 is simple and does not require any disassembly of the dash bezels. That must be for the R56. Here are photos of my Kuda GPS and iPod Touch mounts:

 

Good info... thanks, MINI_Bee !

I've had mine installed using Garmin's dash mount (round disk that is SUPPPOSED to stick to the dash)... fell off twice in the first week.

Going to have to buy one of those !

Thanks again.

 

I dint find nothing so i made one ...