I apolgize if this is a repeat (if so, please point me to the appropriate thread), but my eyes are a little buggy from looking for info. I have ordered my MINI, have a production number, but (BUT) it isn't scheduled to be built until August. So...that gives me a lot of time to 2nd-guess my original configuration.

I've reached the point where I can see a benefit to integrated Bluetooth, navigation, and audio. Reading through the subject threads, it's pretty apparent that my newly adopted Treo 700p isn't going to synch with the MINI. In fact, it appears there are many opportunities for problems with the MINI Bluetooth with so many phones, that I should steer away from that all together. (In my opinion, sometimes simpler is better because there is less chance for frustration.)

So...having looked at some of the info on the portable Garmin units, it seems with all the necessary caveats, that they might offer most of the benefits of the integrated MINI option without many of the headaches. I'm not all that tech-savvy. I want something that works reliably but not something I'm going to have to engineer multiple times over short periods of time (I don't have enough hair to live through that).

Am I 'right' that the Nuvi 360 (for example) would 1) facilitate Bluetooth communication with sufficient clarity / volume, 2) allow me to play a heck of lot of my own music via mp3 files, and 3) be an adequate / good navigation tool with a minimum of frustration and quite a lot of satisfaction? (I have read the pros & cons of permanent vs. portable NAV so I'm not looking to re-open that debate; just want to know if a portable combo system would be relativley effective and hassle-free compromise.)

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Ted, I don't know much about the Nuvi 360, but I purchased a new 760 for my MINI. I like it a lot, but one problem I have is that it is not loud enough, especially if I have music on. I have made sure all three volume levels are at 100%, but sometimes, I don't hear the Nuvi at all.

I have been meaning to research whether there is a way to increase its volume, but haven't had time yet. I did use a 200W in a convertible rental car in Hawaii earlier this year and it seemed plenty loud, so I'm surprised I am having this difficulty with the 760.

Just thought I would mention this. I can't imagine trying to use the Nuvi for MP3s or for my phone, given how it sounds now. BTW, the MINI Bluetooth is plenty loud and very clear for me and whoever I am talking to.

Rich

 

According to the specs I pulled up, the Nuvi 360 doesn't have an FM transmitter. If you are leery of the Mini's BT implementation, you'd probably be better off getting a Nuvi with an FM transmitter, syncing your phone to the Nuvi via BT, and having the Nuvi transmit to your stereo via FM. It would probably be easier to have your music library stored on the Nuvi instead of your phone.

At that point you open another can of worms, that is, can the antenna on the Mini pick up a Garmin FM transmission? And someone else will have to answer that.

FWIW, Amazon has the Nuvi 650 (which includes the FM transmitter) for about $265.

 

JnC, the 760 I bought does have the FM transmitter, but since we have so many FM stations in my area (Metro DC), I could never get it to work correctly. In addition, (and I may be wrong about this) but in order to use this feature, isn't it true you must be tuned to that particular "dead" station on your radio in order to hear the NUVI? As I understand it, while using this feature, you can't change the radio station nor can you listen to your iPod or CD?
Thanks, Rich

 

The bluetooth is terrible on all the portable GPS go with the mini bluetooth not all phones have issues

 

That is true, and if you're in a large metropolitan area I can feel your pain.

To my understanding, you should be able to play MP3's on the Nuvi thru the FM modulator as well. To take a call, you would need to select the designated FM station. Might be an aggravation during travel.

 

Having recently owned the Garmin nuvi 360 (no FM transmitter) and 660 I unfortunately got defective units from the same retailer so I returned them and got the nuvi 760 on sale at Costco for the price of the 660 which has worked flawlessly.

The Garmin nuvi 360 is the identical one that MINI sells for a lot more then retail but has the MINI specific logo screen and choice of MINI Cooper's for the navigation screen.Both of which you can easily add to your Garmin nuvi directly from threads here on NAM with included instructions.

Since you have a Palm Treo 700P I ran a search on Garmin's website which lists which GPS unit that cell phone is compatible with.
Link:http://www8.garmin.com/bluetooth/com...?mfg=36&id=318

It is compatible with the nuvi 360 as you can see above.Plus it lists other units it is compatible with too.

Here is an example of the 360,660 and 760 comparison chart showing what they have and don't have available:
Link:https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare....eProduct=10624

Here is a comparison chart that will list which Garmin nuvi will have all of the features that you are looking for:
Link:https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=134

 

I have the Nuvi 760 myself (thanks Costco) and I've been pondering this myself. I don't think the bluetooth with the limited volume of the Nuvi speaker is an optimum solution.

Right now I'm using a USB flash drive as my primary music source and I have sporadic difficulty w/my MINI bluetooth hookup as the VX6700 isn't fully compatible w/the MINI system. I was wondering if I shouldn't just transfer my music to an SD drive and then use the aux port on the HIFI stereo. This way I'd have bluetooth, driving directions and music all playing through the Nuvi and presumably each function would be interrupted when turns and calls come up.

Has anyone played music from the Nuvi through the aux port and if so how does it sound?

 

Awesome Jim, that's exactly what this thread needed, thanks

 

I agree that the speaker is too quiet especially when driving on the highway or with the radio on. I plan to get the nav audio harness from newministuff that will automatically play the sound through the car stereo system whenever there is input. FYI, the sound is decent when connected to the aux port. I wish the aux port would automatically switch if it detects input. Then I could save $150 USD to get the audio harness from newministuff.

Alternatively, you can also just get an external amplified speaker from radioshack or something.

 

I'll put in a plug for GPS magazine. A really good blog for GPS reviews.

 

i was gonna say you can wire any unit in to interupt the radio sound when it needs to, just takes some engineering and know how

 

while i think i can handle the diy skills, i don't have the know-how. newministuff's harness is a simple plug-n-play.

 

I use my 780 as my music storage device and play it using the AUX port. While it does not have the same qulity as a CD, it is equal to the iPod i hooked up. Using the Kuda mount, it is right at my fingertips. The sound qulity is fine for me

 

If you're basing the 700p's compatibility on the spreadsheet I've been linking to, I'd mistakenly linked the 755p's issues to the 700p. Most of the reports on NAM that cover the 700p are problems with the R53- the R56 seems to be okay, with the exception of only the Favorites syncing.

If you're going for a simpler is better approach, I'd think that would be an argument for one less piece of external hardware involved, but that's just me

 

I have the NUVI 5000 and must say that it works great using the AUX input. I do have Bluetooth in my MINI and it all intergrated pretty well. I went with the 5000 so that I can add a backup camera and only have 1 screen in the car.

 

Cool. Didn't know it had a video input. Where do you mount it? I stuck a monitor in the center cubby for my back-up camera.

 

Right now I am using the oem mount on the speedo. I wanted to make sure it worked out before I spend any more money. What is nice is that it has a 5.2" screen which is sweet. I looked at the Kuda mount but don't want to go through all of the trouble of taking apart the dash. I am leaning toward using http://www.cravenspeed.com/index.php?productID=83 with this attachment http://www.cravenspeed.com/index.php?productID=115 so that I can place it on either side of the tach. Also to use the video in on the NUVI 5000 you need to buy an A/V cable similar to https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=1375.

 

Thank you.
It took me a little time to compose it all together but I wanted to make sure it was thorough for the OP.

Just for general information:

I had used my (former) nuvi 660 when traveling from Florida to Minnesota and back and had it plugged into the aux input and was able to listen to my MP3's on my SD memory card,Bluetooth cell phone conversations and the GPS unit announce the directions and/or traffic alerts while pausing the music then starting right up where it left off all through the factory speakers which sounded very good to me.

I've yet to do all of that with my new nuvi 760 which it will be more then capable of doing only because I travel locally and know my way around where I live.But I do use the Bluetooth feature all the time whenever driving so I don't have to fiddle with my cell phone while driving.

 

Thanks everyone for all the great input! I can follow most of it and will read slowly for the tough parts .

Now, see, this capability is exactly what I think I'm looking for. Seems like a reasonable balance of value and capability with minimal hassle and frustration. Thanks again!

 

More Like $175 now (shipping, VAT, etc.) It really shouldn't be that difficult to make. If only someone had one that we could reverse engineer . . .

 

sweet!

 

You are welcome.

 

That's cool. So the 660 serves as an add-on BT phone unit through the car's speakers as well as a GPS? That could save some buyers $500 right there. Does it import the phonebook from the phone to the Nuvi so you can scroll through the names and dial via the touch screen? Does it allow for voice dialing through the integrated speaker?

 

Yes it does regarding importing the phonebook and you can scroll through the names and dial directly from it too.Regarding voice dialing that I never tried doing as I only had the unit for a short period of time during my trip because it was found to be a defective unit so I exchanged it for the nuvi 760.My cell phone does have voice dialing but I don't use that feature so never tried that with the 660.