It is said that the dealer-supplied Garmin Nuvi 360 has some MINI specific extras (MINI startup screen, MINI car/icon on map and so one). Does anyone have this option and can upload the SRFs for teh other Garmin users?) - as I knnow - they are not copyrighted.

(Cross-posted in 2nd generation Audio/Nav too - sorry for duplicate).

MMM

 

So the dealer-supplied GPS is a Nuvi 360? I thought I'd heard that it was a 660.

Regardless, they're great units (we have a Nuvi 350 and a 660 in our MINIs). I just shudder to think what MINI is going to charge for them, though.

 

The brochure/pamphlet was saying "based on the popular nuvi 360" and the picture was with a 4:3 screen unit - like 360. I ordered mine (a 660) for less than the price of the MINI offering (a 360 "MINI adapted") that has a list price of $750 + installation.

Still - it says - and I saw on a picture on mini2.com - that it has "custom MINI graphics" - i.e. a MINI car (with a checkerboard top), a splash screen and also the dealerships/service spots for MINI.

Now - all these are easily retrevable from such an unit (the splash screen and the SRF car file are of upmost interest). We might find someone that ordered it and nicely ask him/her to help. The nuvi line is very popular - for good reason - and a MINI customization will only improve it.

MMM

 

Doesn't MINI now sell a custom mount for the Nüvi that attaches near (or to) the tach? Has anyone bought and/or used it? Cost? Availability? :-)

 

To answer my own question, apparently it does not. Dave at MINI of Peabody did some *serious* checking around for me, both at the dealership on Saturday and again today and was only able to determine that it comes with the standard suction cup mount. The picture in the accessory catalog is deceiving. :-(

 

I looked at the mount today that MINI sells. It connects to the rear of the tach, but the mount itself didn't look the same as the one for the 660. I'm still looking for the MINI icons to download, has anyone been successful in locating them?

Minnie S

 

Is this the mount for the Nuvi? If so what do you mean it does not look the same as teh one for the 660? There is another member who was getting the unit who may be able to get the icons.

 

The MINI GPS is a Nuvi 360, so the actual mounting bracket is going to be different than the bracket that holds a Nuvi 660. The two aren't interchangeable, since the electrical connections on the back are different.

 

I realize that the connections are different. What I am really curious about is what the mount looks like. Just curious as to how MINI is implementing this. I still think I prefer the windshield mount that I already have for my 660.

 

JUst wanted to give heads up on this mount. NOR_CAL_MINI was kind enough to post pics in the other thread that is at the top about this. The mount looks very nice. Now he is just looking to get the SRF files posted for the MINI's that are in the unit to use as your car.

 

I'm curious whether anyone thinks getting an external antenna for the Nuvi 360 is worth while? I don't want to have problem acquiring sats or WAAS signals when I'm up in the mountains during MoTD.

 

I have had NO issues with sat acquisition with my Nuvi 350 with no external antenna in either vehicle, in any terrain. I think you'll be fine (and mine worked fine at the Dragon, FWIW).

 

From what I've seen, my nüvi 370 gets better reception with the internal antenna than my StreetPilot 2610 did with an external antenna!

 

I wouldn't worry about it. With the SiRF receiver in the Nuvi, I've never had a problem acquiring satellites, even without an external antenna.

As far as the WAAS goes, that's a ground-based service, so the reception might not be ideal in the mountains, but the accuracy will still be <30 feet, even with WAAS off/unavailable. Remember that WAAS is only an augmentation service - if you don't have enough satellites locked to get a fix, it's not going to matter whether WAAS is on or off.

 

I have a similar experience with our Nuvis compared to my old Garmin 276c. The Nuvi does a much better job of acquiring satellites, but the reported accuracy was always much higher with the 276c. With the Nuvi, the reported accuracy rarely gets better than 10 or 12 feet, whereas I routinely saw 6-7 feet with the 276c.

Although, it's probably more a function of how the Nuvi and 276c report accuracy, rather than a difference in the accuracy itself.

 

Thanks for the info, all. In that case, I don't think I'll spend the money then!

 

What is the verdict of the mount issue?

What does the mini mount look like and can it be used or retrofitted to work with the nuvi?

MiniBull

 

The mount will work with the Nuvi 350/360 without any modifications. It doesn't look like there's enough room between the mount and the tach for the 660 to fit.

Also, it appears that the mount doesn't integrate the GPS with the stereo system - it just provides a hardwired power connection for the GPS.

Edit - there's a thread here that has some pictures.

 

Does anyone know where I can download the MINI icons for my Nuvi?

Or could someone please post them somewhere or email them?

 

I got them here on NAM but don't remember where. Do a little search.

 

I ended up finding them on motoringfile.

Pretty darn kool if you ask me!

 

Can you please tell me where you found them on the MF site? I can not seem to locate them.

Thanks!

 

I found them here:

http://www.iniw.net/2007/04/29/nuvi-...-youification/

 

Or try here. Post #42. That's where I got mine and they work great.

 

If a moderator could let me know if there is a place to put the link up for all to easily find I will be glad to do it.

I find it funny that various threads on this site, motoringfile, and some others all link back to the same URL. Since I am the one who has it posted I would be glad to make it easier to find. I could even start a new thread and put the link in the first post if it could be made a sticky.

Let me know and I will be glad to do it.