Garmin 550 next to BMW Zumo

[Oldmanwheeler]

Yesterday I picked up my wife’s new BMW F800ST and it came with a free BMW Zumo GPS Since I already own a Garmin Zumo 550 I thought it would be fun to compare the two units. I started out by downloading the same Custom POI files into the BMW that I have in my 550 so that ever thing would be identical. I then put the BMW unit in my truck and the very first thing I noticed is that the BMW Zumo the icons from the custom POI file right on the main screen while you’re driving. This has always been one of my complaints about the Garmin 550 so I’m glad to see they are doing it with the BMW unit and maybe we can expect a firmware update for the 550 so it also displays the icons.
When I got back home I had some free time on my hand so I sat down and went through each unit comparing packages, tools and Where to. Here is what I found:
The contents of the packages are similar; except that the Garmin Zumo includes a vehicle suction cup mount with built in speaker, dashboard disk and a vehicle power cable. The BMW Motorrad Zumo includes a GTM 12 FM TMC traffic receiver which only works in selected cities where coverage is available.
TURN ON
• The boot up process is the same
TOOLS
• The Map page is exactly the same with the same options
• BMW Motorrad v2.00
• The System options are the same as is the Locale options and the User Data
• Both have the same Volume and Bluetooth settings
• Under Navigation the BMW unit does not offer the option to change the Recalculation Mode
• The Display options are the same as is the Keyboard
• BMW does not offer FM Traffic or XM subscriptions
• I’m assuming the Traffic button on the BMW is the same as the Traffic Source under Garmins Service option. From what I can tell, since I’m not in a service area, the GTM 12 FM TMC traffic receiver ties into BMW’s Traffic option.
• Both units offer Proximity alerts
WHERE TO?
• They both include Address, Go Home, Food Lodging, Recently Found and Favorits.
• BMW sticks in a button called BMW Motorrad with the BMW icon which list all of the BMW dealers
• Then we continue with Routes, Extras, Intersections, Cities, Browse Map and Coordinates

VIEW MAP

• The map screen is the same except on the BMW the POI icons from Custom POI are visible on the map screen. I really like having the icons visible on the screen.
The BMW unit fits right into the Garmin vehicle mount and the all black unit blends in very nicely with my dark dash and does not stand out as much as my Garmin unit. When I noticed this I put the two of them on the BMW and the result was the same with the BMW Zumo quietly blending in.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, I will be using the BMW Zumo in my car for the next few weeks to see what other difference there are between the two.

[eggert]

Thanks!
Any idea if the GXM30 XM radio and traffic antenna/receiver disc will work with the BMW as it does with the Garmin?
Is there any reason to get the BMW or the Garmin for the K1200LT?
Garmin seems to be cheaper by 1/3.

[Oldmanwheeler]

Personally I would get the Garmin Zumo over the BMW Zumo. My wife's BMW Zumo is at least one update behind my Garmin version and since BMW uses there own version of software you cannot use the Garmin updates. You can only use BMW and they don't seem to be as up to date. On the plus side, the BMW Zumo is preloaded with all of the BMW dealers and when you download an update it includes the most up to date list of BMW dealers. But then again I can download the same list into my Garmin, I just have to update it once or twice a year. As for the GXM30 XM radio and traffic antenna/receiver disc, I would recommend you contact Garmin. There seems to be just enough difference between the two it would be a gamble to assumed they would be interchangeable. Good Luck.

[jwd98056]

• The map screen is the same except on the BMW the POI icons from Custom POI are visible on the map screen. I really like having the icons visible on the screen.


:think: I don't know if it will resolve the issue but and you may have already been down this path:

Is the custom POI database turned on in your Garmin unit?

Page 56 of the Zumo 550 Manual.
Wrench -> Proximity Points -> Proximity Alerts

Are the Map detail settings the same on both units?

Page 41 of the Zumo 550 Manual.
Wrench -> Map -> Map Detail

[Oldmanwheeler]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have it working now, the only problem with the BMW version is you can only use there software updates and they are about an update behind the Garmin version.

[wcarter]

As I understand it, the BMW device does not support XM Radio, due to an exclusive agreement between BMW and Sirius radio.

[Oldmanwheeler]

As I understand it, the BMW device does not support XM Radio, due to an exclusive agreement between BMW and Sirius radio.

I forgot about that but you are absolutely correct.

[eggert]

Thanks for the info.
Here is my conclusion so far:
No XM for BMW Zumo. It is only for Garmin Zumo.

Reference:
Link to BMW Zumo Owners manual: www.garmin.com/BMWzumo (http://www.garmin.com/BMWzumo)
Link to Garmin Zumo 550 Owners Manual: www.garmin.com/products/zumo550 (http://www.garmin.com/products/zumo550)

Detail:
On one hand...
My BMW parts guy called Garmin and they said "Yes, the GXM30 XM radio/traffic receiver will work on the BMW Zumo".

On the other hand...
Page 7 of the Garmin Zumo 550 Owners Manual shows the Menu Page with 2 large icons:"Where to?" and "View map" and 5 small icons: Phone, Traffic, XM, Media Player, Settings.

Page 3 of the BMW Zumo Owners Manual shows the Menu Page with 2 large icons:"Where to?" and "View map" and 4 small icons: Phone, Traffic, Media Player, Settings.

Question: Is there any reason to pick the BMW Zumo over the Garmin Zumo 550?
The Garmin costs a third less and you can add XM radio.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[eggert]

Found on Garmin's FAQ
Question: Does the BMW Motorrad zūmo® have XM capability like the zūmo 550?
Answer:

Unlike the zūmo® 550, the BMW Motorrad zūmo is not compatible with the XM service. BMW has an agreement with another satellite radio provider.

Last modified on: 04/21/2008

[hschisler]

Having JUST received a Garmin Zumo 550, this is good stuff. Thanks for sharing it. Now, if I could just get my LT out of the shop... :(

The question on my mind at this time is: Can any SD card work in the Zumo, or do you have to purchase Garmin SD cards? They are much more expensive than your typical SD card; too bad if the answer is "yes".

[wcarter]

Hi, Howard. You don't have to use a Garmin brand SD card. I wasn't even aware Garmin made SD memory cards.

If you have a Zumo, check out www.zumoforums.com for loads of information about the unit. There has been a lot of discussion over the sizes of memory cards that the Zumo will accept. I bought a 2G card but others have tried larger ones.

I am told that the latest firmware allows the Zumo to read high capacity SD cards even up to 16G but the Zumo has a limit of 1000 songs regardless of the size of the card. I use the XM radio more than the MP3 player so I haven't tried to put all of my music on the SD card and am nowhere near the maximum.

The songs must be in MP3 format for the Zumo. You will have to convert them otherwise. If you purchased songs from the iTunes store they are in a protected MP4 format. Lots of discussion on the Zumo forum for converting the files, though.

[eggert]

I just bought the BMW zumo POWER CABLE from the BMW dealer for about $90.
There is a BMW part number on a flag of the BMW zumo cable in the BMW box.
The parts guy may have a hard time with it, so have him look at the cable.

SD cards are not brand specific. There are 2 kinds: the older regular ones go up to 2GB. The newer high density ones have a different memory access scheme and the device must be ready for that. The zumo is. Max is 32GB, the garmin tech support said 4GB and 1000 songs.

[jwd98056]

I think the Zumo has problems utilizing anything above about 4GB. I don't mean that it can't have larger cards put into the memory slot. I have 8 GB cards that it reads just fine. The problem I have found is if I load nearly 1000 MP3 files, about 3GB, on an 8GB card I can't seem to get very much map data loaded on the card before the unit hangs up on boot. The map data I have been loading is Garmin Topo maps. If I don't put any music on the card I can load tons of map data. Maybe it can only keep track of a limited number of files. Just a wild guess. I suppose I could make some very large MP3 files or load some very large picture files to test the theory out but I just haven't been that motivated to diagnose it any further.

So from my experience anything larger than a 4GB card doesn't seem to be all that usable unless you have lots of very large files.

[eggert]

Please notice that BMW does not offer zumos on bikes that have a comm system. BMW does not have any interface cables for them.:brick:
OK, enough of the whining. I will spend the money and get this:
Baehr SILVERLINE Series K1200LT
Plug and Play Installation with Original BMW K1200LT Audio System
http://www.baehrusa.com/Specs_K1200LT.html
It is my understanding that Baehr are the ones who made the VOICE 1 and 2 systems for BMW. This better be good...:cool:
Does anyone have this thing?

[hschisler]

Thanks for the tips on the SD cards for the Zumo. I just came back from the barn, where I put the Zumo on the bike for the first time. I'm not going to worry about MP3 files at this time; I'm just happy to have a GPS on board!

I've never worked with MP3 files so don't know what is required yet to get these going. It would be a lot cheaper than buying the antenna to get XM radio through the Zumo

[woodey]

I just ordered The Garmin Zumo 550...Thanks for the tips.....I should get it next week I hope it is as great at it seems

[hschisler]

I just ordered The Garmin Zumo 550...Thanks for the tips.....I should get it next week I hope it is as great at it seemsI'm sure you'll like it. The Zumo is so intuitive (maybe they all are) that it's very easy to get up to speed with it.