Comments on BMW Intercom System?

[SEG]

Seek comments from those that have a post 2005 LT with the BMW intercom system and/or Navigator III. I will be getting an LT, either a new model if the price looks good or a post 2005 model. A local dealer wants list price for an '09 LT but will include at no additional cost: the BMW intercom system and a Garmin Navigator III. We're at the early stages our discussion about price so there may be some flexibility on the base price of the LT. Before expressing an interest in the free add-ons, I'd like to hear from those that have the BMW system as well as the Garmin Navigator III. It was my original plan to get a Baehr intercom system (which I have not used in the past) or possibly an Autocom (I've had 3 in the past) and a Zumo. If the BMW intercom system has any problems with clarity or hooking up with a mobile phone and IPod, I'd pass on the dealer's offer and focus strictly on negotiating on base price of the LT. Since I have no experience with the BMW intercom system and the Navigator, it's hard to evaluate the value of the dealer's offer. I do a lot of 2-up riding with the wife and LT touring so it's important to have a good to excellent intercom system. Appreciate the help.
Scott
NYC

[niobium]

We have a 2006 with the BMW intercom and a Navigator III. We use J&M mid-fi headsets in Shoei RF-1000 helmets. We listen to the radio and our iPod a lot. No problems hooking up the iPod. Took a little bit to get the intercom settings just right, microphone gain, relative volume levels, etc., but it is very clear, and the override priorities seem to work well. Sometimes irritates my SO when the GPS overrides into my headset when she wants to talk to me. Our last intercom was a Chatterbox, so this is a quantum leap above that setup.

I can't tell you anything about using a cellphone with it. I don't want to become one of...them. You know, the morons in cars, trucks, and SUV's who casually try to kill you while yakking away on the cellphone about something really, really important?

[BMWprofessor]

Works fine for me (2006 LT). I have a Sirius radio through the input port on the comm system and two helmets with built-in BMW mic/speakers. Very clear, good sound. Got my Blackberry hooked up, but that took some fussing. Nerver use it anyway (see previous post!)

Joe

[Buchnerb]

We have an 07 with the BMW intercom and the Nav III. All works as advertised and we are very happy with it.As noted previously it takes some fiddling to get the activation levels and volumes set where you want them. A couple wishes I have are a silence button for the GPS (we call her Bitchin Betty) because she overrides the intercom and and an option to have the GPS speak to the passenger also.

I routinely play my IPOD through with no problems. I have plugged my cell (LG model) in and can send and receive calls. One problem is the LG phone does not send a ringtone to the earphone plug so the only way you know there is a call is when the music stops. Several folks have been successful in connecting their phones via Bluetooth to the Garmin using a Motorola HF820 as an interface. A search should result in several threads on the use of the Motorola. My LG phone won't stay connected and I have given up on phone use while riding. I have decided for safety reasons I don't want the distraction with the traffic conditions I usually ride in. Most people seem to be unable to properly operate a car while on the phone and I find I need to be far more focussed when on my bike.

Bruce Buchner

[Arby60]

We have an 07 with the BMW intercom and the Nav III. All works as advertised and we are very happy with it.As noted previously it takes some fiddling to get the activation levels and volumes set where you want them. A couple wishes I have are a silence button for the GPS (we call her Bitchin Betty) because she overrides the intercom and and an option to have the GPS speak to the passenger also.

I routinely play my IPOD through with no problems. I have plugged my cell (LG model) in and can send and receive calls. One problem is the LG phone does not send a ringtone to the earphone plug so the only way you know there is a call is when the music stops. Several folks have been successful in connecting their phones via Bluetooth to the Garmin using a Motorola HF820 as an interface. A search should result in several threads on the use of the Motorola. My LG phone won't stay connected and I have given up on phone use while riding. I have decided for safety reasons I don't want the distraction with the traffic conditions I usually ride in. Most people seem to be unable to properly operate a car while on the phone and I find I need to be far more focussed when on my bike.

Bruce Buchner

Bruce: Could you tell me how you have your IPod set up. Thanks.

Ray

[Buchnerb]

Bruce: Could you tell me how you have your IPod set up. Thanks.

Ray

I have an IPOD classic and I just plug a cord from the headphone jack to the Aux input jack on the BMW Voice II. It runs for 14hours on a battery charge so I put it on shuffle and let it rip. I can turn the Aux channel on and off from the tank buttons and also switch to the radio if I need a traffic or weather update. At the end of the day I just recharge it.

Bruce

[Kieth]

If you have the option of getting the bmw system or not getting it, see how much it costs. I have a 99 and the intercom is a piece of crap, the headsets are expensive (J&M) and the vox stays engages all of the time. We could never get the vox correct. I installed a autocom (completely circumventing the bmw system and have been happy ever since. Kieth

[pickerbiker]

We have an 07 with the BMW intercom and the Nav III. All works as advertised and we are very happy with it.As noted previously it takes some fiddling to get the activation levels and volumes set where you want them. A couple wishes I have are a silence button for the GPS (we call her Bitchin Betty) because she overrides the intercom and and an option to have the GPS speak to the passenger also.

I routinely play my IPOD through with no problems. I have plugged my cell (LG model) in and can send and receive calls. One problem is the LG phone does not send a ringtone to the earphone plug so the only way you know there is a call is when the music stops. Several folks have been successful in connecting their phones via Bluetooth to the Garmin using a Motorola HF820 as an interface. A search should result in several threads on the use of the Motorola. My LG phone won't stay connected and I have given up on phone use while riding. I have decided for safety reasons I don't want the distraction with the traffic conditions I usually ride in. Most people seem to be unable to properly operate a car while on the phone and I find I need to be far more focussed when on my bike.

Bruce Buchner

Bruce, you can just mute the Nav III if you don't want to listen to BB.

I have the BMW Comm system on my 2007 LT. My SO and I do a lot of two-up touring and, like previous posters have said, once you get all the settings dialed in, it works pretty good.

[jhsonderb]

... ]snip]A couple wishes I have are a silence button for the GPS (we call her Bitchin Betty) because she overrides the intercom [snip]
My 2820 has a setting to turn off "announced automatic route recalulation." It also has a silent mode for automatic route recalculation and a prompted recalculation option. You can also turn recalculation off. I assume your Nav III does also. Look for it under Settings-Navigation from the Main menu screen.

[blueknightga6]

Sorry but I just stumbled on this old thread.

After 9 months of ownership I think I've figured something out about the BMW intercom on my '02 K12LTE. Is the intercom designed to function better with ambient noise like the Cardo Teamrider sets? The reason I ask is that when parked or moving SLOW it doesn't pick up my wife's voice immediately. But, when cruising down the road it picks her up right away. :confused: