Thread: BMW Motorcycles Navigator Garmin 2004

More information required before any specific assistance or advice can be provided. Which model of "BMW Motorcycles Navigator Garmin 2004" is it? If its simply called BMW Motorrad Navigator without a series number, then it's the very first model. if so, like the II, III and IIIPlus, Garmin claims that it cannot handle map updates:

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But Garmin often isn't completely truthful about its older unsupported devices and there may be a workaround to load partial EU mapping data to it.

Also i guess by 'navtech charts' you mean NAVTEQ maps do you? The Navtech company (now Navblue) specialises in air management systems and aeronautical enroute/airport navigation charts - whereas NAVTEQ has been known as HERE for some many years now. If it still has NAVTEQ mapping loaded it must be long overdue for map data updates for sure.

Post some pictures of the device, along with the additional information including which countries' maps are presently loaded. Use 'spoiler tags' for large images, read here: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

If it is really from 2004 - outdated device, outdated maps. It will cause more harm than good ...

Thank you very much for reply

here are some photos

Spoiler: some photos

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Well, if it possible at all, maps of Europe should be inserted in it to be usable

I repeat - it is certainly very outdated, very obsolete
Usually support for devices ends after 10 years, which means that for 10 years (+/- few) there are no fresher maps
Such devices now have only sentimental value

For Garmin official maps, if it depends on use of their newer NT format mapping, it's correct to say that it's outdated or obsolete.

Some devices from mid-decade 2000's can indeed use the New Technology format due to firmware capability and are not limited to using the original format (known as 'non-NT'). That earlier format data ceased being issued by Garmin in ~2009.

It also doesn't have the capacity to use all of the current GNSS satellites.

Regardless, even though it might not be capable of displaying Garmin's NT maps like the StreetPilot III it is based upon, it can be made usable and accurate enough in EU by using OpenStreet maps which are fine for a device that cannot use Garmin's 'eye-candy' stuff such as JunctionView or Lane Assist anyway. It will of course be limited to GPS satellites not GLONASS/Galileo, but the original GPS signals are fine worldwide anyway. In Australia we still use GPS exclusively even for aviation navigation. Farmers here get accuracy down to inches in remote rural areas for GPS-equipped tractors and harvesters.

If you'd like to experiment further with it i'm quite happy to spend the time to establish what it can and can't do as far as maps are concerned. I have a similar device from the same era also based on the SP III which i can use to help too:
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IMHO, it will be worth the effort only if you can get such a device for free or for a small amount of money
Otherwise you can buy much newer and better devices (eBay, Aliexpress), even new

@Boki
I absolutely take your point there, certainly on an unemotional and practical level anyway. However, these types of devices are still very popular with the MC crowd. They are extremely robust and importantly they're waterproof and can be operated with gloves on. A comparison of the psychology is the classic car fancier who happily owns and drives a 60, 70 even 80 year old car as a daily driver rather than an EV. There's also the challenge factor, keeping a piece of early technology relevant and useful despite the difficulties in doing so. Not many ppl even on specialist GPS forums these days understand the peculiar workings and update methods of the early Garmin GPS devices like his navigator. I've helped plenty of ppl previously to update (so-called) obsolete Garmin GPS devices like that one - those that cannot simply be plugged into a computer to load maps in a twinkle. Doing it with them is more like hand-cranking a Model T, bit of work involved but once a Tin Lizzy is running it'll get you from A to B, and so will that device for sure. Horses for courses Mate!!