I screwed up- bmw Zumo 550

[Scott Dinger]

The BMW Zumo 550 will not work with the xm radio. We thought we had it working but it continually locks up the screen. I have talked to everyone at Garmin and BMW. No Luck. The excuses are lame but it still doesn't work.

Sorry for the bumm info.

[dirtjet]

I've been frustrated with the Zumo 550 and it's lack of XM bluetooth. I run a Cardo wireless unit that works fine for MP3 and cell phone but the Zumo won't transmit the XM via bluetooth. I activated the XM and just use earbuds for the XM. However, I saw an ad in a motorcycle magazine for a Zumo 550 fix from www.Colletcommunicators.com. According to them, for $179, their module will let the Zumo 550 transmit phone, MP3 and XM in stereo. I ordered it two weeks ago and I'm still waiting. They say they are in the process of moving to a new building but it should ship out on the 21st of May. I'll let you know how it works if I ever get it.

[Scott Dinger]

This is how I got my unit to work. Go to the Garmin website and upload the 2.2 fix for the bmw zumo 550. I think it is dated 3-19-09.. As soon as I loaded it and after I purchased the Garmin XM30 antenna, everything works perfectly. The phone works through bluetooth and my radar, xm/sirius stations work perfectly. I'm using the auto com unit.

Note: When you first turn on the radio, even tho the batteries in the zumo show full charge, you must have the system connected to your bike for power.

I don't know if there are different BMW Zumo 550 versions, BUT the reason it didn't work before the current upgrade is that BMW made some kind of deal to work with Sirius, Garmin Zumo 550 was working with XM.

If you have any trouble you can call Sean (parts mgr.) at San Diego BMW 858-560-2453 and he has all the info and will assist you.

[MJZ]

Whatever you do don't get the new Zumo 660. I've had mine for several months and it is so full of bugs, only one software update has come out and it fixed very few of the problems. Garmin put this unit out way too early, long before it was ready or they decided like Microsoft, good customers make the best BETA testers, especially since they pay big for the right to be the testers.

[Baiazid]

I recommend to have a look to marine gps's from Garmin. Especially GSMAP 620 and 640. They are incredible. Better than Zumo, of course a little bit more expensive.

[Paladinwest]

Originally Posted by MJZ

Whatever you do don't get the new Zumo 660. I've had mine for several months and it is so full of bugs, only one software update has come out and it fixed very few of the problems. Garmin put this unit out way too early, long before it was ready or they decided like Microsoft, good customers make the best BETA testers, especially since they pay big for the right to be the testers.

Having had a number of Garmin GPS's from the beginning of "GPS time" I have noticed that they have gone from rock solid software to a more "microsofty" user experience. Hope your experience with the 660 isn't like mine with their attempt at a palm pda/gps (iQue) where they discontinued the device before they came close to fixing all the problems.
My Zumo 550 still has the occasional strange problem despite having had 3 years of software upgrades. The good thing is that most of these problems are more annoying (touch screen misreads, unrequested power off, freezes requiring battery removal and replacement) than critical.