[Ron from BC]

One early issue would be that as your OEM panel merely displays the mileage as recorded on the bike's computer and that panel is 'paired' with the computer when built any replacement panel would be to be reset (paired) at the dealer in order to display the bike's existing mileage.

I put that question to the owner of a Yamaha who installed KOSO's RX-4 panel and he confirmed that you have the option during the initial set up to enter your bike's mileage so that it will continue to display the correct total since day 1. He now has 14K miles on it without any issues.

 

[Ron from BC]

Will you be able to check for fault codes with a GS-911?

 

[Ron from BC]

Well Done! After reading the manual for both the RX-4 (Yamaha TFT) and this RX-5 it appears that you can set the start mileage you want during the set up which would ensure you continue to see the 'total' mileage on the bike. Two questions for me are if you were to re-install the OEM display would it recognize it and then display the new total mileage and what the GS-911 will show during an autoscan.

 

[Ron from BC]

Well done! I replaced my Nav VI with the XT and rely on it for my speed as the OEM speedo doesn't do the job without reading glasses. Looking at your pic of the RX-5 it would appear that the digits for the speed are larger and easier to see than the Nav VI....yes?

Look forward to your observations when you put the GS-911 on it.

 

[Ron from BC]

Definitely. But still look to the NavVI to tell me the (suggested) speed limit.

Ok, after reading your initial thoughts again I understand the issue of having to manually 'Go Back' on the Nav VI screen to return to the Nav display and it raises another question as to how the wonder wheel will work for those who have swapped the Nav VI for the XT.

During the install of the XT and 'it's' cradle the Nav VI cradle is removed as is it's wiring harness. The XT's harness plugs in there with a BMW repair plug with one of the threes wires not used. Needless to say the wonder wheel now does nothing. I'll assume with the RX-5 installed with this set up the wonder wheel will again be active and control access to the various screens on the TFT and obviously no impact on the XT.

I'm guessing the 3rd wire on the Nav VI harness was for instructions from the wonder wheel. This will likely be confusing and of no interest to those who haven't swapped out their Nav VI (I was on my 6th replacement due to ghosting issues)

 

[Ron from BC]

Don't know of any way to get the wheel to control a Zumo XT, but this adapter will provide power to it,

E-navXT - Adapter 3D Motorrad Shop

With this powered adapter you can use your Gamrin Zumo XT and XT 2 on the bmw navigator V and VI support

www.adapter3dmotorrad.com

No I don't either nor do I require it. I had considered using that Italian adapter but elected to just remove the cradle and harness and replace it with the XT. The install was seamless and as mentioned the BMW repair plug ($20) just gets connected to the 2 XT wires then it plugs into the OEM Nav connector.......you just don't use the 3rd wire.

 

[Ron from BC]

DucRider: When making suspension changes on the OEM you see the 'helmet, helmet luggage, two helmets' with the additional options of soft, normal and hard. The RX-5 seems to refer to this as riding modes instead and then strength? No icons? Thanks

 

[Ron from BC]

I don't believe my 2017.5 had the soft/normal/hard selections. I only ever saw MIN/AUTO/MAX, and that's all my manual refers to. That's mirrored on the RX-5.

Interesting, I guess they changed it after my GSA build date of 6/17. You're likely already aware of this but a poster on a GS FB group who also ordered one spoke about an iPhone app KOSO K-Link, not sure what it does.

Look forward to more of your comments on the display and the GS-911 scan.

 

[Ron from BC]

I don't think there is a way (or at least I haven't found it yet) to "switch" the wonderwheel between the two devices so it solely operates one of them. As of now, I'm using the wonderwheel left and right clicks for the Koso, and on the Nav VI I use the wheel to zoom in and out (or other features using the wheel's spin; spinning has no utility or effect on the Koso). When my use on the Koso changes the screen on the Nav VI, I just use the Nav VI's touchscreen to go back to the screen I want. It hasn't been annoying for me.

General update:

• I like the visual aspect of the Koso better than the stock instrument cluster - not surprisingly, it's just easier to see the information and I can have all of the relevant information on one screen.
• The layout of information is good and the look is easy on the eyes - i.e., I feel like the colors are comfortable and the switch from day to night colors is effective.
• I find it much easier to access my music and phone calls through the Koso unit (vs. the Nav VI as I was doing without the Koso).
• I don't care for the nav feature in the Koso. It only provides the next turn info. I prefer the full map and traffic information from the Nav VI. Also, it's pulling from the phone, so it is another draw on the phone battery.
• At the end of the day, my initial opinion hasn't changed after a few days'/rides' use: it is an excellent unit that doesn't add a lot of functionality (except the nav); it just does everything better and is a better user interface for those functions/features (other than nav).
• I wouldn't get the Koso to eliminate use of the Nav VI, but others might be fine with the limited nature of its nav function. I think it's a no-brainer as a replacement if you have to replace your stock non-TFT instrument cluster. Whether it's worth the money if you just want to switch is obviously a personal decision. As I've said, it's worth it to me.

If I discover anything amazing or problematic, I'll post, but otherwise I think this is my final word on the Koso RX-5: Better than Cats - I'd see it again and again!😉

Edit: I lied - I'll check for faults today and update with that info.

Well IMHO you've provided an excellent overview of the RX-5 and certainly touched on every aspect that I was interested in (GS-911 scan to follow....).

Like you, I use my GPS/Zumo XT for all navigation and have never connected my phone to my old Nav VI or previous GPS as I use the Cardo unit (Packtalk Edge now). My personal wants are a device that's easier to see and has information on the main screen that's relevant so in my case it appears to be a winner.

Thanks again!

 

[Ron from BC]

Have you messaged KOSO with the fault codes for their comments, I would have thought they would have access to a GS-911 or similar device during the R&D for this.

Did you try clearing the fault codes, restarting the bike and then rescan to see if they're still present.

 

[Ron from BC]

I did both of those. Waiting to hear back. Will keep you updated.

Full disclosure, I don't have a clue how to interpret the information on that scan however....I came across this reference to BMW's:

"Instrument cluster (widely known as kombi) in BMW modern cars records the data like VIN and mileage in its EEPROM......."

Both of the fault codes make reference to messages to/from the KOMBI etc so perhaps the errors are not anything that will prevent a feature on the bike from working correctly but instead registering that during the system startup the RX-5 isn't responding the way the OEM cluster does so it just creates the fault code to check to ensure the feature is working. I did stay in a Holiday Inn last night.....

If there's a firmware update that could be released to address this perhaps they could tweak their app so that the end user could do the update via Bluetooth as Cardo does now with their Packtalk Edge......BT from phone to the module.

 

[Ron from BC]

Thanks for the update and again for being the canary in the coal mine. Should you decide to reinstall your OEM display in the meantime it’ll be interesting to see if it registers your new accumulated mileage.

Then I think you’ve pretty much covered everything!

 

[Ron from BC]

Installed? Faults?

They haven’t completed the fix yet, but will send me a shipping label when it’s ready to update my unit.

There was a post on another forum regarding this and the KOSO tech advised that the software solution would be a couple of weeks and in the mean time they've withdrawn the units in their inventory from sale (now shown as Out of Stock) and as soon as they've been updated they'll be available again.

Good to hear they've sent you a shipping label.

 

[Ron from BC]

So I received my Koso RX5 yesterday, install was a 15 min job, quick and easy. I went out for a ride the screen is good and easy to read in full sunlight and also at night. So I was really happy until I tried to set my cruise control on the freeway and no dice.. So No issue before the Koso install, used the Cruise all the time including yesterday before the install and everything worked perfectly. I will reset it to factory settings today and see if that solves the issue.. But I also have not been able to connect to the Bluetooth or Koso App.. So I will update after work when I can reset the unit and try again. Not having cruise control is definitely a deal killer for me.. Has anyone else experienced any issues like this?

Do you have a GS-911 to do a scan for fault codes? I wonder if DucRider had tried to use Cruise Control or Bluetooth? I wonder if KOSO is aware of these two additional issues?

 

[Ron from BC]

I have no problem connecting to Bluetooth - the music and nav features work perfectly (I just prefer the NavVI for the latter). FWIW, I'm using an iPhone - how about you @Vag?

I don't recall if I used the Cruise Control (I think I did, but I'm not clear on it) - I'll give it a try this afternoon and report back.

So you haven't sent yours back yet?

 

[Ron from BC]

It's really too bad there isn't a way to flash a firmware update via bluetooth for any updates. Good job on the follow up test.

 

[Ron from BC]

I wondered about the build date too however I'm not sure what the differences are. It's of no help right now as I don't have the KOSO however my '17 GSA has a build date of Monday June 12th.

 

[Ron from BC]

Certainly don't quote me on it because I'm talking out my ass right now, but if the late 2017 build was the same used for the 2018 (with which you could get a TFT), that could make a difference? If that's the case, though, it should be easy to add the BMW OEM TFT to such bikes, but I've read on this forum that this is simply not the case. Hard tellin' not knowin'.

The key for the OEM TFT compatibility is in the wiring harness and yes that different harness was installed in the last half of the year....I believe in July or August. DR: What's the build date of your bike?

bimmer.work : VIN Decoder for BMW

Also, VAGA.....had said earlier his OEM panel had a problem which was the motivator to look into this RX-5, not sure what his panel's issue is but could it be playing a role in these anomalies.

 

[Ron from BC]

The wiring harness you need for the TFT is X6ABA.