System 7 Helmet and comms system with Gen 2 XR - whats the order?

[norskman]

My setup is very common:

S1000XR Gen 2 - 2020 model
System 7 Helmet with BMW comms system

Apple XS max.

The helmet shows paired with the display.

The BMW connected app work and shows correctly on the screen

You should be able to listen to music from the Apple phone.

Sometimes it does and sometime it does not.

I can work out what the correct order is to run the apps so the bike displays the BMW navigation whilst the phone plays the music

it seems to be rather random, if you do get the music or not.

Anyone got a definitive answer on this?

[BobT]

You won't like the definitive answer! iphones do not work well with the BMW TFT system. The internet is full of that information. Buy yourself a simple second phone of the Android variety and load the BMW connected app onto it, use that.

[surik116]

I use an android(samsung) with sena SRL2 on Shoei. my setup has only ever worked a few times.
however saying that. I use tomtom 550 as well.
now connection wise. I connect the phone to BIKE, works like a treat. if you dont use your bike for more than 2-3 weeks phone removes or disabkes the connection. Also happens when there is a software update. 
Sena has only ever connected a few times to the TFT. however connects to phone and tomtom 550 all the time. this gives me the funstionality of music,phone etc(all features). if I switch off the bike music will switch off as well.

Think the actual problem is the bluetooth version on the helmet unit. SRL2 is 4.1

looking at the BMW one is same as well.


https://www.sena.com/product/srl2

https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/wear/navigation-and-communication/communication-system.html#/section-downloads

now, I have not been able to find out what version of bluetooth the TFT is on. BMW has not published those details anywhere. scrolled through all of their documentation.

[BobT]

"now, I have not been able to find out what version of bluetooth the TFT is on. BMW has not published those details anywhere. scrolled through all of their documentation."

Would not worry about that if I were you as it works for the vast majority.
Another common problem is using a GPS as part of the system too, the BMW Connected ride is designed as a GPS system so it is going to be iffy with another part thrown into the system.

[peterwbaker1100]

Have a look at this FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/195190591351953 the video pinned at the top gives you the best possible order for things to work:-) Peter

[norskman]

I do have an android alternative and will start with that option.

Also following the FB ( when they accept me in) and see what that brings

[surik116]

Originally Posted by BobT

"now, I have not been able to find out what version of bluetooth the TFT is on. BMW has not published those details anywhere. scrolled through all of their documentation."

Would not worry about that if I were you as it works for the vast majority.
Another common problem is using a GPS as part of the system too, the BMW Connected ride is designed as a GPS system so it is going to be iffy with another part thrown into the system.

BMW has indeed quoted on their website that BMW navigator 6 is not supported with the TFT. Just connects to headset and phone.

[BobT]

I have just bought the connected phone cradle which will turn my Android phone into a device that does everything that the BMW navigator does.

[surik116]

I did not thought it will be available so soon. dont forget to leave a review.

[JerryG]

Originally Posted by BobT

I have just bought the connected phone cradle which will turn my Android phone into a device that does everything that the BMW navigator does.

Not everything...

With the Connected Cradle, per https://support.bmw-motorrad.com/s/article-search?topic=Navigation&language=en_GB&searchKey=ConnectedRide%20Cradle&hashtags
- Can I touch-operate my smartphone while riding? No. Touch-operation while riding is not possible. (So you can't actively use other apps.)
- Only the BMW Motorrad Connected app can be operated by means of the Multi-Controller.
- You can navigate via the cradle and listen to music playback on your smartphone at the same time, but, if you have a TFT display, you have to use it to control playback and select tracks.
- To do tour planning, you have to dismount your phone and stand it up in portrait mode (in your hand). As soon as a planned tour is started, however, you put it in the cradle and ride the tour in landscape mode.
- The cradle is not suitable for off-road use.
Side issue...
- The Connected Cradle blocks user access to the phone's on/off and volume buttons.

In contrast, with WunderLinq's Blackbox (see https://blackboxembedded.com/)...
- You can touch-operate your smartphone while riding.
- You can use BMW's multi-controller wheel with any app that has made itself Wunderling Blackbox compatible; at this time, that includes Scenic, Kurviger.de, MapLocus, Maps.me, OsmAnd Maps & Navigation, and Rabbit Rally.
- You can navigate via any app and listen to music playback on your smartphone at the same time without having to work through your TFT display.
- You can do tour planning without dismounting your phone.
- You can use additional anti-vibration devices such as Quad Lock's Vibration Dampener to extend use off road, but I doubt that would include extreme off road; that's better left to the Nav VI or more robust setups.

My personal setup uses a Google Pixel 5 phone mounted on a Quad Lock Vibration Dampener mounted on a WunderLinq Blackbox mounted on a BMW OEW Nav VI mount...plus a Nav VI mounted on a second Nav VI mount on the handlebars below...though the two can be switched from upper to lower and visa versa depending upon which one I'm actively using for navigation...whichever one I have in the upper mount is controllable via the BMW multi-controller wheel...

I don't connect any of this to my XR, it's just not reliable enough and too troublesome to use the TFT. Instead, the phone is connected to (1) my Sena as the "primary phone" and (2) my WunderLinq Blackbox; then the Nav VI is connected to my Sena as "secondary phone".

Is WunderLinq perfect, no, but IMO, it's better than the Connected Cradle.