Garmin XT | 3DAM adapter for BMW 1250 GSA & Others! 

Having both Garmin and Tomtom, in various models, absolutely hands down TT wipes the floor with Garmin in every way.

Went to bed Tuesday night and didn't realise I'd slept through until Sunday. Know it's Sunday now because there is a new RiderCam TV video out.

Another fab vid guys.have had my xt for 2 years and is faultless..I ended up fitting the Touratech clamp ..bit expensive..but locks the unit in tight...keep the vids coming

Excellent info. I just ordered an XT and a 3DAM adapter for my GSA.

My year-old Nav VI went bonkers a few days ago, so I sent it into Garmin for replacement yesterday. I decided to order the 3DAM adapter that you reviewed, along with a Garmin Zumo XT, to try on my 2021 BMW R1250 GS Adventure. Thanks for telling us about the 3DAM adapter. Looking forward to trying it out -cheers!

Great review! I’ve had the XT on my GSA for around 2 years now. Been great on tour where I’ve had to change our route for whatever issue. Plot a new route and fire it across from iPhone to XT, result! Love it

Great review, I wanted the 3d as my preferred mount on the BMW cradle but they were out of stock at the time, so went for the Wunderlich more expensive option at the time. The issues I had with loading gpx files were due to the inability of the XT to be friends with my Mac! In the end the nice people at Magellan told me I had to use android transfer. Safe riding gentlemen.

Noice mate….that’ll be my nav mount of choice. I already have the Zumo XT. Great piece of kit.

Bought the 3dam. Works great! VERY Happy! Thanks for the great review!

Wish this had come out 12 months ago when I brought my XT, would have saved me taking my RT apart to remove the BMW mount. The XT is brilliant in what it can do already loaded with the routes for my Dolomites trip in June.

Great video chaps. Ride safe.

You said this wasn’t a review. But it was one of the best reviews I’ve seen lol.

their is an alternative as well as this 3DAM adaptor. if you want to get rid of the oem cradle you can piggy back to the power connector for the cradle and use a 12mm bar mount which in turn is the base unit to attach the garmin mount to.. their is a bit more faffing around, but minimal. it is only a suggestion and for those who want to get rid of the bulkiness of the cradle.. im going with this 3DAM. And thanks for the great video and all its entertainment values.

The XT looks a great bit of kit, certainly over my trusty Nav5. That said, as others have too, you loose some functionality regarding the whizz wheel BUT, i do have the TFT so all the bike data is on there. May have to consider the switch.

Have bought exactly the same unit, altho I went with the Touratech mount as I like it better, but great vid lads

Had my XT for 2 years, swap it between my bikes. Just ordered a new R 1250 GS TE triple black, due end of May. Will be fitting the XT to the BMW GPS bar and simply hooking it into the existing wiring loom/gps power socket down in the front fairing . That adaptor , for me, brings the XT too far out. So I will do away with the BMW GPS stuff and leave just the bar. Easy to pop the XT into my pocket.

I have just given up trying to use a mobile phone with GPS apps and installed the Garmin Zumo XT using the Touratech lockable mount. It's a great upgrade and works really well. Once you get the hang of creating routes in Garmin Basecamp (which is a little complicated) it just works.

Thanks boys, great amusing video as usual, busting to buy one but they took the TPMS off that is on the 595 , why would you do that? I just don't want another screen

Great video, greets form The Netherlands

Useful info Toby, Like the look of this. Must admit I preferred Tom Tom when I used one in my car and found Garmin very confusing when I bought a Nav 6. Suppose it's a bit Mac/PC. Thumbs up for your music choice btw! Try Rammstein if you get the chance and haven't listened to them.

I got one of these and fitted it along with a ZumoXT to my BMW cradle. Worked beautifully...until recently, when it just wouldn't keep contact (and thus power). So now I've updated the software of my latest NavVI (#4!). So far the NavVI is behaving. I suspect this unit too will fail. So I might be going back to this solution.

As a new XT user (Nav 5 failed) and confirmed Luddite may I say THANK YOU for this video. The iDrive GPX to Zumo trick has made my life instantly easier, and a friend has just welcomed me to the 21st Century when I rang him up and said “It’s a miracle !”

I just purchased the Zumo xt but got the touratech locking mount ( 3D adaptor from Italy were out of stock) but becasue the unit sticks out with the 3D and being 6ft seeing tft would have been difficult. Nice video 👍

Nice video I have a 2016 R1200 GS that I've been contemplating putting a GPS unit on it. Is the BMW version of the Garmin GPS garbage ? or just a bad batch of them? I'm guessing the Zumo XT is the preferred? Thanks again for the video.

Hi Guys, great video, just came across it - I am from Australia, so we are a bit slow here!! ;) I bought the XT and the 3D unit back in February this year (2023), which is brilliant and so easy to install etc and has been fantastic. The XT is far superior to the Nav VI ( I had 3 x Nav VI replaced under warranty , due to screen issues which has been well documented in many forums!! ) The issue I am having now is the 2 top connection pins on the BMW Cradle, which connects to the 3D plate, seemed to have "burnt" , using the 3D AM mount, and now the XT will not charge while riding, altho sometimes intemittently. In fact the top left hand side pin seems to be only half the length of all the other pins. I am wondering whether there have been any issues in UK/Europe that you have heard of like this, where perhaps the 3D unit is shorting/burning the BMW Cradle pins? I cant find anything on any forums about it. Perhaps the 3D AM connection is not "solid" enough and moves about too much when riding over a period of time causing shorting out? Or perhaps water getting in ? I usually wash my bike with all this connected but very careful not to hose or splash water into this area. Up until this week ( December 5th ) all has been working perfectly since February 2023! Appreciate your thoughts on this. Cheers from Down Under!

Szuper videó✌️👌thanks

Super ! Ichanged yhesterday my bike and need to have adapter for 595 Lm to BMW NAVI. Hope to get it soon. ( out of stock )

Is Toby's GSA1250 sporting a different screen extender in the Garmin Sat Nav review video? I was about to buy a Wunderlich screen extender due to the buffeting I am experiencing on my GSA1250 but will wait for the review or any comments on this "other" screen extender. Cheers,

I ended up with the touch screen from hell with the Navigator 6. I ended up going through 4 of them, under warranty, but now I’m done. The Navigator 6 was the worst version of their units ever.

Well done guys great review . So am I right in saying you buy the sat nav conversation part a.d plug straight on the bmw mount without having to buy any extra wiring to plug in the Garmin unit ?

so what are you route planning on? Calimoto, Basecamp? what's the verdict after a few months of use?

Hey lads, love the video. Have you lads done a video on the windscreen extension? I can’t seem to find it, cheers 👍🏼

Have you used the Garmin with the adapter a lot? Can you see the top line of the tft display while riding? Atm I am using the 3dam adapter for the TomTom Rider. What annoys me a little although is that the top line of the tft display with information about your remaining range etc. can’t be seen very good while riding. Is it the same with the Garmin adapter? Thanks in advance

I'd take this one over the Wudnerlich any day! The Wunderlich is USD 183 plus S&H in the US comes to over USD 200 for the adapter delivered to you. In Germany it is USD 116 plus S&H (no VAT for exports). I tried to order it there (I am a German native) and have it shipped to the US like I do from many other EU manufacturers/retailers for items for my bike (MRA, SE Engineerd, Dominator, Voigt Mototechnik, helmets etc from FC-Moto, etc. etc. etc.). Even with shipping it is usually more economic to buy in the EU because we do not pay the substantial VAT. Just takes longer to get the items. I was able to establish an account on their German web site, but they would not allow an order. I e-mailed them and they refereed to their US web site. I mentioned the huge and really unwarranted price difference and they said sorry. Wunderlich is already on the extreme expensive side for equipment, but they really rake US customer over the coals! I wrote a balanced and fact-based review on this item on their web site. Let's see if they publish it.

Amazing I’ve just bought exactly the same as you have hate nav6

Love mine. Using it on my 22 Goldwing now . Will you guys ever review a Goldwing ? Curious of what you would think.

Great informative video, I don't own a GS yet but enjoy your videos, funny too?!

Hi guys, great vid as usual, and very interesting - so much so that I’ve just ordered the Zumo XT and 3DAM mount! (my Nav 6 plays up more times than not!). I have a 1200 GSA, and was wondering about the Bluetooth connections that you mentioned. At the moment, I have my phone connected to the bike/TFT, and the TFT is connected to my Sena headset - do you think there would be ‘conflicts’ if I keep it this way? Just thinking about incoming phone calls (not that I get that many) being routed through both the TFT and the Zumo…. Thanks guys 👍

Hi Toby. Can you tell me please if your sat nav turns itself of after 20sec? Or atleast gives you the option? My dosent do it for some reason,but the navigator 6 did? Many thanks

Hi Toby, thank you for doing this video.. could you tell me if the Garmin XT comes with free lifetime updates please and where did you get yours from.. thank you Paul

I’ve recently bought Zumo XT to fit on my R1200GS (replace my Navigator IV). I’ve ordered my 3DAM from Italy and it’s currently being held in customs. As a U.K. resident suspect I will need to pay import duty. The delay and (possible) additional cost is something to take into account if this is your chosen means of fitting the XT to a Navigator mount.

You got me at....I would´t have a TomTom on my bike when you paid me

I have the older four button style mount on my f800gt. Is there an adapter for the Zumo XT that will work with that BMW mount? Can’t seem to find one anywhere.

Please forgive the (perhaps) dumb question,but can you still operate the satnav via the bmw thumb wheel? And also does it lock using the bmw key in the same way that you would lock your nav 6 into place..many thanks

Hi Toby. Another great video. Please could you tell me that when you have your XT in the cradle and you turn your bike off does it give you options to turn the xt off or does it just stay on. I have 2018 RT1200 and mine just seems to stay on. ?

Great video. Getting my new GSA next week but still undecided between Quad Lock & the XT. Does the handlebar wheel not work at all with the XT using the 3dam?

Really interesting. But when using this 3DAM adapter, does the GPS (Garmin XT) work together with the scroll wheel that you use for Navigator VI?

just got a 2023 f850gs with the GPS prep cradle. Transferring my XT to this bike so bought the 3DAM on your advice. One quick question though is how do you unlock it to remove the device? thanks for the great video and would love to do a tour with you sometime!

Great Information guys there is no doubt the XT is a better unit than the Nav 6 however you do loose the BMW wheel functionality and personally I like this function . It should be mentioned

That XT is certainly better value than the Nav6 and has lots more features as well. Touch wood, I've never had a problem with my Nav yet but if I ever do, I know what I'll be buying to replace it ! Just out of interest, can you operate the XT using the bikes whiz wheel ?

Like your presentation - felt like you were talking to ME. This is good, very good. I have a BMW Nav 5 and it has behaved perfectly over the 10 years I have had it BUT with this 3DAM adapter, when the time comes to buy something more up to date, I can do it relatively cheaply and have an arguably better unit than the NAV VI. My BMW Nav V mount is the older design and I wounder if the adapter would fit OK? What a great product and well done for such a cracking review. Is it still working as it should after the 10 months since this video was made? Cheers, Phil.

If you're uploading your gpx files, turn off all your avoidances and set it to the fastest route. If you have enough waypoints, then it will be forced to follow what you've uploaded.

Hi. Brilliant video. Silly question… You don’t have the original BMW slider do you? I’ve just bought an April 20 2GS 1250, and it’s got the 3-D AM slider, but I want to stick the Navigator V back on it.

Great video guys - am looking for something 😂different for my Honda NT 1100 to augment the Honda TFT as I am not a fan of Apple CarPlay for navigating. It looks as if the Garmin XT might just be what I am looking for. Tks for the video.

My brand new Zumo Xt has 5 contacts, arranged vertically, on the back of the unit. Will this work with the two-pin adapter as shown in the video?

I had one more question about the Zumo XT did you have a hard time getting it to charge while on the bike with the 3DAM mount? For some reason mine doesn't want to charge!

Do you know how many way points it lets you have? I found using my route app with nav 6, anything over 30 way points it throws a wobbly. The other issue when you do your tours, do you add all the days to routes,did it manage those ok? Again nav 6 would say out of memory. Finally assuming it doesn’t work with wizz wheel? Think I’ll get this if the gpx, way points and out of memory isn’t an issue. Thank you.

Is there anywhere in Australia I can get this mount?? It seems it’s only available from Italy (huge delivery fees) or the UK….where’s the Aussie importer???

Does the weel on the handelbar have anny function with this mod? Or do you need to buy the navigator V or VI to get those functions?

I’ve just brought exactly the same hate the nav 6

Toby, TomTom has had all those features for years WIFI Bluetooth etc. etc. etc. Garmin just playing catch up .

Does this unit connect via canbus to give all the additional info I get on the nav 6? I really don't use the GPS functionality but all the additional info is so handy to have on the second screen

Great vid whats the make of the lip on your screen pls

I ditched the Nav 6 for one of these, but just had a set of different problems. They don't connect well(if at all) to Mac books as they are Android devices.(so using Basecamp is difficult) There's the U turn problem when navigating a route. Using the app to transfer a route, i get loads of problems, like you get to a junction and the purple line goes in all directions. The route shooting off across a field for no reason. I use tracks on it now which solves the random routing, but loose way points and POI's. The info across the bottom of the screen is limited, if you want more it has to be in the side bar which takes away about 1/3 of that nice big screen. I have just seen you video re the repair of the Nav6, I think ill go down that route.

What size are the screws that hold the power cable into the mount

I always use the 1.1 (Route, Track, POI) on MRA for my Zumo XT and it always works. Its also what MRA tells u to do, im not sure where it comes from that u should use 1.0 but thats just not true.

When you order the unit do you need to check the anti theft option or does the bmw cradle lock it in itself?

HI there i forgot to order the anti theft add on for the mount will it still be secure on the bike without falling off during a ride? Thanks

Where are you all located? I’m an American so cardinal directions from a major urban center would be all I would need…looks like a beautiful location around your home.

Does the jog wheel work as normal using this adapter? I bought the Touratech cradle. You lose the jog wheel function due to having to add the plug wire where the Nav VI use to plug in.

Is there a way to make it turn off with your GSA? Without using the button on the unit?

The Nav with the WonderWheel is a better controller than the touch screen alone. The XT appears superior otherwise. How is phone performance through the XT? Sena 10 U on Nav is very poor.

How long was the delivery for the 3DAM to uk?

I assume the BMW whiz wheel doesn’t work with the XT ?

Can you share with me the company you purchased the adapter from. I have looked but cannot find the maker or a dealer. Thank you.

Hi is conversion that the one with anti theft or standard one? Thanks

How was it ordering this direct from Italy? Any import duty/vat/admin fees added on delivery?

Nav 6 is useless and well known for the screen failing....I have had 3 and wouldn't buy another. I ended up buying a used Nav 5 for £200 which does all I need......as I fall back I also occasionally use the BMW connected app mapping. Have either of you looked at the new bmw connected cradle? Be interesting to hear your thoughts.

Only problem is you can’t control it with the wonder wheel 😢.

guys, where do you get the 3DAM kit from in the uk please, thank you

I’m surprised that a third party has not developed an interface app for zumo and XT to communicate with bmw bikes and whizz wheel. I understand why Garmin/bmw don’t, small matter of an extra £350.00! Seems that the business arrangement between two companies is ending with the integrated tomtom sat nav on 10.25 tfts.

Does this mount work with the new XT2?

HI. GUYS. WHERE CAN I ORDER ON 3DAM

Anyone know what size hex driver I need to swop out the locking bar for the 3D printed one?

Lads, will it work with the XT2?

Hi Guys, I'm struggle to find the adapter or the link.

I just tried to order one, website says not available... I am in the USA

Betty doesn't seem to be very impressed. 😊

Hello, does this fit the new Zumo XT2??

With this unit, will the BMW whizz wheel still work, for zooming etc...

Would this work on 2023 s1000xr?

Hi guys what site can i order a 3dam from please

With 3DAM adapter, will the dial at left grip of BMW GS still can work to zoom in/out on Garmin XT map while it's navigating?

Does the BMW whizz wheel operate this sat nav?

🤓😎🏍💨💨💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦thanks for sharing

gpx 1.0 all the way!

What does “share it with the app mean?” Keystrokes. Not metaphors.

Where can I buy a 3d am in the united states?

Nice unit but they seem to be out of stock.

Works with multicontroller wheel?