Hello everyone,
I am new to the forum and thank you for having me.
I have searched through existing threads but have not been able to find a solution to the issue I am experiencing, so I would appreciate any advice or guidance.

Device details:
Garmin Navigator V (BMW unit)
V6 SA3
8GB / 128MB

Problem description:
The device suddenly started behaving abnormally when connected to a PC. It is now detected only as a USB Mass Storage device (External Drive “Garmin J:”) along with the SD card. It is no longer recognized as a Garmin navigation device.

Additional observations:
Garmin Express does not detect the SD card at all
The SD card is visible only when connected directly to the PC
The device does not enter normal MTP/Garmin mode

Troubleshooting already attempted.
Factory reset
Changing USB mode (MTP / Auto Detect) from the hidden menu
Firmware update attempts via Garmin Express (v3.50)
Firmware update attempts via Garmin WebUpdater

None of the above resolved the issue.
Unfortunately, the device is no longer supported by Garmin.

Any insight into whether this is a firmware, USB controller, or RemoteSW-related issue — and whether recovery is still possible — would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time and help.

Welcome to the forum.
Just to confirm, your device operates as it should on your Bike.
You can see all the files including the .system folder with your PC
I assume you are trying to update your Lifetime free maps for Europe to the latest 2026.30 and the internal storage is insufficient to load all of it.
I recently had to do this manually, using the clone method ,this is where you copy the garmindevice.xml to a FAT 32 formatted SD card and use Garmin Express to download the update. You manually copy the the files to the device as below.

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And only have the 2 North & South .img files on the SD card in a folder called Map renamed from gmapprom.img & D6210330A.img to EUS.img & EUN.img.

Firmware update attempts via Garmin Express (v3.50)

So Garmin Express sees the device but does not install the latest Firmware 3.50 ?
[Please Register or Login to download file]
Try updating the drivers
[Please Register or Login to download file]

Hello GarminNuvi, thank you for your reply,

The device can normally update in 3.50 via Garmin Express.
The problem is as you said that the new maps are too large to be install in the internal memory because as it seems it cannot recognize the SD card.
In the .rar file that we have send me I see an application. Could you pls explain me a bit more about the procedure?
I can see the .system folder in the internal memory
Right now the .xml file is in the internal memory.
I must move it or copy it to the FAT32 SD card?

Thank you in advance for your time!

gpsvagg wrote:In the .rar file that we have send me I see an application. Could you pls explain me a bit more about the procedure?

Not an application, just a SnapShot of all the files on the Navigator V for Europe 2026.30 viewed in your web browser

I can see the .system folder in the internal memory
Right now the .xml file is in the internal memory.
I must move it or copy it to the FAT32 SD card?

First make a back up of your device.

On a FAT 32 SD card 16Gb <32Gb create a folder called Garmin copy the garmindevice.xml to the Garmin folder This is now a clone of your device but obviously has more than the 4Gb of internal memory the Navigator V has, so it will download all the files for the Europe 2026.30 update .Unplug the Navigator V from the PC and Plug the Clone SD card into your PC use Garmin Express.
Files downloaded with the Clone

Copy the files highlighted in RED from the clone to your device deleting the old versions in the same folders
I don't know what version of Europe maps you have currently on the Navigator V but you will need to delete them I recommend you use [Please Register or Login to download file] as you will be able to see the version and remove them safely .
Remove old maps with JaVaWa Device Manager :

Files on Navigator 5 :

Arrange and rename the files in BLUE as in the image below :

Thank you GarminNuvi

I will try your solution and I will be back with the results.

Hi

Try deleting the files in the GPX/Archive folder.
You'll see that the files have a maximum size of 4,000 KB. When there's a larger file, for example, 40,000 KB, the GPS has problems.
Garmin Express wasn't recognizing the GPS's SD card, and the GPS was taking a long time to synchronize with the satellites.
I deleted all the files and copied them to my PC, and that fixed it.
Good luck!

Hello CocoSanctiPetri
Thank you for your reply! I will check your solution also.
Kind Regards