Bill there are many threads on the proper syncing order. The BMW comm system will work properly only if done in the proper order. I suggest that you do a search and you will find the information that you are looking for.
Good Luck
Spence

 

There should have been a little syncing manual delivered with the bike; same size as the main manual but thinner. Go to chapter six and follow the instructions step by step for full two-helmet pairing, NavIV, and cell phones. For helmet-to-helmet pairing, there is a different procedure than pairing to the bike which involves holding the pairing button longer until it increases from the standard pairing flash rate to a faster flash rate.

 

Bill,
Pay close attention to cbdane's last point "...For helmet-to-helmet pairing, there is a different procedure than pairing to the bike which involves holding the pairing button longer until it increases from the standard pairing flash rate to a faster flash rate." If you get that right, you can turn on the helmets, without the bike being on, and the helmets will communicate to each other.

You'll have to follow the instructions in the manual to get his right.

 

... and make sure no other BT devices are nearby ...

 

Pairing helmets

I have the same setup and I also had the same problem. You have got to follow the steps in the supplemental manual for the helmets word for word!!!!! Until I did that I could not pair the helmets. When I followed the manual word for word it has worked great. Bobby

 

I know what I am about to ask is likely a very basic question but once set up for helmet-to-helmet pairing will all of the other things works as well such as NavIV, and cell phones?

 

Yes, everything still works. The downside of the system design, though, is when you're both listening to the same music stream, there is no way for the passenger to initiate intercom communication. They have to tap the rider on the shoulder so he knows to hit the intercom button. The manual suggests that the passenger can trigger the intercom using a button on their headset but unfortunately this isn't so.