www.jec.org.uk

I'm hoping to install a CD autochanger in the boot of my '98 XJR. The car is fitted with just the original factory radio/cassette currently. Does anyone know whether these cars were prewired for a CD autochanger? After all, there is an unused 'CD' button sitting ready and waiting on the head unit.

I already have a Blaupunkt autochanger which I purchased twenty years ago (along with a matching radio/tape player), still sitting boxed and never used in the garage. If it's compatible, strikes me this unit is now the same vintage as the car I'm hoping to put it in to!

Advice appreciated.

Hi,
Yes, I did exactly that - there is a connector behind the left hand carpet in the boot, dangling down not far from the petrol flap. There is a black 'condom' over the end of the connector which just pulls off. I can't say if your Blaupunkt unit would be compatible as I bought a secondhand Jag unit with cd magazine and even the correct carpet piece.
Mine was a 1999 3.2 car and as soon as I connected it up it communicated with the head unit first time.

Ian

I've a feeling that Jaguar were sourcing their CD Changers from Alpine at that time? Not to say that it won't work - you can only try!

But be aware that those CD headunits of the period won't play MP3 files.
Nor even an audio compilation CD due to Blaupunkt's sycophancy of the time
with the record companies' pan-european Copyright laws. They search for
the copyright header on the CD and on not finding it, won't play the CD's content.

There are methods in Ahead Nero, InCD, and other programs supplied with PC CD writers
that can make a "Copyright" style of Audio CD but since I just picked up all my CD's from my
previous daily (a Passat fitted with a JVC) I just haven't bothered to change any of mine.
The JVC played everything I asked of it -- the original head unit in the Passat was also
Blaupunkt and wouldn't play MP3s either -- car was an '06MY -- how sad is that?

Alternative is to rip out the antiquated head unit and install something that meets today's
standards -- DVD, Navi, decent Bluetooth, USB, SD Card reader, etc -- at a cost of destroying
the OEM look. And running the risk of loosing your MFSW control. That doesn't have Mute anyway...
It's all CANbus II compatible nowadays...

Thanks for the advice gents. I shall certainly now give it a try and see what happens. If I can just play original CDs I will be happy - I have so few compact cassettes left these days to choose from...

Cheers,
John.

Strangly, Blaupunkt head units with cassette will play compilation cassettes -- don't think there was any copyright protection agreed when they were introduced

Had a 8-track cartridge RadioMobile in a Rover P6 in the '70s -- ripped it out and threw it away with the cartridges too -- how much for one of them today?

Good luck with whatever you decide...