Japanese import X350 SEL TV/Video

[Aceman]

I recently bought a 2006 Japanese import X350 SEL in immaculate condition with just 23000 miles recorded. It has all the bells and whistles including the full entertainment set up with tv screens in the head rests. Although the dvd player in the boot lists both PAL and SECAM formats, I can't play DVDs as the message 'format not recognised' displays on the screen. I gather that it's possible to change the country codes on the equipment but has any done it successfully? Any help and comments gratefully accepted!

[P700DEE]

I had an S type some years ago with the same/similar Sat Nav display etc. I found somewhere on U tube that there was a set of key presses that you could use to access the set up. One of the options was to tell the car which country it is in and set up standard responses and messages to language specific. Maybe that would also set the TVs up too. Just checking that it is the ancillary DVD for rear screens not the SatNav DVD which I don't think plays DVDs ?

[Aceman]

Hi P700DEE,
Many thanks for your reply. Yes, the satnav works fine (apart from being 2012!) - it's the rear screens that won't show a dvd. I've heard the same sort of thing as you, that by various button pushing and key jiggling that it's possible to make the necessary changes but I can't find anyone who's successfully achieved it. I've heard that a Jaguar dealer might have the necessary means of making the changes so I think that'll be my next move.

[JimMann]

Hi Aceman, are you positive that the DVD player in the boot is for the entertainment system of the rear headrests as this is more commonly just for the Satnav system? If it were, then this would make watching a DVD on a long journey a bit of a pain if you needed to access the boot to change from one to the other.
I am not a saloon person, but when I had a RRS with the headrest screens, the DVD player for these to operate was the one in the dash!
If all else fails, you could look up the manual, or simpler still, make a phone call to one of the importers of the Japanese cars that regularly appear in the Classifieds.
Regards
Jim Mann

[Aceman]

Hi Jim,
Sorry for the delay in answering.....
The stack in the boot consists of the navigation disc player, a CD six stack player and a separate DVD player to (hopefully) play DVDs. There's also a minidisc player in the dash but when did you last see a minidisc!? I haven't tried to solve the non-recognition recently due to the cold weather and a few problems with the 420 Sovereign, now solved thankfully. I've got hold of all of the relevant manuals but they're not the easiest things to follow even though they're written in English. I might get the grandchildren to take a look at the set up if all else fails!
I'll try your suggestion of getting in touch with a Japanese importer - many thanks for that !
Kind regards,
Patrick.

[P700DEE]

To enter hidden access mode hold both the phone and menu keys down. When asked for a code enter 1971. Be careful though not to disable your car by changing anything too vital.

[Aceman]

Many thanks for that! I've tried it and the code brings up several screens but I've resisted changing anything on the basis that I could get the thing to self destruct! The self check facility turned up with no faults so I think it's all down to the car being coded for Japan. There is a factory reset available on screen but I don't know what that would do with regard to it being UK or Japan. I'm guessing that the audio / video equipment is basically universal to save costs but then it can be programmed to whichever country the car is destined for. That would suggest that the necessary work is completed at the factory but I wonder if large dealerships can do something similar?