In-car entertainment upgrade?

[blackflash]

I think I know the answer to this but wanted to check whether anyone has actually done it...

I am v pleased with my 1998 XJR but it has the standard sound system rather than the premium (Harmon Kardon or however you spell it) one. Every other change from my previous Audi A6 4.2 Quattro Sport SE is a posotive change - ride, performance, etc - but I miss a really good sound system (and built in sat-nav but there are other solutions to that).

I am led to believe that the whole wiring loom is different and I would basically need to replace this in order to upgrade to the premium option, assuming I could get hold of one from a donor car...

Has anyone done this, perhaps as part of a more fundamental rebuild, or even better found a way around it?

I'm not keen on any other (visibly different) aftermarket solution as I am keen to keep the car as Jaguar original as possible.

Many thanks in advance,

Nigel

[joejag308]

Nigel, the information I have from Alpine and Jaguar re mp3 is….
The installed system on my /your Jag or Daimler is an Alpine Cassette Player, FM Radio , CD Player with a six stack Alpine unit in the boot.
I wanted an MP3 player as an addition to this basic set up, so I applied to Alpine for information and they do a six stack Alpine unit with an MP3 facility.
But it doesn’t work with my set up as all the software for the system is incorporated within the radio unit and is unique to my / your particular vehicle.

To incorporate an MP3 player to work with the factory installed system there is an easy and quite cheap way to do it, without any wiring, moving of units, and it is portable from vehicle to vehicle with an FM radio.

This was the solution I wanted, an mp3 player without altering in any way the in car system.
What to do………..You need to purchase an FM Car Transmitter with MP3 facility and USB, not expensive, about £10-£20…….then you need a USB memory stick, I got a Scan Disc memory stick, I bought the 2 gig one this gives you plenty of room for as much music you can shake a stick at……I got them from the same web site …datakits.co.uk….
Then you load your music on to the memory stick put the transmitter into the cigarette lighter tune your FM radio into the frequency on the transmitter and away you go playing your music through your system as good as the rest of it.
Hope this helps…….Joe

[blackflash]

Thanks Joe, I have a similar FM transmitter which plugs into the top of my iPod and works well. But my challenge is not the input, it's the output. My Audi had a ten-speaker system with sub-woofer, and gave crystal clear treble and mid-range with a big beefy bass. (I have a good hi-fi system at home and nothing in-car approaches that but the Audi's was by far the best).

I have never heard the H-K premium system but I bet it had a sub-woofer in the boot (or rear wing) and probably better quality speakers in the doors. My guess is that the wiring loom change is needed because of the sub-woofer addition, but that's only a guess, and I wondered whether some expert somewhere had managed to run a wire pair to this without replacing the whole loom. Or other whacky solution. I know it's a long shot but if you don't ask...

All the best,

Nigel

[joejag308]

Nigel......re the sub woofer thing you are on about.....i seem to have one in mine as a standard fitment on the rear parcel shelf......
The rest of your specification......im at a loss....but it sounds good does it make Bing Crosby sound any better Joe

[blackflash]

Nigel......re the sub woofer thing you are on about.....i seem to have one in mine as a standard fitment on the rear parcel shelf......
The rest of your specification......im at a loss....but it sounds good does it make Bing Crosby sound any better Joe

A really good hifi system makes it seem as close to having him in the room as you can get... without having him in the room, of course. I'm not sure I've ever heard an in-car system which gets close to having Bing in the passenger seat though...

All the best,

Nigel

[Brakebuster]

installing the HK system isn't that hard to be honest

yes, it will need ' rewiring ' but not in the way you think,

the HK amp is mounted in the boot over ( or where ) the 6 CD changer is, you will need to run a new loom from this position to the stereo position in the front of the car, the existing loom stays installed as it is utilised by the HK system

the rear sub-woofer is part of this loom , the loom runs down the middle of the car under the carpet on the trans-tunnel after going under the back seat from out of the boot, then it runs under the arm rest console to the stereo, the loom links out some of the stereo wiring so the speaker side of things are amplified from the boot ,

the other things you have to do is replace each door speaker with a HK one, and remove the ' tweeters ' from each front door, and install the HK ones in the windscreen A-pillar trims , the wiring should be there already for this alteration,

the subwoofer is mounted in the rear shelf, and the revised shelf should be used, but you can modify the existing one

if you have rear blinds, you will have trouble fitting the sub

if you have the 6 CD changer, you need to link this to the amp with a special lead

system upgraded and installed

hope this helps

BB

[blackflash]

Good man! First thing I'll do is get my favourite Jag man to quote and then when I pick myself up off the floor I'll think about doing it myself... Then I need to find a donor car from a trustworthy source...

I had an email exchange with a guy a few weeks back and was sent the following pic which I have now worked out how to share with you. It's not good enough quality for me to read any of the writing and I have no way of telling whether it is the standard or premium audio kit before I see whether it is still available. All help and advice gratefully received!

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff14 ... Ithink.jpg

(I don't have the blinds, by the way).

Have you done the upgrade yourself or are you just v familiar with the audio system for other reasons? Either way, an impressive and helpful response for which thanks.

All the best.

[paulsxjr]

hi i to have the same problem basic system when i emailed 1 of the breakers listed in the mag i was told it could not be done by some who didnt know what they are doing i emailed back stating i have done this before but recived no reply (some times no one wants to help) after studying the xj8/xjr service disc i could not see why this could not be done at home let us know how you got on cause i havn't given up yet

[Brakebuster]

the parts in the picture are the HK premium kit,
the loom is the one from the boot to the existing stereo,
the amp goes on a bracket ( missing from picture ) over the 6 CD disc changer in the boot, you shouldnt need to change the carpet section.
the tweeters are also missing , two for the A-pillars ( plus trims ) and the two for the rear doors ,


the main visual difference between HK speakers and standard ones is the presence of chrome ' Harmon Kardon ' written on the main speaker covers

i have not yet fitted any of this to my own 1999 XJ8 yet, as I'm waiting to obtain the parts, but have studied closely on how to install it

BB

[blackflash]

The guy was (is?) asking £200+VAT and carriage. I've no idea what sort of value this represents and I would guess that the tweeters are missing if not photographed.

I'm not going to move ahead on the upgrade yet as I've decided to tidy up some other bits and pieces first so if you want his contact details then let me know (I can PM them to you if you'd prefer).

If you do yours, post an update!

All the best,

Nigel

[daveji]

Hi Nigel
May I suggest you contact Scenic Ltd who are based in Sutton Coldfield. http://www.scenicgroup.co.uk/
They are in ICE specialists. I was told by a Main Dealer my Jag is not wired for a Jaguar telephone but the guys from Scenic sorted it.
They will come to you in a van subject to your location.
David

[blackflash]

Thanks, have sent Scenic an email. I need to get a rough price first and foremost as I also have other stuff to do on the car (eg. driver's side mirror has developed a mind of its own...).

I'm v interested in the phone stuff too, but that's a differen topic for a future post.

All the best,

Nigel

[joejag308]

Nigel good exchange of info there guys, im lost with most of it and wouldnt have the confidence to do anything like that, but i do have the wing mirror problem on my N / S mirror it doesnt seem to connect with the gearing to turn the actual glass within the mirror body all the time and hold it in place. The whole mirror seems a bit loose as well. If you get a remedy please post.......Joe

[blackflash]

... i do have the wing mirror problem on my N / S mirror it doesnt seem to connect with the gearing to turn the actual glass within the mirror body all the time and hold it in place. The whole mirror seems a bit loose as well. If you get a remedy please post.......Joe

Will post poss remedy shortly under appropriate section of board.

[dfielding]

if you have rear blinds, you will have trouble fitting the sub....

hope this helps

BB

Hi and this has been very useful as I am seriously considering upgrading the speakers. Are the troubles fitting the sub really serious with rear blinds? Any advice gratefully received,

Cheers

Dominic.