Android kit
Tools needed:
- Torx 35 key (or hex wrench)
- Phillips screwdriver PH0
- large Phillips screwdriver
- small flat screwdriver
Welcome to the section with instructions for installing the Android kit into the standard Jaguar X-Type / S-Type / XJ III head unit!
I’ve tried to simplify the assembly process as much as possible and divided it into 5 parts, not including the preparatory one.
First, we need to remove the head unit from the car and disassemble it.
Preparation
Removing the head unit from the dashboard
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar X-Type
Jaguar S-Type
Great! The head unit is on our table. What’s next?
In short, we will have to disassemble the head unit, replace the display, some wires, and add a controller for signal control. Then we assemble everything back together and proceed to install it in the car.
Tools
You will need: a Phillips screwdriver PH0, a large Phillips screwdriver, a small flat screwdriver, and a Torx 35 key (or hex wrench).
It’s important to mention that there are 2 types of head units: with a TV and without. The installation of the main controller board will differ between them. My head unit is without a TV, so don’t be alarmed if it looks slightly different from yours. I’ll try to demonstrate the process of installing the controller on a head unit with a TV separately (I have a donor head unit).
The whole set is divided into 5 parts. Each box is a separate part.
Now let’s proceed to the installation of the kit! %)
Part 1
Display
Split the head unit into 2 parts. They are held together by metal plates. The plates look different for the X-Type / S-Type and XJ, but the principle is the same. Unscrew all the screws (Torx 35) and remove them.
Separate the lower part (CD drive); we will be working with it in another part.
Unscrew and remove the top cover (6 screws).
Carefully remove the ribbon cable and 2 wires, as shown in the photo. I use a small flat screwdriver for this, but it can also be done by hand.
Unscrew the back cover (4 screws) and separate the head unit into 2 parts.
Remove the plastic frame with buttons. To do this, unscrew 2 screws on each side, then disconnect the frame from the metal part and disconnect 2 wires.
To remove the display, you need to disconnect the orange ribbon cable (lift the fastener upwards), disconnect the 2 white connectors on the right side of the board, and unscrew the 4 screws holding the screen.
Great! So far, it doesn’t seem too difficult, does it?
Take out the coveted box number 1. In it, we will find:
- A new display
- Connector – plug
- Special wire for the touchscreen
- Remote control, green board with buttons, and a ribbon cable
Carefully unpack the new display, unwrap the ribbon cable, and install it in place of the old one. Secure it with the 4 original screws.
Disassemble the head unit into 2 more parts. Unscrew 2 screws on each side and disconnect. This will make it much easier to install the new wires.
Install the connector plug into the upper socket, as shown in the photo.
Remove the white connector, as shown in the photo. Take the touchscreen wire from the kit.
Install the new wire. Pay attention to the position of the branching (black and red wires). It should be closer to the board.
Insert the other side of the connector into the hole, as it was before, and reassemble the 2 parts of the head unit back together.
Take one of the branches of the new wire (the small 4-pin connector), put it through the hole with the ribbon cable, and connect it to our new display.
Reconnect the front panel (connecting 2 connectors) and screw it back in with the screws on the sides.
Wonderful! 
Part 1 out of 5 is complete!
Part 2
JAGAUX Controller
We move on to adding the controller. In box number 2, you’ll find the heart of the project – the controller.
Carefully remove it from the anti-static bag and unravel the wires.
At the bottom of the controller are spacers for installation in head units without a TV.
If your head unit has a TV function, the installation will be slightly different.
For head units without a TV:
Unscrew the circuit board from the part of the head unit that we set aside earlier (6 screws).
Remove the 4 screws from the plastic spacers at the back of the controller.
Install the controller as shown in the photo and secure it with screws from the other side.
For head units with a TV:
Unscrew the cover under which the TV board with 4 outputs for the antenna is hidden.
Remove the TV board.
Remove the 4 plastic spacers from the controller. (They are only needed for installation in head units without a TV function.)
Install the controller board in place of the TV board. Screw it in with the original metal screws.
Done! Part 2 out of 5 completed!
(This is a photo of the screws on the head unit without a TV)
Part 3
Connectors
In box number 3 you will find:
- Wire for connecting to buttons (multicolored)
- Sound adapter (RCA connectors)
- Adapter board with 2 ribbons
- Main connector adapter
Take the multicolored wire. Remove the brown wire from the head unit. Insert our wire in its place. The part with the black heat shrink (where the wires are joined together) must be positioned upwards!
Take the large adapter with the letter “J” on it.
From it, there are 2 branches that we need to connect to the controller.
The wire with 3 contacts needs to be connected to the “PWR-IN” connector.
The wire with 5 contacts needs to be connected to the “VIDEO” connector.
Now you can assemble the head unit by connecting the 2 parts.
For head units without a TV:
Return the circuit board to its place. Now our controller is hidden underneath it. Make sure to route all the wires from the right side, as shown in the photo!
Place the head unit on something soft to avoid damaging the screen.
Connect both parts, but do not secure them yet! Pay attention to how the USB wires are routed. They should be routed through the hole as shown in the photo. They must not be pinched; otherwise, they may be damaged and will not work.
The rest of the wires are much easier. They are thin enough to fit under the cover comfortably. I routed the wires for the cameras to the left. But you can improvise if you find there is a better place for them.
For head units with a TV:
All the wires are already outside, on the back cover. Therefore, when connecting the parts of the head unit, there is no need to worry about how to route them.
Return the head unit to a horizontal position. Install the adapter board with 2 ribbons.
All that’s left is to connect all the wires.
Return the white wire to its place and connect the new brown one.
Connect the wires to the controller:
“EXT” from the adapter board
“BUTTONS” from the wire for buttons
“TOUCH” from the wire for the touchscreen
For head units with a TV:
This is how the connected version will look like.
The next step is the most important in the whole assembly!
Pay close attention and ensure that the ribbon cable is fully inserted and at a straight angle.
Check that the latch is closed and the cable is secured.
If the cable is not properly connected, it could cause a short, which will damage the display. This case will not be covered by the kit’s warranty.
Connect the ribbon cable from the display to the blue board. Pay attention to the type of latch, it is different from those on the head unit. Here, you need to press on it’s lower part (black) to secure the ribbon cable.
Tuck the ribbon cable and all other wires inside.
For head units with a TV:
Put the ribbon cable through the hole, wrap it to the right, as shown in the photo, and connect it to the blue board.
Press the ribbon cable so that it snugly fits against the controller.
Unfortunately, it won’t be possible to close the entire set up with the factory cover. The HDMI adapter included in the kit prevents it from closing. Perhaps in the next assemblies, I will address this issue by replacing it with something more suitable. In this state, the head unit will be installed in the car.
Screw on the top cover. At this stage, we’ve almost finished modifying the head unit, but we still need to add the sound adapter to the bottom part with the CD drive.
Unscrew all 4 screws from the back of the head unit. Then remove the cover and unscrew the 4 screws in the edges of the CD drive.
Disconnect the ribbon cable by pulling out the latches and remove the CD drive.
Take out the daughterboard with the connector by pulling it upwards.
Place the wires through the window where the connector was and connect the new ribbon cable instead of the factory one. Fasten the fixators and screw on the CD drive. Then reinstall the daughterboard with the connector, thereby securing the wires. Pay attention to their positioning. There is free space for them in the bottom left corner.
Reassemble everything, screwing on the cover.
Assemble both parts of the head unit (fixing them with the side metal plates). Connect the main black adapter to the bottom and top parts. Its connectors are very tight, so press firmly.
Done! We can install it in the car now!
Parts 4, 5
Computer and wires
I combined these parts because essentially, in boxes 4 and 5, we have what we just need to connect to the head unit. The most challenging parts are already behind!
Depending on the modification of your car and what you ordered, the contents of box 5 may vary slightly.
However, in the basic kit, you will definitely find these components:
Cables “POWER”, “HDMI” , “USB”
GPS antenna, microphone, “Footwell Lamp” wire
If you have standard audio system, you will have package ‘S’.
If you have Alpine audio system, then package ‘P’.
Installation in the car
The installation process
Determine the installation location for the Android computer. You can mount the computer in the glove compartment (on the Jaguar X-Type, there is a special hole for wires). Alternatively, you can hide it behind the interior trim, as I did on my Jaguar S-Type. The length of all extension cables from the head unit to the computer is 1 meter. Additionally, there is one spare extension USB cable included to run the microphone to the roof.
Let’s start with the GPS antenna. I installed it on the dashboard for better reception. Though I installed it previously on the ceiling in my X-Type, and the reception was normal. You can take a chance and try to run it to the ceiling using the additional USB extension cable.
Please note, all the wires are labeled. Install them so that the markers remain at the head unit. They will be needed to connect everything correctly at the end. Run the HDMI, POWER, and USB cables.
Next, I decided to install the microphone. And it’s probably worth talking about it separately. Where should it be installed?
If you don’t have an intrusion detection system installed (ultrasonic sensors), then you can install the microphone here:
But if these places are taken, then you’ll just have to run the microphone along the ceiling. The best place would be near the mirror, where it will be least visible. I ran it to the pillar and left it there for now.
The length of the wire won’t be enough to run the microphone to the ceiling, so an additional extension USB cable will be included in the kit for this purpose.
Audio cables. Depending on the configuration of your car and what you specified during the order, the kit contents will vary.
Standard audio system (without amplifier)
Premium audio system (Alpine with amplifier)
Included in the kit: a professional ground loop isolator and a 3.5mm jack – 2 RCA cable. Install the cable so that the 3.5mm jack faces towards the computer, and the 2 RCA connectors point towards the head unit. Connect the isolator to the RCA plugs from either side. The most important thing is the button on the isolator. It should BE PRESSED IN! It may accidently press itself during the installation. Check sound quality from Android before screwing everything back in.
Optional
The Footwell Lamp wire connects to the lamp in the passenger or driver footwell and is designed to start loading Android before you get into the car.
Loading will start as soon as the lamp turns on. This feature is experimental and may cause failures (in some cases, Android loaded with the wrong interface scale, and the entire system had to be rebooted). The system will work without this wire, so its installation is optional.
To connect, use a multimeter to determine where the positive and negative terminals are. Connect the red wire to the positive terminal and the black wire to the negative terminal.
Cameras
You can connect rear-view and front-view cameras to the head unit. There is already appropriate wiring for this.
If you apply 12V to the Camera Trigger wire, the head unit will automatically switch to the signal from the Rear Camera.
To switch to the front camera, you need to press the Def / Windscreen Heating button twice.
Connecting the Head Unit
All that’s left is to connect the head unit and the Android computer. Be sure to place something soft under the head unit to avoid damaging the gear selector.
I’ve tried to simplify the installation process as much as possible. Almost all wires are labeled, so all you need to do is connect wires with matching symbols and labels.
Audio cables come without markings. If you have a system without an amplifier, you need to connect the RCA cables as shown in the first photo. If you have an Alpine system, connect the 2 RCA cables to the isolator as shown in the second photo.
Connect the factory wiring to the adapter. Start by connecting to the adapter marked with the letter j.
Connecting the computer
The final step is to connect the Android computer. You will need to connect 3 cables: POWER, HDMI, and USB.
IMPORTANT
Be sure to slightly tighten the USB cable as shown in the photo (this may already be done). Failure to do so may result in a loose connection during bumps and rough terrain. This cable connects the GPS antenna, microphone, and touchscreen.
And depending on the audio system, either connect the RCA cable to the corresponding RCA port or the 3.5mm jack cable to the socket on the opposite side of the computer.
Hiding the computer. I hid it behind the panel trim in the center console.
Everything is ready!
You have a fully functional powerful Android computer while maintaining the factory look and all factory functions!*
* except for the CD
Next, I invite you to watch the video where I explain the first steps in setting up and using your Android kit.