Essential minimum
- Car stereo with display
- Navigation unit
- Wiring
- Climate control unit
Does the car have a changer (CDC) / phone / voice control / premium sound?
- Optical splitter for connecting the above
Optional
- GPS antenna
- Navigation disc (usually included in disassembled units)
- Mounting brackets for the navigation unit
- Trunk lining of a different shape
With the minimal set of components, it’s quite straightforward to connect everything for it to work immediately. However, there are a couple of important points.
Several crucial points
The stereos from X-Type, S-Type, and XJ are the same internally but differ externally. You cannot install a different stereo without modification. Choose one specifically designed for your model.
When choosing a stereo, pay attention to
- Plastic color: Ensure it matches other interior elements. For Jaguar X-Type, there were three colors: black, gray, and silver-golden.
- Heated window buttons: There are two types of stereos, with 1 or 2 heating buttons (rear and front defrost). If your car has a heated front windshield, it’s logical to choose a stereo with two buttons.
- Drive – cassette or CD: Depending on your preference. If you plan to add an auxiliary input yourself, choose a cassette drive because it can be easily adapted. If you intend to install my module (or an Android kit), then definitely go for a CD drive. There’s also the option of mDisk (MiniDisc stereos), but I wouldn’t recommend them as finding discs for such stereos can be challenging.
- Connectors: If you plan to assemble the wiring yourself, having connectors will be very useful. However, if you buy a ready-made wiring harness, this won’t be a concern. Ready-made wiring can be purchased in my store – [link].
The navigation unit can be taken from any model (XJ, S-Type, X-Type) in case of scarcity or a favorable offer. It seems that the interface is always loaded correctly. That is, if you install a navigation unit from an XJ on an X-Type, the climate interface will still be displayed from the X-Type. In any case, the interface can be changed in the secret menu. However, there is a risk of bricking if pressed in the wrong direction. =)
Color and Buttons
In the following photos are 3 colors of stereos that were on the Jaguar X-Type. Pay attention to the window heating buttons. The black stereo has only one button – for the rear window defrost.
- The climate control unit is a black box that replaces the panel with knobs. On the Jaguar X-Type and S-Type, it is installed to the right behind the glove compartment. In the XJ, it’s already present, and you just need to configure it through SDD.
- For the X-Type and S-Type, there’s no need to tie anything. Everything should work immediately after connection.
- Optical fiber is not necessary if you don’t have additional options like a changer, phone, voice control, amplifier, or subwoofer.
- Some stereos come with a TV function, and they have 4 contacts at the back for an antenna.
What about the wiring?
You can try your luck and find the necessary parts, here are the numbers for the X-Type:
4X43 10E925
7X43 14401 (BA)
The standard wiring consists of two parts.
The first part of the wiring goes from the navigation module in the trunk to the fuse block in the cabin.
And interestingly enough, finding the first part is generally possible. Moreover, it might already be in the car if you have an S-Type or XJ!
But finding the second part (from the fuse block to the stereo) is almost unreal. If you’ve already searched for stereos with displays, you probably understand why. Very often, there are cut connectors sticking out at the back. During disassembly, they are simply cut off.
In general, I couldn’t find both pieces for sale, so I decided to make it from scratch. Now, I am making it available for sale —> here.
Optics
The optical connection is already present by default in all cars. It is routed from the stereo (via the fuse block) to the trunk. And there may be nothing connected to it.
If your car didn’t have additional options like Bluetooth, CD changer, or amplifier (Alpine premium audio) before, you can skip this step.
Through the optical connection, sound is transmitted (if you have premium audio), and the factory Bluetooth, CDC, etc., work.
To ensure that all of this continues to function, it is necessary to create a closed optical loop.
All devices are connected according to the above scheme in precisely this order (from top to bottom).
To connect devices, a D2B optical splitter with the required number of connectors is used. The connectors are detachable, so you can combine several such cables or, conversely, remove unnecessary ones.
An example of an optical splitter for 2 devices:
4X43 14B242
For 4 devices:
Installation
The process can be summarized in the following steps:
- Remove the old stereo.
- Lay the new wiring.
- Connect the navigation unit, stereo, and climate control unit.
A few observations regarding installation
- For X-Type and S-Type, it is most logical to route the wiring through the left side of the car, under the thresholds.
- For XJ, it is best to route it through the central console.
- Take your time when removing the thresholds! The fasteners break quite easily.
If after connecting, the screen shows nothing, the issue might be with the navigation unit. The thing is, in the secret display menu, there’s a magical button called “S/W Update”. After pressing it, the unit can become a pumpkin. 🙂 Unfortunately, this is a very common occurrence. After this, the unit might have ended up with you.
To unbrick such a unit, you need to insert a disc with newer navigation maps. After some time, it should come back to life.
What is the point?
So, what’s the point of all this modification? Is it worth it?
Essentially, it’s for aesthetics (a stereo with a display looks very nice) and the possibility of further converting it into Android.
In the stereo with a screen, there is navigation, but the maps are outdated, and there is no internet or real-time traffic display. To use the factory navigation, you would also need an additional GPS antenna, which I didn’t install as I had no intention of using it.
The goal of the modification was Android.
Currently, I’m working on an Android kit that you can easily install yourself following the instructions. These kits will be available for sale in 2024. So, until then, you can upgrade your car with a monitor, and later, easily add Android to it.
By the way, I have opened pre-orders for Android kits. You can check it here!
Feel free to reach out with any questions; I’ll be happy to help with advice or assist in assembling a kit.