Finally got it ordered and installed it yesterday. I would like to give a big thanks to Dan Wicker at Nalley Jaguar out of Georgia!! Phone (770) 664-4408. Dan is very knowledgeable and answered all my dumb little questions. Also gives us Jaguar Forum people a 15% discount off list. I also got free shipping and no sales tax since I am out of state. The kit is for cars with Navigation and without. Cars without the CDC (CD changer) will require a dealer visit afterwards to get it all working. If you have a factory CD changer then everything will work when plugged in. An extra fiber optic shorting link is included for cars with less options to terminate the bus properly.

Got part #C2C40513 which is a complete install kit. Includes the ACM box plus the fiber optic harness and the regular wiring harness with instructions. A bit tough to install and I changed some things that I did not like. I mounted the USB and RCA connectors lower in the center console storage box. I did this so I had more room for wires and larger USB drives. This will allow me to keep the console lid closed. You can always unclip the USB connection but I like the stout holder Jaguar provides. I also had the wires enter the console storage box on the drivers side instead of the front. Much easier to drill the hole and gives a bit more space to move the mounting points down as mentioned above. It works perfect and the sound quality equals the CD player. I found the instructions to be lacking but all the Jaguar JTIS stuff seems that way? I would recommend removing the entire ash tray assembly to allow you to fish the wires from the console to behind the navigation unit. Do not run the wires on the passenger side of the shifter. The shifter cable is on that side and with the tight clearances you stand a very good chance of rubbing the ACM wires when the shifter is moved.

Very impressed with the build quality of the car. I have never seen so many cast Aluminum brackets in the console and dash area. No wonder this thing is so solid. The shifter surround has the real wood applied to a solid Aluminum casting. Very nice!!

I want to add Bluetooth and Jaguar Voice but the parts are very expensive so I probably won't!!
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Photos please!

 

Sorry did not take any.
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What did it set you back? Does it control an Ipod effectively? Our bmw had a terrible ipod interface and I am hesitant to invest in another factory ipod control because of that experience.

 

I recently installed the ACM as well. I would give it a 5 out of 10 in how it controls the iPod. You control it with playlists. Since it is emulating the CD changer, each "CD" on the head unit corresponds to a playlist on the iPod. So CD 1 through 5 are the first 5 playlists on your iPod. The 6th CD plays all songs.

This all sounds a little odd, but it works pretty well once you have set up your playlists in iTunes. As mentioned before, the sound quality is much better than using an adapter through the radio.

I paid $336 shipped for the kit from http://www.oempartcatalog.com/.

 

I agree with RonG. I really use it for the USB. One limit I did not know about is the USB device is limited to 4 GB. No such limitation on IPOD connection. The USB is SO much better than the IPOD and hugely cheaper!!
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Thanks for the kind words, tbird6. Glad to hear the ACM worked out well for you.

 

at least its much better than most adapters out there. i think i can settle with this one till they develop a better version of it.

 

Okay, I've forgotten. ACM is what exactly?

 

Audio Connectivity Module

Allows for auxiliary devices (like i-Pod) to be played through the stereo with some control.

 

Why wouldn't one just replace the unit entirely?

 

Good luck if your car is spec'd with factory nav. OR the alpine system.

In the Situation of the stock headunit, but alpine stereo, you can do it, but you need to replace at least the factory amp too. (The connection between the headunit and the amp is fiber optic).

George

 

Just got off the phone with http://jaguarpartscenter.com, they say it won't work in an XJ. Have any of you installed one in an XJ?

 

Depends on your year. worked fine in 2007 XJR

 

Mines an '04, and I ordered it so I'll know soon! I've seen posts on other forums from XJ owners who successfully installed them.

 

Whew! I'm glad for that answer. All I could guess was Automatic Cheese Maker.

 

Automatic Cash Machine?

 

I got it, installed it and it works! The module itself won't fit behind the touchscreen, so I had to install it in the console. Here's a pic: http://s934.photobucket.com/albums/a...=Img_3669r.jpg

I upgraded the firmware as suggested by Jim Rothe here: http://www.jimrothe.com/jaguar/acm-bluetooth.html

The firmware upgrade allows direct access to my iphone, no "accessory connected" screen.

 

Surprised XJR owner:
Thanks so much for the link to Jim Roth's web page. He is VERY close to getting the ACM to accept the BTA1500. If this is ever figured out it looks like a much cheaper way to add factory blue tooth!!! I wondered about that extra connection on the ACM and now know that the Jaguar ACM is really a Dension Gateway 500 with Jaguar specific software.
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If you hook it up through the Aux cord can you control from the Ipod?