Hello everyone
This is my first proper post, apart from my introduction in the the new members area.
I recently took ownership of a 2008 Super V8 and the lack of options in the audio system is driving me nuts. I would like to add satellite radio and an aux input and from what I have read here and through the dealer, I would be better taking it to AL and Eds for them to do it. What I have discovered is
1. Factory satellite radio operable from the touch screen is only available factory fitted, the dealer installs the add on unit in the ashtray, and they quoted me $675 parts, $700 labor.....fortunately they cannot get the kit from jaguar and would have to source from another dealer...hence knock that one on the head! Outrageous price for an add on.
2. The audio connectivity module is not compatible with the 2008 XJ and causes nav lock ups etc ( although I see some have had success with it), and they will not be making a replacement unit that will be (Dealer and Jag NA told me this)
3. I could get a separate aux and satellite radio installed using FM direct , but the local Al and Eds were concerned the radio had a fiber optic antenna...I do not think this is the case from other threads I have read.
4. What I think may be the best option, since I have the Rear seat entertainment system, is to tap into one of the aux inputs there and run an input to the front and have a repeater switch at the front for the audio select......does anyone have any thoughts on this. I have played with it from the rear seat, and it shows on the front nav screen what audio input is selected for the cabin speakers, and I can still select any of the other inputs for either headphones...pity they just did not do this simple fix in the first place! Then I'd just buy an iphone and use that as an ipod and for getting pandora or something...would also save me on the satellite subscriptions!
Look forward to anyone's 2 cents.
Cheers

 

Sounds reasonable to me. Of course I can barely get the multimedia system to work as is so definitely not an expert. I have a 2005 Super V8 and have often wondered why there was no way to operate the multimedia system from the front seats beyond being some long armed gumby.

I only use my iPod on long trips and have employed the brute force solution of a very long cable to the rear auxilliary inputs with the obvious limitation of not being able to change to and from the iPod once on the road. Would be very interested if you manage to overcome this limitation.

 

I think that may be my temporary fix (but you know how long those last!!!). If I ever get to figure something out I'll post some pics. It may be sooner rather than later if my 4 and 5 year old decide to chew on the cables....maybe I should just ask them what to do...they seem to have figured the rear controls out rather well!!!

 

Well, after my dealer told me that the audio connectivity module would be my best option, and that they could get it to work properly, AND they would warranty it, they now, after 4 weeks tell me that it is no longer available, but if I get hold of one they could fit it for me....very kind of them! However they have no access to the latest updates and would NOT be able to warranty it. Guess its back to trying to see if I can make my rear seat entertainment system remote control!

 

Well I still am not sure how best to put an aux input or satellite radio in, but have a couple of ideas. One of them is described above, the other is to buy an ACM from jaguarparts.com, although it is no longer supplied or supported by jaguar. hence the only firmware updates I could use would be those for the Dension Gateway 500 which apparently work...still a gamble. However can I trust any of the specialist audio installers (eg Al and Ed's which even the jag parts guy recommended) or would I be better off paying the jag dealer to do what I need. I am just worried that mine will be the first 08 XJ the audio shop will have worked on!!! If anybody has any experience or recommendations it would be much appreciated. I may be better doing it myself, I am pretty handy and experience tells me its not always better to leave it to the experts!

 

Does anyone know if it is easy to just hook a 3.5mm audio cable into the connection for the radio antenna, or something like that? (Basically hijack one of the FM frequencies using a hard connection rather than FM modulation?)

 

I have an 04 with Nav. Ended up using a direct contect from Crutchfield. Controller and tuner were about $150 and installation was about $250. Controller replaced ash tray...no visible wires. Sat antenna was mounted on the dash in front of the Nav. antenna...again, no visible wires. Unit connects to radio antenna with a few adapters...Chrysler I believe... and hijacks 88.1FM, no modulation. Additionally, this particular Sat. controller has an auxillary wire and switch for an ipod or other mp3. Installer ran this wire into the console storage bin so it's out of the way when not in use, but readily at hand when you want it. All in all a decent and reasonably priced solution. Have had it for 1.5 years and no issues. Only criticism is that it would have been nice to just be able to toggle between regular radio and Sat. With this set up, you have to turn off the Sat. tuner to get regular radio.

 

I just got my 08 and have simiular questions. Seems like from the back seat you have better control. Too bad I dont sit back there. Hopefully someone (you youngsters) will find out how to hack the software. They seem to be able to hack everything else. Would be very nice to see the DVD on the front touch screen as well. Good luck kids.

 

Thats approx the price I got quoted, $600 for the kit , $600 for install. If it had been the same as the factory installed satellite that you can control from the touchscreen then fair enough, but this is just an add on, that I believe connects with an FM module that plugs inline with the radio antenna...ie FM Direct. That kit( but not the actually jag one that probably has a plastic adaptor to fit the radio in the ashtray) costs about $100 no matter where you buy it from, and install would be about 2 hrs from a specialist shop. My issue is that there are not many XJs, esp 2008 and newer around, and I do not want mine to be the first one that an independent audio shop works on. After calling sirius and telling them to cancel my subscription they sent me a new stratus 6 (I think) sirius radio (my previous car had a direct connect receiver so was not compatible with the jag), an $80 installation card, all for about $10 including shipping. Currently I am looking for an Audio connectivity module that I will probably get my jag dealer to install ( they say they can not get hold of them and are no longer supplied by jaguar) and I'll consider my sirius install after that. I proabbly will not use the free installation card unless I find one of the co-operating installers that I can trust. I'd hate to scratch my interior up for the sake of saving $80!!! I'll let you know if I ever actually get anything figured out.

 

I recently had A 'N' Ed's run a relay from the cd changer to the ashtray so I now have an iPod dock. He put a toggle switch in the center box. So I now have hardwired iPhone through the cd input.

My guy dissuaded me from sat radio but said he could do it by making the above relay a 3 way relay. I balked and he agreed that I could so easily Pandora or Sat rad application for iPhone instead...

Cost for relay $300 out the door.

Julie
ps I LOVE it and can hide the connector entirely in the ashtray when not in use.

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...174#post311174

Pics posted of ACM install

 

Julie, what you describe is a great option for the Mark II XJs. I have not yet seen anyone with a Mark III XJ splice an aux-in into the changer. (The Mark IIIs have gone to an optical ring called D2B.)

If anyone has taken apart a D2B CD changer I would love to see pics!

 

My 2008 XJ8 does not have the rear seat entertainment module, just the ACM. But I would like a simple mp3 or aux jack installed - I'm guessing that would allow mt to control my iPod directly without the whole NAV screen effort. The electronics should allow it to be installed in the glove compartment or somewhere in the front of the car, right?

 

The ACM should come with an aux (RCA) input, USB connection, and cable for ipod/iphone. If you do have an ACM (which was an add on) then you should have all these. Usually the aux and USB are in the glovebox, and the ipod cable is usually wired underneath the centre console armrest. Are you sure you have the ACM, if so when you press the CDC button it will go to the ACM screen, which basically has 6 disks like the cd changer. Since you have a MY 2008, I am presuming you do not have a CD changer installed

 

I do have the ACM and any use of its various inputs removes visibility and control on the iPod screen.The dealer agreed to my demand for an iPod jack as part of the deal. The ACM was installed but I never foresaw how user unfriendly it would be. I was expecting a simple MP3 jack, the sort I have seen in other cars. Just use an MP3 with 2 male ends from heaphone outlet to jack. Unlike the ACM/NAV screen scenario, the controls on the iPod remain visible, you can read the name of the track, no limit to number of "disks", etc. So my query is fi the electronics allow the installation in the front of an mp3 jack of the type that comes with the rear seat entertainment module - which I don't have.

 

Look at this thread, particularly the reference in the text to the jimrothe page and upgading the firmware of the ACM to v2.10
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/showth...174#post311174

Your ACM should have come with the aux and usb input, I guess the dealer did not bother implementing it. The good news is all you should need is the cabling. How long have you had the car...maybe the dealer still has your other parts?

However by upgrading to the v2.1 firmware, you should get useability of the ipod/iphone screen when it is plugged into the ACM ipod cable.

Fancy being a guinea pig? If not I'll try and test this in the next couple of weeks if I can get hold of an iphone.

By the way I have upgraded my unit to the 2.1 firmware and it is better than the latest jaguar 1.09 version. Having sadi that I have only been using it for a couple of days, but so far no problems, just increased functionality.

 

Maybe I haven't read everything, but how do you upgrade firmware? With a DVD or something?

 

http://www.dension.com/downloads?fie...o_one=Firmware

Basically put file on root directory of USB stick and plug it in.

Jaguar ACM uses the D2B interface

 

deebo13q, just realized this poses a dilemma for you, if you dont have an aux in I am also presuming you dont have the usb connector either!