The stereo in my 1995 X300 is giving me the 'NOT CONT' error intermittently (failing to recognise CD unit). A 'Common Fault' list I found says to "(re)solder SMD component" to fix this issue. That isn't very specific - quite unhelpful actually. Can someone help me out? There are tons of SMD components on the board.

 

I have the exact same problem, sometimes it will play a few songs flawlessly and than out of nowhere show the 'NOT CONT' which I'm assuming means 'NOT CONTINUOUS' and stops playing. Pretty annoying, I've considered changing the whole stock radio/cd player to something after market.

 

that message means it's time to buy an aftermarket deck

 

This one:



As an option the radio can be sent to Alpine for reconditioning....about $150, I'm told. It's been on my "to do" list for some time. Cheaper than a decent aftermarket unit, I reckon.

Cheers
DD

 

Yeah, I found that pic, and opened up my unit only to find that component already soldered down properly.

 

(why cant I edit posts?)

Know of any units that aren't going to look like utter crap in the Jag? Sure, the stock one looks pretty tacky, but at least it's curved and sized to fit in with the console properly. Anything else is going to look stupid.

 

i took the face plate off off the stock jagaur deck and spent about an hour grinding away at it. i made it fit around my new deck so it fits great and still has the slope. just a thought for anyone replaceing there deck in these cars and doesnt want there deck to be two inches into the center peice. i will try to take a picture of mine tomorrow so you guys can see what im talking about clearer.

 

Are there any 'drop in' replacements (say, an aftermarket Alpine unit) that will take the same plugs as the stock unit?

I don't have any prior experience with car audio installations, and although I'm sure it would be reasonably easy for me to learn, I have a lot of other stuff to deal with at the moment.

I guess I'm after a quick fix.

 

I'd like to know as well. As it stands I'll soon be sending mine off to Alpine for repairs but I'll consider other options if the price and the look is right.

In the past I've been unable to find an aftermarket unit that looks right in my Jags. I don't like the "Tokyo at night" displays and the Johnny Space Boy buttons and gizmos that aftermarket units all seem to have.

Cheers
DD

 

My sentiments exactly.

 

Hey guys, look at this:



It's Pioneer's DEH-7150UB. I can get it for $350 New Zealand dollars - that's around 230 USD or 160 GBP.

Might not look too bad in the Jag, if I make a matte black curved frame to go around it (or butcher the stock radio bezel as suggested above).

Now, it still has the "Tokyo at night" screen (hopefully it has a dimming function!), but other than that it's pretty inoffensive appearance-wise.

It also has a rear USB port (which I prefer over a front one), and I thought perhaps I could install a hard drive bay in the trunk and use the CD changer cable to carry a usb signal (since I'll have no use for the Jaguar changer any more).

I'm definitely considering it now.

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Or if you're wealthy, you could get the DEX-P99RS:



...Now that's really nice!

 

the space created by the absence of the stock stereo slope makes a wonderful shelf for my cigarette pack and lighter. :]

i think it looks good recessed back into the console.
also your arm and hand lays rather nicely and feels quite natural while adjusting the volume knob on aftermarket decks.

just an opinion of course

 

I'm with you guys about over glitzy flashing and dancing radio's, perhaps designers should come up with something for the more mature discerning motorist.

2 points:- Oubadah, you can edit your own posts, but not someone else's.

and, I know that I am talking about a car older than your's but last summer I dropped in a Pioneer head unit and corresponding boot/trunk mounted CD player.

As regards the dash fit it looks pretty reasonable, and does not have any flashing bits.

To give you and idea have a look at this:- Replacing a radio in and XJ40.

OK it is a lot older than your car, but it shows that there is some 'plain' after market stuff out there.

 

I think Jaguar designed for aftermarket decks to have a shelf remaining after the stock unit was removed, for storage of credit card/cigarette pack sized items

 

Hehe I know that, but the edit button had gone AWOL before, even though I was logged in. It's back now though...

Does anyone know if it's possible to use the stock CD changer with an aftermarket Alpine head unit? I've just tried my changer in my dads X300, and confirmed that it's working fine (the fault was definitely in the head unit), and I'd like to keep using it if possible.

I've seen that 8 pin DIN socket on some aftermarket Alpine head units, but I can't find any info on which stackers are compatible.

I'd rather no go for an Alpine, as they ALL seem frightfully bright and ugly, but if I could still use tha Jaguar CD changer, I might consider it
.

By the way, I've decided to abandon the Hard Drive idea for the following reasons:

1) Sometimes the temperature in cars can be too low for a mechanical HDD to operate properly.
2) Just powering the HDD was going to cost more than the drive it'self (most headunits cannot provide enough power via USB to start a laptop HDD, and standard 3.5" HDDs need a dedicated supply, which would have meant some kind of regulator/specialist car computer power supply witch in turn would have required a relay to make it switch off with the ignition) - too much time and effort, when I can just buy a few flash drives and connect them directly.
3) Most head units have trouble managing over a certain number of files/directories, so it's best to have your music spread over smaller flash drives anyway.

So I'm just going to mount a panel-mount USB jack and minijack (Aux in) on the inside of my centre console compartment, and hook them up to the back of the head unit. That way I can connect my USB flash drives or portable media player hidden under the lid, instead of having wires and flashing USB sticks spilling over my ski-slope.

 

Just found a facia adaptor for the X300:

http://www.nexxia.co.uk/product.asp?...ngKits&section

Not quite what I had in mind, but at least I have a back up if my DIY plan goes **** up.

That place also does stuff for other Jags.