Hi all.

I wonder if anyone can tell me if the following might work.

I have a 1996 XJR with the Harmon Kardon upgrade and a CD changer. In my previous couple of cars I have used a modern Alpine headunit which can control my iPod. I understand that fitting an aftermarket headunit to the cars with the upgraded factory system is a pain, so I have been digging around the net and found that Alpine make some CD changer that will read MP3s, models CHA-S634 and CHM-S634. The CHA is the newer Ai-Bus and the CHM is the M-Bus that the Jag uses.

The CHA variant is much cheaper and readily available 2nd hand, whereas the CHM appears tricky to find wothout spending $$$$. I have also found an Ai-Bus to M-Bus adapter. You can guess the next part, can I use the CHA-S634 with the KCA-130B adpater on my Jag?

Hope I have explained it clearly,

Cheers,

Richard

 

In alot of cars this combination will work..but unfortunately, zero jag owners have had success. What happens is that in the CD changer and head unit, is that there is some sort of communication between the two...the head unit knows the changer is jag issue, and vice versa. You have to use both, or replace both together I am afraid. I have researched this option to death, trust me. Sorry to break the bad news to you.

 

Thanks for the info, it saves me money! I guess I'm back to the ipod and a cassette adapter for now then!

 

Why not just opt for an for aftermarket unit with USB input perhaps. Easily replaceable.

 

I have a nice Alpine iPod compatible head unit, but I had read that it was very difficult to wire a 3rd party head unit into the cars which had the Harmon Kardon amp/speakers upgrade fitted (mine does), hence my looking at the options for ways to keep the Jag/Alpine original unit. If there is a way to do it that is reversible so that I can take my head unit out when I sell the car on, then could somebody point me in the right direction? I'm fairly hand with a soldering iron, so wiring is not a problem, provided I don't have to chop the original harness to bits!

Cheers,

Richard

 

Not sure, but I think the wiring harnesses are hard to come by that plug into jags, Aquill has alot more experience with the different models and their availability. You can always splice, not necessarily cut the original wiring. Its cleaner and reversable with very little evidence.

 

Actually, just checked up and the harness that I have is just for the non-amplified system. Not seen a HK one...

 

Do you need a dash kit for aftermarket headunit? what size does the receiver have to be? Thanks.