2008-2011 B&W Surround Retrofit from Base audio
 

Finished this off yesterday. 2011MY XF which had the Base audio from the factory, now has the full Bowers & Wilkins Surround system.

There are three different audio systems in the Pre-Facelift XF from 2008 to 2011

Base Audio; 80W, 8-speakers, no sub
Premium Audio; 320W, 9-speakers incl sub
Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound; 440W, 14-speaker surround sound with subwoofer
(actually that's what it says in the brochure, in the technical documents it's a 650W system)

The B&W system has the yellow Kevlar cone speakers.

Parts used;

All door speakers replaced with original B&W's
Additional 2 midrange speakers added to front doors, original B&W's
Factory sub mounted under the spare wheel.
Parcel shelf changed to one from B&W car, with 2x surround speakers, and sunblind
Center dash speaker added, original B&W
Added the surround amplifier (base system has no external amp)
Changed head unit from single-disc non-MP3, to 6-disc with MP3

Also added DAB+ digital radio at the same time.

The Base audio cars are actually pre-wired for the Surround system, except for the center dash speaker, and the parcel shelf. The parcel shelf loom just plugs in, the loom for the dash speaker needs to me made/added.

Pictures;

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Amp fitted.

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Installing loom for center speaker, and center speaker itself.

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Other speakers changed to the B&W yellow Kevlar ones.

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Head unit removed.

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You can see the difference between the Surround unit (above) and Base unit (below).

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Wiring harness' already there.

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Had to make an extension piece for the MOST fiber optic network to add the amplifier

Once all the hardware side was done, make some changes in the Car Configuration File to activate the Surround functions.

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This was the Audio options with the Base system.

And then with the B&W Surround

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Nice new screensaver as well.

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And the new screen with the DAB+ functions as well.

Sounds a million bucks compared to the Base system, really impressed.

The next step is to ditch the stock sub and you'll really be happy.

Well it's not my car, I just did the work on it. The owner is happy with the result and doesn't want any aftermarket stuff in it, hence going down the "factory retrofit" route.

Compared to the crappy 80W Base system, the B&W is already a huge step up.

whats a good replacement for the stock sub? im getting annoyed of mine

Cambo, the B&W system is good enough that I would never thing about an upgrade.

Carzaddict, literally anything would be an upgrade, but depending on the amount of bass impact you are looking for, and whether you were concerned about losing trunk space, you could remove the stock sub and have a fiberglass box built into the extra space and the spare tire.

Or if you don't mind taking out the spare tire, look at my thread about building a sub enclosure in the spare tire well.

Otherwised losing trunk space, determine what your budget is and let me know what you listen to and how loud you want it and I can give you some options that will work.

And I hear the owner is very happy with the results! :icon_beerchug:

Hi Cambo

I am planning to retrofit the B&W system in my 2009 X250 Jaguar XF. It has got the basic sound system and 6 CD changer with MP3
I have the following questions

1) Is my head unit with 6cd changer compatible with the upgrade

2) Does it involve major wiring installation??

I have sourced all the kit needed for the upgrade but I would appreciate some advise on the head unit.Can you give me the exact part number of the unit you changed over to in your upgrade please??

Great job! Just have a quick question. I have a ‘11 XFR with the B&W system. I believe one of speakers in the parcel sled isn’t blown. Would you happen to know the part number off hand?

Hi
it will be 8x23-18808-BA

This retrofit is not possible unless you have access to an unlocked SDD diagnostic system, once you fit the amp and head unit there will be no sound until the Car Configuration File is updated. I know I guy in Warwickshire who can do this if you haven't got that side of things already sorted.

The head units used in the Base system without external amplifier are different to the ones that are with the external amp i.e. the B&W system. You can see the pic of both units next to each other, they aren't the same, they also have different software in them. You cannot run an external amplifier from a Base head unit.

Part number for the head unit to get is 7G9N-18C815-TB, that is the newest version, it's also used in the XK and the Freelander 2.

You will need to make up the wiring loom for the center speaker, as this is missing. You will also need to extend the fibre optic loop to include the amp. The rest is just a matter of plugging and unplugging.

First, I have good hearing.

Second, I have 2 of the 2011 XF's. One with B&W and one with the base sound system. I have had them for years.

Third, I can barely tell any difference between the two systems, and I wish I hadn't paid the extra money for the B&W system on the white one.

You should probably have it checked.

Thanks very much for your input.I have spoken to a guy near by and shown your installation.He is able to install and alter the CCF. I will seek your advise if we run into trouble.

I am very much used to my Hifi systems at home.
I could spot the difference between my previous Mercedes and the current base system in my XF. Looking forward to get rid of it!!

I am sure that you do, in terms of not suffering from deafness. You clearly do not have the so-called "golden ear" of an audiophile, however. To an audiophile, there is a night and day difference using good source material between a standard car audio system and something as acoustically excellent as the B & W system around which the car's interior was actually designed.

Merry Christmas. :icon_tree:

You need to get your ears checked:

https://www.edmunds.com/car-technolo...em-review.html