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Sorry to use hyperbole, but, speaking as a newbie, my 2018 XJ seems to be the cursed in-betweener as far as its Incontrol Touch Pro software is concerned. I brought my car into my local Jaguar dealer here in the Netherlands to update the Incontrol Touch Pro software. It is currently on version S18B_18.21.3-157502. It has all the necessary hardware (see picture attached of the hardware inputs), plus it has the 10.2 screen with Meridian audio so it should update. Like many others, I particularly want the update so I can then install the smartphone package (for Carplay). And yet the dealer said that the car might not accept the update and the smartphone package because it was made in April 2018, while all XJs need to be from June 2018 onwards to accept it without damage. They're worried about bricking the TCU (‘telematics control unit’). Is that truly likely? At the moment the software thinks its updating via SOTA (update over the air), and is stuck is some limbo without being able to install. Why on earth would Jaguar fit an updatable software where the updates might kill the machine? (No need to answer that one!)
On the other hand, retrofitting non-OEM solutions to get CarPlay (eg, IDCORE) only works with the older 8" Harmon Kardon systems. So, CarPlay is possible for MY2010 to 2017, or 2019. But 2018 can go whistle.
Not absolute sure about hardware JLR used, but in most cases overall the reason why some SW version can brick an embedded HW what are ment to fit, are differences of HW. If exsample button IO are chancing an memory address xxx in previous HW and the new version software are looking at xxz, sure it will never work.
If JLR knows the update will brick it, don´t do it.
Possible solution could be that you source 2nd hand TMC unit from past June 2018 manufactured vehicle and swap it to your car. (it sits behind of aircon/buttons panel and are quite easy to change. Pry black frame off with plastic flat tool and you see screws holding aircon panel, once that removed you see screws for TMC unit)
I am not absolute sure if the wiring are same, but i believe so because the screen seems to be same.
MY2018 XJ: The Incontrol Abyss
