Hi all , New XKR owner here.
UK, 2007 model. Incredible car.

I'm lucky enough to make music for a living , and as you can probably predict I'd like a decent audio solution so I can test my tunes in the car.
(before you suggest it, an FM transmitter is not good enough for me sorry. 30 years of ear training later I cannot abide that sound haha)

I've trawled this forum for about a month now so I know of the Jag Rangler Bluetooth dongle option from Aus, and at the other end of the scale those full £1000 screen replacement options on ali express. I know the bluetooth dongle doesn't give steering control and the other seems a little extreme.

Luckily I found a Jag specialist less than an hour away that can unlock the aux function should I need it for whatever end up choosing. (I understand now a 2007 is a bad year for this haha)

Now the main issue:
I got a little too excited when I saw the mr12volt system, as it said "2007+" and like an idiot I ordered one straight away. I missed the small print that said "USB module must be present" which I know were not standard until 2009 and indeed mine does not have one. 🤦‍♀️
It looks like they will refund no problem but they said something that gave me hope.
The mr12volt system "bypasses and replaces" the existing usb module apparently, and while 1 employee simply told me without it my car is "not compatible" another employee said I could "do a coding if there is no factory usb fitted". hmmm

So that got me wondering, The way you access the whole system is select usb as audio input on the head unit, and if theirs "bypasses the original, can i not just 'unlock' the usb input option much like I can the aux? Or does that require a different stereo / head unit?
does anyone have experience / knowledge of this?

thanks in advance,
Ben

 

You can't unlock the USB function if USB was not fitted to the car originally. However, I'm not sure what the problem is as you can just add the Aux input and then a £20 Volvo module, or you can buy ready-made one for £100-ish, will give you all your music by Bluetooth at excellent quality and you can also use the steering wheel volume controls.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...4/#post2550427

Richard

 

A couple things. Yes you can enable iPod USB without having the actual module installed but if memory serves, you need SDD (Jag software) in "engineering mode", which few specialist have. It's not an option in the "Add Service Functions" part of the software, so your specialist would need to add in from the car configuration file (CCF) which means he'll need engineering mode.

Mr12Volt also requires a newer touch screen (the ones used in the 5.0 models), as they have the correct pin count for the video card that comes with Mr12Volt. Those screens aren't compatible with your model year. The climate functions won't work. The work around is expensive.

That said, it still won't function fully because the unit reads the can-bus used in later models. Less expensive to get a refund and wait as they claim they are working on a unit for your model year car. They've said that for 5 months now though. Their bread and butter is in Porsche and BMW so not holding my breath for that.

If you go down that path, as a few in the UK have, they have tried swapping out their touchscreen with one from an XF. Same problem as the 5.0 XK touch screens. The climate controls will not function.

 

If you are an audiophile I dont think the Ali express will cut the mustard or the Mr Volt either - On the XKs WITH USB / Ipod features there is a module in the rear drivers side light that provides this functionality - if you have an earlier Jag it might be possible to wire up this and just enable it with SDD. You wont get Technics grade sound but it might be usable - you really need the B&W system however as a minimum

 

I already mentioned this , This is what became the jag wrangler dongle, and no it doesn't give steering wheel control he says so in the forum.

And yes it turns out you can unlock the USB with the correct privileges in SSD software. It just won't work for other reasons.

So two things you've learnt today!

 

Audiophiles are people who think they can hear a difference between a $5 mains cable And the $500 mains cable, or any difference in wiring through a car system at all which is utter nonsense.
Luckily I work in pro audio, the people who make money from making good sound for a living , not people sat at home with 60k stereos in untreated rooms hanging about on forums discussing which salt lamp makes the air best for high frequency response 🤣.
we deal with the real audio and science not like those who would spend 3k on a "CD demagnetizer" 🤣🤣.
Most audio quality (in terms of wiring connections on digital conversion) has been fine for a good decade now we are long out of the days we're spending above a few hundred makes any significant difference thank goodness.

(Sorry you set me off haha)

 

I've no idea what your problem is but I tried to be helpful and provided you with detailed information about how to easily connect up a Bluetooth dongle (because the USB port will not work on a 2007 car) to your AUX port which, exactly like my 2006 car, will give you steering wheel volume control as I use it every day. As I said, I used the £20 Volvo dongle in my XK but, also as I said, there are more expensive options available.

Richard

 

No problem at all, you misunderstand, I was also trying to be helpful! you were misinformed (to my knowledge) so I was just informing you so you knew for the future.
I had already read that forum post several times, and user cambo fitted it and said:
I quote

"To answer some questions raised;
- It does not give you any control over the phone,
......
"

 

Thanks so much for the thorough info Sean, it's been so hard to find this info in 1 place. much appreciated.