Hello

I was struggling to find anything to post or have a moan about because I am a bit bored so I am sorry....

Yes! Found a moan....

Our lovely XK8/R interior!

We have the lovely leather interior, the gorgeous dials and whole fascia and trim.

And then there is this horrible thing in the middle, that awful cheap and nasty centre console. It is like a moustache on the Mona Lisa. All of those nasty cheap looking Ford Mondeo buttons in the middle.

I did think of getting it replaced with a touch screen and it can and has been done. But wouldn't it be so much better to get them replaced with a more simple design that is more Jaguary. Maybe simplify it and add the little bits with fewer buttons with some polished aluminium and walnut veneer?

That would be very lovely old chap 🥲👍

I am sure there are specialists out there that could do that.

 

I'd have to find the post as I've been looking into some adjascent topics while I build a new infotainment to go in the factory nav slot using a raspberry pi.

There was a swedish guy ( I think) who dug out some github project from someone who'd figured out the serial communications the hvac module receives from the switchgear to control heat etc, and then made a win32 application to use on a windows tablet. If he's still active on the forums he might be able to give pointers on how he did that so a more modern android application could be made. This is not trivial stuff tho and is more software development than auto engineering. Its a lot of work for a limited market. Now, if you are a software engineer and/or hardware hacker, it might be relatively straightforward.

Joying do similar things for various other models of cars where they actually replace the hvac controls with an app on the android head unit; I am not a fan personally as I dont want my hvac controls dependent on an app developed for an obsolete version of Android, buts its a thing. Basically you need to decipher the communications between the hvac controls and hvac module and reproduce them in software, then you can control the hvac with <something else> with an appropriate serial interface or GPIO.

Might be a good arduino project though, to devise a standalone center console hvac control with knobs instead that leaves a full double din below it to replace the radio, with a few other controls stashed in the trans tunnel console storage (i've seen people stick the seat heaters/TRAC/hazard button in there)

 

Personally, I would steer clear of a touch screen. I just don't think it would look right with the retro period styling.
In 1999, when your car was made, Jaguar made the XK180 concept which had Aluminium Toggle switches. This would be a better looking upgrade and easier....

 

Yeah Man... I like this ^^^
Is it possible???

Mind you, I'm nooooo purist,

I have gotten all-KINDS of comments about the look of the whole dash on both my cars. Absolutely unique and a stand out from almost anything I've seen as a dash. Once, while driving down the highway, top down, someone yelled and commented about the dash and wood, the amount of it, out of their window. Nothing like NYC and New Yorkers, lol!

I drove a Toyota something or other (the big one) the other day and was NOT impressed by or liking the screen on the dash. Goodness knows I have enough SCREENS in my life. If I could DO what is in that photo above I certainly would!

All I am frustrated by is the damn shift bezel. That definitely needs some love AND solutions, but anyways

I mean,,, are you kidding me!?

 

That is a thing of beauty 😍
And yes, I don't think the tekky modern touch screen is the right way to go either. What I would like to do is just replace all of the horrible plastic buttons and plastic fascia with chrome or Aluminium or maybe a polished walnut backing without any need for any rewiring. Like for like.. a middle way of nicer cosmetics to fit in with the rest of the dash front end.
Hope this makes sense?
Cheers 😀👍

 

This is my 99 XKR. Sorry for having a rant... I don't want Sat Nav, I don't want parking sensors, I don't want a touch screen Android version 16.0 with What's App and G sensors etc etc.... I don't need any of that. The centre console is just fine... electrically and electronically it works great... all I need. But.. it looks horrible like a 1995 Mondeo. It ruins the look. All of that beautiful Jaguarness the lovely walnut dash, the lovely chrome dials, the walnut gear knob, etc etc. Ford accountants ruined the look to save very little money. The centre console would look so nice with a brushed Aluminium fascia or Walnut...and Aluminium push buttons, none of the electrical wiring needs to be changed in any way.

Just my opinion. Sorry for the rant and for being an old fart 🤣🤣

 

I actually rather like the center console with all the buttons. It's better put together and better quality then Aston Martin or Ferrari of the same era. Aston Martin DB7 switch gear just falls apart and looks tacky, Ferrari switch gear is all sticky and scratched up. Jaguar buttons are all fine even the brint hasn't worn, it's not sticky at all or scratched up.

 

Interestingly, the original Jaguar design for the center consul actually had wood separating the Climate//Aux/Stereo switch panels. You can just see in their sketch.
Wood is certainly possible to retrofit..... Changing the actual buttons though would be a lot more difficult. Ideally, you'd need a donor set from another car.

 

Ah man 🥰👍 so lovely, thanks for sharing this dude. I suspect that this was the late great Geoff Lawson's vision for the interior console. But the accountant department decreed otherwise. It is what it is and originality counts these days. I am happy with its function but not the cosmetic look so will just leave it. Thanks for sharing this, made my day Squire 🥰😍👍

 

There is nothing wrong with it and it all works fine, but it just looks a bit cheap and bargain basement compared with everything else. I am sure that they could have spent a few more quid in the budget to make it look a bit more classy 😀👍

 

I do agree about Astons and Ferrari switchgear I am with you there 👍 Ferrari now put everything on the steering wheel, stupid! Not that I can afford one 🤣

 

It was on par with 2000's BMW's at the time. It had the same textured button coatings. The best thing to do would probably be to try and fabricate some sort of flippable cover or something. Have a wooden varnshed plate that can move out of the way to show it all but hide it all when you don't want it. You could also emboss a Jaguar logo on it or something. Would look very snazy.