Hello All,
My radio failed on my 2003 XK8 and i have another factory radio to install into it, i actually purchased it here on this forum.
Anyhow, i saw some video's on replacing it, but it seems my console looks a bit different than what i saw, i have allen head bolts that hold down the shifter trim, is the radio removal still the same?

Thanks all,

Rick

 

Yeah, it's all the same. Remove the chrome trim surround. lift it up and disconnect the S button, lift up the wood trim, and then use the torx bit to remove the bolts holding the center console, theres two beneath the head unit, and two towards the back behind the center console storage bin. You have to pull the leather trim piece that leads to the rear seats to access those other two bolts. Then you may lift up and disconnect the ashtray. Alternative, you can remove the storage bin before removing the center console. It's just 4 phillp's head screws. After that, you remove the 6 phillips screws of the trim surround of the head-unit and a/c. Now you can pull the entire thing just enough to begin disconnecting everything. Be careful, those plastics are brittle. The first one you can remove is the middle set of buttons, the one that includes the hazard lights. It's not held down by bolts and is simple to remove. Just push it back. Next the A/C unit. First you are going to remove the lid that holds it's innards. Two screws at each side and gently pry on the plastic. Now disconnect the wires from the circuit board and feed them out the plastic. Next you remove the rest of the A/C unit. It's held by 3 screws. 1 at the top, and two at the sides, accessed from the back of everything. Remove them and release the A/C unit from the center console head unit bracket. Disconnect the radio head unit (three connectors), and now you are almost done. Just one more thing, the radio has 2 metal tabs on its top surface, press on them and gently but firmly slide it out from the bracket. You have now removed the radio. Do everything in reverse to install the new one.

 

Get yourself a little sheet metal (around .5mm thick) and make a couple of these tools.
Move shifter into D insert tools above radio facia line and you can have radio out in 5 minutes.

 

I’m going to attemp, I heard the plastic is very brittle so I will try to be careful
Rick

 

@baxtor , is the tool you show about 6" long?

 

The one shown is 140mm but 150 or a bit more would be easier to manipulate.
l will put some pics up in a new thread because it really does save a lot of work in the removal process.

 

@baxtor so with those - you don't need to remove the center console and all the trim?? I have a set from a Mercedes I replaced the head unit it - now to find them and get to playing around

 

l just put another thread up with a little more detail.
the tools shown in pic on this thread do need a little change to shape at the big end.