I thought I'd share my experience in upgrading the stereo system in my car. I'm expecting mix responses as the final look is no longer stock.

I decided the by a touch screen Android head unit which has a 9" display (wide form factor). The display overlaps some buttons which are rarely used. However, the buttons can be activated as I positioned the screen to sit just off them. The screen is removable for security reasons.




The stereo gets internet from my mobile phone. I can install almost any app from the Play store including Google Maps, Spotify, DAB radio, WhatsApp. I bought a discreet DAB aeriel which is installed on the side window just behind the driver (completely invisible to the driver even when checking the blind spot). It came with a GPS antenna which I adhered to the roof above the centre lights. I also installed a mic for calls which can also be installed in the original socket within the overhead lights.

The stereo also plays FM/AM radio via the DAB aeriel. I have never been a fan of the retro walkie talkie aerial so I removes the fuse in the boot (trunk) to deactivate it.

My car had dash tweeters as standard so I upgraded them to Vibe tweeters. I just snipped the wire and reused the harness. I can always solder the original pair back on if desired.

I upgraded the door speakers with Vibe mid range speakers. They have big magnets and provide plenty of base considering I don't have a sub woofer. The speakers were too deep and wide for the original plastic mounting so I made MDF surrounds and I managed to reuse the existing foam backing guard by adhering it to the back of the metal opening, and not the front.







I have purchased the same Vibe mid range speakers for the back which I'm yet to install. They will also need custom MDF mounts for them. I have tested the opening in the fabric cover which limits the size of the speaker and they just about fit. You could always hack it up and make larger speakers fit, but I want everything to be reversible in case I or someone else wishes.

I also purchased a Vibe amp which is in the glove box. I unclipped the top shelf within the glove box allowing me to attach the amp with cable ties. There are lots of big holes in the top of the glove compartment proving ease of attachment and good air ventilation for cooling.

Whilst installing the amp and also installed a USB socket which perfected fitted one of the large holes in the top. I also added a dual USB charger socket and volt display at the rear inside face of the armrest.

I bought an additional kit that allowed me to link up the stereo to the steering wheel controls. I set one of the buttons to work like 'hey Google' and then I verbally give it a command. This works really well for setting up directions with Google Maps, selecting songs within Spotify, calling people with WhatsApp.

My profession is a designer so preserving the aesthetic of my Jag is super important to me. However, I think the stereo I installed is sympathetic to the overall look as the interface can be fully customised.

Just let me know if you want more info about the products I used.

I hope this has inspired some of you as many of you have helped me over the years. HNY to you all!

 

Here’s your expected mixed responce”

I do like your speaker treatment, but the dash looks a mess to me. Semi-covering up some the controls looks shade tree level. If you had to use that size of screen, the obscured controls need to be relocated to be a complete enhancement, imho.

But the only person’s opinion that matters is yours. By that standard it’s a success.

Z

 

I totally understand your views. It's very tricky to alter the aesthetic in a sympathetic way. I did consider relocating the row of buttons, but I couldn't find a feasible solution and certainly not a reversible one. I have the 3 centre dials and not the integrated sat nav otherwise this could have been an option. The stereo is low and not in constant eye sight. The benefits of the Android head unit over the standard stereo is night and day. I also upgraded to LED lights on the dash and throughout the cabin. It's a lovely environment when driving at night and the new stereo becomes seamlessly integrated.

 

Nice one! The only button I'd be worried about covering is the hazards, the rest all look like they can hide away there just fine. If it were me I might consider making a small bezel extension for the top of the screen to hide the top of the buttons and make it look a bit more like it's meant to be there, but it's a job that would go on the 'to-do' list and probably never get done 😂

Next time you've got the doors off, treat them to some dynamat... it made an enormous difference to the sound in my XE, so much so that I put my speaker upgrade on hold as I'm happy enough with the combo of Meridian + dynamat for now. Here's my writeup on the install - https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...18-xes-274104/ - apart from some differences in getting the trims and stuff off, the install process should be pretty much the same.

 

I did an install in my car using a similar Joying head unit, but as I had satnav I positioned the screen up top and fabricated a mount for it out of Aluminum sheet and ABS plastic. I like how that fills the space, Ill echo what others have/will say about covering those controls. A lot of people relocate that switch panel to the glove box, using the little "document holder" shelf at the top of the glove box to hold it. I added a phone mount to the right hand side as well which makes for a very practical setup, if a little uglier. Ill tidy up that wire someday next time I pull the center console. too many mechanical things to worry about at the moment to faff with that. Monkeybrains also did a very good write up on how to 3d print an even better bracket and blanking plate for Joying head units in another thread. I think his setup looks the best, although there was someone who managed to hide the head unit in the dash so deep that he was able to put a storage cubby there, you should check out the thread, as a designer it may give you some ideas::

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...cement-264286/

But if yours is a dials car and not a satnav car, I can see why you wouldn't want to use the space further up. I almost did the same as you so I could go for a dials conversion, but shied away at the cost. Especially as I can run torque on the phone or the head unit and get data there. Oh yeah, and as my car had an amp originally, I put an amp in the trunk spliced into the original speaker wiring, but ran new speaker wiring for the rear subwoofers in my convertible. If you have a convertible, I can confirm that the absolute biggest subs you can fit in the stock enclosures without changing the look is a pair of Kicker 6.75 inch DVCs. I have some meh rockford fosgates in the doors for mid and treble. I also added a reversing camera, the wiring for which was a pain in the ****, but then everything on our cars is a pain in the ****, except driving them .

Here's my setup, I blanked the original head unit space with some vinyl-wrapped plastic dyed oatmeal, which sits a little too proud (again, ill fix when I next pull the console) and which I might dye black, or go find someone to print the Monkeybrain blanking plate.

 

Thanks for your comments. The hazard button was also a big concern for me hence I bough the screen slightly forward so I could still just about activate it, which I recently due to warning other motorists of rapid traffic build up on motorways. The small bezel is a good idea, but there isn't enough room. The angle at which the photo was taken suggests the screen is lower whereas it aligns perfectly with the buttons edge.

I have bought sound deadening for my partners card, but yet to install it. Maybe I will sneak it into my car first to practice the install technique

I considered moving the row of buttons that included the hazard switch, but couldn't find a feasible solution. I would be very keen to learn more about anyone's write up about moving this row of buttons to the glove compartment! I did some research into MOT tests in the UK and it states that the hazard button needs to be activated in a single action to which I assume means pressing the button. Open the glove compartment and then pressing button would be two actions. Furthermore, if there was a technical issue and you were unable to open the glove compartment, then you wouldn't be able to active the hazard button. Any more thoughts or ideas on this subject would be warmly welcomed.

Thanks again for your comments

 

just remove the door before you go in for the test. Now you’re down to one action .

A lot of cars just have a cubby hole for the storage there, ie no glove box door.

Z

 

Sorry, are you suggesting removing the glove compartment door?...lol! I know I've changed my stereo, but removing the glove compartment door is a bit too drastic for me

 

well, it’s a way to pass the inspection that you were concerned about. You can always put it back on afterwards.

Z


(Several of my Triumphs came without any glove box closure. It was just an open affair, and looked “normal”.)

 

Those Joying screens pull right off without tools and have a single ribbon connector. Just disconnect and remove the screen before the test. Takes 30 seconds.

 

Absolutely - this is what I will be doing on MO D-day!

 

If you did ever want to relocate and keep the dials in some capacity, you could do something similar to what I have.
Still need to get the lights on the dials fitted, but they work as normal!

Completely agree, the joying unit is night and day compared to the old system.