Hi guys.
Here's yet another Garmin satnav install on an XK8/XKR.
The only real differences on this one compared to the other write-ups is That the "button packs" of the original Jaguar unit are replaced with curved cloth covered panels, the microphone and speaker from the satnav are moved to each of the curved cloth panels and last but not least the satnav itself is a Nuvi 2599 model which has a nice clean flat "glass" front.





One of the reasons that i moved the microphone out to the panel was that the small hole for it would be obscured by the Wood facia when installed and i feared that it would interfere to much with hands-free calling. And then i figured i might as well move the speaker while i was at it.
Should you choose to do this too you should seriously consider placing a cup of some sorts behind the speaker as an enclosure as this will improve the sound quality a bit compared with a free floating unit.
I found that the cap from one of the small WD40 canisters fits pretty well so i used one of those
Although i now wish that i had taken a couple of photos while i fitted it i didn't so this will have to do.



The cloth covered panels are basically a skeleton made on a 3D printer and then lots of fiddling with contact cement and a pair of really thick pantyhose.

Here's a picture of the Skeleton structure for the left side (the one holding the microphone) before it was sanded smooth.



The last bit was connecting the power supply to a 12v source that was controlled with the ignition.
After reading through the forum i was planning on picking it up from the auxiliary output behind the glove box but realized that chances where that the original satnav display would have this in the plug. After another read though in here (https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ry-plug-45894/ thank you again WhiteXKR )i found color codes and simply wiretapped a 12v cigarette lighter connector into those.

Voila. One upgraded satnav and hands free option.

Now... is it perfect? No. By no means.
-The sound is ok but not brilliant.
-When calling hands free the person at the other end will be driven insane by the turn signal click sound if you're driving in town.
- The buttons on the steering wheel are obviously not connected so not functioning.
- The system is not integrated into the sound system so you're left with the small speaker of the satnav itself.

Is it worth it?
In my mind yes. Very much so.

Compared to some of the marvelous systems listed in this forum this is a poor-mans version but it can be done by most and it's fairly inexpensive. And last but not least. i have a functioning satnav again that doesn't make me cry when i look at it.

If anyone are going for one of these and have questions please don't hesitate to ask. I'd be happy to provide assistance although most of what i can share is already covered in various threads.

Best
/Stig.

 

Nice!

 

Thank you very much.

/Stig.

 

Well done....

 

nicely done!