Walkman MP3 Player installed into my Jaguar XJ 1998

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The other day I decided I wanted to install a docking station / cradle for my Sony Walkman into my Jaguar XJ (1998) so I could listen to the music on it rather than the six CDs in the disk changer.. that incidentally I've not changed much in the last year or so...
So I started to do some research and surprise surprise the info I found was sketchy... it seemed much easier to do on newer Jags but not so on mine... anyhow my first idea was to cut into the phone override.. but once I realised this was mono it was a bit of a no no... so I next stumbled across a little box from PIE called ALP/Ai-AUX  http://www.pie.net/index.htm I found a single thread in a news group somewhere a guy was saying he had used one in his XK and it worked.. Knowing that XKs and XJs were nearly the same at this time.. There was a good chance it would work on my XJ mostly because Jaguar/Ford was penniless... This box basically cuts into the CD changer Line, between the disk changer in the boot and the head unit at the front, In Jaguars of this ilk, they use the Alpine Ai NET comms bus, and this smart little device detects a signal on the AUX (ie your MP3) and it swaps from the disk changer to the AUX, and when the audio stops it swaps back.
In a 1996 XK till they changed to the new model or a 1998 XJ (basically the V8 not the Straight Six) again until they brought out the new design you can basically use this method to add an Walkman or MP3 Player or ipod to your car.
So this is what I did. Ordered the ALP/Ai-AUX  from the USA 56USD or 81USD inc shipping etc (couldn't find a UK supplier) then I found that the cradle for my Walkman a BCRNWU3 was perfect, it has an audio out on it so as soon as I dock it it will play, no messing around plugging a jack into the headphones socket. It also has a charging point on it which is a usb socket.. so by purchasing a Cigar USB charger (which I intend to take to bits and wire in behind the console) you can also ensure that the unit charges whilst docked too..
The First thing I did was take the stereo head unit out, this is easy, take the facia out around the gear selector, then there are four bolts size 8 I think.. take these out, then you can lift of the Ski Slope. Once that is out the way there are two screws holding in the Head unit, and one holding the AC/heater unit.. you only need to remove the two each side of the Head unit the head unit will slide out.. you will either need to move the selector into neutral or unscrew the leather knob on the shifter to slide the stereo past it.

I first tried to put the ALP/Ai-AUX down below the shift selector to the right of the solenoid and it fits just but the AI.NET cable just isn't long enough so the Head unit doesn't quite go all the way back in, which is a real shame as this would have been a perfect place to put it.
In the end I just put it behind the Unit there is enough space just, you have to try and seat it right at the back as your pushing the head unit back in.. you also need to route your Audio cables out of the Ai unit. I just got a twin Phono to 3.5mm Jack. The Phonos went into the AI unit, and I managed to route them out the back of the head unit to the passenger's foot well. Once I had the headunit back in place I fed the Audio cable form the passengers foot well under the leather side of the center console till it was about level with the passenger seat.. I did this because I have a sat nav whos screen screws onto a pole that I intend to mount the cradle... for now I have just rested the cradle on the center console on the closed ash tray it seems not to move, as the bottom of the cradle is a rubber like material...

I will post again once I have got the Charging function installed and once I have mounted the cradle to the pole. For this I think I need to find some leather that will match my car to make the shelf look in place. I have found myself a 12v ignition switched line already under the center console so I know where to take supply from.. a multi meter is needed to find the supply.
This isn't a normal post for me, but since I struggled so much to find any info on how to do this, I'm sure it will be useful to others.
Published: 30/08/2008 22:51