Hello all,

After many weeks of gnashing teeth, test drives and sleepless nights, my wife and I stumbled over a 1999 XJ8, burgandy red, Florida car, low miles, for about $15k. The interior is flawless, the car runs great and has been very well maintained its entire life.

At age 32 (and my wife is 27), we may be the youngest XJ drivers I've ever known. (g)

I do have a couple of questions: For some reason, the original owners of this car spec'ed the traction control options, but not something as simple as a CD changer. I have a working radio, just no changer.

Where can I get one that won't cost me my right arm to get, and when I get it, is this car prewired to accept a changer in the trunk, or am I going to have to run wires all the way from the front to the trunk to get it hooked to the head unit?

Also, did the 1999 XJ series have navigation, and if so, what is involved in adding navigation to a car that doesn't already have it?

Thanks for the help, and I look forward to being here more in the future now that I'm an owner again.

1963 XKE (sold)
1976 XJ12L (dead)
1988 XJS (sold)
1999 XJ8

Submitted by nicholasclare@… on Tue, 06/20/2006 - 08:27

Jess

Congratulations on getting your XJ8 and dont worry about the age. I started working for them at 24 and have ownwed one for many years and they still get the looks form other drivers.

The answer to your question is that the headunit in the car is not prewired to the boot area. They were originally (my 1996 Xj6 was) but i remember we took them out on later models so a bit of a bitch to put the interchanger in now. To check if your has a loom go into the boot opps sorry trunk and you will see the carpet covering the back of the seat and fuel tank. If you hook you fingers in the top edge and gently pull it towards you around the area were the right hand trunk lid hinge is you can look behind the carpet.

If you find a 8 DIN plug with a cover lying about then you are in luck and the car has the loom in. If not then its a much tougher job.

If you are in luck you must use an apline changer chm-s630 and there are a few sites on the web who adverticse changers for about $200. Be careful though these units need to be supplied with an adaptor box or they will not connect to the loom.

Try www.addacdchanger.co.uk as a start.

Ref nav systems if you havent got one then dont even try to add one unless is dash mounted like a TOMTOM. To try and fit an OE one would cost more than its worth.

Nick Clare
Ex Jaguar Product Development Manager
Coventry
England

Submitted by Palantas@pobox.com on Tue, 02/14/2006 - 11:48

I'm not terribly impressed with the factory navigation system in my XJ8. For the cost, I'd recommend buying a Garmin unit.

Pretty young. I'm 23, and my girlfriend's 20.

Michael T. Vawter

2000 XJ8
2002 X-Type
1996 XJ6 (Sold)