Hello all. This is my first post and I hope you can help.
I have a new S-Type that I purchased with the standard sound system. Every
thing is fine, but I need a bit more "umph" in the music department.
I've been told by the dealership that the upgraded sound system can only be
installed at the factory so I am looking for alternatives.
When I look down in the spare tire well, I see some unused connectors on the
driver's side below where the premium sound package with CD changer would
normally be installed.
I'm guessing / hoping that those connectors may be for the audio system and
that maybe the wires run all the way back to the head-end radio / CD player
unit in the dash.
My plan is to install a new amp in the car and it'd be great if I could wire
it into the stock system with a minimum of work.
Does anybody have any thoughts on adding amplifiers to a new S-Type or
suggestions on using any of the existing stuff?
Or. . . was the dealer right about how a premium sound system can only be
installed by those clever blokes back on the British assembly line.
It'd be great if I could just "plug-in" to connectors that are already
there.
Thank you in advance for any and all help you can offer me.
Cheers!
Jim
I don't really have answers to your questions, but -
I have a 2003 S-type with the premium sound package. I believe the premium
sound package includes upgraded speakers, a higher-end power amp, and six-CD
changer. In the trunk, on the driver's side, there is a storage area with a
door that houses both the CD changer and the power amplifier. The in-dash head
unit provides access to both the single in-dash CD player and the six-CD
changer in the trunk. The question is whether or not the cars without the
premium audio are wired for it anyway, and I don't know the answer to that. I
would tend to guess that they aren't, since this is only a factory-installed
option, but I have no idea what those wires are that you're seeing.
My guess would be, however, that a fair amount of re-wiring would be necessary,
regardless. My advice would be to get someone at Jaguar service to answer your
questions, or find a local high-end car audio store with a pro installer to
help you.
By the way, after comparing the different systems, I decided that I had to have
an S-type with the premium audio. The only car in my area at the time that was
in the color I wanted (British racing green), and had premium sound, ALSO had
the V8, which I didn't really need. I got the car anyway, so I view it as a
very expensive audio system. :) I really enjoy it, though, and couldn't
imagine having a car without this audio system or something comparable ever
again. It sounds 100% better than the Bose system that I had in my previous
car (an Acura).
Michael W.
Chicago, IL, USA
>I have a new S-Type that I purchased with the standard sound system. Every
>thing is fine, but I need a bit more "umph" in the music department.
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
>Jim