Unoffical empeg BBS

Quick Links: Empeg FAQ | RioCar.Org | Hijack | BigDisk Builder | jEmplode | emphatic
Repairs: Repairs

Topic Options
#277896 - 18/03/2006 19:37 XK8 Install Gallery
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Now online here.

Rob

Top
#277897 - 18/03/2006 19:47 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: rob]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
I think that the black buttons you can get from FireFox31 look much better than the stock grey ones, especially for a less obviously not-stock installation:



I mention it since you talked about moving away from the lighted buttons to a more stock appearance.
_________________________
Bitt Faulk

Top
#277898 - 18/03/2006 20:30 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: wfaulk]
sein
old hand

Registered: 07/01/2005
Posts: 893
Loc: Sector ZZ9pZa
Black buttons.... you *need* black buttons!

That install looks amazing! I hope you are coming to the meet, I'd love to hear it!
_________________________
Hussein

Top
#277899 - 18/03/2006 20:35 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: rob]
sein
old hand

Registered: 07/01/2005
Posts: 893
Loc: Sector ZZ9pZa
Quote:
Undocking requires moving the gear selector to Neutral, which is a pain as it locks in park until ignition and foot brake are applied.

That is the best security measure ever!
_________________________
Hussein

Top
#277900 - 18/03/2006 21:50 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: sein]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Quote:
Quote:
Undocking requires moving the gear selector to Neutral, which is a pain as it locks in park until ignition and foot brake are applied.

That is the best security measure ever!

You know, I hadn't even thought of that! I wonder how strong the selector lock motor is..

Rob

Top
#277901 - 18/03/2006 21:52 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: wfaulk]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Quote:
I think that the black buttons you can get from FireFox31 look much better than the stock grey ones, especially for a less obviously not-stock installation:

Hmm, that black & smoke combination might look pretty good. The instrument illumination is quite close to the untinted colour of the VFD. I think I have a set somewhere..

Cheers

Rob

Top
#277902 - 19/03/2006 16:10 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: rob]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
If you somehow don't have a set, just send me your address.

A brilliant stealth install in the most beautiful car on the road!! Did they have to fabricate the panel around the empeg or was that stock that you cut into? Is it possible/easy to replace the stock system?

And, perhaps a sore question, but was the 1997 XK8 still made by Jaguar and not Ford? I've assumed all XK8's were.
_________________________
-
FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

Top
#277903 - 20/03/2006 11:57 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: FireFox31]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
The fascia surround was fabricated, but it was pretty easy. You can get away with not fabricating anything but the head unit would sit further back into the dash - with hindsight I think that might have been a good thing as it would have reduced glare on the screen. I may move it back by 5 or 10mm.

This install does replace the stock system. It's not hard - the factory head unit is DIN behind its oversized front panel (as is the case with most factory units now). I'm told it was quite tight running cables front to rear.

The XK8 was Jaguar's first new model under Ford ownership. It was designed entirely by Jaguar but unquestionably benefits from Ford QA and manufacturing processes. It is one of the most reliable Jags ever made, despite a bit of an issue with Nikasil linings and timing chain tensioners on early models. The build quality is excellent. Contrary to popular rumour, the V8 engine was designed by Jaguar from scratch and is not a Ford unit (although Ford now use it in some of their models).

I'm visiting the XK production line in May which should be interesting!

Rob

Top
#277904 - 21/03/2006 14:23 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: rob]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Quote:
I'm visiting the XK production line in May which should be interesting!


I'm sure it doesn't quite look like this

Top
#277905 - 25/03/2006 17:44 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: julf]
Robotic
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/04/2005
Posts: 2026
Loc: Seattle transplant
I've just returned from a week in the UK on business, but in a few weeks I'll be there for a longer stay.
A day out to the Jaguar assembly plant or the Morgan factory would be an entertaining diversion. Any more details, guys?

Nice car and empeg work, by the way!
_________________________
10101311 (20GB- backup empeg)
10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)

Top
#277906 - 26/03/2006 06:45 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: Robotic]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
When will you be there, and in what area? At least Morgan is pretty open to visits during the week (office hours). The heritage centre in Gaydon is worth visiting, too.

Top
#277907 - 26/03/2006 22:10 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: Robotic]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
A visit to the XK plant sounds like fun before/after the 06 meet. Do they have an official museum in the UK also? Can't find one online.

Apparently the USA branch of the Jaguar Museum is at Jaguar's North American headquarters in Mahwah, N.J. Geez, so many major corporations based in ol' NJ.
_________________________
-
FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

Top
#277908 - 27/03/2006 05:56 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: julf]
Robotic
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/04/2005
Posts: 2026
Loc: Seattle transplant
The timing of the next trip is still not certain, but it's safe to say 'end of April, begining of May' (probably both).
I'll be out amidst the sheep about an hour north of Manchester, in a small town called Earby.
I don't mind a drive on the weekend to get somewhere of particular interest. Duxford wasn't too far away, for example.
_________________________
10101311 (20GB- backup empeg)
10101466 (2x60GB, Eutronix/GreenLights Blue) (Stolen!)

Top
#277909 - 29/03/2006 13:01 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: FireFox31]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Quote:
Do they have an official museum in the UK also? Can't find one online

I guess the Gaydon Heritage Center is the closest to that, now that it's all owned by Ford (it used to be Rover/British Leyland-dominated).

Top
#277910 - 31/03/2006 00:03 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: rob]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
Where did you find such a perfectly matching cell phone cradle? I'm looking for one to match the Benz. Everything I've found is too generic or too unfinished (ProClip, ProKit).
_________________________
-
FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

Top
#277911 - 31/03/2006 15:59 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: Robotic]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Quote:
A day out to the Jaguar assembly plant or the Morgan factory would be an entertaining diversion. Any more details, guys?

The trip I'm going on is organised by the XK enthusiasts club (www.xkec.co.uk). When I'm there I'll enquire about other tours. It wouldn't be ideal for the empeg meet, as Liverpool is rather a long way from Cambridge!

Rob

Top
#277912 - 31/03/2006 16:01 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: FireFox31]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Quote:
Where did you find such a perfectly matching cell phone cradle? I'm looking for one to match the Benz. Everything I've found is too generic or too unfinished (ProClip, ProKit).

Cambridge Car Audio supplied it. You could call them, or I'll ask them who makes them when I'm there next week.

Rob

Top
#277913 - 08/04/2006 07:52 Alternator Whine [Re: rob]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
The XK went back to Cambs Car Audio yesterday for snag fixing, and they sorted most of it out. Now the only remaining noise is a very low level of alternator whine on the player (audible only in silent or very quiet passages of music, or in pause) and rather louder whine on the tuner.

Has anyone had to deal with alternator whine in tuner mode? Suggestions? The antenna is not amplified (afaik) and the power supply to the module is now supressed.

Rob

Top
#277914 - 09/04/2006 04:08 Re: Alternator Whine [Re: rob]
Shonky
pooh-bah

Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 2009
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
I have whine (not unbearable, just a little annoying) in tuner mode and absolutely none in player mode. I have an antenna amplifier though in my M3. My antenna is in the rear window and the amplifier is in the C pillar nearby. There was definitly no whine with the factory radio either.

So far, I haven't found a solution for a few reasons (don't listen to the radio and I'm currently on a forced 6 month hiatus from driving ).

I know it goes against all sorts of electronic reasoning, but I was initially going to try disconnecting the ground between the antenna and the tuner to break the ground loop. For some reason I think it might help.
_________________________
Christian
#40104192 120Gb (no longer in my E36 M3, won't fit the E46 M3)

Top
#277915 - 20/04/2006 16:58 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: sein]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Quote:
Black buttons.... you *need* black buttons!

Black buttons *and* a dark smoke screen. Looks ace




Attachments
280274-CIMG0309.jpg (407 downloads)


Top
#277916 - 23/04/2006 18:26 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: rob]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
So nice. Blends right in!
_________________________
-
FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

Top
#277917 - 23/04/2006 23:18 Re: XK8 Install Gallery [Re: FireFox31]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
Quote:
matching cell phone cradle

Found it:
Kuda USA
Or the home office in Germany Kuda Phonebase
_________________________
-
FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

Top