[C5 X7] Random collection of (mostly unintelligent) questions.

[the-termin8r]

I've been building up a list of questions I've been meaning to ask, but didn't want to open a whole new thread for each one. Some of these are hypothetical (out of curiosity) and I'm not looking to act on them because they'd be too much faff. Likewise, I also expect the answer to most of these to be 'no', but I figured it was worth asking for the record.

Actual questions:

• With the car off, is it safe to unplug the parking brake / suspension control cluster from the loom without the parking brake letting go? The silver trim is peeling on mine and I want to glue it back down. Unplugging it would be the least annoying way to do it. I'm assuming it's a momentary PTM / PTB switch. And the controller on the other end waits for a pulse from the switch as opposed to relying on the switch being permenantly closed for it to apply the parking brake.

• I noticed that the inside of my glove box lid had to small clips (like the pic below), does anyone know what they're for?
  

• What sort of USB stick and file formats does the RD45 take? I plugged a 16GB (USB 2.0) stick formated as FAT32 with a single mp3 file on it and it gave me an error (it was fast enough that I couldn't finish reading it) and didn't read the stick.

• I recently upgraded from an RD4 to an RD45, which means I can finally use all the buttons on my wheel. What's always bugged me is that the wheel doesn't have a source button. I also noticed that the voice control button on the indicator stalk doesn't do anything (probably because I need a higher spec HU). Is it possible to remap that button to be a source button or something else? Or in general, is it possible to remap any buttons without physically changing wiring?

Semi-hypothetical questions:

• I've read several threads on this and answers are always along the lines of "yesn't", but are also a bit confusing. Provided I could source them, would it actually be possible to retrofit electrochrome door mirros? I currently have an electrochrome rearview and heated door mirrors with memory (and reverse tilting if that matters). My C5 is a 59 plate Exclusive.

• I know that higher spec X7s came with 'better' (read: less-worse) speakers. Is it possible to retrofit those better speakers to an RD45 system without having to rewire things or do they require an amp (or better HU)?

• I know LDS tanks are prone to exploding if not treated like royalty. Has anyone ever made / experimented with a metal version? I feel like if it's such a weakpoint, it shouldn't be too difficult (for someone who knows what they're doing) to stamp out and weld together a metal copy .

Fully hypothetical questions:

• Is it possible to retrofit seat heating controls to my existing seats (I have the electirc fabric-leather-hybrid seats) or are the heating elements just not there at all because these aren't full-leather seats?

• Is it possible to fit a LHD drivers' heated seat and memory controls as a RHD passengers' seat so that the passenger has the massage fucntion and memory as well?

[wheeler]

the little clips on the inside of the glovebox lid are for holding a pen.

[GiveMeABreak]

1) Just chock the wheels, but the parking brake should remain applied. When unplugging the electrical connector (if you still have the battery connected) it may come to life and attempt to re-apply the brake.

2) Sorry, that horizontal recess in the lid is nothing technical - just a simple holder for a pen / pencil.

3) Depending on RD45 level it may not be able to read music files from USB. There are 2 types of system one of which supports media mp3 files. If this is your case, ensure you do not exceed the recommended bitrate for MP3s of about 320kbps Max.

4) As I read this after the previous question - having an original RD4 may also have an impact on the RD45 playing MP3 via USB if it is not configured correctly.

5) The Voice comnmands are only for telematics systems (RT4, MyWay, eMyWay, Navidrive 3D, 7" Touchscreen SMEG) as far as the X7 goes. There is no mapping ability for the stalk. These are all CAN controlled functions.

Semi Hypo Questions:

1) There are various types of mirrors and each has different wiring looms and controls. The electrochrome mirrors fitted to vehicles with these as standard are linked to the rear view mirror system and the sunlight sensor. Without the correct wiring it won't work.

2) Speakers: The X7 could be specified with an HiFi amplifier system which had different speakers and a woofer in the rear boot and the amp inside the dash. Requires extensive re-wiring to retrofit.

3) LDS tank - I suspect this has to be made of plastic whether for safety reasons in an accident and / or because of reaction of LDS with the metal. I would leave well alone and just follow the common sense approach:

viewtopic.php?t=62058

Seats: The heating elements are not there and aren't available separately without buying new pads or back rests which are prohibitively expensive and the leather is bonded to the seats, so a no go really. You'll also require the wiring and the control units, relays and fuses elsewhere in the vehicle.

Passenger seat - No, not possible.

[Jay-Bruce]

Nice to see someone else being enthusiastic on their X7

WRT the handbrake, disconnect the battery and there is no chance of the ECU disengaging the handbrake.

The clip - it's for a pen.

Ours has NG4, and runs nearly everything I've plugged into it, I would have thought the pen drive you described should be legible to the head unit. Fif it list the file but couldn't play it, or did it flag up an error reading the pen drive?

I'm not 100% but I think it's NG4 & RNEG that have voice functionality, not the RD series? Maybe wait to a grown up answers that one though?

I think the exclusives have heated mirrors as standard, and looking at the brochure, which I was going to attach to this post, but I don't have permission to upload PDFs, the chromatic mirrors are part of the "Detection Pack 2" which includes the "front parking sensors with parking space gap monitor", so if you have a button down by your right dash vent with a symbol pertaining to parking there's a fighting chance the car actually had the system. Failing which, I'd take a look behind the mirror, pretty simple to pop a glass out from what I've seen, adjust the mirror down, plastic trim tool to pry it off, look for spare wire/plugs behind the glass and since heated mirrors are standard, any loose wires can ONLY be your mirror chromatic wiring.

I wouldn't go chasing 15 year old OEM speakers, even less so super rare option configuration on a not very common car. If it's any help I'm planning on redoing our one with Vibe speakers, which might sound like halfords boy racery nonsense, but actually are a British made, clean tight sounding line of products for not ludicrous money, hope that helps you?

Even if "computer says no" to adding OE heaters to your car, ebay seat heater kits are remarkably god, especially for the money. I fitted a set to our Discovery 300tdi, correction I did the wiring on them, my mate did the upholstery, but yeah, 40 bux would get you a kit, mount the heater switch on the side of the seat base, it's not going to spoil the look of your dashboard by being a switch obviously out of place.

[the-termin8r]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

3) Depending on RD45 level it may not be able to read music files from USB. There are 2 types of system one of which supports media mp3 files. If this is your case, ensure you do not exceed the recommended bitrate for MP3s of about 320kbps Max.

4) As I read this after the previous question - having an original RD4 may also have an impact on the RD45 playing MP3 via USB if it is not configured correctly.

I see. The RD45 I have from what I can work out is from the final Chinese facelift (got it off AliExpress, works just fine). I'll play around with the bit rate on some files. I went in with Diagbox after I did the swap, but don't remember if I fiddled with any USB settings. This also prompts me to ask another question. If it has a USB function, but can't read music, what's the point of the port? Or is it not meant for the end user?

Did it list the file but couldn't play it, or did it flag up an error reading the pen drive?

It very quickly popped an error on the screen that vanished before I could finish reading it, but from what little I saw, it was to the effect of "USB not recognised."

I'm not 100% but I think it's NG4 & RNEG that have voice functionality, not the RD series? Maybe wait to a grown up answers that one though?

I figured as much. I'm not after voice control, just wanted to put that button to use for something.

so if you have a button down by your right dash vent with a symbol pertaining to parking there's a fighting chance the car actually had the system. Failing which, I'd take a look behind the mirror, pretty simple to pop a glass out from what I've seen, adjust the mirror down, plastic trim tool to pry it off, look for spare wire/plugs behind the glass and since heated mirrors are standard, any loose wires can ONLY be your mirror chromatic wiring.

I've only got rear sensors. I also only have the heating element connections in my mirrors. I was trying to sort out the intermittent memory on my left mirror a few weeks ago and had to remove the glass. No loose elecrochrome loom from what I could see.

If it's any help I'm planning on redoing our one with Vibe speakers, which might sound like halfords boy racery nonsense, but actually are a British made, clean tight sounding line of products for not ludicrous money, hope that helps you?

I'll keep a look out for your post. I'm not that desparate to swap them out on mine. I'm only looking for pretty much drop-in replacements for all the drivers. I don't want to mess with wiring an extra amp and whatnot. If that's not an option, I'll leave it as is.

Even if "computer says no" to adding OE heaters to your car, ebay seat heater kits are remarkably god, especially for the money. I fitted a set to our Discovery 300tdi, correction I did the wiring on them, my mate did the upholstery, but yeah, 40 bux would get you a kit, mount the heater switch on the side of the seat base, it's not going to spoil the look of your dashboard by being a switch obviously out of place.

I'm not actually after seat heaters, was just more curious how complicated it would be to bring the seats to top spec for the sake of it. I'm one of those freaks who wears a t-shirt and shorts all year 'round. I do however wish I had a heated steering wheel LOL.

[Jay-Bruce]

It's going to be late summer before I do the speaker upgrade on our X7, but I'll ping you in the post when I do it.