Tuesday

I don't why I hesitated so long to buy this from Ross-Tech. Perhaps it's because I coded BMW's for several years using NCSExpert and E-Sys - and the thought of having to relearn a whole new format just made my head spin. However, FedEx arrived today and within an hour of opening the box I was in my car coding away. It's like an archaic version of the way people are coding BMW's these days. It's all HEX underneath to a level it seems, but NCS and E-Sys put an already translated (for the most part) and de-coded UI over it all that basically allows you to scroll through a list of available (and potential) parameters and select them on or off (aktiv/nicht aktiv).

I feel like VCDS has HUGE potential as more modules are played with and as more risks are taken doing unknown changes to modules and documenting the results. I feel like there has to be a factory-level master guide out there somewhere that has all the potential actions of each module.

I am super grateful VCDS exists, but I feel like the potential is just being discovered. When module flashing and VO modification are possible, that's when the real fun begins.

I plan to spend a few hours sometime in the next week going through every single coding and adaptation option in my car. Once I get more comfortable with HEX I may play outside the box a bit. Wouldn't be the first car I've bricked, haha.

So far I managed to turn off the hideous amber lights the US market blessed me with, I turned on taillights with DRL because I'm nostalgic, and I got sweeping gauge needles and a lap timer to grace my instrument panel. I see options for speed limit decoding (in Western Europe the camera reads speed limit signs and displays the information in the car) so I plan to tick a lot of boxes and see what happens. I will report back if I find anything great or damage anything noteworthy.

Lazydog

I got a VCDS cable for Christmas also. This is my first so I am hesitant to just blindly make changes. I am however looking forward to you experiences and will post what I have done and how it turned out.

Here is a list of things I want to do in the near future:

________________________________________
Disable NAV & Phone warning messages while entering data at speed
[5F - Information Electr.] -> Adaptation -> Set channel 2 & 3 to 250
________________________________________
Enable Adaptive brake lights
[46 - Comfort System] [Coding - 07] -> Long Coding Helper -> Byte 8
Bit 0 – Emergency Brake Flashing via Turn Lights active (1 = active)
Bit 1 – Emergency Brake Flashing via Brake Lights active (1 = active)
________________________________________
Enable Automatic Gear selection shown in DIS
[02 – Auto Trans] [Adaptation – 10]
Select “Single Gear Display” from top channel drop down menu
Select “D on/S on” from New value drop down menu
________________________________________
Enable Auxiliary ventilation
[5F - Information Electr.] [Coding - 07] -> Long Coding Helper -> Byte 6
Bit 1 – Set to 1
[Hidden menu] [car] [cardevicelist] [Auxiliary heating] Enable
[08 - Auto HVAC] [Coding - 07] -> Long Coding Helper -> Byte 1
Bit 3 – Set to 1
Bit 4 – Set to 1
________________________________________
Enable Euro parking lights that turn on signal at night
[09 – Cent. Elect.] [Coding - 07] -> Long Coding Helper -> Byte 9
Bit 0 - Set to 1
________________________________________
Enable Hidden menu in MMI
[5F - Information Electr.]
[Adaptation - 10] -> Channel 6
change 0 to 1
Use this hidden menu at your own risk.
Caution: Keep away from the "Bootloader"
________________________________________
Enable Lap Timer
[17 - Instruments] [Coding - 07] -> Long Coding Helper -> Byte 1
Bit 3 - Check the box for "Lap Timer active"
______________________________________
Enable VIM on MMI
[5F - Information Electr.] [Advanced ID - 1A] Note 1st Serial number
[Security Access] Enter Digits 6, 13, 10, 14, 11 of the 1st Serial number
[Adaptation - 10] -> Channel 48
Set to 255
Reset MMI
________________________________________
Adjust Consumption in DIS
[17 - Instruments]
[Adaptation - 10] -> Channel 3
change 100 to xxx (see samples below)

Sample 1 - Calculation based on volume per distance (e.g. l/100km):
DIS: 9,3 l/100 km.
Real: 9,8 l/100 km. (100 * 9,8 / 9,3 = 105,38)
Channel 3 will be changed from 100 to 105

Sample 2 - Calculation based on distance per volume (e.g. MPG):
DIS: 23 MPG.
Real: 24 MPG. (100 * 23 / 24 = 95,83)
Channel 3 will be changed from 100 to 96
________________________________________

MP4.2+6.0

From having used one for years, agreed on being careful at the margin too. There are a lot of documented mods around for various models. But some don't even apply across model years, let alone bodies. Issues like that exist in the A5/Q5/B8 A4 family for example.

In particular, for the OP I would be very careful in the core drivetrain modules--ECU, TCU ABS, etc. Owning a Mini, I actually tasted some of the BMW software and actually have the opposite reaction--kind of stone age, clearly needed the wrapper around it from the aftermarket tool, etc. Regardless, I would be careful here. Even some supposedly okay things like test routines may not be so risk free. Don't ask me how I know... Net, I would stick to areas where others have reported success, typically with the same platform.

And meanwhile as a diagnostic tool, it puts other stuff to shame. For the DIY'er it becomes obvious. But even for warranty service, scanning it to see (or confirm) potentially expensive hidden issues you don't even know are there can save a lot of $ if otherwise only figured out post warranty.

snagitseven

Note that for cars with recent 3G MMI the location may be different as noted below. Also, the second example has been corrected.

Adjust Consumption in DIS
[17 - Instruments]
[Adaptation - 10] ->
Scroll down about 20 items in the drop down list until you see something like "fuel consumption adaptation" or "correct DIS consumption" and select it
change 100 to xxx (see samples below)

Sample 1 - Calculation based on volume per distance (e.g. l/100km):
DIS: 9,3 l/100 km.
Real: 9,8 l/100 km. (100 * 9,8 / 9,3 = 105,38)
Channel 3 will be changed from 100 to 105

Sample 2 - Calculation based on distance per volume (e.g. MPG):
DIS: 24 MPG.
Real: 23 MPG. (100 * 23 / 24 = 95,83)
Channel 3 will be changed from 100 to 96

(Rule of thumb: If the DIS is reading lower than actual, change to a lower number, if the DIS is reading higher than actual change to a higher number).

gideonl2@me.com

Anyone know how to change the number of indicator blinks for the "comfort" highway signals? Toureg seems easy. Q7 seems hard to find.

snagitseven

I've been asking this question since 2009 with no positive result. Not sure it's even possible in VCDS. It might be fixed to the three blink sequence in the design of the signal relay itself.