Back in 2005 I bought a VCDS cable for my then car, and because I bought the right, CAN-compatible cable, that’s done me well for 17 years, and pretty much copes with any VAG car up to 2018.
Then I bought a 2018 car, and started seeing this issue:
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Address 4B: Multifunc. Module
Interface not compatible.
Please upgrade to a current Ross-Tech interface.
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So a new interface is required.
The interfaces aren’t cheap, as they also act as a key for the software, and eligibility for lifetime upgrades and support. The original HEX+CAN USB was, i think, around £200 or so, and its replacement, the HEX V2, comes in at £225-£450, depending on how many cars you need to do the more advanced stuff on.
Interfaces can be traded in for upgrade, but after asking the nice people at Gendan about it, the only way to trade in against a 3 VIN or 10 VIN licence is to send my old cable back to the USA, with the associated hassle and carriage/customs charges that incurs, all for £100 trade-in.
Added to this is that the original cable works completely on cars up to 2018, and has no VIN limitation, and actually, the sane option is either to just keep it for older cars, or sell it. I think it’s most likely I’ll retain it for the older car in the household and for doing people favours, leaving me with 2 spare VIN slots for future use with the new cable.
[edit 2022-12-31]
In an absolutely amazing bit of logistics, the interface arrived, and sure enough the complaint message has gone, and the multifunction module (actually a control module for lighting that does stuff like cornering lights) shows up:
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Address 4B: Multifunc. Module (J745) Labels:| 3Q0-907-338-V1.clb
Part No SW: 3Q0 907 338 HW: 3Q0 907 338
Component: FCM MQB Low 002 0286
Serial number: 030118XXXXXXXXX
Coding: 000000070100094E00000900000000000000000000000000000000000000
Shop #: WSC 00049 770 00127
ASAM Dataset: EV_MultiModulContiVW48X 001010
ROD: EV_MultiModulContiVW48X_001.rod
VCID: 72BDD6AC5427780BE17-8026
No fault code found.
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as does the infotainment system, with a logged error from when it didn’t have a SD card with maps plugged in that couldn’t be seen, never mind cleared, previously:
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Address 5F: Information Electr. (J794) Labels:| 5F0-035-MIB-STD2.clb
Part No SW: 5QA 035 874 HW: 5QA 035 874
Component: MU-S-ND-ER H41 0468
Serial number: SEZAZXXXXXXXXX
Coding: 04738001FF0A000011110101008808002F0101E601200400C6
Shop #: WSC 02391 785 00200
ASAM Dataset: EV_MUStd6C3TSAT 001015
ROD: EV_MUStd6C3TSAT_SE37.rod
VCID: 025D866C6487488BF17-8056
Display and control head 1 for information electronics:
Subsystem 1 - Part No SW: 5F0 919 606 HW: 5F0 919 606
Component: ABTm-2_8-CR H41 1042
Serial number: SEZ8ZXXXXXXXXX
Data carrier:
Subsystem 2 - Part No SW: 6P0 919 866 BT HW: -----------
Component: ECE AS 2022 --- 1730
Serial number: --------------------
1 Fault Found:
2571 - Navigation System
B126C F2 [008] - Navigation Database not Enabled
Intermittent - Confirmed - Tested Since Memory Clear
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00000001
Fault Priority: 6
Fault Frequency: 217
Reset counter: 32
Mileage: 48692 km
Date: 2022.11.12
Time: 14:35:03
Voltage terminal 30: 12.4 V
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