MMI Green Menu?

[acr2001]

So, apparently Vag Can Pro can enable the 'green' menu in the A3 8V.

VCDS apparently cannot.

Does anyone know why this is? It seems like we should be able to change the same codes in VCDS to achieve the same result. Is it a matter of not knowing the security code?

These are the instructions to enable the menu in VCP (translated from German):

Connect control unit 5F and enter the Engineering Mode

STG 5F -> Personalization -> Developers messages -> Active

STG 5F -> Personalization -> STG reset

The Hidden menu can be accessed via the shortcut key LEFT BACK and lower key. To exit, press MENU.

 

[DJAlix]

I had a thread running on the RossTech forums as I was getting "request out of range" when trying to activate developer mode. Their reply was that they don't know why this is not working at the moment and that developing VCDS for the 8V was hard as they do not have access to a car for testing.

 

[acr2001]

I had a thread running on the RossTech forums as I was getting "request out of range" when trying to activate developer mode. Their reply was that they don't know why this is not working at the moment and that developing VCDS for the 8V was hard as they do not have access to a car for testing.

Really appreciate your answer and all the work you do!

I have to say I am pretty disappointed in the lack of support that Ross-Tech is giving this model and in general lately. They seem to be stagnating. They're going to lose to a competitor like VCP at this rate.

 

[DJAlix]

Thanks

RossTech have their reasons, mainly no access to an 8V, which is understandable given the cost. I am looking at grabbing a VCP cable in the next few weeks in order to continue with my projects VCP does look good but VCDS seems to be a better all round product.

 

[acr2001]

I was under the impression that the out of range response often came up if a security code was needed? Maybe that's the problem? Just ordered a micro-can cable from Ross-Tech, and really wishing I could figure out the dev menu as well as enabling drive select (some say a hardware module is required but I find it hard to believe...)

 

[desertstorm]

I think Ross Tech have done a great done over the years upgrading and supporting the product. There are not that many things that the average person might want to do and can't. I am sure in the fullness of time the support for the 8V car will improve.
The great thing with VCDS is that you basically have free updates for life with the software.
Looking at VAG CAN Pro it looks like you are having to pay for updates after 12 months, and there are various upgrades and extra functionality available that are all extra.
VCDS is a high level tool that doesn't rewrite or flash modules, I think you are less likely to have an issue with VCDS than you are with VAG CAN Pro.

 

[DJAlix]

I was under the impression that the out of range response often came up if a security code was needed? Maybe that's the problem? Just ordered a micro-can cable from Ross-Tech, and really wishing I could figure out the dev menu as well as enabling drive select (some say a hardware module is required but I find it hard to believe...)

If a code is needed then a security access prompt will pop up. I have found that Request Out of Range pops up under the following conditions:

• Trying to perform Adaptations with the the engine off, when the Adaptation in question needs the engine to be on.
• Trying to perform Adaptations for modules which the car does not have. (related more to sub modules like an RLFS i guess)
• Trying to perform an Adaptation which is not supported by the accessed / connected module. (Revision or Firmware related)
• Trying to perform an Adaptation during an extended coding session (module memory leak?), normally solved via cycling the engine on / off and then ignition back to first position.

I have prolly come across more scenarios but cannot remember them at this ungodly hour

 

[kc1174]

I was under the impression that the out of range response often came up if a security code was needed? Maybe that's the problem? Just ordered a micro-can cable from Ross-Tech, and really wishing I could figure out the dev menu as well as enabling drive select (some say a hardware module is required but I find it hard to believe...)

On the Audi drive select, I've been trying to order this for months now l (manual 8V0063765A and automatic 8V0063765). Live stock status at various dealers and at ECS has it out of stock in Germany. Don't think it exists and no one knows what it actually is. BKS thought it was a dongle that codes something via the OBDII port. On a scan (infotainment I think) I did find that Charisma is enabled though which is apparently what needs to be enabled in the MMI green menu on other models. I managed to get ADS up on the car menu though - nice pic of my car and no ADS options.. Unfortunately the byte I used to enable it in MMI a few months back has disappeared in the latest VCDS version which was odd.

 

[acr2001]

DJAlix - thanks for the info! My ross-tech cable is in the mail, if there is anything I can test or send you from a 'virgin' unmodified US car let me know.

kc1174 - I don't have a link for you, but I did some translation on one of the German forums and I can tell you what you get in the package - 2 wires and zip ties which connect the 'drive select' button (assuming you purchase the switch panel with it) to one of the modules. That is ALL that you get, and an access code that allows your dealer to do the programming to turn ADS on. So what that means is that it is totally doable in VCDS if we / ross-tech could just figure out the changes needed!

As far as the green menu - you actually had it working? Isn't there a way with VCDS to manually modify any byte even if it's not labeled in VCDS? Excuse such a newbie question please.

 

[DJAlix]

DJAlix - thanks for the info! My ross-tech cable is in the mail, if there is anything I can test or send you from a 'virgin' unmodified US car let me know.

kc1174 - I don't have a link for you, but I did some translation on one of the German forums and I can tell you what you get in the package - 2 wires and zip ties which connect the 'drive select' button (assuming you purchase the switch panel with it) to one of the modules. That is ALL that you get, and an access code that allows your dealer to do the programming to turn ADS on. So what that means is that it is totally doable in VCDS if we / ross-tech could just figure out the changes needed!

As far as the green menu - you actually had it working? Isn't there a way with VCDS to manually modify any byte even if it's not labeled in VCDS? Excuse such a newbie question please.

Would be great if you could send over a full set of adaptation maps, along with Car type and spec This is something you should do while your car is still "a virgin" as should something go wrong you will have default settings to work from while backing out any problem changes.

re Audi Drive Select, I found this the other day while researching for other forum members on here.

Green Menu - Any of the Bytes and Bits can be adjusted via VCDS (long coding helper) as long as the software is aware of them, and they don't have to be labeled for this. Coding blind is not a good idea tho. If the software is not aware of them, thats when the "request out of range" message normally pops up. To add to my list of common reasons as to why this message pops up, information found at stupid o'clock this morning, this message can also be caused depending on how your WSC, VZ and Equipment Numbers are set within User Interface and Identification. I have not had a chance to test as yet but it has been suggested that changing these to 12345 - 123 - 12345 can resolve this error. This will take VCDS out of stealth mode and also write the codes to the module you are working on. Audi WILL be able to detect this should your car be in a dealer for any reason. To return VCDS to stealth mode you need to:

• Start VCDS
• Once at the Main Screen right click on the Title Bar
• Select Delete config file and close from the menu
• Restart VCDS

 

[acr2001]

Would be great if you could send over a full set of adaptation maps, along with Car type and spec This is something you should do while your car is still "a virgin" as should something go wrong you will have default settings to work from while backing out any problem changes.

re Audi Drive Select, I found this the other day while researching for other forum members on here.

Green Menu - Any of the Bytes and Bits can be adjusted via VCDS (long coding helper) as long as the software is aware of them, and they don't have to be labeled for this. Coding blind is not a good idea tho. If the software is not aware of them, thats when the "request out of range" message normally pops up. To add to my list of common reasons as to why this message pops up, information found at stupid o'clock this morning, this message can also be caused depending on how your WSC, VZ and Equipment Numbers are set within User Interface and Identification. I have not had a chance to test as yet but it has been suggested that changing these to 12345 - 123 - 12345 can resolve this error. This will take VCDS out of stealth mode and also write the codes to the module you are working on. Audi WILL be able to detect this should your car be in a dealer for any reason. To return VCDS to stealth mode you need to:

• Start VCDS
• Once at the Main Screen right click on the Title Bar
• Select Delete config file and close from the menu
• Restart VCDS

I will post adaptation map and car info when I get the cable.
Interesting about changing the VCDS ID... leaves me with this question: once you've done that, is there a way to go back and set the ID in the module back to factory so the dealer cannot see you've been in there? Or does it keep a log that cannot be deleted?

About the 'green menu' - that makes sense to me. The question then is, how do we get our hands on some kind of map of 'green menu' settings so that we know what we can change and where it is located?

 

[DJAlix]

Will pm you my email

For the VCDS ID's, I am not sure to be honest. I need to find the time to do some further reading.

 

[acr2001]

Will pm you my email

For the VCDS ID's, I am not sure to be honest. I need to find the time to do some further reading.

As do I! Send any good resources you have my way. Shame I can't speak German, it seems they are ahead of us on this.

 

[DJAlix]

As do I! Send any good resources you have my way. Shame I can't speak German, it seems they are ahead of us on this.

There is a guy in Munich who has a side- business revolving around VCDS and VCP. Some of the stuff he has been doing is amazing across a number of different MQB cars, mainly SEAT. Nice guy but he is not giving anything away for free As everything is in German I guess anyone that understands the language has a head start.

All my findings so far have been a mix of "blind but kinda educated" guesses and having the balls to test stuff on my own car. I was working for Siemens for 10 years so have a basic understanding of German but Google Translate has a pinned tab in my browser and iTranslate is open 24/7 in my toolbar lol

 

[acr2001]

There is a guy in Munich who has a side- business revolving around VCDS and VCP. Some of the stuff he has been doing is amazing across a number of different MQB cars, mainly SEAT. Nice guy but he is not giving anything away for free As everything is in German I guess anyone that understands the language has a head start.

All my findings so far have been a mix of "blind but kinda educated" guesses and having the balls to test stuff on my own car. I was working for Siemens for 10 years so have a basic understanding of German but Google Translate has a pinned tab in my browser and iTranslate is open 24/7 in my toolbar lol

Hah, same here with Google Translate. I still have to wrap my head around VCDS and the risk of truly bricking my car VS just ******* it off and being able to revert back to previous settings. If I screw up a module I could probably just play dumb at the dealer to have them reflash it, but I'd much rather not, and I expect I'll only get a 'free pass' with them one time otherwise it will be too obvious that I'm tinkering.

 

[DJAlix]

Hah, same here with Google Translate. I still have to wrap my head around VCDS and the risk of truly bricking my car VS just ******* it off and being able to revert back to previous settings. If I screw up a module I could probably just play dumb at the dealer to have them reflash it, but I'd much rather not, and I expect I'll only get a 'free pass' with them one time otherwise it will be too obvious that I'm tinkering.

To be honest I think the worst "enthusiastic" users like us can do is lock a module out by entering an incorrect security access code too many times, but for the most part all you need to do to resolve this is to wait out the lock timer and then not make the same mistake again. Yes, we could mash a load of random numbers and tick a load of bit boxes also, which could really mess things up, but you have to maintain a level of self control and logic This is why I stay away from posting / sharing tweaks which could be illegal in some countries or anything which could affect the safety systems of a car, of which there are a lot of mods lol

 

[DJAlix]

Well I have caved in and just ordered VCP. Should have it in a few days

 

[acr2001]

I'm starting to feel like I should have bought this instead of the VCDS cable. It's actually cheaper since there is no tax charged to US, plus I imagine it could do all of the same coding VCDS could do... hmm

 

[DJAlix]

Am more than happy with VCDS to be honest, great bit of kit and will never be without it. From what I have been reading a lot of professionals have VCDS, VCP and a few others within their tool sets as each have their own plus points. Many have said that VCP is nice and does things which VCDS can't but that VCDS is a more rounded and solid product. I can see VCDS still being my "go to" tool.

 

[acr2001]

I guess I'm just surprised one of these tools can't do everything that the others can. Guess I'm speaking too soon as I haven't even received the VCDS cable yet.

Shame they can't share with one another!

 

[DJAlix]

I guess RossTech look at it from a support and legality point of view, in order to protect both themselves and customers. You can do damage with VCDS but it's limited. For example not including features like module firmware flashing, and the possible fallout from it, will reduce the number of support requests and thus free up resources for other works, prolly keeps staffing numbers down also. No component protection removal which could in theory allow stolen items to be sold on and retrofitted. VIM support, as I guess RT don't want to be blamed for someone wrapping their new car around a lamppost because that person driving was too busy watching midget porn to pay better attention to the road. Licensing issues with SatNav and Traffic features also etc etc

Looks like VCP has gone the other way and developed a full service workshop tool and does not really worry about all these things, and maybe in doing so the quality of the product suffers, no idea. Maybe some features are used "at your own risk" and are not supported even though possible?

Would be nice to just have one tool, in my main business (Music) it would be great and save a lot of money and learning time, but then all the different software and hardware have their own advantages.