Quote:
Originally Posted by KrustyKustom
So, I have bought a used one. (hope it is good). Taking it to a independant shop with subscription service Xentry to get it coded. I downloaded the code from my SAM onto a thumb drive through my Chinese Xentry, but I cannot upload to the SAM with the C4 version as it looks for a server login.
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Yep that is the problem with the cloned diagnostic units. It’s worse on a 212 and 166, not only can you not upload to the modules, you can’t do the download nor change options (version coding) without logging in. All you can do is scan for faults, run the guided tests, and you can write to the maintenance log (when completing services). Granted that is better than nothing but going forward they really have it locked down.
It’s like the gps maps, on the 211 you can just pop a dvd in there and as long as the data is valid (Meaning a good copy) it will accept it. On the newer models the map comes on an SD card that is hard coded to the VIN. Meaning that you have no choice but the dealer.
On my 211 I bought an EBay copy of the last update that will ever be made (2014) for about $20. MB still selling for $350. I normally don’t advocate piracy (I write code for a living so yeah it’s personal) but come on guys, I am not paying $350 for a 5 year old map that has no support path going forward. I just got tired of it telling me I was off the road every time I drove on a section of roadway near my house that was reconfigured in 2005.
So that same thing will happen to the later models.
I think you are going to see people start offering board level repair of these modules as a service. There are people out there with access to specialized tools and knowledge to be able to troubleshoot these boards.