Towbar and coding current issues. FYI.

[petebalf]

FYI there are currently problems with Tiguan towbars availablity for install, for vehicles after a certain build date..

This all came about when I tried to arrange a Hayman Reese bar with coding. None available and not listed on Hayman Reese website at moment. Why? My towbar installer said it had something to do with hayman Reese responding to VW coding issues that have arisen. Hayman Reese indicated their engineers were talking to VW engineers to resolve it, with no date locked in yet.
We therefore went down the rabbit hole of the current towbar and coding installation problems for Tiguans, but also I suspect for other models too.
I investigated further by asking VW parts. Apparently there are new European coding regs and VW are yet to release compliant coding. A link to the regs explanation is here.
Why the latest UNECE regulations are making OEMs think twice about configuration management
So apparently Hayman Reese in response has pulled all their bars and coding for any years (from 2016?) for the time being.

However VW still has bars and coding for certain dates.
Further investigation showed that the build date affected is from the 8th week of feb 2024.
My build is July 2023. So I was able to have an OEM one installed by VW on Tuesday. (for $500 more buckaroos than Hayman Reese!)
Now next week we get our auto elec to whack a 12 pin on and redarc on.

This was purely my experience as of a week or two ago with all this, I suggest you check yourself should you be looking at installing.

[syncro]

I'd be looking at other brands anyway. There are better quality ones.

[DV52]

@petebalf: Hi.

Yes indeed!! VAG's adoption of the new UNECE regulations on their latest fleet of cars extends way further than just tow-bars - the regulations affect virtually ALL aspects of the cars' control systems! UNECE = United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and its member States include Europe, North America and Asia (it's a very BIG organization)

So, the deities on the VAG mother-ship have made a paradigm-shift decision and this problem (being the "UNECE" problem) is endemic to EVERY new model across the entire suite of VAG Brands (i.e. VW, Audi etc). In part, the adoption of UNECE regulations has been driven by the need for better cyber-security for the latest, more-sophisticated software in modern cars - which now include OTA (Over-The-Air updates = software upgrades delivered to the car wirelessly).

BUT, the UNECE regulations also have the added benefit for the manufacturer to restrict access to non-OEM equipment on these cars! Your case of the Reece tow-bars is just one of countless examples of the enhanced advantage of these regulations for VAG. My advice is don't expect a fix to this problem soon because it ain't in the shareholder's interest to find a solution

The other (perhaps more important) issue for owners of these cars is the impact of the new UNECE regulations on what is called "the right to repair" because the enhanced security also greatly restricts the ability to use independent workshops for normal/fault-repair maintenance (meaning the value of dealerships is enhanced)

I bet that when new car buyers throw a very large amount of money at VW/Audi that no mention is made that the purchase virtually creates a captured customer for the life-cycle of the vehicle!! We live in interesting times!!

Don

[petebalf]

Thanks Don.
Interesting times? Not sure that's the word for it.

[petebalf]

Don,
I mentioned my build date was earlier than the date affected. July 2023 vs Feb 2024. Do you think that would mean what you mentioned about updates relating to non-oem equipment other than a towbar AND more importantly, as you state, quote..because the enhanced security also greatly restricts the ability to use independent workshops for normal/fault-repair maintenance (meaning the value of dealerships is enhanced).
I have found a good (non-dealership) service centre for this car that services European vehicles. I was hoping to use them for the servicing. I would be concerned now if they were cut out of the equation by a strangling by VW.

Dastardly times more like.

[DV52]

Pete: OK - I guess the first thing to confirm about this car is to determine exactly what protection protocol is used. Alas just knowing the build date of the vehicle isn't sufficient for this purpose because it really depends-on what particular decision was made for the production run on the VW assembly-line when the car was built. This car uses a MQB-evo platform - which means that it could be infected with a number of different protection protocols.

Because this car was built well after the introduction date of MQB-evo (2020), it's likely to have either SFD, or SFD2 protection. "UNECE" protection that I discussed in my first reply =SFD2.

If the car has SFD protection, stuff becomes easier in terms of accessing modules and therefore it's easier to manage normal maintenance problems by independent workshops and for DIY. That said, there are still access prohibitions for some maintenance tasks because of the need to connect to VAG's central servers for these activities. So it really depends on the facilities that independent workshops has subscribed-for (meaning paid money to VAG)

HOWEVER - stuff becomes much more restrictive if the car has SFD2 protection (as I described in my first response) and the car owner elects NOT to use the dealer - at least this is the case at present!

The way to find-out which protection protocol a MQB-evo platform car has - you need to look at the module data in the SCAN report. To do this, a good quality diagnostic device is needed.

So, it all starts with the SCAN report!!

Don

[kate6]

If your July 2023 Tiguan still only has SFD (and not SFD2), then chances are good that your independent shop can still handle coding and regular servicing. But you really need a full scan (VCDS, ODIS etc.) to confirm what protection protocol you’ve got. Build date alone isn’t enough, sadly.

Had drama myself with Hayman Reese towbar – all thanks to UNECE changes. Feels like VW is tightening the leash. If your indie garage is solid, stick with them, but definitely get that scan done first to know what you’re up against!

[petebalf]

Thank you Don and Kate.
Tightening the leash? Sheeesh, I didn't pay a lot of money to have a leash around my neck. I believe in right to repair and aftermarket maintenance and hardware suppliers. I know by choosing VW I have relinquished some of that, I'm not stupid. And don't get me started on Software as a Subscription. All brought out with happy spin but on investigation holds absolutely nothing for the good of the customer.
When I take it for its service at my Indie place I will get them to do a scan with these things in mind.
cheers
Pete