APR Polo GTI - This months Motor mag (JUN)

[Corey_R]

Nope. It is a flash. Just can't be flashed through the ODB port on some cars due to encryption or whatever. They refer to it as "a bench flash".

It would also mean hand-held flash devices wouldn't work on that particular car.

[Frostee]

Nope. It is a flash. Just can't be flashed through the ODB port on some cars due to encryption or whatever. They refer to it as "a bench flash".

It would also mean hand-held flash devices wouldn't work on that particular car.

By "Bench Flash" does this mean that the ECU needs to be removed from the car? If that's the case how much effort is involved in removing and replacing the unit? Is the removal of the unit necessary to get the appropriate access to the data port or is it more complicated than this?

[Corey_R]

Your first two questions are already answered by the post above.

Unfortunately we will have to go back tomorrow as Dean said it would take 3 hours due to the need to remove ECU. This is a real surprise to me as on the MkV Golf, he just plugged in the cord, takes 17 mins to upload/download and off we go.

I believe the reason to remove the ECU is due to encryption between the ECU and the ODB port where they'd normally flash the ECU from. For more technical details beyond that, I'd have to defer to APR or one of the other experienced tuners.

[Guy_H]

Good thing on the Polo is the ECU is very easy to remove - not even any screws holding it in. We just always take the time in opening the ECU, its a delicate process & shouldn't be rushed.

Wayne, Glad its all going well!

[gavs]

Hi Tsuku,

While not affiliated with any specific tuning company, I have been working with a european based tuner recently on exactly the same ECU as yours in my GTI.

This is often refered to as the Bosch name (who make the ECU) as the Bosch Motronic MED 17.5 ecu. Simple anser to your question? Yes, you can indeed flash these cars via the OBD port as some tuners have found out. The more basic, traditonal, hand-held flashing devices do not seem to work with this MED 17.5 ECU, yet they would work on the supposedly "un-tunable" MED17.

It all depends on your tuner

[Guy_H]

Guy_H: Does the need for a bench flash concern all 6R Polo GTI's, or just certain software versions? Both 2010 and 2011 models? I've read claims of OBD-flashes being done, but are they really possible on the GTI? My 2011 has the 03C906027AR ecu, version 7924. Can you confirm that this one needs to be bench flashed? Thank you!

Hi Tsuku, yes this is a bench flash, good news is that is can also hold the full APR suite of programs!

[Guy_H]

Hi Tsuku,

While not affiliated with any specific tuning company, I have been working with a european based tuner recently on exactly the same ECU as yours in my GTI.

This is often refered to as the Bosch name (who make the ECU) as the Bosch Motronic MED 17.5 ecu. Simple anser to your question? Yes, you can indeed flash these cars via the OBD port as some tuners have found out. The more basic, traditonal, hand-held flashing devices do not seem to work with this MED 17.5 ECU, yet they would work on the supposedly "un-tunable" MED17.

It all depends on your tuner

Gav's, have you seen anyone actually flash this though the port (not rumor - facts?) - the nature of the ECU is such that hand held devices don't work because they don't initiate boot mode - hence OBD programming does not work.

[gavs]

Yeah, Revo over the UK are doing OBD, I believe John at DNA (would need clarification on the MED17.5 instead of early build Polo GTIs which ran MED17, not sure if australia got any of those though, rumour is all MY11.5 spec are MED17.5...) is also doing OBD but it's not compatible with the SRS-II unit, there is about to be a Viezu trial done in the near future up in Cairns too on their setup so that's still unconfirmed at this stage....

[Tsuku]

Thanks guys. The issue has been resolved.

[ATYPIC]

I believe John at DNA (would need clarification on the MED17.5 instead of early build Polo GTIs which ran MED17, not sure if australia got any of those though, rumour is all MY11.5 spec are MED17.5...) is also doing OBD but it's not compatible with the SRS-II unit

John confirmed this when I enquired but he also mentioned there will be a new generation SRS on the way which will support the GTI's properly.

[GTI JOE]

I'm sure within the next 2-3 months all the hand held devices, DNA, Viezu, Revo etc. will crack the current ECU. Then we will get some pretty good prices as competition increases.

[Corey_R]

Prices probably won't change much. There are much higher volume VW's that have been around for years, and prices are pretty stable.

[Frostee]

Prices probably won't change much. There are much higher volume VW's that have been around for years, and prices are pretty stable.

LOL, Corey. You sound like you have an interest in it not changing

[Corey_R]

Nah - just been around long enough to know what all the vendors settle to

[Frostee]

Nah - just been around long enough to know what all the vendors settle to

Mmmm ASIC might like a lookat that