Mercedes VCI C6, original or clone?

[Fotom]

Hello!

Due to the fact that the C4 will be banned (or already has been banned) in the latest Xentry versions and most of the new laptops have no LAN/Ethernet ports any more I decided to swap from C4 with LAN connection to a VCI with USB connection.

There would be a possibility for using WLAN or USB to LAN converter, but still it is a C4. Concerning WLAN: I know new devices and computers do have fast WLAN but in this particular case I am very old school, I ever use a hard wired connection. If you ever seen a bricked control unit due to a flash process by WLAN it will stick in your mind forever...

Sure you can modify XENTRY or more precise the toolkit that way so you still can use C4, but on the long term at least I don't see any option in that.

The question was: what model should I take? The alternatives for a C4 are:

1. new Mercedes VCI C6 (that is a Bosch MTS6532 with special Mercedes Firmware and a modified case with Mercedes Branding)
2. used or refurbished Mercedes VCI C6
3. cloned Mercedes VCI C6
4. VXDIAG VCI C6 or SE
5. any J2534 device like OpenPort, Scanmatic2Pro or MDI
6. SuperMBPro M6

There are some more plexer on the market but some are cloned C4 in different cases (like C5) and are out again or come down to VXDIAG devices or J2534 dongles.

My requirements for a plexer is as followed:

- usable with XDOS
- the VCI should work without any additional software or drivers
- administration must be done in the system configurator of Xentry, so in this case it must be done with the VCI manager

So with that requirements I ended up at the clone VCI C6. The original VCI is way too expensive (3000 Euro and up) and at least here in my country not easy to get. Some of the used or refurbed C6 are in an affordable price range (1600 Euro and up) but still very expensive and some without a warranty or possibility to return. The clone VCI C6 (around 450 Dollar) is still a risk because it is almost impossible to return a device to China but the loss of money is a lot less.

Why I have decided against VXDIAG, OpenPort or other options?

I used to have a VXDIAG set and it was not cheaper than other offers but more inconvenient in handling. If you have forgotten to update the license and be somewhere without internet connection but must do anything on a car it is a pain in the ass. So I skipped all of these options. Anyway the VXDIAG never worked with Vediamo or at least I had too less brain to get it work. So that was another argument against any VXDIAG options.

Some ultra low budged systems come around with OpenPort, but that is a J2534 device and only works with PassThru version of Xentry. Maybe I am old school in that case too, but I decided to have a XDOS version, so J2534 devices where no option at all. That skipped MDI or ScanMatic devices as well.

But I have a clone MDI device for Opel and it works with GDSII on a separate laptop very well. It is connected to the internet and I installed MBTools on it, too. With that combination (Dell laptop, MDI device, MBTools) I can use MBTools on any Mercedes, at least so far.

Also I have a SuperMBPro M6, it indicates to be something else than a C4 but in the end in fact it is only a C4 clone. Newer versions seem to be changed but I haven´t checked that any longer due to a brick I bought in the past from them.

My experience with the Clone VCI C6 so far:

The clone is working since a while (3 month) with XDOS Xentry version 9/2023 and is in comparison to the C4 significant faster and as stable as the usual plexer. The original VCI C6 comes with a separate USB WLAN stick. In my case the clone came without a separate stick. It is administrated in the VCI manager of Xentry, no separate drivers or software is needed. When my C6 arrived it didn't work at first, but the seller provided via TeamViewer a new Firmware and it worked since than stable. The only cables that come with it is a 3m USB and an OBD connection cable. There are no other cables to get connected to the old 38 PIN socket or one for Sprinters. So far I have not missed those because there is no car in my range that needs those connections. I am not sure if there is an adapter or other solution to get connected to older cars with the C6. As far as I understand the originally will support older cars, so I expect the clone to support those, too.

The price of the clone VCI C6 is almost the same like a "High" or "Best Quality" C4 and I believe most of the users will end up with that device if they have similar requirements like I do.

So far I can recommend the clone VCI C6. For further questions just ask or write a comment.

 

[Fotom]

Thanks for reading! Just some updates:

I will install XDOS 6/24 and setup anything so I can use the VCI C6 with it. It still works fast and stable with XDOS 9/23.

In Vediamo the device is connected and set up as eCOM, the serial number is shown correctly, in Monaco the same.

Sometimes some operations end up with error "NRC 22". I could not sort out so far if this is a security issue inside Monaco concerning the control unit or if it is concerned to the C6. Interesting: All operations done by XDOS are well done, so I do not have any errors at all so far, only Monaco sometimes end up unsatisfactory.

I have a separate system with 9/23 XDOS only for the C4. When I switch over to that system some of the operations with Monaco will be finished successfully.

I also face a problem with MBTools: I can sometimes get connected to a car, but sometimes not (same car). I am not sure if the device is claimed as "Original C6" or as "Clone C6". but int case of the clone option it would need the VXDIAG drivers I guess and that is not needed at all. I will stick on that and report more about the results.

Again thanks for reading and stay tuned!

 

[VianoV6]

I have VXDIAG C6 Bosch MTS6532 with lifetime update for Xentry and it works without any problems.

 

[Fotom]

Thank you for reading. Update again.

I ordered a TabScan T6 Xentry. Mainly because I wanted to try out the presented iOS application. This is also because I was wondering if there are any differences between the VCI C6 clone, SD C4 and T6 Xentry. Having tested and played with all 3 plexers, I can say: Yes, there are very significant differences in speed and stability.

The slowest unit is C4. When using Xentry 9/23, gaining access to the car takes much longer (S205 2017).
Next up is the VCI C6 clone, which is much faster than the C4 with the same system and car.
But the T6 is much faster, and running a short test is quite fast.

If anyone is interested, I’ll write more about T6 in another thread, especially comparing the speed of Xentry 9/23 and 6/24.

 

[Bigovic]

If you like coding and full diagnostics, you can't use ANY Passthru driver, no matter which one you use, the result is the same: simple diagnostics, no full coding, Passthru is an OEM port that does not provide access like the original matrix for C4 and the new real (not Chinese fake) C6.

 

[Fotom]

What are the limitations? I had the original equipment too and didn't notice any difference.

With TabScan and a C6 clone I coded some elements in some control units. Everything worked fine, the last mod was enabling Last Mode on my S205 220D MY2017.

 

[Bigovic]

Well, the difference is in the ports in Xentry, for full diagnostics and full coding with XENTRY VCI now (or SDconnect before) the original driver is used, which is integrated into Xentry. Openport 2.0, like any Passthru, is a universal port for any J2536 driver, and they are not the same thing. If you want to do full coding, you will get limitations in other modules and actuators, do coding in restyled W213, then you will understand what I mean. Passthru is a universal port for After-Sales Workshops for light diagnostics. XENTRY VCI uses the original port, not Passthru, and has full access. That's the difference!

 

[Fotom]

I agree with you, Openport has security level 3 and not 9 or 10 like C4 or C6.

C4 clone is treated as genuine, same levels possible, C6 clone is treated as genuine by Xentry, I could even upgrade it. So I think that's at least something we can work with. If I need more I will buy a genuine C6, but for now it works for me and it is worth the money I spent on this equipment.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Rade1978]

I would like to write that I noticed that VCI C6 OEM works as eCOM, it is unstable with new cars, especially with W223... Also it cannot be used for coding with MBTools, because it does not recognize it!!! So for me it's just another piece of sh.t!!! I also use VCX VXDIAG, this is the God in the Xentry multiplexer!!!

 

[Bari87]

I'm using Super MB PRO M6 and haven't had any problems so far.
It works well with both new cars (Xentry 09/2023) and older cars (HHT) via SDconnect (not VCI).
There is a small cooler inside that can be a nuisance, but in a normal garage/workshop you won't hear it.
The current consumption is about 0.6A, so the battery does not drain as much as in older versions.
WiFi works great/stable.