F
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.
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.
