New Formentor 1.5 tsi manual driver

[KvnVdH]

Hi. I'm new to this forum. From Belgium.
I recently got a new Formentor 1.5tsi, 6 speed manual.
I didn't choose the built-in navigation option.
But I am wondering...
Is it possible to have it retrofitted (activated/purchased) in the software?
Someone told me the antenna is already present and it's only missing the software. Is this true?
Can I add it through the dealership / service center?

Thanks

 

[KvnVdH]

 

[serdar_18fr]

Hi. I'm new to this forum. From Belgium.
I recently got a new Formentor 1.5tsi, 6 speed manual.
I didn't choose the built-in navigation option.
But I am wondering...
Is it possible to have it retrofitted (activated/purchased) in the software?
Someone told me the antenna is already present and it's only missing the software. Is this true?
Can I add it through the dealership / service center?

Thanks

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Last year I ordered a brand-new Cupra Ateca and I was expecting it to come with the navigation option.
But when the car has arrived, I found out that there was no navigation, much to my dismay.

Then the dealer explained to me that due to some alleged mapping dispute with the government, the Turkish importer of VW Group cars was unable to get the cars with the navigation but they do get them with the "navigation preparation" (PR code 7UH) which basically means it can be activated at the dealer by purchasing it any time after the delivery. But unfortunately, Cupra does not sell navigation licenses separately unlike, for example, Audi do. So having the "navigation preparation" seemed useless, if you want to activate it via official ways.

Official is the keyword here, because there's an unofficial way to do it, via retrofitters of course. A capable retrofitter can install the required navigation FeC (Feature enabling Code), do some coding changes and get it working. But there's another hurdle along the way: SFD2. Since some varying months of 2024 for different model lines, some control units in cars have this protection scheme called SFD2, which is mandated by EU. It is basically there to prevent people from making software alterations/setting changes to their cars' electronic control units, citing safety requirements. Before that, it was much more easier to retrofit things (e.g. install new hardware and/or activate features). Now, for the cars with SFD2, only dealers are authorized to make any change using VW Group's own software, but the problem is that the dealers never get involved in such retrofitting business.

So is it impossible to activate the navigation?
Of course not, because there's always people doing things via backdoors, or some possibly illegal ways.
I live in Turkey and in the last 5 years that I owned VW Group cars I had developed some relations with the retrofitting circles.
I asked around and found that they can provide their services to activate the navigation in my SFD2-protected new Ateca.
I went with this offer and after some struggle with missing coding, we managed to activate it but I should add that it was expensive due to SFD2 thing, compared to other retrofitting works.

Long story short, it is possible if you find the right people.
But it would be possibly expensive and if the software in related control units need to be updated in a service visit, they would return to their factory settings and all the activation & coding work would be deleted. Last month I brought my car in the dealer for its yearly service and they told me that there was a baseline update in which all control units that have newer firmware versions would be updated, but I told them not to do it because that would delete my navigation activation.

Also, if you decide to do it, a lookup for your cars' build codes would prove useful.
Your car might also have that "navigation preparation" code or it might have "no navigation" code.
I'm not sure that this preparation stuff would be required to be able to activate it.

Hope this helps & regards,
Serdar

 

[KvnVdH]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Last year I ordered a brand-new Cupra Ateca and I was expecting it to come with the navigation option.
But when the car has arrived, I found out that there was no navigation, much to my dismay.

Then the dealer explained to me that due to some alleged mapping dispute with the government, the Turkish importer of VW Group cars was unable to get the cars with the navigation but they do get them with the "navigation preparation" (PR code 7UH) which basically means it can be activated at the dealer by purchasing it any time after the delivery. But unfortunately, Cupra does not sell navigation licenses separately unlike, for example, Audi do. So having the "navigation preparation" seemed useless, if you want it activate it via official ways.

Official is the keyword here, because there's an unofficial way to do it, via retrofitters of course. A capable retrofitter can install the required navigation FeC (Feature enabling Code), do some coding changes and get it working. But there's another hurdle along the way: SFD2. Since some varying months of 2024 for different model lines, some control units in cars have this protection scheme called SFD2, which is mandated by EU. It is basically there to prevent people from making software alterations/setting changes to their cars' electronic control units, citing safety requirements. Before that, it was much more easier to retrofit things (e.g. install new hardware and/or activate features). Now, for the cars with SFD2, only dealers has authorized to make any change using VW Group's own software, but the problem is that the dealers never get involved in such retrofitting business.

So is it impossible to activate the navigation?
Of course not, because there's always people doing things via backdoors, or some possibly illegal ways.
I live in Turkey and in the last 5 years that I owned VW Group cars I had developed some relations with the retrofitting circles.
I asked around and found that they can provide their services to activate the navigation in my SFD2-protected new Ateca.
I went with this offer and after some struggle with missing coding, we managed to activate it but I should add that it was expensive due to SFD2 thing, compared to other retrofitting works.

Long story short, it is possible if you find the right people.
But it would be possibly expensive and if the software in related control units need to be updated in a service visit, they would return to their factory settings and all the activation & coding work would be deleted. Last month I brought my car in the dealer for its yearly service and they told me there was a baseline update in which all control units that have newer firmware versions would be updated, but I told them not to do it because that would delete my navigation activation.

Also, if you decide to do it, a lookup for your cars' build codes would prove useful.
Your car might also have that "navigation preparation" code or it might have "no navigation" code.
I'm not sure that this preparation stuff would be required to be able to activate it.

Hope this helps & regards,
Serdar

Thank you for your clear and thorough reply. I much appreciate your effort.

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Tell]

Cars sold in the middle east are similar with mib3 prepped but no maps installed. Some countries are "funny" about maps thinking they have the copyright to the map rather than the map provider. My best explanation. Prepped was how the mib2 cars were sold to these regions. North Africa is another. Mib2 it was easier to install the maps if the map files existed. Mib2 high for Africa didnt. Mib2 standard do.

One poster in Turkey saw the mib3 maps working at the dealer demo car. Delivery car no. Then they had to go the retrofitter route. A number have gone this route.

Different ball game with SFD2. @serdar_18fr seems similar to mib2 high when people had to pay retrofitters to do the work before it was cracked for DIY. The concern then was that a dealer would revert the firmware and paid mod would be wiped out as you explained for mib3. Some unscrupulous retrofitters made a business of selling the latest firmware updates with the map update but not provide life long FeCs. That is what we discovered. A year would pass and error messages would start to appear on the screen as the mod collapsed. We then learnt. Well two of us what was going on with one retrofitter now out of business.

A legitimate retrofitter will install the life long FeC. I believe with mib3 they are all life long navigation FeCs installed once installed since there is no longer a business model in selling mapcare annually, for three years etc on uploaded files. The question is whether a Turkish dealer reset deletes the navigation FeCs that a retrofitter installs if it's prepped and just waiting the FeC. Very much the uncertainty that we had with mib2 high. Generally in reality for our pre mib3 cars dealers don't update the mib firmware. Given the range of issues with mib3 they probably do for mib3. Mib3 to me feels like the mib2 standard hardware that didnt have very good upgrade routes, you cant jump trains without a retrofitters intervention. People always want the newest but costs are involved.

Now with all backdoor DIY methods closed to meddle with the mib3 firmware apart from load up files on the Internet which are dealer ones but without documentation and SFD2 lock down the chances of correcting a user mess up with coding or hacking are remote where a reliable retrofitter with approved Vag licenced equipment comes in to sort it out. The door has been slammed shut to the rest of us on mib3 or take a chance with firmware updates but not FeCs. The firmware code is protected from user edits via encryption signatures. Previous hobbyists found a way to slam the code into the units which gave rise to the toolboxes. Apart from place markers on Github you wont find mib3 toolboxes. The place markers are where a programmer has ear marked the slot but has no working code. Vag preventing the toolboxes getting into the unit. The passwords for on the bench stuff were found but suspect mib3 stuff on the bench is limited unless you are connected to the vag mothership with approved licenses - crafty. VAG arent going to make it that easy.

Excellent write up @serdar_18fr

Ps examination of the build codes may reveal whether the unit is prepped for maps or whether it just doesnt have the hardware installed. A dealer or retrofitter should be able to tell you from the Vin.

 

[Syphon]

Hi and welcome!

Cheers,

Scott