VAG-COM scanning, who can help

[h100vw]

@h100vw: Hmm......... with the deepest respect for your view (and with absolutely no offense intended) - the need to deal with CP really depends on how OP plans to "retrofit a digital gauge" on his mk7.

Yes, if a complete module swap is used - CP becomes an issue immediately after the first ignition switch-ON. However, if OP chooses the product HERE, then no CP (because the basic CAN part of the original module is retained and the analogue clocks are replaced

So, if OP has an interest, there's a good write-up HERE

Don

None taken, youre saying that there's digital dashes that don't need CP dealing with? Because the original cluster is modified, not replaced whole?

[DV52]

h100vw: Indeed!!

Obviously the Aliexpress solution is non-OEM - but it works by retaining the CAN based part of the original analogue module and it requires the installer to remove the clock-board and replace it with a new digital daughter board. This extra work ain't difficult albeit it does require a degree of care!

Retention of the original smarts on the factory mother board means that from the perspective of the CP interrogation algorithm (which is orchestrated by the Gateway module - i.e. the master CP module) - the identity of the dashboard module remains unaltered.

The other advantage of this solution is that the original odometer reading is kept and there is no need to re-code the Immobilizer authorizations (i.e. keys) - again because the factory electronics of the original module is retained.

Of course, I make no judgement about the quality of Aliexpress stuff - but at least in theory, it's a neat alternative approach to retrofitting an AID dashboard on MQB platform cars - IMHO

Don