Opinions invited on CCS Retrofit

[CJW]

Hello lovely T6 Forum people

Please would you throw your ten penneth in to this decision please?

I have a EUR5 Startline T6 without cruise control or MFSW and the MFD has the trip feature. I’ve always planned on doing the retrofit. I’ve read the hundreds of pages on all threads and understand the implications on the whole. I’m left with this dilemma:

Option 1 - Just fit CCS to the stalk. Easy enough by the looks of the threads and the kit. Then upgrade the wheel to MFSW without CCS. That just leaves volume, trip, CarPlay buttons and push-to-talk on the wheel.

Option 2 - change my stalk to one without trip buttons (or code them out) and go the whole hog MFSW with CCS.

Option 3 - Same as option 1 but just change the wheel for a nice leather OEM one with no buttons.

I can find all the kit online or second hand, and I’m ordering VCDS shortly.

I’m seeking opinions from those who’ve driven with these options or retrofitted them.

Is option 2 worth the fuss or the risk that the vehicle may not be usable whilst mid-retrofit, which might take a while? Counterintuitively, it’s probably the cheapest.

Many thanks!

 

[Salty Spuds]

Hello lovely T6 Forum people

Please would you throw your ten penneth in to this decision please?

I have a EUR5 Startline T6 without cruise control or MFSW and the MFD has the trip feature. I’ve always planned on doing the retrofit. I’ve read the hundreds of pages on all threads and understand the implications on the whole. I’m left with this dilemma:

Option 1 - Just fit CCS to the stalk. Easy enough by the looks of the threads and the kit. Then upgrade the wheel to MFSW without CCS. That just leaves volume, trip, CarPlay buttons and push-to-talk on the wheel.

Option 2 - change my stalk to one without trip buttons (or code them out) and go the whole hog MFSW with CCS.

Option 3 - Same as option 1 but just change the wheel for a nice leather OEM one with no buttons.

I can find all the kit online or second hand, and I’m ordering VCDS shortly.

I’m seeking opinions from those who’ve driven with these options or retrofitted them.

Is option 2 worth the fuss or the risk that the vehicle may not be usable whilst mid-retrofit, which might take a while? Counterintuitively, it’s probably the cheapest.

Many thanks!

Just my 2 penneth. We have ACC on the van & “ordinary” CC on the Yeti. I use the ACC all the time in the van, never use the Cruise Control on the Yeti. I find it easier just to drive the car normally, after using ACC, ordinary cruise scares the bejasus out of me. I wouldn’t pay extra for a vehicle with ordinary cruise control tbh.

 

[CJW]

Just my 2 penneth. We have ACC on the van & “ordinary” CC on the Yeti. I use the ACC all the time in the van, never use the Cruise Control on the Yeti. I find it easier just to drive the car normally, after using ACC, ordinary cruise scares the bejasus out of me. I wouldn’t pay extra for a vehicle with ordinary cruise control tbh.

Thanks Salty. Maybe I should have been more specific - I’ve had CCS on my Audi and other cars in the past and really like it. I haven’t researched ACC retrofit because mine doesn’t have the radar so I imagine it will be megabucks.

Just my 2 penneth. We have ACC on the van & “ordinary” CC on the Yeti. I use the ACC all the time in the van, never use the Cruise Control on the Yeti. I find it easier just to drive the car normally, after using ACC, ordinary cruise scares the bejasus out of me. I wouldn’t pay extra for a vehicle with ordinary cruise control tbh.

@dnoermann says not possible at all on my van:

You are compleetely right.
ACC is only available with EU6 Engine even in T6.
The ones with EU5 Engine could not have ACC added as feature while buying.

What i Think: The EDC17 ECU from T5 EU5+ Engines does not understand the new Buttons for ACC on the MFL and theirfore can not "Start" ACC.

That is the biggest issue that have to be overcome when retrofitting ACC to T5.2.
I got one info from UK Polo Forum, that it could be possible to port this function to EDC17.

 

[Gavinda]

I find it easier just to drive the car normally, after using ACC, ordinary cruise scares the bejasus out of me.

Couldn't agree more, have to remind myself when using CC in the wife's car that it will happily crash its self in to the back of whatever's in front, what's even more aggravating is that its got all the sensors and cameras to have ACC.

 

[CJW]

Well this is going great… so far two votes for option 4 : something I can’t do.

 

[roadtripper]

If you ask 3 experts for an opinion you'll get at least 4 in my experience...

 

[Salty Spuds]

Thanks Salty. Maybe I should have been more specific - I’ve had CCS on my Audi and other cars in the past and really like it. I haven’t researched ACC retrofit because mine doesn’t have the radar so I imagine it will be megabucks.


@dnoermann says not possible at all on my van:

Fair enough, if you know what you’re getting, then I’d go for the “stalk” option, unless you want a nice MFSW with lots of buttons, which you do… don’t you

 

[CJW]

Fair enough, if you know what you’re getting, then I’d go for the “stalk” option, unless you want a nice MFSW with lots of buttons, which you do… don’t you

That’s the issue - it looks so goooood.

 

[Robert]

ACC is the best option.
Actually along with the EPB,
ACC is the best possible retrofit(very easy to install and affordable these days).
Technically speaking EUR5 ECU firmware can be patched to enable ACC functionality .

 

[CJW]

ACC is the best option.
Actually along with the EPB,
ACC is the best possible retrofit(very easy to install and affordable these days).
Technically speaking EUR5 ECU firmware can be patched to enable ACC functionality .

But on a Startline without the dot matrix MFD? Can’t see how that’s going to work?

 

[CJW]

ACC is the best option.
Actually along with the EPB,
ACC is the best possible retrofit(very easy to install and affordable these days).
Technically speaking EUR5 ECU firmware can be patched to enable ACC functionality .

If this is DIY doable to a 2016 EUR5 Startline, I am listening. It’s going to mean radar, new non-Startline bumper, patching the ECU… seems like that cost is stacking up considerably.

 

[Dav-Tec]

EU5 engine don't accept CCS on the wheel and you'd need to upgrade your clocks if you want ACC. From speaking with other industry experts in various fields some include a VOSA technical specialist flashing firmware on for ACC and the current process involved means using software that hasn't got VOSA type approval and the ECU software is a grey area both of these I've mentioned before, it has certain legal implications and it's information I'm putting out there it's up to you guys what you do with it.

Option three is the option we would offer using a CCS non trip stalk and trip/media controls on the wheel this is how it would of been from factory too.

Just my 10p worth

Cheers
Chris

 

[CJW]

EU5 engine don't accept CCS on the wheel and you'd need to upgrade your clocks if you want ACC. From speaking with other industry experts in various fields some include a VOSA technical specialist flashing firmware on for ACC and the current process involved means using software that hasn't got VOSA type approval and the ECU software is a grey area both of these I've mentioned before, it has certain legal implications and it's information I'm putting out there it's up to you guys what you do with it.

Option three is the option we would offer using a CCS non trip stalk and trip/media controls on the wheel this is how it would of been from factory too.

Just my 10p worth

Cheers
Chris

Thanks Chris, appreciate your input.

Going to the factory standard is a big plus - good point.

 

[Broadside]

My van came with MFSW but no cruise control. I got cruise retrofitted on the stalk as I prefer the tactile buttons on the stalk, flat buttons on the MFSW need to be looked at occasionally. I’m very happy with it on the stalk and use cruise a lot. I thought for a long time about stalk versus on the MFSW and I have no regrets going for the stalk version.

 

[CJW]

My van came with MFSW but no cruise control. I got cruise retrofitted on the stalk as I prefer the tactile buttons on the stalk, flat buttons on the MFSW need to be looked at occasionally. I’m very happy with it on the stalk and use cruise a lot. I thought for a long time about stalk versus on the MFSW and I have no regrets going for the stalk version.

Thank you Broadside. You’re the second person to say they prefer it on the stalk. The other was Jason at Absolut.

 

[Lubrown]

Hello lovely T6 Forum people

Please would you throw your ten penneth in to this decision please?

I have a EUR5 Startline T6 without cruise control or MFSW and the MFD has the trip feature. I’ve always planned on doing the retrofit. I’ve read the hundreds of pages on all threads and understand the implications on the whole. I’m left with this dilemma:

Option 1 - Just fit CCS to the stalk. Easy enough by the looks of the threads and the kit. Then upgrade the wheel to MFSW without CCS. That just leaves volume, trip, CarPlay buttons and push-to-talk on the wheel.

Option 2 - change my stalk to one without trip buttons (or code them out) and go the whole hog MFSW with CCS.

Option 3 - Same as option 1 but just change the wheel for a nice leather OEM one with no buttons.

I can find all the kit online or second hand, and I’m ordering VCDS shortly.

I’m seeking opinions from those who’ve driven with these options or retrofitted them.

Is option 2 worth the fuss or the risk that the vehicle may not be usable whilst mid-retrofit, which might take a while? Counterintuitively, it’s probably the cheapest.

Many thanks!

I have option 1.

Had a genuine VW stalk with cruise control switches fitted to my 2014 T5 and the BCM coded to suit. It is a high line model and the lights/symbols, to show when cruise is active, were already hidden away in the dash. The van also has a MFDW. I wouldn’t change a thing. The stalk is what my Golf Mk6 had and it works well.

I also drive a golf mk7 (my 6 has long gone) which has adaptive cruise with the controls for that on the steering wheel.

I love them both and use both systems pretty much all the time when driving either vehicle.

I do find it takes a bit of mental gymnastics using either stalk or steering wheel buttons depending which vehicle I’m in but I see that as a good thing - stops my aging brain getting lazy.

I would have liked adaptive cruise on the van too (and dsg, which the golf has) but it all costs. Still pleased I had the ‘normal’ CC fitted to the camper and I never find it a distraction or additional risk. I used to hate driving it without cruise control. I don’t rely on the radar in the car - it’s useful but like anything it might fail so I still pay attention while driving.

 

[ginkster]

I’d go with the stalk controls every time. I find them much easier to use as they are always in the same place rather than turning with the wheel. It is also much easier to operate than trying to find one of several buttons on the wheel (that may be on the other side and upside down if you are turning!). Having said that, the T6 stalk is not as good as the separate stalk I had in a previous BMW 1 Series.

I am really not a fan of the ACC on my Passat, partly because of the MFSW buttons, but also because the auto bit is too dumb. It simply can’t read the traffic and I’m always having to override it. Unfortunately you can’t set it into classic mode. ACC probably explains a lot of the 65mph lane hogs!

 

[Ali-G]

I am really not a fan of the ACC on my Passat, partly because of the MFSW buttons, but also because the auto bit is too dumb. It simply can’t read the traffic and I’m always having to override it. Unfortunately you can’t set it into classic mode. ACC probably explains a lot of the 65mph lane hogs!

Totally agree, had it when I had my Tiguan and didn't like it.
I found on the motorway it had the effect of pushing you backwards. I'd turn it on and set the gap to the vehicle in front of me and then another car would jump into the gap and my car would slow down to maintain the gap, then another car would pull into that gap and the slowing down process would repeat.
I've said it before but I would prefer a speed limiter to cruise control, being an HGV driver I'm used to spending long periods of time with the throttle peddle pushed to the floor and I use the speed limiter all the time, just set it to 31,41 or 51 and keep your foot to the floor.

 

[Lubrown]

Totally agree, had it when I had my Tiguan and didn't like it.
I found on the motorway it had the effect of pushing you backwards. I'd turn it on and set the gap to the vehicle in front of me and then another car would jump into the gap and my car would slow down to maintain the gap, then another car would pull into that gap and the slowing down process would repeat.
I've said it before but I would prefer a speed limiter to cruise control, being an HGV driver I'm used to spending long periods of time with the throttle peddle pushed to the floor and I use the speed limiter all the time, just set it to 31,41 or 51 and keep your foot to the floor.

I know what you mean about ACC but I’ve got used to that aspect and don’t mind it. I’m generally never in a rush to join the next queue. If someone else wants to nip in front and sit stationary for longer up ahead then I’m fine with that.
The one frustration is when you get overtaken (even if they leave a big enough gap when pulling back in that ACC doesn’t slow you temporarily) and then, as they aren’t using cruise control they inadvertently slow back down. Generally on uphills. The dilemma is do you sit behind and know when it levels out they’ll pick back up or do you overtake and when it levels out play cat and mouse?
If only everyone used cruise control!

 

[CJW]

Really appreciate everyone’s input - thank you. Decided to go for MFSW without CC and CC on the stalks.

The fun begins this weekend. This is what I’ve picked up so far:

Polo Steering wheel


Airbag harness from from a Golf


Retrofit cable kit