I bought a Passat B8 GT (2016 model) a few months back and thought I would share some of the mods I’ve carried out. Please note, much of the information that has allowed me to carry out some of these mods are from internet forums, speaking with the dealer and through my own experimentation. I believe many of these mods are applicable to all VAG cars based on the MQB chassis.
Passenger Mirror Down in Reverse
Following this mod the passenger mirror dips down when reverse is engaged and returns up when moving off (or turning the ignition off). It only works when it’s enabled in the infotainment unit and the mirror adjustment knob is pointing towards the passenger side (left here in the UK).
Select 52-Door Elect., Pass.
Enter Long Coding and enable bits 2 and 3 of byte 4
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following two channels to active
Rain Closing of Windows
Following this mod the windows will close if rain is detected. It only works when it’s enabled in the infotainment unit and I am unsure if the sunroof closes. I found it a little temperamental and haven’t tried it in anger, only with a spray bottle of water!
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Long Coding on the RLFS slave module and enable bit 2 of byte 0 (no labels exist for me). NB many suggest enabling bit 1 of byte too but this function appears to be for lights on in rain and not auto rain closing.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the first two channels to permanent and the last to active:
Change Discover Media Start-up Logo
This mod allows you to change the start-up logo of the infotainment unit (Discover Media in my case).
Select 05-Infotainment
Enter Long Coding and change byte 18 to any one of the following. Please note that no labels were available for me.
Beep on Lock / Unlock
Following this mod the car will beep once when locked and beep twice when unlocked. It must be enabled in the infotainment unit and will only beep when all doors lock or unlock successfully.
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following three channels to active
Enable / Disable DRL (inc. car menu)
Following this mod the car menu has the option to enable or disable the day-time running lights (DRL). Please be aware that disabling the DRL in your country may not be permitted – I believe that it’s an MOT test failure in the UK on new cars.
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to active
DRL only in Auto
I dislike that the DRLs were on all the time with the Passat B8 so I added the option to disable them in the MIB unit. This mod takes things a step further and ensures they only come on when the light switch is on Auto and the DRLs are enabled in the MIB unit. NB the DRLs are also on when the driver selects the side lights.
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to active
Change Comfort Turn Signals
Following this mod the comfort turn signals will indicate the desired number of times. Valid options are between 3 (default) and 5. I have yet to find an option that allows you to change the number within the infotainment unit.
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to your desired number (4 for me)
Offroad Car Menu
Following this mod the comfort turn signals will indicate the desired number of times. Valid options are between 3 (default) and 5. I have yet to find an option that allows you to change the number within the infotainment unit.
Select 5F-Infotainment
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following three channels to active
Audi Throttle Mod
This mod improves the throttle response of the Passat by changing the engine branding from "VW/Seat/Skoda" to "Audi". In my opinion it's the best performance mod you can make one step short of remapping. Research shows that some drivers who've made this mod on other MQB platforms (Golf Mk7 from memory) report some errors in the dashboard.
Select 01-Engine
Enter Long Coding and change the first byte from 01 to 02 (i.e. uncheck bit 1 and check bit 1)
You will probably receive any error message in the instrument cluster - this is OK. Just cycle the ignition and away you go!
Disable Brakes upon Engine Stalling
I noticed that when stalling the car violently applies the brakes which makes the experience both embarrassing and unpleasant. This mod disables the ABS unit slamming on the brakes when stalling.
Select 03-Brakes
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to not active
Lock car with ignition on
This mod allows those cars with KESSY installed to have the ignition turned on (and optionally have the engine running) and the doors to be locked. It's great for those cars without a Webasto heater installed (like mine :-().
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to active
Passenger Mirror Down in Reverse
Following this mod the passenger mirror dips down when reverse is engaged and returns up when moving off (or turning the ignition off). It only works when it’s enabled in the infotainment unit and the mirror adjustment knob is pointing towards the passenger side (left here in the UK).
Select 52-Door Elect., Pass.
Enter Long Coding and enable bits 2 and 3 of byte 4
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following two channels to active
- IDE08542-ENG116650-Access control 2-Spiegelabsenkung bei Rueckwaertsfahrt (enables mirror down in infotainment unit)
- IDE08542-ENG116657-Access control 2-Menuesteuerung Spiegelabsenkung (enables the mirror dip menu option in the infotainment unit)
Rain Closing of Windows
Following this mod the windows will close if rain is detected. It only works when it’s enabled in the infotainment unit and I am unsure if the sunroof closes. I found it a little temperamental and haven’t tried it in anger, only with a spray bottle of water!
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Long Coding on the RLFS slave module and enable bit 2 of byte 0 (no labels exist for me). NB many suggest enabling bit 1 of byte too but this function appears to be for lights on in rain and not auto rain closing.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the first two channels to permanent and the last to active:
- IDE08542-ENG125655-Access control 2-Regenschliessen_ein_aus
- IDE08542-ENG125656-Access control 2-Regenschliessen_art
- IDE08542-ENG122186-Access control 2-Menuesteuerung Regenschliessen (enables the rain closing menu option in the infotainment unit)
Change Discover Media Start-up Logo
This mod allows you to change the start-up logo of the infotainment unit (Discover Media in my case).
Select 05-Infotainment
Enter Long Coding and change byte 18 to any one of the following. Please note that no labels were available for me.
- 00 None (my car’s default)
- 01 Hybrid
- 02 GTD (my preferred choice)
- 03 GTI
- 04 Bluemotion
- 05 E-Golf
- 06 R-Line
- 07 Golf R
Beep on Lock / Unlock
Following this mod the car will beep once when locked and beep twice when unlocked. It must be enabled in the infotainment unit and will only beep when all doors lock or unlock successfully.
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following three channels to active
- IDE02269-ENG116666-Acknowledgement signals-Akustische Rueckmeldung entriegeln (enables unlock beep)
- IDE02269-ENG116667-Acknowledgement signals-Akustische Rueckmeldung verriegeln (enables lock beep)
- IDE02269-ENG122188-Acknowledgement signals-Menuesteuerung akustische Rueckmeldung (adds the audible lock/unlock option to the car menu)
Enable / Disable DRL (inc. car menu)
Following this mod the car menu has the option to enable or disable the day-time running lights (DRL). Please be aware that disabling the DRL in your country may not be permitted – I believe that it’s an MOT test failure in the UK on new cars.
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to active
- IDE06864-ENG116594-Daytime running lights-Tagfahrlicht Aktivierung durch BAP oder Bedienfolge moeglich (adds the option to the car menu)
DRL only in Auto
I dislike that the DRLs were on all the time with the Passat B8 so I added the option to disable them in the MIB unit. This mod takes things a step further and ensures they only come on when the light switch is on Auto and the DRLs are enabled in the MIB unit. NB the DRLs are also on when the driver selects the side lights.
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to active
- Tagfahrlicht nur in Schalterstellung AUTO
Change Comfort Turn Signals
Following this mod the comfort turn signals will indicate the desired number of times. Valid options are between 3 (default) and 5. I have yet to find an option that allows you to change the number within the infotainment unit.
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to your desired number (4 for me)
- IDE04923-ENG116587-Turn signal control-Komfortblinken Blinkzyklen
Offroad Car Menu
Following this mod the comfort turn signals will indicate the desired number of times. Valid options are between 3 (default) and 5. I have yet to find an option that allows you to change the number within the infotainment unit.
Select 5F-Infotainment
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following three channels to active
- ENG122227-ENG117566-Car_Function_Adaptations_Gen2-menu_display_compass
- ENG122227-ENG117568-Car_Function_Adaptations_Gen2-menu_display_compass_over_threshold_high
- ENG122229-ENG117732-Car_Function_List_BAP_Gen2-compass_0x15
Audi Throttle Mod
This mod improves the throttle response of the Passat by changing the engine branding from "VW/Seat/Skoda" to "Audi". In my opinion it's the best performance mod you can make one step short of remapping. Research shows that some drivers who've made this mod on other MQB platforms (Golf Mk7 from memory) report some errors in the dashboard.
Select 01-Engine
Enter Long Coding and change the first byte from 01 to 02 (i.e. uncheck bit 1 and check bit 1)
You will probably receive any error message in the instrument cluster - this is OK. Just cycle the ignition and away you go!
Disable Brakes upon Engine Stalling
I noticed that when stalling the car violently applies the brakes which makes the experience both embarrassing and unpleasant. This mod disables the ABS unit slamming on the brakes when stalling.
Select 03-Brakes
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to not active
- Automatic application during engine stalling
Lock car with ignition on
This mod allows those cars with KESSY installed to have the ignition turned on (and optionally have the engine running) and the doors to be locked. It's great for those cars without a Webasto heater installed (like mine :-().
Select 09-Cent. Elect.
Enter Security Access – 16 and provide security code 31347
Enter Adaptation – 10 and set the following channel to active
- channel IDE05142-ENG115754-Access control-Funk bei Klemme 15 ein
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