Expectation Setting First, this is not yet a DIY or retrofit, although it may (hopefully) become one at some point.
It has been said this is not possible/will not work, and that may still be correct in the end.
I still need to get part numbers together which will be added to this (or subsequent) posts.
This is a copy of my thread elsewhere but I suspect the VAG fanatics here will be more interested in the process.
First post is a placeholder/state of the project/random thoughts post more than anything else. Subsequent posts will be responses as I find things, and hopefully get some input from people interested in the same thing.
Quick overview of what I've found thus far... all of this on my 2015 TDI, BCM High Part Number and Software 5Q0-937-087-S
And finally, some low quality exploration progress pics for attention...
It has been said this is not possible/will not work, and that may still be correct in the end.
I still need to get part numbers together which will be added to this (or subsequent) posts.
This is a copy of my thread elsewhere but I suspect the VAG fanatics here will be more interested in the process.
First post is a placeholder/state of the project/random thoughts post more than anything else. Subsequent posts will be responses as I find things, and hopefully get some input from people interested in the same thing.
Quick overview of what I've found thus far... all of this on my 2015 TDI, BCM High Part Number and Software 5Q0-937-087-S
- BCM has all the LIN Bus Adaptations that are present on facelift BCM's and will accept changes
- BCM has 3 (sets of) RGB color lists, where facelift BCM's have either 10 or 30 depending on software version
- On facelift BCM's these determine the colors shown in the Ambient RGB color slider
- On my pre-facelift there is no adaptation to enable this color list slider (more on that later)
- So I'm not sure why these 3 sets exist in my BCM... but there are adaptations to set colors based on driving profile
- Maybe these reference the RGB color list but that's going down another path, maybe towards AID/Infotainment accent color by profile
- On facelift BCM's these determine the colors shown in the Ambient RGB color slider
- BCM has the ability to enable a color list drop down, and these colors show properly on the Ambient Lights infotainment picture
- I can currently show footwell and dash strip lighting depiction, not yet able to get door strip/handle/pocket
- But a dump of my MIB (using Chillout's MIB2High Toolbox) shows the door strip/handle/pocket images are present
- Current list of selectable colors: White, Warm White, Orange, Red, Blue, and Turquoise
- White and Warm White look the same on the infotainment screen, maybe they'll be different with the actual lights
- Any combination of these colors can be shown in the dropdown
- On facelift BCM's (and similarly capable BCM's on other MQB vehicles) ambient light colors are set via LIN bus
- This is BCM Plug C Pin 29, which I visually confirmed is present on my BCM
- The presence of the pin and my BCM accepting all these adaptations is a good sign but doesn't mean anything until I connect something there
- FWIW, my old BCM Low did not have the pins for fog lights and would not accept the fog light coding
And finally, some low quality exploration progress pics for attention...