VGS4- NAG2 What is all the fuss about?

By now you have probably seen the YouTube video we did on the new MN039 license.
In this video we take you through the whole process and the significance of being able to exchange a VGS4-NAG2 mechatronic conductor plate.



But why? Why is it so significant?

1. What is the VGS4- NAG2

Here is a blog post from last year which gives the exact description of what the VGS4- NAG2 is - https://abrites.com/blog/vgs4-nag2-how-to.
It contains a full description of what the last of the 722s is at its core. If I haven’t described the situation around the VGS4NAG2 there then it is probably not important.

2. What is important, then?!

What is really important this time around is that we are solving two separate problems at the same time whilst designing the most elegant piece of transmission adaptation software ever produced. On the basis of something that was impossible three weeks ago.

1. MN039 resolves the problem with the need to cut any non-virgin conductor plates in order to virginize them. We still had a good solution in the form of the SET088 because it allowed us to make a very small incision in the plate, but an incision, nevertheless. This was a compromise from the very beginning, and I think we all knew that it was but there was no better solution that came to our mind at the time, we simply lacked the capacity to make a better one. But through testing and trying to figure out something better we finally did. And just how much better it is. No cutting, no making holes, basically no input – you read the old one, place the new conductor plate and you are done. MAGIC!
    
2. Doing away with the hardware. At its core Abrites is a software company. We are forced to produce hardware and basically sell it at as near as makes no difference – a loss. This is why it is so painful for us to have to build and sell hardware – we know we cannot compete with the Chinese because the cost to manufacture hardware in the EU. This is why you have pinouts for the majority of our simple cables so that you can create them yourself. In the case of the MN039 you are faced with nothing more than a simple CB012 which you need to connect to the CAN H and CAN L of the transmission controller, TCU or transmission ECU (whichever way you want to call it). The 7G-tronic is solved.

1. So what is the exact procedure now?

The procedure now is very simple. You need to connect the existing TCU (VGS4- NAG2 7G tronic) and read the data from it – FBS4 data that is. Then you need to read the data which takes care of the configuration – the information about the specific operation of the transmission in the conditions of the car – this means that all the adaptations from the old TCU will be transferred – was it an S500, was it an S63 or even S65 V12… This allows us to skip the part where the online adaptations would be needed. I cannot stress enough that Abrites is an independent company and as such we are not obliged to use any manufacturer information. We do everything ourselves and there is nothing that can take our development away from you guys – our customers. This is why the old MN034 still works – if you have bought it you are just as able to solve the replacement, you just need to cut and VIRGINIZE. Another very important fact here is that even in the older software revisions you were able to adapt brand new transmissions because they do not need virginization. In the current version, once you have read the data from the existing transmissions you can plug the new one in and adapt it. One more option is to do this whole procedure on bench using the Abrites CB088 – a cable which allows you to connect the whole conductor plate on bench.

Imagine this – you have a workshop in need – you ask them to send the 7G plate over and send them a fully adapted secondhand transmission – they have just spent ½ the money they would otherwise, and your investment makes you money from the comfort of your workshop. Great!

Again – you can still offer the service for a brand new VGS4-NAG2.

2. Potential Drawbacks and Updates

Here is where we must stress out a couple of things – even though MN039 is one of the greatest new features in the Abrites catalogue it is still not perfect.

1. VGS4-0-NAG2 vs. VGS4-500-NAG2

These two really need to be considered two different plates because one is more commonly seen in AMG cars and the other is just in normal Mercedes-Benz models. We currently support the “0” variant which is basically the 1400Nm style one but we are also working on adding the “500” variant which is limited in its torque capacity. Don’t worry – we are working on it and you will be updated ASAP.

2. Personalize without data.

This is in fact the next thing – we are 90% ready to release the finished product. This will transfer the data directly from the EZS (EIS) so you will not need to have the existing plate – even if a horse kicks it and breaks it in half you are safe. Mind you – if the conductor plate is so broken that you cannot read it you have bigger problems than adaptation.

3. Each customer who has bought both the MN034 and the SET088 in the past and has a valid AMS has already received the new MN039 free of charge. This is our way of thanking you guys for your support and trust. We know that other companies claim to work with FBS4 but not one of those tools can compete with the ever-evolving Abrites FBS4 Manager.
    

Thank you for your attention, this was my first speaking video :) , and I was subsequently quite worried about it (I think it shows) but once I started rambling about conductor plates and FBS4 in general it got easier.

Until next week, try to have fun at work. Alek

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