Watch this.

On 04/10/2025 at 08:06, Zlatko580 said:

Hello,

I activated Smart Link on my swing 3 radio, at Skoda Octavia mk3 MY 2018, so I want to share with everyone how it can be done.

DISCLAIMER: You do it at your rensponsability, is not easy to do, and you can mess things out, possible brick you device. Do it only if you have expereince in this kind of activity.

Physical tools needed:

• Tool for removing radio 4 pieces, just google "VAG radio removal tool", cost about 1€.

• CH341A Mini Programmer, cost about 10€.

• PC/Laptop

• Philips screwdriver

Software needed (all software in attachment):

• CH341A driver

• NeoProgrammer

• Python (In windows 11, open start menu, type cmd, press enter, type Python, press enter. Microsoft store will open with Python 3.13, click on "Get" and wait to install complete.)

• Python script for activating CarLink (MEN2SwingPatch.py)

Install CH341A driver and NeoProgrammer, make sure python is installed, put MEN2SwingPatch.py script at some accessible location (for example at root D:\).

Firstly, you need to remove radio from car, its pretty simple, just insert four "keys" and pull the radio out.

Then remove 6 screws from the top and 2 from the bottom, split display from the unit, and pull the top cover to expose top of the PCB. I removed PCB fully from the case to check is there present video chip for reversing camera (unfortunately not), but you don't have to do that.

After top cover is removed, and PCB is accessible, you have to find ST 95256 R EEPROM.

Put clamp from the CH341A on the EEPROM chip, make sure red cable (clamp) is on the pin 1 (EEPROM).

Clamp connector insert in appropriate adapter, and adapter insert in CH341A in part intended for 25XX, make sure red cable facing toward lever. Plug CH341A in computer USB port.

All this can be sawn in picture named EEPROM 2.

Run NeoProgrammer.exe, go to Hardware tab, select "CH341 Black". Next go to IC>Search>type 95256>select M95256R> click on Read IC.

This is the tricky part, if you get all blank result it means that clamp on the eeprom not have a good grip, try to move clamp left-right, take it off and put on again. After 5-6 times of re adjusting clamp I finally got the eeprom content. Save it on pc (for example at root D:\ as 1.bin). Read IC couple more times to be sure that you have good conection to the eeprom chip (if you want to take extra check, you can compare couple .bin with Notepad++ to be sure that you have identical read every time, this is good sign that all is correct). Make sure you dont move accidentaly clamp or PCB.

Click on start, type cmd, press enter, navigate to D:\ (place where you saved EEPROM dump and script), type python men2swingpatch.py 1.bin, press enter. If everything is correct you should get printed on display TRAIN:xxx, FAZIT: xxx (see picture "script"), and now you have file named 1.bin_patched.bin. This new file we now need to write back to the eeprom.

Get back to the NeoProgrammer, click on File>Open and find 1.bin_patched.bin at D:\, click on Write IC.

After writing you can read it again and compare to patched bin, just to be sure its written correct. Now you can disconnect clamp, assemble unit and put it back in the car.

Enjoy in your unlocked Smart Link.

DOWNLOAD needed software

Hello I have a golf 7 2018 with MEN2_EU_VWGPx_P7381L, will MEN2SwingPatch.py also work for me the same way?

It should work. But take extra caution when doing it.

You cannot mess anything a lot if you follow up tutorial, even if patch doesn't work, you can write original .bin and return to default state.

It will be very helpful if we get feedback from you, did you succeeded.

Also if you need additional help write me in pm, I will give you my number.

hi Zlatko

can i ask?

which method you recomendet? for unit MEN2_EU_SKGPx_P7021L, MU:8190.
- i have programátor CH341A

• OBDeleven ultimate

i need unlock Carplay.
is better way by Programer CH.. or here i read about some program FEC activator.

in both method i must remove radio from car and open the unit?

if you help me, send me message, if is better for you

1 hour ago, RAMMPA said:

hi Zlatko

can i ask?

which method you recomendet? for unit MEN2_EU_SKGPx_P7021L, MU:8190.
- i have programátor CH341A

• OBDeleven ultimate

i need unlock Carplay.
is better way by Programer CH.. or here i read about some program FEC activator.

in both method i must remove radio from car and open the unit?

if you help me, send me message, if is better for you

I have exactly same unit in my car, so you can read post #1 in this thread, and follow up tutorial.

Yes you have to remove radio and disasembly it. CH341A is tool for you, first try with 1.8v adapter if not work, try without it.

I desoldered the chip, patched with python script and wrote to the chip, then soldered it back but the radio wouldn't turn on.
I went back to the original .bin and now it works. I don't know if I'm supposed to try once more as soldering and desoldering is quite a nuisance.

6 minutes ago, phalse said:

I desoldered the chip, patched with python script and wrote to the chip, then soldered it back but the radio wouldn't turn on.
I went back to the original .bin and now it works. I don't know if I'm supposed to try once more as soldering and desoldering is quite a nuisance.

What is your train and mu version?

I had MEN2_EU_SKGPx_P7381L with MU 8740.
I updated to a newer version MEN2_EU_SKGPx_P0080L with MU8755 before i tried with eeprom.
Do you think it affected the process?
Should i do a factor reset on a radio to restore previous version, then dump eeprom and patch it?

I don't think you can reverse firmware with factory reset.

I did unlocked same train version without desoldering, with a clamp.... Can you explain me, why you need to desolder eeprom?

The clamp won't read it otherwise - trust me, I tried

There is something wrong, it must be readable with a clamp. I did over 10, every time with clamp. Even same train version as yours. Maybe faulty ch341a... Did you tried with 1.8v adapter?

Edited 24 March24 Mar by Zlatko580

Well, it kinda worked and enabled smartlink but a moment later the component protection kicked in and disabled it. Any idea how to disable the component protection in a reasonable way?

You messed something, which is why I wrote a disclaimer in my first post. I don't know of any way to remove CP on these units other than using ODIS with online access. You could try writing the original dump to see if that helps..

Edited 25 March25 Mar by Zlatko580

Hi, thanks for the manual. This was my first experience with EEPROM. I fought a bit with Windows 11 and the CH341A drivers (the wrong ones installed and I had to delete them), then I set the clip to about 30x mayby more… But after 1,5hr everything worked perfectly and it’s all running great now. Thanks! (Octavia 3 FL 2018)

On 22/03/2026 at 22:36, Zlatko580 said:

It should work. But take extra caution when doing it.

You cannot mess anything a lot if you follow up tutorial, even if patch doesn't work, you can write original .bin and return to default state.

It will be very helpful if we get feedback from you, did you succeeded.

Also if you need additional help write me in pm, I will give you my number.

On 22/03/2026 at 22:36, Zlatko580 said:

It should work. But take extra caution when doing it.

You cannot mess anything a lot if you follow up tutorial, even if patch doesn't work, you can write original .bin and return to default state.

It will be very helpful if we get feedback from you, did you succeeded.

Also if you need additional help write me in pm, I will give you my number.

Im waiting on the programmer to come, I may have some questions and you said to contact you on pm to give me your number but the site doesn’t let me send you a message, can you send me instead?

Does this work for this car? MEN2_EU_SEGPX_P8010L

I don’t understand, how you desolder itt and what is the reason?

2 minutes ago, Gigo said:

Does this work for this car? MEN2_EU_SEGPX_P8010L

I don’t understand, how you desolder itt and what is the reason?

No need to desolder, try with clamp.

Thank you very much for the topic and the explanation you have made. It really is not found anywhere else. Will this method work on MEN2_EU_SKGPX_P0080L? And my other question is can I use vvdi prog instead of CH341A. Thanks again for the tutorial

Hi, it will work on your train version. No idea about vvdi.

Hello guys,
I would like to share my experience specifically the Seat Arona MEN2_EU_SEGPx_P8010L unit.

As of my knowledge all VAG cars from 2017-2022 that have a similar looking unit with an APP button are produced from LG meaning that can be patched with this method.

Removing the unit first you must remove the trim and Seat doesn’t make it easy, there is a T10 bolt on the passenger side that you must remove first, hidden behind the plastic that has the airbag key disabler.

The programmer was a pain in the ass with windows 11 i had to sail seven seas to make the drivers work.

Opening the unit was easy, attaching the clamp not so much, after trying for so long I gave up as the clamp head became dull and wasn’t staying in place anymore. As of my experience the board tries to power itself and the programmer shuts down. I had to desolder chip patch it and resolder. That thing is tiny if you don’t have the right equipment don’t even try

If you are not handy and don’t have all the required tools don’t even try it it’s not worth destroying the unit or having squeaky trim living in your head rent free 😂.

Using android auto/ car play not that much of a must have upgrade, these are wired only meaning that you must connect via usb, using a wireless dongle to replace cable is possible but be prepared beat the **** of your smartphone battery it drains like crazy.

Hello guys,
When I connect to the chip the programmer's red lite stops - like there is shortcut.
Does somebody have same behavior?

I am a little afraid of de-soldering the eprom.

Edited 2 May2 May by jappy

it`s not hard do desolder eeprom if you have hot gun air . t is always better to download and read it. Sometimes the clip does not read the all file.

but if want only with clip check where is pin 1 in programmer and pin1 eeprom. push clip and read it . but always use verify options ( in read / write )

Edited 2 May2 May by LZ1GAD

Double check correct adapter inserting in CH341A, if problem persist, desolder only vcc leg, not entire chip.

Thank you for the reply.
My version is MEN2_EU_SKGPx_P0460L

How can you disconnect only vcc - it is 8th leg. right?

Yes,what car do you have?

Edited 2 May2 May by Mesa