There have been questions lately about how a VIN plays a part in matrix activations (and other processes) and it appears there's some misinformation being passed around that should be corrected...



- How it Works

Above is an overview of how Audi's diagnostic network functions. When every car is finished in production a Specified vehicle configuration is saved with Audi on their Carport database. This Specified vehicle configuration contains all of the data, coding, adaptations and other information related to the car and is tied to the car by VIN.

The Actual vehicle configuration will be the current state that it is sitting in your driveway. So if any firmware, parameters, coding, adaptations or other changes have been made your Actual vehicle configuration now varies from what is saved with Audi on the Carport database.

If during a dealership visit a complete Specified versus Actual comparison is performed the diagnostic system will detect the changes that have been made throughout the car because the Actual configuration of your car varies from the Specified configuration on the Carport database. When this occurs the car will be reverted to Specified configuration.

This is when any changes to your coding, adaptations, engine tunes, activations, etc. get wiped.


- Matrix activations are supposed to be specifically tied or built to your VIN: FALSE

With matrix activations and other processes performed through a VAS interface ALL of the data being used is identical per module. e.g. Simply put if the part number of the module that is being flashed or parameterized is the same between 2, 3 or 2000 cars the exact same data is being used. There is no VIN specific data or data altered to match your VIN, just data that is proper for the module that is being worked with.


- Matrix activations can be tied to your VIN so they will never be wiped by a dealership ever: FALSE

No work of this nature can be reported by a third party to Audi's Carport servers to change the Specified configuration of your car. There is a specific process that requires an SVM code that comes with Audi supplied retrofits, repairs, recalls, updates and changes that will report back to Audi's servers to change your Specified configuration.

All third party matrix activations and processes do not have SVM codes because those only come from Audi. No third party company offering activations or processes like these can change your car's Specified configuration on Audi's servers.

Don't be fooled by any company or person claiming this as it's not possible to do.


- There is a chance that a matrix activation from Europrice will get wiped when you visit a dealership: TRUE

There is a possibility that when you take your car to a dealership that a matrix activation will be wiped, it's rare at the moment. It's not common that the complete Specified versus Actual process that fully reverts your car back to stock is run every time your car has work done at a dealership.

However if your matrix activation does get wiped we've got you covered with lifetime free re-activation so long as you own the car. (If you did rent a VAS interface there is a $35 re-rental charge and round trip shipping, zero cost if you purchased a VAS interface)

Hopefully this helps clarify a few bits of misinformation and was also a bit enlightening on how Audi's diagnostic systems function.

If anyone has any questions on this, other aspects of the diagnostic system or activations please feel free to post here or email: [email protected]

Cheers!