I’ve done some small research about China Town VCM’s and want to share my findings with you.
This picture is original Main Dealer Rotunda VCM
As you can see all circuits are gold plated and good quality components, metal casing with no production date stickers etc. on it.
These are most popular VCM clones you can get on china market at the moment:
Type A
Top Quality Ford IDS or Super Ford VCM (dual PCB)
This kinds Ford VCM has the same PCB Design as the original, but has Tin/Lead plated printed circuit board and different components(capacitors, some chips).Comes with metal casing with production date stickers.
can be used on the original software of Ford VCM Ford IDS (need crack), comes with IDS V86, Jaguar & Land Rover: V136
Suitable for programming on all makes, DPF regeneration/replacement, key coding and relatively safe. Should be no problem with firmware update.
Type B
Good Quality Ford IDS (dual PCB)
The PCB of this kind Ford VCM is little different design with the original. Tin/Lead plated printed circuit board, metal casing, production date stickers.
Can support Jaguar & Land Rover, and can also be used on the original software of Ford IDS (need crack) comes with V86, Jaguar & Land Rover: V136
Suitable for programming on all makes, DPF regeneration/replacement, key coding and relatively safe.
Type C
Medium Quality FLY version with red relays (dual PCB)
The PCB of this kind Ford VCM is different with the original. Can’t be used with the original software of Ford VCM. Metal or plastic casing with production date stickers.
Works only with modified FLY soft and FLY crack(_VCM.bfc 617KB for Ford IDS and MAZDA, _VCM.bfc 1907KB for JLR ).Comes with software version: IDS V80 ,JLR V130,MAZDA V79 but most likely they are modified old versions (V75,V128???) not confirmed yet
Comes with FLY Switch as well so all makes can be installed on same system, not recommended for Ford and Mazda(system conflicts).
Ford IDS, Mazda
Not suitable for module programming (can corrupt/lock PCM, TCM), may work with other modules but you using it on your own risk, should work with DPF, key coding, injector coding. They have a habit of re-flashing PCM when you choose Self Test option.
JLR
Need more info about programming and coding possibility???
Type C
Low quality copy with SONY chip inside (dual PCB)
PCB different than original Rotunda VCM. Comes with V75, V128 original Ford VCM soft (need crack). Metal casing with prod. date stickers.
Not suitable for module programming, not safe in use, not recommended!!!
ALL THE REST!!!
Dual red PCB,Single red PCB’s, Single green PCB’s etc. just forget about and stay away from that scrap!!!
And one more thing, USBVCM connection cable must have small “Real” chip inside for Ethernet connection.
Check on obdexpress.co.uk, there only the one at the moment selling HQ VCM clone.
