KESS3 Unlocks BENCH Access for Continental Acro SIMOS18.Xss the VAG Ecosystem
Alientech releases Upgrade 3.23 for KESS3, adding a powerful BENCH protocol for the Continental SIMOS18.X ECU, one of the most widely used engine control units across the entire VAG Group. This update enables direct ECU access from the connector without opening it (afterthe first unlock in BOOT mode), complementing the already supported OBD and BOOT modes.
The SIMOS18.X ECU is installed on the legendary 1.8 and 2.0 TSI and TFSI EA888 turbo petrol engines from 2010, which power an exceptionally wide range of vehicles — from sporty compact cars to high-performance SUVs. With this new BENCH mode, KESS3 provides workshops with a fast, controlled solution designed for everyday needs, covering both repair operations and performance optimization.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Connection Mode | BENCH (complements OBD, BOOT) |
| ECU Type | Continental SIMOS18.X |
| Engine | 1.8L and 2.0L TSI / TFSI EA888 |
| Production Years | From 2010 onwards |
| Supported Brands | Audi, Porsche, Seat, Skoda, Volkswagen |
Extensive Vehicle Coverage
- Audi: A4, A5, A6, Q3, Q5, Q7, S1, S3, TT, TTS
- Porsche: Macan
- Seat: Ibiza, Leon Cupra
- Skoda: Octavia RS, Superb
- Volkswagen: Beetle, Golf GTI, Golf R, Jetta, Passat, Polo GTI, Sagitar, Scirocco, Sharan, Teramont, Tiguan, Vento
Why This Matters for Workshops
The EA888 engine family is arguably one of the most tuned platforms in the world, powering everything from the iconic Golf GTI and Golf R to the Porsche Macan and Audi S3. With BENCH protocol support added to the KESS3 toolkit, workshops can now work on these ECUs with maximum flexibility — choosing between OBD for convenience, BENCH for connector-based direct access, or BOOT for advanced operations. This makes KESS3 the definitive tuning solution for the entire VAG EA888 ecosystem.
