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Alientech has released KESS3 upgrade 3.71, adding BOOT unlock and BENCH read and write protocols for locked Bosch MD1CS014 ECUs. It covers the 3.0 V6 TDI diesel in Audi and Volkswagen models from 2021 onwards, a group that until now has been difficult to access. The source does not label the release as beta.
Which ECUs
Bosch MD1CS014 in its “locked” form. The BOOT Unlock step opens and unlocks the ECU using the dedicated protocol, and it needs the KESS3 Unlock Module accessory. After that, the BENCH protocol handles reading and writing with a direct connection to the ECU connector. OBD is not mentioned for this release, so this is a bench job and the ECU has to come out of the car.
Cars this opens up
All are 3.0 V6 TDI, 2021 onwards:
- Audi A4, A5, A6, A7, Q5, Q7, Q8
- Audi S5, S6, S7, SQ5
- Volkswagen Touareg
The source gives no per-model engine or year breakdown beyond this, so check the exact car against the supplier’s list before you quote.
What it means
For owners, these are powerful, heavy diesels where a remap typically adds useful torque and easier overtaking, and until now the locked ECU has kept many of them out of reach. Gains vary with the car and its condition. You can see what is available for your car in our tuning builder.
For garages, the BOOT unlock and bench route means a proper strip-down job, so allow time and the right accessory. The KESS3 range is covered on our Alientech tuning tools page, and if you would rather not carry out the bench work yourself, ask us about our tuning file service.
It is also a reminder that locked ECUs are not a dead end. Each new protocol from Alientech and the other tool makers widens the list of cars a garage can take on, and it is worth checking the supported list before turning a customer away. Ask whether the car has had previous software changes, as that can affect how the unlock behaves, and always save the original file before writing anything back.
