04-10-2023, 04:39 PM
This is a popular one, I know! We all want to change a config and get Polestar tune!! It's complicated, as the actual Polestar Engineered Software, the official name of the Polestar Tune, is a software install that appears to be a combination of actual software installed (like engine calibration to the ECM) and a config change, that may enable some "pre-installed" software to enable "Polestar programming"
This is what I know at the current time. What the "Tune" is and what is installed can be different for each drive-train. So this is general but not specific knowledge of what can possibly be gained by using only "config":
The "tune" is claimed to address: Engine, Transmission and AWD for the various models, claims may differ, mostly anything published by Volvo is non-specific sort of marketing fluff anyways. One thing for sure, for ECM "tune" you pretty much would need to buy the software to get that.
ICE drivetrains, T-Series and D-series: The Polestar tune is generally an install of ECM calibration and a DEM (AWD unit) software file for AWD cars. There is no software install for the TCM (transmission) on automatic transmission cars. So it is thought, and backed up by experience, that the TCM changes config to "Polestar programming" when the Item 374 POLESTAR LEVEL is changed to "02 Polestar Optimization". I have the official Polestar software installed on my 2019 S60 T6, the software install was ECM and DEM flash, and CEM flash that changes the Polestar Level as well as the variant for "PE TCM/DEM SW" (which BTW does not affect config in the car at all).
T8 PHEV: I am less familiar with this one. PE install will not include a DEM flash obviously. Will almost certainly include an ECM flash. I don't know about TCM on this
B-series (mild hybrid): Polestar install is an ECM and TCM software. The mild-hybrids appear to have a newer generation of Aisin transmission and AWD system, where the TCM has (more?) control over the AWD operation. No DEM flash with Polestar install, but the AWD appears to be within the control of the TCM that gets flashed. For these changing config does not appear to have any effect "enabling" any present programming. (Note XC40 seems to be an outlier, uses the "old" style DEM even on B-series)
The "Polestar" DEM SW for the T/D-series, this would be a simple flash one could do with a tool like OrBit. Even the TCM software for B-series is possible. I have worked on cataloging the software parts for these, they differ by each model. Don't know what could come of that but it's at least *possible* to obtain those softwares and flash them theoretically ;-)
This is what I know at the current time. What the "Tune" is and what is installed can be different for each drive-train. So this is general but not specific knowledge of what can possibly be gained by using only "config":
The "tune" is claimed to address: Engine, Transmission and AWD for the various models, claims may differ, mostly anything published by Volvo is non-specific sort of marketing fluff anyways. One thing for sure, for ECM "tune" you pretty much would need to buy the software to get that.
ICE drivetrains, T-Series and D-series: The Polestar tune is generally an install of ECM calibration and a DEM (AWD unit) software file for AWD cars. There is no software install for the TCM (transmission) on automatic transmission cars. So it is thought, and backed up by experience, that the TCM changes config to "Polestar programming" when the Item 374 POLESTAR LEVEL is changed to "02 Polestar Optimization". I have the official Polestar software installed on my 2019 S60 T6, the software install was ECM and DEM flash, and CEM flash that changes the Polestar Level as well as the variant for "PE TCM/DEM SW" (which BTW does not affect config in the car at all).
T8 PHEV: I am less familiar with this one. PE install will not include a DEM flash obviously. Will almost certainly include an ECM flash. I don't know about TCM on this
B-series (mild hybrid): Polestar install is an ECM and TCM software. The mild-hybrids appear to have a newer generation of Aisin transmission and AWD system, where the TCM has (more?) control over the AWD operation. No DEM flash with Polestar install, but the AWD appears to be within the control of the TCM that gets flashed. For these changing config does not appear to have any effect "enabling" any present programming. (Note XC40 seems to be an outlier, uses the "old" style DEM even on B-series)
The "Polestar" DEM SW for the T/D-series, this would be a simple flash one could do with a tool like OrBit. Even the TCM software for B-series is possible. I have worked on cataloging the software parts for these, they differ by each model. Don't know what could come of that but it's at least *possible* to obtain those softwares and flash them theoretically ;-)