VXDIAG VCX NANO for Volvo Review

VXDIAG VCX NANO for Volvo Review - Is a Virtual Machine Necessary?

I recently bought a VXDIAG VCX NANO for Volvo device from vxdiag.com, which claims to be compatible with Volvo's DICE hardware. With a 30-day return policy and solid customer support, I felt confident testing this new tool. It works with Volvo's VIDA software, and according to the product description, it supports communication with Volvo cars from the early 2000s up to around 2014—so far, so good.

I decided to go with the VXDIAG VCX NANO instead of a DICE or DICE clone for two main reasons: (A) the VXDIAG device is more affordable, offering better value for the money, and (B) I saw many forum users mentioning issues with DICE clones, saying they were often unreliable or faulty. In contrast, VXDIAG seemed to get better feedback, which swayed me toward this brand.

Before placing the order, I contacted their customer service to let them know I was in Italy. They were quick to ship the device from their French warehouse, and I received it very promptly. This efficient service really left a good impression on me.

When the device arrived, I was hesitant to use the included software CD, so I decided to try installing VIDA on my existing virtual machine. However, things didn’t go smoothly—I kept getting the error: "ERROR: SDK GetProcAddress!" Unfortunately, I didn’t think to take a screenshot at the time because, honestly, I was a bit anxious about testing a new device. For a moment, I even wondered if there was an issue with the device itself.

Eventually, I decided to follow the official instructions and used the installation DVD that came with the device to install VIDA 2014D. To my surprise—and slight embarrassment—it worked perfectly on the first try. I guess I should have just followed the instructions from the start!

Once the installation was done, I ran into some challenges when connecting the device to the car. My laptop was running 64-bit Windows 10, but the official recommendation was to use 32-bit Windows 7 Professional. So, I had to switch to the recommended system. After that, everything worked seamlessly, and honestly, it was worth the effort. Here's how it performed:

After the successful connection, I was able to easily access detailed vehicle information, fault codes, and live data. When reading fault codes, I did notice some slight delays with a few features not responding immediately. I reached out to tech support, and they suggested checking the data cable connection or updating the VIDA software. After following their advice, the system became much more responsive.

One feature that really impressed me was VIDA's "activation" function. It allows you to control and test various subsystems in the car, like turning different modules on and off.

Although I haven't tested the programming functionality yet, according to vxdiag.com, the VXDIAG device fully supports Volvo’s programming features, meaning it should be able to program and update control modules in the car.

I also tried using the device with VDASH2, and it successfully read vehicle information and fault codes there as well.

All in all, while I can’t comment on the programming side of things just yet, based on my experience, I can confidently say that the VX NANO is a great value alternative to a DICE clone. As long as you follow the instructions and ensure compatibility with your system, it’s definitely a solid choice. The only minor downside is that it only supports USB connection, but at least that means the connection is more stable. One last thing to note: using it in a virtual machine might cause compatibility issues, so it’s best to stick with the official hardware and software recommendations.