The vLinker MC+ is Vgate's Bluetooth adapter for owners who need more than the engine computer. It reaches Ford's MS-CAN and GM's single-wire CAN, and unlike the plain vLinker MC it works with iPhones.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Vgate |
| Model | vLinker MC+ BL4.0 |
| Wireless link | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Operating systems | iOS, Android, Windows |
| Command sets | ELM327, ELM329, STN |
| Standard protocols | All five OBD2 protocols |
| Extra networks | MS-CAN (Ford), SW-CAN (GM) |
| Operating current | 24 mA |
| Sleep current | 3 mA, intelligent sleep mode |
| Use case | High-throughput coding and diagnostics |
| Power | From the vehicle's OBD2 port |
| Weight | 80 g |
| Size | 1.97 × 1.73 × 0.87 in |
Adapters are judged by the language they speak to apps. The vLinker MC+ is not a genuine ELM327 chip and not an OBDLink STN chip. It is Vgate's own design, and Vgate says it is fully compatible with the ELM327, ELM329 and STN command sets.
Each of those matters for a different reason. ELM327 is the standard almost every OBD2 app understands. The ELM329 is Elm Electronics' CAN-only relative with extra CAN features. The STN command set comes from the chips inside OBDLink adapters and adds extended commands that some advanced apps use.
| Command set | Where it comes from | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| ELM327 | Elm Electronics' original interpreter | Works with nearly every OBD2 app |
| ELM329 | Elm Electronics' CAN-focused chip | Extra CAN handling for apps that ask for it |
| STN | OBDLink's STN chip family | Extended commands used by advanced software |
Vgate pitches the MC+ for coding apps that need high data throughput. Coding and module configuration move far more data than reading a code, and a slow or unstable link is where cheap clones fall over. A dropped connection during a write is the scenario to avoid.
If terms like ELM327 clone and STN are new, what ELM327 means and the v1.5 vs v2.1 breakdown explain why the chip inside decides so much.
The plus in the name mostly means iPhone support. Vgate's plain vLinker MC is a Bluetooth 3.0 adapter for Android and Windows only; the MC+ moves to Bluetooth 4.0 and extends support to iPhones and iPads. That makes it the one to buy if anybody in the house might use an iPhone with it later.
Windows support matters for Ford owners, because the full FORScan program runs on a Windows laptop while phone apps offer a lighter version. With the MC+, the same adapter works in both places.
Battery drain is modest. Vgate rates it at 24 mA while working and 3 mA in its intelligent sleep mode, and the working figure is lower than the plain MC's 51 mA. That low idle figure is what allows it to stay plugged in without flattening a healthy battery.
The body is compact enough to stay clear of your knees on most cars. Setup problems on any Bluetooth adapter usually come down to the wrong connection type in the app; how to use an ELM327 walks through the common fixes.
Ask around for MS-CAN over Bluetooth and the same three adapters keep getting named; the right one depends on phone, budget and how deep you plan to go. The vLinker MC+ sits in the middle: more capable than a basic dongle, less costly than OBDLink's flagship.
| Adapter | iPhone | Windows | MS-CAN | SW-CAN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| vLinker MC+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| vLinker MC | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OBDLink MX+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| vLinker FS USB | No | Yes | Yes, auto switch | Not claimed |
The MX+ adds the OBDLink app with enhanced OEM data for several brands and the backing of the FORScan and BimmerCode teams. The MC+ gives the same extra buses and a broad command set for less. The plain MC shares the MS-CAN, SW-CAN and command-set support but stays on Bluetooth 3.0, which rules out iPhones. For heavy FORScan programming on a laptop, a USB cable like the vLinker FS USB removes Bluetooth from the equation entirely.
Both versions of the MC+ are the same Bluetooth 4.0 adapter for iOS, Android and Windows, so either one does. Let the job steer you instead: reading faults on hidden modules suits any of these, while writing new settings to them rewards the steadiest link you can arrange.
The ELM327 vs OBDLink vs Vgate comparison sets these brands side by side on more than buses.
The MC+ adds iPhone and iPad support. The plain MC works with Android and Windows only.
Yes. It reaches Ford MS-CAN and GM SW-CAN in addition to the five standard OBD2 protocols.
No. It is Vgate's own design, compatible with the ELM327, ELM329 and STN command sets.
Vgate rates it at 24 mA while working and 3 mA in sleep mode.
Yes. It supports iOS, Android and Windows.