If you own a 2011 Smart Fortwo, here’s what you need to know about using a TAN calculator:
A Smart TAN code calculator is either:
The calculator works by asking for two critical inputs from your vehicle:
Once you input these into the calculator, it outputs the correct 3-digit TAN code. You then manually type this code into your car using the odometer reset button (press: enter digit; long press: confirm).
Even with a calculator, 2011 Smart owners run into three frequent issues:
For a 2011 Smart Fortwo (451 chassis), a TAN code calculator generates 12-digit authorization codes required by the DAS/XENTRY software to activate features like key programming, cruise control, and softouch. The process involves entering a 9-character outcode from the car's computer into the calculator to finalize SAM unit or key assignments. For more details, visit OnAuto. SMART TAN Code calculator for DAS
A Smart Car TAN Code Calculator is a specialized software tool used by mechanics and owners of Smart Fortwo (W450, W451) and Roadster models to unlock restricted features within the Mercedes-Benz diagnostic system, known as DAS (Diagnostic Assistance System). For a 2011 Smart Fortwo (W451)
, these codes are essential for performing advanced programming that the car's standard computer blocks for security reasons. Key Functions of a TAN Code Calculator smart car tan code calculator 2011
The calculator generates a unique 12-digit code based on your vehicle's VIN or a specific request code generated by the DAS software. Common uses include:
Key Learning: Programming new transponder keys or remotes to the vehicle.
Feature Activation: Unlocking dealer-only options like Cruise Control (Tempomat), paddle shifters (steering wheel gearshift), or Softouch (automatic gear shifting mode).
Hardware Syncing: Synchronizing a new or used SAM (Signal Acquisition Compilation) unit or ECU to the car.
Performance: Activating specialized Brabus Performance Tuning software. How to Use the Calculator
Connect to DAS: Connect your car to a Mercedes Star Diagnosis (MB Star) tool running the DAS/Xentry software.
Generate Request: Navigate to the "Special Functions" or "Retrofitting" menu. The software will display a "Request Code" or ask for a TAN. If you own a 2011 Smart Fortwo, here’s
Calculate: Enter this request code and your VIN into the Smart TAN Code Calculator software.
Input & Unlock: Enter the generated 12-digit TAN back into the DAS field to complete the activation. Important Considerations for 2011 Models
Version Changes: While older 450 models almost always required TAN codes, some later 451 models (2011–2016) can sometimes be programmed offline using patched versions of DAS that bypass the need for a TAN code.
Software Access: These calculators are typically third-party tools found on automotive forums or sold by specialty diagnostic vendors; they are not officially provided to the public by Mercedes-Benz.
If you are trying to program a key for your 2011 Smart, you might also consider using modern handheld tools like the Autel KM100 or XTool D7, which can often handle key learning via the OBD2 port without needing a separate TAN calculator.
Are you trying to program a new key or activate a feature like cruise control? Do you already have a diagnostic tool (like MB Star/DAS)? SMART TAN Code calculator for DAS
Some 2011 owners, frustrated by the proprietary calculator requirement, opt for a permanent bypass. This is not recommended for safety or emissions reasons, but it is technically possible. The calculator works by asking for two critical
If you choose a bypass, you must permanently label it. A future owner will not know why their fuel pump runs with the ignition off.
It’s important to stress: in many jurisdictions (EU, US, Canada), generating a TAN without manufacturer authorization for a vehicle you do not legally own can be considered a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) or similar anti-circumvention laws. However, owners generating a TAN for their own vehicle for repair or key replacement fall into a gray area – right-to-repair laws in some regions (e.g., Massachusetts, EU) are slowly clarifying that owners should have access to security codes for legitimate repairs.
Practical advice: If you desperately need a TAN for your 2011 Smart:
There is one legitimate use: radio unlock codes (not TAN for immobilizer). For a 2011 Smart’s stock radio (e.g., Alpine unit), you can calculate the code from the serial number. Some websites do that for $5–15. That’s not a “TAN code” — it’s a radio PIN.
If you need key programming, skip the calculators entirely.
If you own a 2011 Smart Fortwo (or any Smart car from the 450, 451, or early 454 series), you have likely encountered a cryptic, three-number sequence flashing on your dashboard. This is the TAN code (Tankentleerungs-Nummer or Tank Entleerungs Nummer), and without it, basic maintenance tasks like changing a fuel pump, cleaning a fuel filter, or replacing the entire fuel tank become an expensive trip to a dealer.
The gatekeeper to this code is the "Smart Car TAN Code Calculator 2011" — a specialized tool (or software) that many 2011 model-year owners desperately search for. But what exactly is it? Why is it so critical for your specific model year? And how can you get one without paying dealership prices?
This article dives deep into everything you need to know about the Smart TAN code system, focusing specifically on the 2011 generation.