VAGCOM - Why should I get one?

zeratul

zeratul

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What are the advantages of getting VAGCOM?

Will I just be able to use it to diagnose a problem when I eventually get one or is there some fun stuff I can change?

Is it only going to cost me the price of the lead as the software is a free download?

Cars: 02 2.5 diesel Allroad / 04 1.8T Cab

Many thanks
 
The Free download is only limited though but if that doesnt bother you then yeah go for it. Ive been toyin with the Idea but I know what Ill be like, Ill be forever plugging it in if I get a tiny Flutter!!
 
Roach - Come on then, dont be tight, get a Group buy going!!:eyebrows:
How much??
 
So to quantify, I need to download the free software, and then buy the lead from fleabay and thats it??
 
Yup - Lead is going to be about £20 at the most but the free software version is limited...


How Limited is the free version then everyone? We're not experts - do we need the full version or is the free/limited version not worth getting as you can't do much with it?
 
What? only £20 for the lead? are you sure? When I got mine a few years back it was closer to $100 and something, so like £60-ish pounds. Surly it couldn't have gone down by that much in price?

As for how useful is it, for me I used it many many times an it saved me a lot of money, considering most of my problems were small errors that could be easily fixed. The main reason I got it as well was to stop Audi from charging me £50 each time just for them to tell me what the problem is, so now I print out the problem and see if I can fix it myself. If not then just give Audi my Vag-com read out and show them what the problem is (which is already £50 cheaper) so I think well worth the investment, especially if you're thinking of keeping your car for several years.
 
Defratos said:
If not then just give Audi my Vag-com read out and show them what the problem is (which is already £50 cheaper) so I think well worth the investment, especially if you're thinking of keeping your car for several years.
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Trouble is - I can see our Audi dealer say that they would need to do a test for themselves! and so still charge!
:unsure:
 
zeratul said:
Trouble is - I can see our Audi dealer say that they would need to do a test for themselves! and so still charge!
:unsure:
Click to expand...


Well I haven't had that problem before, you can even get the Audi man to sit in the car while u do the diagnostic, that should be sufficient for them to accept the read out, unless they're being absolute Tits about it, in which case I'll take it to a different Audi dealership
 
audi upgrades
It sometimes make the Audi / Seat / Skoda dealers look at you funny. When I had a problem with the factory dump valve on my Octy vRS, I walked in with a printout of the fault codes and a load of info off of the forums about the fault. I even had the TSB (Technical service bulletin) showing them the uprated part number.

Without any hesitation they ordered the parts under warranty for me and booked the car in for a week later.

I use VAGCOM for other stuff too... Like when I fit induction kits and forget to plug the MAF back in !! Brings up the 'CEL' (Check engine light), and needs a dealer reset. Also the same on Golfs etc if you forget to turn the passenger airbag off before removing the glovebox, it brings on the airbag light, which can only be 'reset' with VAGCOM.

All I would say is that VAGCOM can be very indepth, its ok for running fault checks etc, but unless you understand it fully then you could have major problem if you changed any of the coding WITHOUT proper understanding !!

So, if you want to check for fault codes etc and check 'stuff' then I'd thoroughly recommend it.
If computers baffle you, or you are not that technically minded then I would say stay well clear. There is normally enough people somewhere to close to you that will have a copy and can help you out for a couple of beers

Andy
 
What version of VAG-COM do I need to programme up my OEM Bluetooth installation to the RNS-e in my 2003 A4 2.5 TDi Q sport ?
Is a special VAG-COM cable required, or will the £15 cables you get on E-Bay be OK to do the job ?
 
audi upgrades
I need to get one of these. Thankfully I'm American, and I can get this shipped to my mailbox on the base. Much cheaper.
 
JohnboyC said:
What version of VAG-COM do I need to programme up my OEM Bluetooth installation to the RNS-e in my 2003 A4 2.5 TDi Q sport ?
Is a special VAG-COM cable required, or will the £15 cables you get on E-Bay be OK to do the job ?
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409-1 version will do what you want programming wise. you can either pay 250 for the lead which is activated or buy an ebay lead the pay for a license which is 50 quid
 
jase0851 said:
409-1 version will do what you want programming wise. you can either pay 250 for the lead which is activated or buy an ebay lead the pay for a license which is 50 quid
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Hi, just been going through this and im really interested in getting a VAGCOM now. If i get the lead and software from ebay, do i then buy the licence from Roos Tech?

I want to use it for making changes (like door lock), reading faults etc.

Thanks
Graham
 
will VAGCOM show up if i have a faulty injector if so any one got one near thanet before i can buy one.
 
I have an eBay one, use it on my Mk4 Golf. The lead was about £10 and software free too download. The software however is restricted on third party leads, you can't do everything. However, there are ways around this.

Not sure if the eBay ones run on CAN cars, not even sure what a CAN is, i could be wrong?!?!

The only downside of the eBay ones apart from the limited software access, unless you use a way round, or pay for a licence, is they can be dodgy, they can last years or die in a matter of minutes, they are cheap, very cheaply made. also many issues with conflicts with computers that a genuine lead does not have. Plus the freeware software presumes your using a COM port not USB, so you need drivers for that.

But for what i have used it for; fault diagnosis, clear codes, programming beeps, door locking modes, allsorts, mine worked a treat.

Like i said, i am unsure whether it will work as well on my new A4 (when i get it) as i have not fully read up on this CAN system, i think the Golf uses a slightly older system.

But the software is freeware, but it realises when an unlicenced lead (eBay special) is using it, and disables a lot of options, there are (*cough*cracks out there *cough*) ways round it.

If you buy a fully licenced lead from Ross-Tech they are about $400 i think, and are guaranteed, brilliant customer care etc etc, but there are lots of versions dependant on newness of cars you'll see things like HEX & CAN & BUS!!

Another fun thing i did on my car was calculate the BHP using VAGCOM, and did a few fancy graphs of road speed BHP etc.

Its fun
 
audi upgrades
there seams to be different codes/cables how do you know which one is compatible and which off the ebay cables would you recommend.
 
choimaloy said:
there seams to be different codes/cables how do you know which one is compatible and which off the ebay cables would you recommend.
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NONE! the ebay ones in my experience are a waist of time and money, very restricted, if you get it to work, no support and youll only endup forking out more money to get a genuine one, therefore get a genuine one first.
i went down the route of copies first, couldnt justify to myself 250 quid for a lead etc but after commiting to buying a genuine in the end, found that the support and usage was alot better and have more or less covered my cost of lead back already by helping others out with it for beer tokens.
a genuine one also gives you the freedom to use on alot more vehicles.
 
I couldnt say it any better, it will work on all cars new & old, updates will be possible where as ebays are stuck on a certain level & alot of reports of duds or go wrong almost immediately, you wont get support for any ebay lead, also if its not the older interface which is on version 409 backwards then you wont get an offical license for it at all, so yeah there are many plus points to genuine & also negatives, but most people learn there lesson sooner or later, you just cant beat genuine ones.
 
Hi NHN,

Just to say that you done your best to try and arrange a decent price for a group offer, I was all for it but it seemed that Simon was probably tired and fed-up with the whole thing considering his personal trials and tribulations. It might be an idea to arrange a group buy on this forum I dont know.
 
sebhar70 said:
Hi NHN,

Just to say that you done your best to try and arrange a decent price for a group offer, I was all for it but it seemed that Simon was probably tired and fed-up with the whole thing considering his personal trials and tribulations. It might be an idea to arrange a group buy on this forum I dont know.
Click to expand...

TBH mate I was only involved to check it was legit for others in the beginning, it wasnt for me to get involved for any prices, then JoJo told me it was going tits up & so I saw an issue & tried to help Simon by offering to supply the full service from door to door honestly, respectfully & honourably, for the life of me & other members over on that site we couldnt see the logic as he was getting stressed, missed his life & fedup which were his words to a degree, so why would you act in this manner, either he didnt wanna lose face as a mod or he had a vested interest, either way he has acted IMHO in a very bad way to make such a tbh fairly big cockup.

But hey I tried to help the members over there & he wouldnt take it onboard & it was cheaper by some £15 or so, pass mate really have no clue as now everyone has ended up paying almost what I charge for 1 cable which is ridiculous for a GB of that size, its annoying for me as I feel its not the members interest the guy has at heart here, he was given other options to help save money & resolve it, he chose to stick with a high price, so again hows that in the members interest at all, afterall it was done for them & to cut costs.

Anyway if there is a requirement for a GB then I would be happy to start one, just say the word boys.

iyrix said:
Thanks for all the help guys. Can someone just confirm that this is the right part for my car? Is there anywhere in the UK i should order from?
http://www.ross-tech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=VCKII&Category_Code=VAGCOM

Cheers
Graham
Click to expand...

I sell the genuine Hex-Can-USB mate & trust me this is the one to have, plus the charges you see on RT's site are not the whole picure as you have 50 bucks for courier, then import/customs charges & it ends up costing more than UK, I can supply this, as have to numerous ASN members & others will contest to my service level, ask 1wheelonly as he's a customer, PM for further info.
 
while we are on the subject of vag com and diagnostics etc etc i have seen THESE pop up from time to time!!!

are they a waste of space?
 
They would do a certain number of things but its all down to the cars it can work on & the modules it has access to mate, thats why vagcom is better, much better, works on pretty much every VAG car old/new & is updated fairly regularly.
 
will keep saving for a cable then!! :)

only another £241 quid to go lol
 
Get a loan, you'll never look back, lol
 
i would love to but im paying enough out at the minute :-(
 
You have an Audi, you need Vagcom,Simples !

It will pay for itself the first time it diagnoses a fault correctly
 
Byzan A4 said:
You have an Audi, you need Vagcom,Simples !

It will pay for itself the first time it diagnoses a fault correctly
Click to expand...


couldnt agree more, everyone on here buys mods, ie: alloys, stereos, spoilers, bigger turbos, tints etc etc etc but when it comes to something that will save you money on your car and possibly make you some when helping others out, then people seem to go the cheap nasty route and then moan when it doesnt work or doesnt fill there expectations.
they really do pay for themselves in time.

iyrix, i would highly recommend NHN as a honest, reliable, trustworthy seller, many others on here would also vouch for him too.
 
NHN said:
TBH mate I was only involved to check it was legit for others in the beginning, it wasnt for me to get involved for any prices, then JoJo told me it was going tits up & so I saw an issue & tried to help Simon by offering to supply the full service from door to door honestly, respectfully & honourably, for the life of me & other members over on that site we couldnt see the logic as he was getting stressed, missed his life & fedup which were his words to a degree, so why would you act in this manner, either he didnt wanna lose face as a mod or he had a vested interest, either way he has acted IMHO in a very bad way to make such a tbh fairly big cockup.

But hey I tried to help the members over there & he wouldnt take it onboard & it was cheaper by some £15 or so, pass mate really have no clue as now everyone has ended up paying almost what I charge for 1 cable which is ridiculous for a GB of that size, its annoying for me as I feel its not the members interest the guy has at heart here, he was given other options to help save money & resolve it, he chose to stick with a high price, so again hows that in the members interest at all, afterall it was done for them & to cut costs.

Anyway if there is a requirement for a GB then I would be happy to start one, just say the word boys.



I sell the genuine Hex-Can-USB mate & trust me this is the one to have, plus the charges you see on RT's site are not the whole picure as you have 50 bucks for courier, then import/customs charges & it ends up costing more than UK, I can supply this, as have to numerous ASN members & others will contest to my service level, ask 1wheelonly as he's a customer, PM for further info.
Click to expand...

As a matter of interest how many units would you need to sell as a group buy to offer the price you quoted on Briskoda Forum? If it's twenty or so I'm sure you could get that figure quite easily.:icon_thumright:
 
I would be happy to do a GB even for 20 people, save all some money mate, certainly can do it less than my current price & tbh less than the GB cockup over there & thats with 80% less buyers.

Let me know or do you want me to start something up?
 
I've just managed to get hold of a second hand one, well chuffed!
 
Just check registration details mate as if its been registered you may have to pay to change it to yours or dont do at all, you may not get support from RT if its in someone else's name.
 
NHN said:
I would be happy to do a GB even for 20 people, save all some money mate, certainly can do it less than my current price & tbh less than the GB cockup over there & thats with 80% less buyers.

Let me know or do you want me to start something up?
Click to expand...

Hi NHN,

I want you to start one, put me down for the first order, I know about 20+ people pulled out of that GB and may be interested again for a similar price to what was originally quoted.
 
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