VCDS mods THEN warranty claim?

azibux1

azibux1

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Hi all,

Apologies if I have asked a similar question previously or if there is another thread, I can't see a dedicated one

Has anyone made VCDS mods and then had anything (related or un-related to the mods) sorted under warranty with / without any issues?

When I bought the car I have been told by Audi service/warranty guy (through the transaction manager who is a family member) that VCDS mods are not a good idea as if something fails, they can be detected and Audi will use anything to get out of a warranty claim if they can say "well you modified X and ruined the warranty".

And also I have an email from Audi UK saying "VCDS is not Audi approved; we can only recommend Audi Approved accessories or modifications to be used on our vehicles."

There's a few things I'd like to do and held off on for a few months because of the above... But I keep thinking about it. Don't want to end up in any problem situation

Thoughts?
 
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SEARCH

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/vcds-mods-feature-changes-and-warranty.295851/

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/8v-vcds-mods.206515/
 
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Thanks @DJAlix

Seems then that it could affect warranty but only relating to the component you've modified... If I'm reading correctly?
 
Pretty much, they (Audi) couldn't reject say a brake issue claim if you had added the auto-dipping reversing function to your mirrors for instance.

If you actually have VCDS though, I'd imagine you'd be best off doing what I did with my A4, keep the long coding for all your module's "stock" settings, and a list of all your modified long coding. I always changed mine back before any service/warranty work.
 
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azibux1 said:
Thanks @DJAlix

Seems then that it could affect warranty but only relating to the component you've modified... If I'm reading correctly?
Click to expand...
Yes and no depending on the dealer you are dealing with I guess. As said, my car is modified beyond recognition and I have never had any issues with my dealer. I have even gone as far as to update the software on my control modules where possible and my dealer has said never flagged anything or not completed any works.

I had an email from my dealers master tech today, saying that he heard I had placed a new order and that he was very much looking forward to seeing what I could do coding wise when the car arrives, and could I "information share" with him lol :)
 
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paradigital said:
Pretty much, they (Audi) couldn't reject say a brake issue claim if you had added the auto-dipping reversing function to your mirrors for instance.

If you actually have VCDS though, I'd imagine you'd be best off doing what I did with my A4, keep the long coding for all your module's "stock" settings, and a list of all your modified long coding. I always changed mine back before any service/warranty work.
Click to expand...
If you have VCDS then backing up yours cars "settings" is a must. Screen cap all the stock Long Coding and generate Adaptation Maps of every control module.
 
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Not seeing anything particularly reassuring here. Even the small US firm that sells this software is keen to state on their website that:- “Ross-Tech is not affiliated with the Volkswagen Group in any way” and yet people all over the internet state that certain procedures should not be done on VAG cars without using VCDS software. :blush:
 
Retroman said:
Not seeing anything particularly reassuring here. Even the small US firm that sells this software is keen to state on their website that:- “Ross-Tech is not affiliated with the Volkswagen Group in any way” and yet people all over the internet state that certain procedures should not be done on VAG cars without using VCDS software. :blush:
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Well it's kinda the same with other independent garage tools. Many indy's will use Snap-On on AVADI for example, same kinda thing all be it more hardware based.
 
VCDS is a little different however, in that it is talked about as if it is some sort of VAG official, "must use" software - when in fact it is not. Its use is suggested everywhere for a lot more than just reading ECU error codes. I agree that on older cars, out of warranty, it doesn't really matter. I've seen posts stating things like "must use VCDS for changing rear brake disc pads" and "must use VCDS for changing a fuel filter". Who says this? It's not VAG.
 
Thanks for all comments! Mixed opinions it seems, but as @paradigital says, logic would say that enabling something like the alarm chirp could not in any way affect a central locking failure (as an example)
 
Retroman said:
VCDS is a little different however, in that it is talked about as if it is some sort of VAG official, "must use" software - when in fact it is not. Its use is suggested everywhere for a lot more than just reading ECU error codes. I agree that on older cars, out of warranty, it doesn't really matter. I've seen posts stating things like "must use VCDS for changing rear brake disc pads" and "must use VCDS for changing a fuel filter". Who says this? It's not VAG.
Click to expand...
VCDS is talked about as the "must used" tool because of what it offers, its support and its price point. There are many applications out there that can do the same things, sometimes more, but VCDS was one of the first and has become a 3rd party industry standard. The applications support has has also been outstanding!

Using your brake disc example. On new cars you cannot just whip off the pads and disc's in the rear, you need so plug in to the car and tell the ABS controller to retract the pistons. You need a software tool in order to do this and it just so happens that most professional garages use VCDS as the official VAG solution, ODIS, costs approx 3k to buy and then 2k per year in subscription charges.

Edit:

I guess you could say that VCDS is like Hoover in that it's brand name has become a name associated with a tool or item.
 
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taken my A3 for service with the VIM unlock from the emmanuele design tool. There's no way to undo that...(unless with a VCD remod). No issue there.

I recently taken my car in to get the key fob reprogrammed, had the DRL wink disable mod enabled. No issue there either.

Now I got the high beam assist activated. I suspect no issue either.

What exactly are they are going to see when they hook up your car to the computers? Are they looking at something else than the fault codes?
 
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gamegenie said:
taken my A3 for service with the VIM unlock from the emmanuele design tool. There's no way to undo that...(unless with a VCD remod). No issue there.

I recently taken my car in to get the key fob reprogrammed, had the DRL wink disable mod enabled. No issue there either.

Now I got the high beam assist activated. I suspect no issue either.

What exactly are they are going to see when they hook up your car to the computers? Are they looking at something else than the fault codes?
Click to expand...
The AUDI workshop tool ODIS will be used to run a check on your car. It runs a standard scan and collects data like what we see within a VCDS auto scan. It then compares this data to the data stored within the Audi Online Database against your VIN number to check for any "differences". Differences are flagged within the summery but...

VCDS changes within Long Coding and Adaptation channels will not be flagged unless the coding in question was to 100% remove or add / retrofit something. When I say add or remove a something I mean removing / un-coding the Mag Ride controller or like adding a reversing camera with a new controller, major things.

The only way they pick up on VCDS, VCP, Carista, ODBeleven, VASPC, ODIS tweaks is if they notice them or if they see them while investigating the issue which your car is in for which is not a physical fix, something which they need to plug in to diagnose outside of the standard scan procedure.

Hope this makes sense.

VIM... all VIM mods on the MQB and MLB platforms are recorded within the Audi Online Data Base as Software Version Management Errors (SVM). VIM is done by editing the MMI firmware and therefore the checksum is changed.
 
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Cool thanks. May look into OBD Eleven to see if it is powerful enough for what I need
 
DJAlix said:
Anytime. What is it that you are wanting to do?
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The ones I have on my list are

Oil temp on main DIS scroll
Acoustic lock beep (and the menu to enable/disable this with MMI)
Visual parking aid (only have rear sensors from factory)

Have asked a local audi specialist, but not sure what price they will come back with (if it is even a service they offer)
 
azibux1 said:
The ones I have on my list are

Oil temp on main DIS scroll
Acoustic lock beep (and the menu to enable/disable this with MMI)
Visual parking aid (only have rear sensors from factory)

Have asked a local audi specialist, but not sure what price they will come back with (if it is even a service they offer)
Click to expand...
If thats all you want then I would look on the VCDS map in order to see if anyone near you can activate these for you. Am in London if you want to pop over with a few beer tokens :)

If you are wanting to have a tool which you can use to do these and to scan your car for issues then ODBeleven could be the way to go, but I am in no way endorsing this tool just making a suggestion based on cost. It's a nice idea but not mature enough for me. Had way too many customers visit me for repairs after trying to use it and VCDS guides and instructions do not directly translate to it.

Personally I would look at VCDS or VCP. VCDS is more user friendly and is for the most part non-destructive. VCP is an amazing tool but very user unfriendly and for anyone that does not know what they are doing it can render a car unsuable.
 
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azibux1 said:
Thanks for all comments! Mixed opinions it seems, but as @paradigital says, logic would say that enabling something like the alarm chirp could not in any way affect a central locking failure (as an example)
Click to expand...
That's what common sense says. But if you have a big warranty claim, Audi could get picky. Then it's up to you to argue and prove. I'm sure it says somewhere in the warranty - thou shalt not modify, fullstop.
 
DJAlix said:
If thats all you want then I would look on the VCDS map in order to see if anyone near you can activate these for you. Am in London if you want to pop over with a few beer tokens :)

If you are wanting to have a tool which you can use to do these and to scan your car for issues then ODBeleven could be the way to go, but I am in no way endorsing this tool just making a suggestion based on cost. It's a nice idea but not mature enough for me. Had way too many customers visit me for repairs after trying to use it and VCDS guides and instructions do not directly translate to it.

Personally I would look at VCDS or VCP. VCDS is more user friendly and is for the most part non-destructive. VCP is an amazing tool but very user unfriendly and for anyone that does not know what they are doing it can render a car unsuable.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice and generous offer. I'm around 80 miles from you so quite a distance.

I think like you say I'd rather have the tool, whichever it is, so I can do things (or revert them) in future if need be.

Will have a search on the fourm here and see. Someone had OBDeleven and rated it quite highly, it had a few features that someone (I think yourself or NHN) didn't expect it to have with regards to backing up config / history of changes made.

Or I may save up and get VCDS haha. Nobody in the area seems to have it on the map. I looked at that when I got the car and message the few nearby people but they haven't been on the forum for ages
 
RichardT said:
That's what common sense says. But if you have a big warranty claim, Audi could get picky. Then it's up to you to argue and prove. I'm sure it says somewhere in the warranty - thou shalt not modify, fullstop.
Click to expand...
Ha that's what swings me the other way and puts me off... because none of the things I'm enabling are really necessities, and they're not worth risking a potentially big bill for
 
azibux1 said:
The ones I have on my list are

Oil temp on main DIS scroll
Acoustic lock beep (and the menu to enable/disable this with MMI)
Visual parking aid (only have rear sensors from factory)

Have asked a local audi specialist, but not sure what price they will come back with (if it is even a service they offer)
Click to expand...

If you're close enough to London, go and see @DJAlix !

He really does know his stuff, he switched on the things I wanted (and had been told couldn't be switched on by someone else).
 
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azibux1 said:
Thanks for the advice and generous offer. I'm around 80 miles from you so quite a distance.

I think like you say I'd rather have the tool, whichever it is, so I can do things (or revert them) in future if need be.

Will have a search on the fourm here and see. Someone had OBDeleven and rated it quite highly, it had a few features that someone (I think yourself or NHN) didn't expect it to have with regards to backing up config / history of changes made.

Or I may save up and get VCDS haha. Nobody in the area seems to have it on the map. I looked at that when I got the car and message the few nearby people but they haven't been on the forum for ages
Click to expand...
Not a problem :)

That might have been me.

There was a big conversation about ODBeleven a while back and I wanted to investigate this £55 tool that could "supposedly" do a lot of what my £2000+ application collection / suite could do, so I looked at the website etc and after watching the videos made a judgement. This was shot down in part but in my defence the website videos and information were all out of date and the product had moved on a fair bit. I still stand by my not liking the tool however. I have seen way too many cars screwed up by it. One car was so bad I gave up working on it and it had to go back to Audi for a full software reset at a cost of £1467.43! More than happy to carry out a review and possibly change my views should the developer wish to send me the app and a device to run it on :)

Are you in Wales or there abouts by any chance? I get a lot of people from Wales make the trip over to see me.
 
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DJAlix said:
Not a problem :)

That might have been me.

There was a big conversation about ODBeleven a while back and I wanted to investigate this £55 tool that could "supposedly" do a lot of what my £2000+ application collection / suite could do, so I looked at the website etc and after watching the videos made a judgement. This was shot down in part but in my defence the website videos and information were all out of date and the product had moved on a fair bit. I still stand by my not liking the tool however. I have seen way too many cars screwed up by it. One car was so bad I gave up working on it and it had to go back to Audi for a full software reset at a cost of £1467.43! More than happy to carry out a review and possibly change my views should the developer wish to send me the app and a device to run it on :)

Are you in Wales or there abouts by any chance? I get a lot of people from Wales make the trip over to see me.
Click to expand...
Lol...I haven't yet Alix......Thought you were going to venture up to the wilds closer to me...Ha Ha..........
ps Hint Hint...lol
 
Straightforward and simple mods, can't live w/o the oil temp!

I've used the VCDS since 8P, very nice item to have, expensive in the short run though!

I wouldn't like to perform mods for someone else though, if it messes up (technology can act weird!) I'd be distraught!
 
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Nope, East Anglia @DJAlix... No worries

Will do some investigation
 
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