Is buying a VCDS worth the cost?
 

OK the title says it all.
I am just wondering if the expense of this puts it off my Xmas list.
Or maybe I should treat myself quietly and basically lie through my curly teeth to SWMBO!!! :(:rolleyes:

Well justified by the fact Audi charge 100 for a diagnostic fee its money well spent and can work on other cars in vag group and other cars as generic obd reader so I can say its money well spent.

Yes, it is money well spent. I bought mine mainly for the tourist setting for the headlights. I've used VCDS on the '8 for various little things. Scanned my dads car (Skoda), scanned friends cars (VW's).
Fixed another friends Seat Leon, he had a new DPF fitted by the Main Dealer and they didn't reprogramme the car properly! After 100miles or so the warning light came back on and the car kept going into limp mode with reduced power. The Main Dealer had the car 3 times to sort it but didn't.
Recently I removed an interior and steering wheel, once it was all back in the Air Bag warning light was on. VCDS helped and solved all of the above.

It's an essential part of owning an '8 unless you want to leave absolutely everything to a dealer.
First tool for the toolbox IMHO. +++

Thanks Guys.
I will have to hide my plastic and meet the postman up the street.
Plan B, it can be done on the tinternet!! AND I can tell her the cable is to repair the Xmas Tree lights.
:ROFL:

Main personal motor is A8 D3 2004 3.0 TDI.
Is the "VCDS Release 14.10.0" the one I need?
Also which cable will I need.
Sorry Chaps, at 75 years young I am being a little careful to make sure I have it cforrect.:D

Hopefully you have a suitable modernish laptop to run it on. ;)
I'd buy an official version which will be a cable with integrated "dongle" so you just download the latest software and run it.
Gendan are a UK distributor commonly mentioned and I'm sure they can advise.
The full list of distributors (UK and elsewhere) is here: http://www.ross-tech.com/distributors.html

A MUST !!! No question about it.
You will get the money back within first 2-3 uses and after that every diagnostic is just more and more money in your pocket ready to be spend on improving the car or beer money, whichever one you prefer.

And yeah, tell Mrs that there is one light gone on the Christmas Tree and it needs coding after changing the light :D
or
Tell her that ''With this cable I'll be able to buy you something nice more often hopefully due to the savings by not going to the dealer'' and that should sort it out and even she my chip in few quid towards it.

Hi All,
SHMBO says she is not that silly, and she reminded me that she had let me have a new AMI for my 75th/Xmas present without complaint!!!
Obviously she has read all the messages on this thread and actually smiled.
Net result, Thanks to you lot, I can have it for Chrimble!!!!!!
Again, Cheers to you all.

I purchased from 'VAG-diagnostics.com" a couple of yrs back.
About £80 for cable and software.
I think they are currently selling version 11.11.3.
It may offer you another option.
Chris