VCDS buying help please??
 

Hi,

looking to buy cable and software to be able to communicate properly with my A8 (2009 D3 3.0 TDI QS) rather than just whispering nicely to it whilst I wash it!!

Any recommendations/tips on best value options, I also have an older Skoda as a daily driver , and 2 or 3 friends/family who would no doubt need codes read/service lights reset/rear calipers wound back etc, etc.

Thanks in advance, apologies if I've missed a thread somewhere on this, I'm sure it will have been covered before.

Thanks in advance,

Iain

I bought my Vagcom from Gendan +++

is the VAGCOM link u show the latest version, is it on cd or downloadable & is it available for more than 1 computer?

Iv got a few cars & this could be quite helpful to me...

It depends how you buy it.
The key-activated version I think can be installed on 2 computers.
The dongle(cable)-activated one anywhere you like.

When you pay they send you the cable, then you download the programme from the Ross-Tech website, you then register the cable with Ross-Tech. Not sure how many computers you can put it on but I would think there was no limit as it is the cable that is the key to it working

I bought mine from this Company www.vag-diagnostics.com They are very professional and offer full online support. Think I paid around £79. It works perfectly, they send you a cd with the software and cable or you can download direct from their website once the give you the access code.
Hope this helps
David +++

I looked at those guys (vag diagnostic .com) a while ago, and they are basically reselling the chinese copies with some support. Might as well get it from china if you are going down this route:

http://www.dhgate.com/vag-11-30-vag-...bc45d02ed.html

Mine was the 10.60 version and still works perfectly :Confused:

The problem with Chinese clones is that you cannot connect PC to internet as VCDS checks with servers and if clone cable is detected it overwrites EEPROM in the cable rendering it useless. You can reflash it again but it's a lot of hustle.

is there an idiots guide to read somewhere?? cables/dongles etc. Chinese clones
if I buy the gendan is it a single license? or can I use it on any VAG vehicle?

And does anyone know if there is a discount available through any of the clubs/websites?

thanks for all the replies.

It is fairly straightforward, the cables and software are made by ross tech, so have a look round the site.
http://www.ross-tech.com/
The licence is built into the cable,so dont see why you cant use it on multiple computers, but i have never tried that. There isnt a separate dongle, as it is all just the cable.
The chineese clones are copies, and come with a hacked version of the software. The official software checks the serial number of the cable against a blacklist and will disable some of the clones if they dont have protection against this, so avoiding the internet is advised. Obviously the hacked version doesnt do this.
And yes you can use it on multiple cars.

Thanks for the info.

I'll have a read .

random Guy is correct , licence is with the cable, i use mine on multiple pcs and cars etc

I have just email gendan regarding buying a vagcom for both my cars..... a 2002 S8 and a 2011 GTD Golf. The advice I recieved back was as follows........ it might help clarify a few things in this thread.......

Hi Richard,


Thanks for your email.
We do offer a couple of different interface options for VCDS, however given the cars you've mentioned, you'd need to go for the HEX-USB+CAN interface package:
http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VCHU.html

This supports all VAG cars with a 16-pin diagnostic port, so from around 1996 right up to brand new models being produced now. You get free software updates for the life of the cable, so if you stick with VAG when you replace your cars, the package will continue to support them.
The software updates are free downloads from the Ross-Tech website, and if you’re using the package on an internet connected PC, it will actually let you know automatically when updates are available and will offer to download and install them for you.

The license is an electronic dongle device inside the cable, so you can install the software on as many computers as you like – it will only work on the machine that the cable is connected to at the time.
I hope that helps!