G60_edge 0 Posted November 6, 2011 Hi all, I want to buy VAGCOM so I can check out my 20vT install in the Corrado (OEM management) Unsure where/what to buy and what I should be paying. Seen this on ebay, anybody got it? Any good? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180750609160&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123 Any recommendations welcome Thanks Al Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G60_edge 0 Posted November 6, 2011 Anybody? The ross-tech stuff looks considerable more expensive, what's the difference? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floppyman 0 Posted November 7, 2011 I recommend buying one of the cables from ebay and the buy the software from rosstech. 99$ for the vcds light Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted November 7, 2011 Anybody? The ross-tech stuff looks considerable more expensive, what's the difference? Thanks I bought the HEX+CAN lead years ago and have scanned dozens of VAGs of all ages without a single glitch. That's the difference. The Rosstech stuff just works, period! :D Another benefit is it's dongle lead, so you can connect it to any computer running VCDS and you won't need a license. The 20VT ECU has 100s of maps and a tonne of diagnostic info, so I wouldn't skimp on the lead personally. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 0 Posted November 7, 2011 ive got the HEX+CAN, was well worth the money, like Kev, scanned a number of cars, never had a single problem... paid for its self several times over... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted November 7, 2011 Best bit of kit I've bought in years :D It's diagnosed our 2006 polo, a mate's A4 2.5TDI, my Mum's 2010 Polo, a VW Fox, my C, a few MK5 Golfs the list goes on! The 2.5TDI was the best one. He was complaining of wayward throttle behaviour and the power shutting off abruptly, limiting his speed. A trip out with the laptop on my lap soon revealed the problem. The boost control valve was shot, allowing overboost. You could see the 'allowed' overboost time being exceeded and then throttle closing from 100% to 60% :D Clever stuff and explained all his symptoms. Absolutely vital bit of kit for any Post 94 VW imo.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamiehamy 0 Posted November 7, 2011 I just bought a fault code reader from ebay after going through 3 rotten cables. It's basic, but it reads fault codes, which is all I need most of the time. £30 well spent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emu 0 Posted November 7, 2011 Rosstecch all the way, not cheap but works. Before that I bought two from ebay and couldn't make them work at all. It's one time investment and you can use it on every single vag car, simples :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G60_edge 0 Posted November 7, 2011 cheers everyone for the info, very useful. It's looking like the ross-tech stuff then. £220 ($350) for this then? http://store.ross-tech.com/shop/VCHUC.html Hadn't really anticipated spending that much. Although this is sounding like a good justification for getting another VAG for the family car! bring on the A4 Avant! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floppyman 0 Posted November 7, 2011 I would save that money... Vcds licence for $99 and a usb cable from ebay for £20. Ive used mine in any car across the vag range and sometimes I use it at work. Yes, if you want to use it for proper diagnostics including messuring block that require live data then yes, ross tech hardware is much better (faster). There are some drawbacks from the usb cable from ebay, like some proplems communicating with abs brakes (can be solved very easy). But for a diyer and for some basic fault reader and pretty much everything, very good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fla 9 Posted November 7, 2011 i have the older cable without the USB end - is there any adapter that is available that works? I've got a fully licensed version of VAGCOM that i bought from Ross Tech's UK distributor at the time (Cister Automotive, who i believe dont exist any more) , but the laptop is slowly dying, plus i think my version only scans up to 2006 cars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G60_edge 0 Posted November 7, 2011 I would save that money... Vcds licence for $99 and a usb cable from ebay for £20. Ive used mine in any car across the vag range and sometimes I use it at work. Yes, if you want to use it for proper diagnostics including messuring block that require live data then yes, ross tech hardware is much better (faster). There are some drawbacks from the usb cable from ebay, like some proplems communicating with abs brakes (can be solved very easy). But for a diyer and for some basic fault reader and pretty much everything, very good. I'd want to check my DBW throttle (which I imagine is getting into the measuring block) and run the DBW calibration, would the lite version do this? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
floppyman 0 Posted November 7, 2011 Vcds lite will do that yes... Basic settings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
G60_edge 0 Posted November 8, 2011 Vcds lite will do that yes... Basic settings OK, thanks. I'll look into the lite version more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites