VAG-COM

[sidzz]

I've read a little bit about using Vag Com Diagnostics on this forum, but am a bit confused as to where to buy and differences in pricing. on ebay a lead and software is around £12, whereas googling vagcom brings up prices £200+
any recommendations?
also what connector for the B7 RS4, and where does it plug into the car?
Thanks

[reevesroadster]

The eBay cables are "chinese replicas" and as a result are less reliable and dont always support all the functions of the full product, which is now called VCDS (was VAGCOM) by Ross-Tech.
You'll need a HEX+CAN cable for the B7, and best place to buy is from Ross-Tech in the US.

Ive owned mine for approx 3 years, and its paid for itself several times over.

[Dom81]

+1

Ross-Tech is the place - they write the software, give outstanding support and deliver almost immediately

[sidzz]

Thanks for the advice, Now ordered from ross tech

['R'e'S'pect_4]

yes, only the original ross-tech will do.

can i reccommend a guy on audi-sport.net, he may be about here known as NHN

top guy with friendly support and fast service.

THESE ARE GENUINE ROSS-TECH ITEMS, i bought one off him to replace my aging one.

['R'e'S'pect_4]

plug is under drivers (RHD) dash on the right, purple plug.

[neckarsulm]

got mine from www.ilexa.co.uk
after nearly 2 years it started to play up, Ross Tech said contact Ilexa so I emailed them.
Within minutes Derek called and said it was a free repair or replacement up to 5 years if it had't been abused.
Posted Tues, came back Thursday fully repaired at no cost to me, it even cost them a few quid to send Special Delivery

It saves so much hassle not having to deal with miserable stealership employees who are all bonus chasing so wont take the time necessary to get to the bottom of faults and just go headlong and replace parts at customer expense often unnecessarily or give up and put GFF = NFF (guided fault finding performed, no fault found).


Thank god for Ross Tech

[yorkie]

And it works on all VAG cars including Skoda I've never charged anyone for running it on their car but I've had a lot of free beer

[PetrolDave]

And it works on all VAG cars including Skoda I've never charged anyone for running it on their car but I've had a lot of free beer

+1

[xyber]

Got mine here http://www.vag-diagnostics.com/index.html

Great service, they didn't have a driver for 64bit, but created one and emailed it to me overnight!! Very helpful

[steveyb]

Got mine here http://www.vag-diagnostics.com/index.html

Blimey, that's cheap. Is this the same as the Ross-Tech one? Does it do the same job?
Really tempted, but is it too good to be true.

[xyber]

I've got it and it does everything.

So far I've changed RNSE startup screen coding, alarm coding, Bluetooth coding, throttle adaptation, recalibrated auto levelling lights and generally nosed around the modules learning what I can as I went. And obviously scanned codes

Only limit with it is I cannot be updated for post 2010 vehicles and you have to make sure your Internet isn't connected when using it.

Well worth the money though and as I said the guy is really helpful

[xyber]

I've just spotted they have started doing updates through their website, you just email them and ask for the password

[neckarsulm]

They are just the same as the Chinese rubbish but with a better web designer;

Out of curiosity I emailed Ross Tech and Uwe Ross replied as followed;

"vag-diagnostics.com is an illegal, pirated version of our product. We have a UK law
firm trying to find out who is behind this site so that appropriate
action can be taken. Unfortunately, the web site itself is hosted by a
company in Sweden which is not at all cooperative with respect to
intellectual property violations, the same company which used to host
The Pirate Bay."

[MB2]

I think "fully compatible" is the key here so they are ripping off RossTech's software however the price must make them very appealing...

Whilst part of me feels it is a pity that they can do this as their dev costs are merely breaking RossTech's protection rather than making VCDS. VCDS is very convenient that the dongle is the key & I can see stricter registration being needed soon if they are stealing RossTech's IP (vs the Chinese eBay cables which are using an old version (409) which RossTech seems to allow/tolerate.

However maybe it also shows that too many people find VCDS too expensive & want/need a cheaper less fully featured version. Perhaps a version of VCDS that is locked to a single car platform at a much lower price point would protect RossTech's revenues ? Enthusiasts could buy the fully featured cable & others buy the restricted version. When I think how many cars I have used VCDS on for other people I am sure if just a few had bought a cable for 79 that worked solely on their car RossTech would have received more revenue & be much less demand for "knock-off" cables.