2 newbie questions.

[andy123]

Sorry guys if this has been done to death, but am I right in thinking that vagcom software is held on CD or some other media. If thats the case is there anywhere I can get a copy? And if i were to get hold of a copy of it where would be the best place to obtain a lead from for plugging from laptop to my car?
sorry if this has already been covered, i did do a search

[gavsteryoung]

Try http://www.vag-com.co.uk/products.htm

you can purchase the product and get the software, once you have the cable you can activate the software from VAGCOM.....

[pingdashf]

Thanks for asking, because I am a noob too and was wondering the same thing. Am I correct in assuming that the one for the A4 will work with the S4 too? I don't own a windows laptop, too bad they don't support OS X Guess I'll have to get a beater laptop just for the car.

[andy123]

so the bottom line is its 250 for the correct cable and software with no cheaper way of buying it?

[DavidT]

so the bottom line is its 250 for the correct cable and software with no cheaper way of buying it?

That's about the size of it.

Have a look on www.ross-tech.com to see if it's cheaper to get it from there.

Good value for money either way, so long as you keep the car a year or two, obviously.

[andy123]

im just suprised that no one has made up there own cables and copied the software? I want to get my car on the vagcom because I dont feel like its 100%. Im swapping the recirc valves out this weekend, and I wanted to get the maf checked. I had a bit of a tussle with a 330ci the other day, and although I wouldnt have expected to blow him out the water in a straight line, i certainly wasnt gaining on him at all. My car just doesnt feel like its holding boost/ pulling cleanly on boost (no smoke or anything). think im going to go and see MRC....

[DavidT]

im just suprised that no one has made up there own cables and copied the software? I want to get my car on the vagcom because I dont feel like its 100%. Im swapping the recirc valves out this weekend, and I wanted to get the maf checked. I had a bit of a tussle with a 330ci the other day, and although I wouldnt have expected to blow him out the water in a straight line, i certainly wasnt gaining on him at all. My car just doesnt feel like its holding boost/ pulling cleanly on boost (no smoke or anything). think im going to go and see MRC....

Like I said, you will not regret buying it. The company (ross-tech) provides excellent service and everyone who has used it feels the've had value for money.

Comments about copying it do not go down well here.

[CliveH]

You can get a "copy" of the software but it wont function properly without the right cable or dongle or whatever. There are also "copy" cables but they are unreliable.

Do it properly and you wont be disappointed and, as DavidT says, the investment will pay off over the years. Try to cut corners and you'll soon have whatever you bought back on ebay...!

[andy123]

sorry if anyone has taken offence to me suggesting the copying of software, i didnt think it would be a touchy subject. Ill be looking at buying the vagcom kit in the new year then seeing as it has been so highly reccomended. Thanks for your help!

[dazzer]

Anyone who has a VAG COM will testify to its value. I reckon it's a snip at the price and can save you bags of money if you have to keep running off to a dealer for diagnosis. You can also check to see if your dealers are carrying out the work you prescribe.

By the way there are not many tuners that specialise in our cars and often they are miles away. VAG COM is a handy tool to log certain blocks and experts like MRC can take a look at files by email and offer an educated guess on some issues (doesn't replace the physical appointment).

As for copying then it's better to invest the money and keep the R&D going into products like these.

[Dippy]

If you really don't want to spend much you can buy an old style cable (9-pin DIN serial connector) and use it with the out-of-date VAG-COM version which Ross-Tech let you use free in a limited version (can't remember whats disabled but I'm sure you can check for DTCs). I sold my old cable recently for 10 or 15 quid. I remember that there were quite a few on e-bay. If you then wanted to upgrade to the licensed version then $99 will do it. For general use (checking DTCs and logging), the old version is fine.

RS246.COM is against all forms of software piracy. People here are particularly against copying VAG-COM because Uwe Ross (founder of Ross-Tech) is a true enthusiast and has built up his business from stratch through damn hard work. Ross-Tech's service is excellent (try contacting them) and the prices are very reasonable IMHO.

[CliveH]

Hear hear!

[andy123]

As previously explained im new to the whole audi thing. I had the impression that VAGcom was a piece of software used by the dealers to screw people out of large sums of money, and not the product of hardwork by an individual. If that is the case i can see why it would be wrong to copy the software.