S4 questions from wanna-be owner!

[fletchie55]

thanks everyone, I have now got myself a very nice Noggy Avant with heated leather, sunroof, bose, etc high miler 94k, but a W-reg. Going to take it up to MRC for a health check before I start 'testing it out' properly!

where can I buy one of thee vagcom things I see mentioned? how much are they, and what are they anyway? it seems like an essential thing to have! (sorry for the ignorance!)

[CliveH]

where can I buy one of thee vagcom things I see mentioned? how much are they, and what are they anyway? it seems like an essential thing to have! (sorry for the ignorance!)

Fletchie - you can buy one here : http://www.ross-tech.com/Merchant2/merc ... ode=VAGCOM

Cost to UK incl P&P is about £160 - worth every penny. You need either the KEY-USB or KEY-COM for your S4, depending on whether you want USB or serial interface.

Welcome to the Smiles per Hour Club...!

[s4-99]

Does anybody know what the difference is with the one from ross-tech or the one you can buy from ebay for about £28

[CliveH]

Yes, very simple - RossTech is the genuine product and software licence - the lead includes electronics which activate the software and update the firmware.

The leads available on ebay are basically OBD2 devices which will work with the earlier versions of Vagcom, but do not come with a licence and consequently can only be used with the shareware versions.

Bottom line - you get what you pay for - no point in cutting corners - buy the genuine article and support Uwe Ross in his excellent development work

[QuantumJohn]

thanks everyone, I have now got myself a very nice Noggy Avant with heated leather, sunroof, bose, etc high miler 94k, but a W-reg. Going to take it up to MRC for a health check before I start 'testing it out' properly!

Fletchie, was that the one that has been on autotrader recently? Looked like a nice one as long as the service history was complete.

John

[s4-99]

Cheers Clive, very true in you get what you pay for. I dont think i'll bother with the one from ebay

[fletchie55]

hi John,
yeah it was on auto trader, I sent my dad to take a look as it was pretty close by and he's more of an expert than me. He went armed with as much useful 'buyers' data as I could dig out on here (which was a lot!). History was complete, and the car felt good to drive, average MPG was reading 28MPG. Its got new brake disks and pads all round (10k miles) and new tyres. The car is having full valet and new MOT before pick up sometime next week. Now im realy hoping it will be a pleasant change to the savagely fast coupe turbo! Ive still got the coupe, so il be able to compare them back to back. cant wait to get home to go for a spin!

got a bargain on the insurance too, £647 with 3yrs no claims 26yrs old. Quite distressing when I got the quote for the chip though!!

That VAG COM seems like a lot of money for a peice of wire? is there much difference between the old and new software versions? If I get the Ebay version then I could use the savings to run the car up to MRC, pay for the health check and get back again. Hmmmm

[maxxximus]

hi John,

That VAG COM seems like a lot of money for a peice of wire? is there much difference between the old and new software versions? If I get the Ebay version then I could use the savings to run the car up to MRC, pay for the health check and get back again. Hmmmm

Depends what you intend doin with it. If its just to check any DTCs and do a FATS run then you can get the Ebay lead and the shareware Vag com software. For the upto date software and all the functions you need the Ross tech jobbie.


Enjoy your new toy

[fletchie55]

what are the differences between the shareware version and the licensed version? what extra functions do you get?

also, what are DTC and FATS abbreviations for?

cheers
Joe

[CliveH]

That VAG COM seems like a lot of money for a peice of wire? is there much difference between the old and new software versions? If I get the Ebay version then I could use the savings to run the car up to MRC, pay for the health check and get back again.

VAGCOM is not a "piece of wire"!!! You are buying an OBD2 connector with built in electronics together with (a licence for) a very sophisticated piece of software. The software licence gives you full access to future upgrades (just take a look at the development that is going into V6 (beta currently available) as well as full technical support.

If you buy the ebay piece of wire, you'll be very disappointed, because basically that's all you'll get.

Spend your money with MRC, who will use VAGCOM when they do the health check, then save up for the full version.

Just my opinion.

[CliveH]

what are the differences between the shareware version and the licensed version? what extra functions do you get?

also, what are DTC and FATS abbreviations for?

cheers
Joe

Joe,

The earlier shareware versions will work with some OBD2 cables, but the functionality of the program is very limited if you dont have a full licence.

DTC = diagnostic trouble codes

FATS = cant remember, but it's a measure of the power your car is producing by timing how long it takes for the car to travel from 4,200 to 6,500 rpm in 3rd gear on a flat road.

HTH

[CliveH]

got a bargain on the insurance too, £647 with 3yrs no claims 26yrs old. Quite distressing when I got the quote for the chip though!!

That is a good price! But how much more is the premium for "the chip"?

[fletchie55]

thanks clive! good advice
I guess it is only fair to pay the guys that spend their time making the software!

[CliveH]

thanks clive! good advice
I guess it is only fair to pay the guys that spend their time making the software!

absolutely! most of the members on here would agree with you - it's a great product, which can only be maintained and developed if people pay for it.

[CliveH]

Joe,

BTW, in the meantime, there is a Vagcom Owner's Register (here http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... ic&t=51359 ) - there should be one near you. Owners are very knowledgeable about the program and their cars. A useful resource until you get your own.

(that reminds me, I must register! )