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General => General discussion => Topic started by: peanut1981 on 26 October 2011, 13:52

Title: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: peanut1981 on 26 October 2011, 13:52
Hi chaps,

Got the engine management light on on my Golf (GTI 2002). Before I go and have my pants pulled down by VW... has anybody bought this or have any knowledge of it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scanner-Reader-SKODA-diagnostic-Fault/dp/B001KSZQNM

Worth a punt at under £20?
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: dom on 26 October 2011, 13:55
Where are you located? There might be somebody local to you with Vagcom and willing to help :wink:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: peanut1981 on 26 October 2011, 13:57
Mansfield matey...
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: daz veedub on 26 October 2011, 14:00
there worth it  :smiley:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: Wayne on 26 October 2011, 14:03
I have the same one (from ebay) well worth it. :smiley:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: Deano2711 on 26 October 2011, 14:07
I have had one for years......brilliant piece of kit and possibly the best £12 quid I have ever spent  :smiley:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: peanut1981 on 26 October 2011, 14:19
Bought one...£15 ebay  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: Khare on 26 October 2011, 14:24
Personally I would have bought vagcom. It's cheaper (about £10) and you get a LOT more information that just a faulty code. Downside is you need a laptop/netbook to take to the car with you, but if you have it then much better.
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: peanut1981 on 26 October 2011, 14:37
Yes, but that's the cable... don't you then have to cough up for the software?
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: Khare on 26 October 2011, 14:40
Cable comes with version 409.11, light version. But You can get 311.2 and the keygen online for free  :smiley:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: Seanl on 26 October 2011, 15:36
I have one as well, and well worth it imo. The upside with the handheld over the ebay cable and 409.1 light version is like me, you can keep it in your glove box and its there in case of any eventuality.  :smiley:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: Deano2711 on 26 October 2011, 20:00
Vagcom cable is great when you can get the bloody thing to work. I gave up on mine and bought the hand held instead  :angry:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 26 October 2011, 21:13
i have one, was thinking of getting vag com but thought it was more expensive than that does what its supposed to so i dont mind, might get vagcom next month.
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: tshirt2k on 26 October 2011, 21:23
£10 Vag com leads are pointless really. Can't do anything of much use really.
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: Ant1981 on 26 October 2011, 22:13
If you just want to know what your fault codes are, vag com is a waste of time, just get a basic hand held reader.

Vag com is only useful if you want to dive deeper into reading things, which isn't necessarily going to help you out.
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: VW BUSH on 26 October 2011, 22:19
http://www.talktomycar.co.uk/products/codereaders/codereaders.htm

I have one from here bought a few years ago, still going strong.
My dad has a more advanced one for £200 which allows you to quite a bit more on all cars, both have been kicked around the garage and dunked in the oil pan and survived :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: Screech16v on 27 October 2011, 21:17
I have the u281 ,its pretty basic but well worth the money,the only problem is its making me fat,cause i will plug it into anybodies car for a sausage and cheese  sandwich  :evil:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: thatwillis on 29 October 2011, 15:28
i will plug it into anybodies car for a sausage and cheese  sandwich  :evil:

sl*t...  :grin:
Title: Re: U280 Car Scanner Reader (VW)... Anybody know if these are worth buying???
Post by: TurboBeast on 03 November 2011, 00:05
I have both VAGCOM and one of these handheld readers VAGCOM is ace for proper diagnoses and delving deep but this is great to keep in the car at all times incase a light pops on and you wanna quickly see if it's safe to keep driving or if you're gonna end up in limp mode/garaged.