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Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: mkviken on 11 December 2011, 21:02

Title: VagCom for beginners
Post by: mkviken on 11 December 2011, 21:02
Can anyone advise what I need to Get started with vagcom?

Do I need a specific hand unit? Adaptercable to plug into car? Where do I get the software from? How much are we talking for all the kit I would need?
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: Jimble on 11 December 2011, 21:09
I haven't got it but Ross Tech seems to get mentioned a lot and are very supportive apparently.
http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: The Doc on 11 December 2011, 21:10
You need this: http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VCHU.html?gclid=CPue5uT2-qwCFYIPfAodXF_HTg

That is VCDS / vag com, the software is free and it's all you need except a laptop  :wink:
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: Keithuk on 12 December 2011, 11:18
Getting started.

First you have to make a decision on what you want to do, simple checks and adjustments then VCDS-MicroCAN (http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VCMC.html) or the full VCDS (http://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VCHU.html). VAG-COM was changed to VCDS in 2008 but people still use the old name. Obviously you'll need a laptop to install it on to. As Doc says the software is free to download.

I bought mine from ilexa (http://www.ilexa.co.uk/acatalog/vagcom.html) you're talking about £260 for VCDS. Don't be tempted by these cheap Chinese clones on eBay it pot luck if they work?
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: EyeballPaul on 12 December 2011, 13:17
Im no expert on VCDS, but found this company online. They are alot cheaper than most ive seen and seem very professional with good reveiws,

http://www.vag-diagnostics.com/support.html
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: Belix on 12 December 2011, 14:53
It seems like a lot of the cheaper ones use ross-tech software, but you cannot update it, and will get no support from Ross-tech.
You can pay a small fee to ross-tech and get support for third party cables, but still no software updates, so you're stuck with whichever came with the cable.
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: mkviken on 25 June 2012, 21:13
has anyone tried an ebay VCDS lead? i take it they don't work and are 10x cheaper for a reason?
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: mike. on 25 June 2012, 21:27
Im no expert on VCDS, but found this company online. They are alot cheaper than most ive seen and seem very professional with good reveiws,

http://www.vag-diagnostics.com/support.html

No those are just the cheap Chinese ripoffs except they have a flashy web page to fool you and then charge more
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: mike. on 25 June 2012, 21:32
has anyone tried an ebay VCDS lead? i take it they don't work and are 10x cheaper for a reason?

They do work but if the interface goes wrong and overloads the CAN bus interface then there is the potential of some very expensive repairs plus you wont get any support from ROSS-TECH if you require coding help.
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: Ess_Three on 25 June 2012, 22:13
The official product is brilliant...with great support.
Why risk a cheap rip-off copy on a £25k+ car?
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: Rhyso on 25 June 2012, 22:18
The official product is brilliant...with great support.
Why risk a cheap rip-off copy on a £25k+ car?

^^^this

Ive had mine 4 years now and its saved me a fortune; in fact its earned me money  :smiley:
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: Ess_Three on 25 June 2012, 22:34

Ive had mine 4 years now and its saved me a fortune; in fact its earned me money  :smiley:

Back to around 2001 for me, when it was a serial lead with a single licence for the laptop  :grin:

I've used it constantly since, had great support (especially from Uwe and Sebastian) and got a great deal when upgrading from the old serial lead to the latest CAN+ cable.

They deserve success in my view...the product is superb.
If everyone buys cheap rip-off cables then they wil stop developing VCDS and we all lose out.
Title: Re: VagCom for beginners
Post by: ScottA on 25 June 2012, 23:27
I got a good deal on mine as I know one of the distributors and I'm fairly certain I could sell it on eBay as used for about what I paid, so can't complain at all!