where to get vagcom

[Rob Kelz]

as above what cable do I need and what software?

can I just get a normal usb vagcom cable and the software?

or would I be better off getting a cheap fault code scanner?

 

[N1njaboy]

IMO vagcom is more than worth the money and handy for turning some features on and off etc. You can get vcds lite for free from rosstech site but it has limited features and to be honest if you buy a cheap cable there's no gaurantees it'll work properly. What sort of area are you in ?

 

[Rob Kelz]

Ok cool thank's for the reply, I'm from Maidstone in Kent

 

[N1njaboy]

Only around 200 miles away then. With a genuine Rosstech lead you can't really go wrong as you will be able to plug it into any vag upto the present year unlike the cheap/copy versions, plus if your mates drive vags it'll pay for itself in no time lol

 

[Rob Kelz]

How much would I be looking at? and are they serial or usb cable?

 

[N1njaboy]

Once every blue moon they'll come up on ebay 2nd hand (still sell for around £200) and they're usb. New it's worth looking through the forums and asking around to get the best deal. It's a lot of cash to lay out but for the peice of mind I'd say it's worth it. Failing that I'm sure there's someone on here that would help you out for a few beer tokens.

 

[N1njaboy]

Just checked Ross-Tech's website and from the 4 distributors the cheapest is £219 new !!

 

[Rob Kelz]

Cool ok mate thank you for your help

 

[Nicholai]

I got mine from a company called marshalls industrial

http://www.mi-uk.com/

they where very helpful.

 

[big rich]

i got mine from Gendan but it was £270 when i got it, its well worth buying a genuine one though purely for how much effort Rosstech have put into it and their website.

 

[Nicholai]

agreed rich get a genuine ross tech lead when i bought mine from marshalls i got a booklet of how to use it, the lead, CD with the latest software and a computer copy(PDF) of the user manual and a case to hold the lead for only £264.00 and free delivery.

 

[Nath.]

There's no way the genuine cable is worth almost £300. I got one as well as software brand new for £79.99. OK it was a clone but it works perfect. THe genuine ones are way too expensive, no wonder they get cloned.

 

[big rich]

when you look at all the development they have put into it, all the support they give, then its a bargain at nearly £300

 

[Nicholai]

when you look at all the development they have put into it, all the support they give, then its a bargain at nearly £300

Agreed i have had problems using and updating and from calling the company i bought it from (marshalls) and ross tech the help you get is great so it was well worth the £264 i paid. But each to there own.

 

[Nath.]

All the help you need is right here on SCN so why pay almost £300?

Ross Tech are ripping people off IMO. If they sold it for £99 then nodody would bother to clone their stuff.

The development work is done, they've obviously already made good profit so why not cruise along and flood the market with real cables that last say 3 years and then go dead?

 

[big rich]

All the help you need is right here on SCN so why pay almost £300?

Ross Tech are ripping people off IMO. If they sold it for £99 then nodody would bother to clone their stuff.

The development work is done, they've obviously already made good profit so why not cruise along and flood the market with real cables that last say 3 years and then go dead?

Help on scn? for technical issues regarding vcds software?

I suppose the difference is i use it on a professional level and you don't, hence i get my moneys worth, and almost £300 is alot to make your car beep when you lock it.

Development is ongoing/constant unless v.a.g have stopped building cars.

I wont make assumptions on them making their moneys worth but at the end of the day they are a business, with a very good product, why shouldn't they make money?

If they sold them at £99 they wouldnt get cloned, yeh right.

 

[James_R]

I also use my lead on a professional basis

You could look at it this way;

Genuine

Vas 5051b - £12000 new, now £4000-8000 if you can find one second hand
Vas 6150/60 - £5000 new
Vas 5054 - £1000 new (genuine) + laptop £500 for arguments sake
Vas 5052 - £500-£1000 (now obsolete)

Updates for the above are £75 per brand per month

Tech help is only available with a GEKO licence

Autologic with VAG licence - £6000

Updates are £800 per year which includes tech advice

Arbrites commander - £5200 with VAG licences

Free updates and tech advice for the original purchaser

VCDS - £250-300 new

Free updates & advice wether its new, second hand etc and with thourough knowledge it'll do almost everything the above equipment will.

As big rich has aptly put it there's is no issue with you buying a clone unit to make the mirrors fold in when you lock the car or knock a few fault lights out but in the professional market if something goes wrong you need to have faith in the product and count on the back up provided.

So in retrospect £300 won't break the bank and is far from a rip off for what you get.

 

[Lewwy]

Its ok for people saying that the clone cables are sweet for £80, and Ross-Tech is a rip off, etc etc but at the end of the day what will they be able to do with there cloned cable without using the Ross-Tech software? You cant get on your high horse about Ross-Tech if you are quite happy to download and use the software that they have spent their time developing!


Lewwy

 

[lawrieIbizaMk4]

I may be remembering this wrongly, but isn't unlimited lifetime support included in the price? If you think about it this way, on average garages will charge you £50 to plug your car in, this means by buying it as soon as you've plugged in 5 or 6 times its broken even

 

[Lewwy]

I may be remembering this wrongly, but isn't unlimited lifetime support included in the price? If you think about it this way, on average garages will charge you £50 to plug your car in, this means by buying it as soon as you've plugged in 5 or 6 times its broken even

I thinks its probably more than £50 to get your car scanned at a dealers now too