have not got my car yet, but just seen the first screen shots of the VAG COM software.

For me, I dont really want to be spending £270.00 on the cable and software, but just had a really quick look, and saw this.

as a novice, could somebody tell me what is wrong with this please.

thanks.

http://bestofferbuy.com/VAG-COM-USB-Vehicle-CAN-Bus-Cable-with-Software-CD-p-29355.html?currency=GBP&utm_source=gbase&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=gbase

It's a knock off cable with dodgy software i.e. an illegal copy, that's what's wrong with it.

Come on, you don't buy a highly sophisticated piece of equipment from a website that sells Fashion Jewelry and Pet Supplies from a Singapore company based in China

Save some money on the beers and get the real one, even if you sell your Skoda, you can always sell the VCDS too.

Can the proper software not be downloaded legally for free anyway ?

As I said, I just had a really quick look.

Can the proper software not be downloaded legally for free anyway ?

I suspect that if you read the license agreement the software is free when used with an authentic cable and not a knock off one...

You also get a code number to enter at rosstech website to register and download the vcds software.

Ross Tech do a software for third party cables so I don't get peoples problems with them.

I bought my cable off eBay and I can clear faults, measure blocks, do adaptations etc etc

no problems

Just be careful as to the one you buy, the first one I bought was a serial one with a serial to USB converter which didn't work.

I have still had more than my money back with the use I have had out of it.

Do you know how to use VAG-COM or VCDS as it's now known?

I prefer to know it as Very Complicated & Dangerous Software because unless you know exactly what you're doing with it you could brick your car!

I don't think you'll find that if they do a scan of your car in the garage when you take it or tow it there because you've been tweaking it with will be covered by any warranty, so it's best left to the people who know what they're doing with it, rather than take a risk of damaging your brand new car.

I thought about getting it, but not only was I put off by the price, but also the thought that my tinkering could cause a lot more problems than I originally had.

Whats the worst you can do? Can't you undo mistakes? Worst case go down the dealer and reflash the default ECU settings

Using VAG-Com is like doing anything else to your car, read up on it first.

You can render your car useless by changing the rear pads without knowing what your doing or changing suspension without the necessary tools.

I have found it very useful for reading/clearing codes on mine & mates cars, making minor adaptions i.e. anti-hijack and more lately I have had to start learning about measuring blocks and logs.

It is like any other tool, if you do not know or have not read up on how to use it properly it CAN be dangerous but you can save yourself the cost of the third party lead just reading/clearing codes

Agreed, learn and read before playing.

If you're getting anything that has canbus (MK II Octy included) then the knock off (K-Line) cables won't work with your car.

Check if there's someone local who will do what you need for a few quid. Much cheaper than the dealers.

Spot on Mute. Leave it to someone who knows what they're doing.

Which would you rather?

1. Pay a tow-in charge & hefty dealer prices to correct something that you did with VCDS, that invalidates the warranty.

2. Pay someone who knows what they're doing with the software a fee & know hand on heart, that everything is good.

I know that I'd pay someone the fee than pay the dealers big money to fix it.

VCDS is like any other piece of software, not as user friendly and complete as you'd like, and hard to understand without first having to learn a few parameters but I haven't done anything I could possibly kill my car with.

For fault reading/clearing and for measuring/logging blocks it is well worth owning

You can learn a bit without really wanting to but with needing to

Edited 12 May, 201016 yr by Bertee