Using my regular forum since the diags one seems pretty deserted. I am thinking of getting VCDS or VAGCOM for mods and tinkering rather than fixing faults as the car is one year old. The things I'd like to do are:

Coming home lights/leaving lights use fog lamps rather than headlights

Reduce light sensor sensitivity

Second fog lamp

Flashing harzard lights on heavy braking

Are these possible or are there others I can do? Am I right in thinking I can take a snap shot of the ECU before I change anything or can I "undo" in case I **** something!!

Thanks

What is light sensor sensitivity? Do you mean interior alarm sensitivity? If yes, sure you can, i've set it to 50%.

You can do them all, apart from second fog light, which is still beeing worked on by a forum member.

I also did 5 blinks of hazard lights with one touch instead of 3. Also did fog lights as coming home/leaving home instead of main xenons. Also tear-drop wipe on rear wiper and disabled the main beam water spray as it was annoying on every fifth water spray and i was spraying people around the car in town. Did needle sweep too (stagging). Cant remember others.

Emergency break hazards were ON by default.

Not aware that you can sort of backup the ECU but you can undo changes once you save and apply whatever you are playing with. If it doesn't behave as expected, make sure you are writing down values on a piece of paper before changing, so you can reverse it.

Bought the VCDS HEXCAN + USB from Gendan.

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by CEPi

Not got vcds myself but am looking at purchasing it myself so I can ticker with settings. If you have a search on Youtube there is videos showing people using vcds on there cars. I believe you can backup your original settings (snapshot) before playing.

Can you do ROM flashing with VCDS or firmwares etc.?

If you just want to tinker with a few settings then buying VCDS is an expensive way of doing it. You would be better off finding someone local who has it and paying them a fiver or two to do your coding.

VCDS really comes into its own for fault diagnostics etc. but you need to be competent enough to know what the codes mean to be able to effect repairs and get full value out of it.

Ok, there is nobody in the Surrey area listed so will put a shout out.

Can you do ROM flashing with VCDS or firmwares etc.?

For encrypted ECU's of 2010 I don't think so. VCDS at least what I have seen does not have any options to upload firmware and it is sold more of a diagnostics and small changes here and there.

You need soemthing of a Bluefin or Shark STS on unecrypted ECU's to flash it.

Edited 2 December, 201015 yr by CEPi

No, you can't play with the firmware.

For encrypted ECU's of 2010 I don't think so. VCDS at least what I have seen does not have any options to upload firmware and it is sold more of a diagnostics and small changes here and there.

You need soemthing of a Bluefin or Shark STS on unecrypted ECU's to flash it.

Im sure Ben has said that the STS etc will not work either, you need the ECU physically opened up.

Yes, thats why i said for unencrypted ECU's. Encrypted one like on mine needed to be taken out by Ben himself