Hi,

 

there are many cheap VCDS cables (some with a software on CD) on ebay. I was wondering what experience people have with those or what else you would recommend.

 

For just occasional use ( like setting a parameter or two, do a read out) I would not want to spend the money for semi-prof unit.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Any new cable which comes with a full version of VCDS on eBay will be fake with cracked software.

You can get the cheap KKL cables which work with VCDS lite (<£20), they can be a bit of faff to get working, but are worth it on older cars which aren't can based just to read fault codes.

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The Octy MK3 needs a full HEX-CAN interface to read the ECUs, there is only one source for this version of VCDS and that is either Rosstech or an authorised distributor in your country. The 50-60GBP ones on eBay are all fakes, Rosstech are forever getting these listings removed. They come with hacked software which you cannot upgrade, and who knows what software modifications were carried out to bypass the license check. We have had one member completely immobilise there car when the fake VCDS erased the EEPROM in the instrument cluster.

 

Links to fake cables are not allowed, so please do not post any or this thread will be either edited and locked or removed all together.

The cheap cable come with vcds 12.12. and there are no way to update to 14.10 withs is needed for octavia 3

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Fro what I have heard, you might be better off looking on Ali Express

Hi all,

 

thank you very much for your quick, kind and knowledgeable answers.  :beer: Seems that the saying "if it seems too good to be true, it's just that" also applies here.

 

 

I was not aware of this:

"Links to fake cables are not allowed, so please do not post any or this thread will be either edited and locked or removed all together."

So I'm glad I did not post a link   

believe you me the full cost soon disappears & the cable pays for it's self..............had a £80 code reader which did a lot of things & was very good but got fed up trying to do stuff which was outwith it's capabilities...............wish I had VCDS earlier....had it for several years now...........it is a MUST for a modern VAG car..............

believe you me the full cost soon disappears & the cable pays for it's self..............had a £80 code reader which did a lot of things & was very good but got fed up trying to do stuff which was outwith it's capabilities...............wish I had VCDS earlier....had it for several years now...........it is a MUST for a modern VAG car..............

 

+1 on this, especially when you get errors that you cant clear after having a flat battery!

Has anyone come across the Garmin Eco-Route HD? I had one to make up for not having a trip computer in the Rio. https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/shop-by-accesories/ecoroute-services/garmin-mechanic-with-ecoroute-hd/prod38354.html

Buying a cheap fake cable and copied software is as bad as downloading ripped off music from the web.  Ultimately these fraudsters put the genuine suppliers out of business and we all lose a valuable resource.

 

If you are happy to use illegal, ripped off, fraudulent gear on your car, that's your choice.  I (and many others) prefer to stay within the law and support those who take the time and effort to research, build and support the genuine article.

 

Lecture over. 

Edited 26 January, 201511 yr by Smeghead

The cables, yes even the official ones, will cost peanuts to manufacture. What you're really paying for with the official cable is to support the development of the software.

The cables, yes even the official ones, will cost peanuts to manufacture. What you're really paying for with the official cable is to support the development of the software.

Ross Tech have gone as far as buying cars so that they can develop the software.

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Hi,

I'm not too much into these electronic things and can not judge how much a "real" cable/software needs to cost. But I agree, those who develop things should get paid for their work and not put out of business by people copying. Same as with music, software etc.

 

However, when looking on the Rosstech site, I can not get myself to pay the prices asked for equipment which I might use only once (or very seldom) to alter some settings on my new car. It's a bit sad that there does not seem to be a legal and (relatively) cheap (and maybe somewhat limited) alternative for the just occasional user like me.

 

Again, thank you for your contribution. I learned a lot from it!!

There is an alternative, ask a frriendly local VCDS owner to make the changes for you for a suitable contribution.

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Hi,

I'm not too much into these electronic things and can not judge how much a "real" cable/software needs to cost. But I agree, those who develop things should get paid for their work and not put out of business by people copying. Same as with music, software etc.

However, when looking on the Rosstech site, I can not get myself to pay the prices asked for equipment which I might use only once (or very seldom) to alter some settings on my new car. It's a bit sad that there does not seem to be a legal and (relatively) cheap (and maybe somewhat limited) alternative for the just occasional user like me.

Again, thank you for your contribution. I learned a lot from it!!

There are quite a number of people on here with VCDS who could make the changes for you, if you don't want to buy VCDS. Look in the diagnostic forum.

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Buying a cheap fake cable and copied software is as bad as downloading ripped off music from the web.  Ultimately these fraudsters put the genuine suppliers out of business and we all lose a valuable resource.

 

If you are happy to use illegal, ripped off, fraudulent gear on your car, that's your choice.  I (and many others) prefer to stay within the law and support those who take the time and effort to research, build and support the genuine article.

 

Lecture over. 

 

I agree with the sentiment but it's not always that simple. If a consumer decides that the genuine item doesn't justify the price then they will never buy it. If they then see a copy for a fraction of the price and buy that, as they wouldn't buy the original, the manufacturer hasn't lost a sale. It's only if someone who would've paid for the genuine article then decides to save a few quid by buying counterfeit that the manufacturer loses out.  In reality, this rarely happens as if people seriously consider the price of the original to be worth it, they will buy it.

 

This used to happen with Microsoft software until they changed their prices to offer the domestic and commercial markets different prices. I'm certainly not justifying counterfeiting but now a domestic customer can now buy Microsoft Office for the same price as in 1990 the counterfeiting of it has decreased to virtually zero. Perhaps there's a lesson there for other companies.

Hence why Ross-Tech offer the Hex-Net interface in two different versions - unlimited for commercial use, or limited to 10(? - I may have made the number up) VINs for personal use.

 

Still costs a lot of money in software development - the damn manufacturers keep releasing new fangled functions

Isn't it the case that the official cables sell for a good proportion of their original price if you want to sell them on at a later date?

Just thinking that you can consider it more as a refundable deposit, than the full price that you never get back (like most other things)

Isn't it the case that the official cables sell for a good proportion of their original price if you want to sell them on at a later date?

Just thinking that you can consider it more as a refundable deposit, than the full price that you never get back (like most other things)

Yep - I've seen them go for within £10 of a new one!

I've already paid for mine enabling (and disabling) options in the car's ECUs.  It was worth the money just to disable start/stop which was driving me up the wall! And enabling heated seat memory,extending the comfort flashes, adding dipping passenger mirror and extra menus on the maxidot were cherries on the cake.

 

Just wish I'd not specced light assist as that alone would have been another £300 saving.

I agree with the sentiment but it's not always that simple. If a consumer decides that the genuine item doesn't justify the price then they will never buy it. If they then see a copy for a fraction of the price and buy that, as they wouldn't buy the original, the manufacturer hasn't lost a sale.

Where does your argument stop? I want a Rolex (and countless other luxury goods) but can't afford one. So should I buy a fake and and in doing so support organised crime?

P.S. I bought a genuine VCDS (then VAG-COM) interface from Ross-Tech in 2005. It more than paid for iteself within days with the first scan I did. I am currently waiting for delivery of a new Yeti and have a list of VCDS tweaks to so.

I've been thinking a lot about this - I would think that SUK would argue that using VCDS (genuine or otherwise) to enable features on a car that didn't come with those features enabled from the factory is depriving them of revenue and so is no better than ripping free music, DVDs, software etc.

 

Hmmmmm.  I hate moral arguments. Why oh why did I end up being born with a conscience :(

The cheap cable is only able to run with softwareversion 12.12. And CANT be update !!!

You need version 14.10

The

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I've been thinking a lot about this - I would think that SUK would argue that using VCDS (genuine or otherwise) to enable features on a car that didn't come with those features enabled from the factory is depriving them of revenue and so is no better than ripping free music, DVDs, software etc.

Hmmmmm. I hate moral arguments. Why oh why did I end up being born with a conscience :(

Or on the flip side, Skoda charge you extra to allow you to use all of the capabilities your car has built in.

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I'm not going to lie I once had a knock off cable... I got it to solely to reset an airbag fault on a 6n polo. I only paid £300 for the car.

However when I got my Passat it was too outdated so I threw it and after using a friends legit vcds to reset the handbrake after changing the pads I knew I had to get a proper copy. Using my friends version and now having my own has saved me a lot of time and money over the years and is much better to use and is also fully supported unlike a fake versions. The lead is also made to a much higher standard.