Here's the Swedish VCDS importer product page:

 

http://www.vcds.se/produkter

 

I'm no dealer nor am I buying it for providing services for a profit. If I happen to be able to help others fine but my priority is having access to ALL functionalities of a MY2017 VW car first. Then if other older models are supported great but not at an extra cost.

 

So I'm guessing it's either HEX-USB, Micro-CAN or the most expensive Al-USB+CAN but what are the differences and which ones will fit my purpose with the minimum cost?

Edited 19 June, 20169 yr by newbie69

Up until recently the HEX+CAN would cover all cars so was the most versatile.

Micro-CAN is fine for anything that is CAN based ONLY, so it is a bit limited.

 

The AI-USB+CAN from what I can tell is just HEX+CAN and is not exactly cheap @ £350 as the HEX+CAN is around £270 in the UK (maybe consider importing one?)

 

However things are moving on a little and some Audi’s now need either the HEX-NET (available only directly from Ross-Tech USA at the moment) or I believe also the Micro-CAN will work (not used one so cannot be sure) I believe this is due to the newer MQB controllers doing more.

Sorry I'm not the most educated person on these protocols. So to access full functionality on brand new VAG cars you need CAN? or HEX? or this HEX-NET one? As I said I just care about working on my next car, not looking into versatility if I don't absolutely have to. It's an MQB car yes.

Most of the new VAG cars are CAN based (the smaller entry level models are not true CANBUS) so any of the Micro-CAN, HEX+CAN or HEX-NET will work 

 

Looking at the VCDS Compatibility charts  shows that the Micro-CAN for example will not work on the Fabia, Polo or many Audi’s, whereas the HEX+CAN will, but according to Ross-Tech the HEX+CAN is not quick enough on some brand new Audis so therefore the HEX-NET is better.

 

What car(s) are you looking for it to work on?

Hi Gizmo totally forgot to check back on this topic (the problems of not frequenting all sub-section equally...) 

 

So I read in the Rosstech website that as of 2016 some models may require HEX-NET for full functionality...  The car is a GTI Clubsport (built last week) and is a MY2017 model which might make things worse in terms of compatibility? The "enthousiast" version of that retails at 449$ which is beyond what I could justify for some basic data logging and tweaking.

 

Maybe I just try with a Micro-CAN if I can find someone near me and see whether it offers access to the functions I'm interested...

Not sure what part of Sweden you are in but the only Micro-CAN owner on the list anywhere near you is:

 

Ås (Norway) = Diff = Micro-CAN, he has not logged on for 10 months though..

Far from Norway I'm afraid but I can track someone through a Swedish VW forum probably. Although to be honest I'm considering the OBDEleven BT dongle as well. It's very popular in the states and I think offers same kind of basic data logging plus all the typical tweaking plus long coding support. And at a fraction of the price, we'll see.