All,

 

I'm looking to upgrade my OBD11 dongle (which is great) to VCDS.

 

Can someone tell me if this is the real deal? seems very cheap for what it is

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAGelsawin-dealer-level-and-VCDS-diagnostic-tool-for-Audi-VW-Skoda/113888252976?hash=item1a8444d430:g:P4MAAOSwU7hdaNvD

I can't put my finger on it but something does not seem right. The seller is based in the USA according to Ebay but the item is despatched from Newcastle on Tyne. They have 100% feedback on 121 items but have not sold or bought anything for the past year. The item includes the laptop and charger in the price as well as Elsawin so I am suprised that the price is not higher as I have seen genuine Ross Tech VCDS cables going for more than that.

Thats what I thought but hoped someone would prove me wrong, damn it.

The seller has sold more than 40 of these, described the same, for about the same price over the last year or so.  All but 2 gave positive feedback; the two that didn't were quite negative and had to go via ebay to get a refund.

 

This sounds like the kit from a fleet, maybe a roadside rescue firm?

 

The seller profile puts him/her on ebay since 2015 and a UK resident.

 

Strange that when I clicked on the link my tablet loaded the mobile version of Ebay and gave the information in my post. When I switch to the desktop version I get the info that you see. I cannot get it to show again in mobile view for some reason. I apologise for any confusion.

Just tried a look-see on my mobile and both browser and ebay app come up with the UK version, so I can't add anything to your mystery I'm afraid.

Found it

I am seeing the feedback as well. Ah well worth a go, can always go to ebay if it's fake

Feels like it can only be a clone at that price with a laptop included.

 

A genuine 3-vin HEX V2 aren't much more expensive at £225 which is probably a better option

Couldn't it be an old style one with the unlimited VINs?

 I'm massively against the fact that you pay all that money for 3 VINS, I've got two Skodas now, my father in law has 1 (al my VINs used) and I'm looking to upgrade to a Touran with a third baby on the way.

2 minutes ago, GizmoThor8303 said:

Couldn't it be an old style one with the unlimited VINs?

 

It certainly could be but it seems far too cheap, even more so given it includes a laptop. A genuine HEX-CAN USB (all are unlimited) seem to be selling for £300+ on eBay at the moment. The very cheapest ones still seem to be at least £250 😕

 

5 minutes ago, GizmoThor8303 said:

I'm massively against the fact that you pay all that money for 3 VINS,

 

You can upgrade it from 3 to 10 VIN and 10 to unlimited if you need more in the future. It's normally cheaper to do it in USD straight from Rosstech rather than a UK supplier.

 

Pretty sure that autoscans, clearing fault codes and using measuring blocks don't count towards the VIN count either: https://forums.ross-tech.com/showthread.php?8869

 

6 minutes ago, GizmoThor8303 said:

I'm looking to upgrade to a Touran with a third baby on the way.

 

Just remember that the HEX-CAN USB doesn't support MY19+ vehicles and may only offer partial support for MY15-MY18 vehicles depending what modules are installed. There is no such limitation for the HEX-V2.

2 minutes ago, langers2k said:

 

It certainly could be but it seems far too cheap, even more so given it includes a laptop. A genuine HEX-CAN USB (all are unlimited) seem to be selling for £300+ on eBay at the moment. The very cheapest ones still seem to be at least £250 😕

 

 

You can upgrade it from 3 to 10 VIN and 10 to unlimited if you need more in the future. It's normally cheaper to do it in USD straight from Rosstech rather than a UK supplier.

 

Pretty sure that autoscans, clearing fault codes and using measuring blocks don't count towards the VIN count either: https://forums.ross-tech.com/showthread.php?8869

 

 

Just remember that the HEX-CAN USB doesn't support MY19+ vehicles and may only offer partial support for MY15-MY18 vehicles depending what modules are installed. There is no such limitation for the HEX-V2.

 

AAARRH.

 

Why does everything need to be so complicated.  I Like playing with long coding and adaptations as well 😞 

 

I'll buy a 10 VIN from Ross-Tech direct then!

 

Cheers

 

 

10 hours ago, Liger1956 said:

Found it

 

That's really odd, and somewhat concerning that one can get two totally different profiles from one fleabay ID ...

 

 

As far as I can tell from the Ross Tech US site one can upgrade to later versions of the software and hardware but only if one can produce the product registration for the product one has to upgrade.

 

Is this correct?

 

If so, it seems to mean it's a purchase for life and is not transferrable?

If you have a genuine interface, you can always use the latest software without needing to register.

 

If you do register, then you'll also get support from rosstech.

 

If you buy a used interface that already been registered, I think you need to pay $99 or something like that to register it to gain access to support.

 

As for hardware upgrades, both rosstech and their resellers offer trade in programs. I don't think you need to have registered to apply. Generally speaking, it works out better to sell the original and buy the new one out right 🙂

3 hours ago, GizmoThor8303 said:

 

AAARRH.

 

Why does everything need to be so complicated.  I Like playing with long coding and adaptations as well 😞 

 

I'll buy a 10 VIN from Ross-Tech direct then!

 

Cheers

 

 

 

If you buy from Ross Tech direct then you pay in dollars and get a cable shipped from the USA, which means you'll then get to pay import duty and VAT when it arrives. Better to buy from one of their resellers in this country. I've listed them all below. Anywhere else will be either a knock off, second hand, or dubious no doubt.

 

http://www.gendan.co.uk/

 

https://www.ilexa.co.uk/

 

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

 

http://www.diagnostic-equipment.co.uk/

 

As said before, cheapest way to unlimited (if that's your ultimate goal) is buy a 10 vin one from a reseller, then buy an unlimited upgrade from Ross Tech.

 

On 15/09/2019 at 05:54, StickyMicky said:

As far as I can tell from the Ross Tech US site one can upgrade to later versions of the software and hardware but only if one can produce the product registration for the product one has to upgrade.

 

Is this correct?

 

If so, it seems to mean it's a purchase for life and is not transferrable?

Yes, to upgrade you must be a registered user of VCDS.  That said, if purchased from one of our distributors and they have records to support, Ross-Tech will support the upgrade.

 

As to not transferable - correct.  The software license is between the original purchasing party and Ross-Tech.  That license is not transferable to a third party.  This applies to both dongle style interfaces and non-dongle interfaces. 

 

A third party may register an existing previously owned dongle interface for $99 transferring the license to their name.  With that license,  full support and the ability to later upgrade is given to the new owner of that device.

 

A third party can purchase a non-dongle interface and then must purchase a full license in order to use it. 

 

I hope that helps explain licensing and registrations on the older products.

 

The newer products V2 & HEX-NET require all to register the product in order to use them.  

The ebay listing in this thread does not appear to be a legit interface.  I'm not positive about it but am pretty sure.   Price is unusually low even for a used HEX+CAN interface if that is what is offered.   Did anyone buy it?  Care to send me a serial number?  It should be right on the face of the unit HCXXXXXX - where the XX's are 6 numerals.

@bearthebruce: thanks for the  explanatory post.  As I'm sure you gathered, I'm not a VCDS afficionado but I'm working towards that direction

4 hours ago, bearthebruce said:

Care to send me a serial number?  It should be right on the face of the unit HCXXXXXX

 

As best I can see it's HC654822 rev B.

 

And no, I didn't buy it; I tweaked the photo from fleabay.

 

Edited 23 September, 20196 yr by StickyMicky
more info

HC854822 is most definitely a clone. 

8 minutes ago, bearthebruce said:

HC854822 is most definitely a clone. 

What about 654822? I think, as Micky says, that's what the photo most resembles.

There is no such serial number and from my view of the photo, HC854822 is what is shown in the photo.  No matter - it's not real.  It is fake tools - just like Mr Trump's Fake News!