Hi folks, 

I’m looking to buy my first Vagcom vcds set up....

both me and my son have mk1 Fabia 1.9 VRS’s... both 2004 models. 
His is showing signs of BCM issues, and my Fabia is a whole different story all together. 
 

Here Goes.....

 

I’m a classic car builder, Morris Minors to be exact, after 30+years of restoration and modification to these cars, I craved something different... but loved the old cars.. so after much research I ( along with another partner in crime) hatched a plan.

The Morris Oxford MO is the big brother of the Morris Minor, and has the same wheel base as the Fabia...well, you get the idea..

A cat c Fabia vrs was purchased from Copart and the marriage of the two began.  
Before I get burnt at the stake, the car I bought was quite severely damaged and was very close to being a breaker, so I recon I saved it from being parted out. 
 

I’ll be stripping out the wiring loom to relocate the fuse box and BCM, the dash clocks and various other switches and stuff... I’ll also be looking at thinning down the loom and removing systems that are no longer required, eg, central locking, stereo, electric windows and heating/ ac....this will make it easier to relocate.....

I’ll be doing the electric works “live” with the loom in situ, as I did it previously with the original loom out on the work bench, and well, let’s just say I went a bit to far with the thinning down of the loom, with some hilarious results when re installed. 

 

As the finished car will be going for BVIA/SVA testing, which will return it as a “new” vehicle, I’d also like to zero out the odometer...

 

If anyone is having difficulties getting their heads round this... just tell yourself ..... it’s just a VRS with a different jacket on...😉😉

 

thanks in advance 

Del...

 

ps. I can post more pics if wanted....

..... didn’t want to send anyone into shock with my first post...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...or a VRS with a hinge in the middle!

7 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

...or a VRS with a hinge in the middle!

??????

I'm politely suggesting that the structural rigidity of your ancient Morris may not match that of the VRS and it's a lot of torque you're asking it to handle.

And how is that vagcom/vcds related...

 

 

11 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

I'm politely suggesting that the structural rigidity of your ancient Morris may not match that of the VRS and it's a lot of torque you're asking it to handle.

🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼🤦🏼

12 minutes ago, Del-VRS said:

And how is that vagcom/vcds related...

 

 

 

It's not, it was simply a humorous remark based on the story you've just told.

 

VCDS can't reset the odometer and you may better off getting the engine ECU professionally recoded so it acts like a standalone unit. 

53 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

It's not, it was simply a humorous remark based on the story you've just told.

 

VCDS can't reset the odometer and you may better off getting the engine ECU professionally recoded so it acts like a standalone unit. 

Thanks for your concern about structural integrity and ultimate my safety, but rest easy my friend, this is not the first off the production line, and the others have shown no signs of any form of stress related weakness....

unfortunately, like most things put into text format, context can get lost...as did your humour....

 

back to the case in hand...

if the ecu was recoded to act a a stand alone unit, would that not interfere with the other electrics eg, dash and abs ect. 
 
as for the zeroing of the odometer, I suppose I could pick up a plug and play unit from eBay or the likes....

 

thanks 

D. 

Yes, it would interfere, but I would delete the ABS and ASR along with everything else and just use the speedo pulse for an aftermarket speedo I could fit into the classic dash so it would be an engine bay only loom with no bells and whistles at all.

8 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

Yes, it would interfere, but I would delete the ABS and ASR along with everything else and just use the speedo pulse for an aftermarket speedo I could fit into the classic dash so it would be an engine bay only loom with no bells and whistles at all.

 

thanks, 

I would rather not delete all the other stuff, especially the abs, or any other safety features.  
The concept behind the build is to incorporate all in... 
 

I also have the dash done for the car..

 

 

basically looking for advise on which vagcom/ vcds setup to go for that will allow diagnostic and fault finding, deleting and recoding of modules as and  when required. 
 

I’ve read so much about the cheap stuff on sale on eBay, and would rather invest  in something that will do the job properly. 
D. 

 

VCDS is incredibly useful, everything on the VRS is hooked into the CAN bus so it's going to be tricky to selectively delete some of the safety modules like airbags, immobiliser etc. Other stuff like electric windows and aircon are easily coded out.

If you want full VCDS functionality you should buy the full licensed setup from Ross tech complete with proprietary cable.

20 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

VCDS is incredibly useful, everything on the VRS is hooked into the CAN bus so it's going to be tricky to selectively delete some of the safety modules like airbags, immobiliser etc. Other stuff like electric windows and aircon are easily coded out.

If you want full VCDS functionality you should buy the full licensed setup from Ross tech complete with proprietary cable.

I was looking at the Ross Tech stuff, and agree that VCDS is very useful, and will be a great addition to my toolbox. 
I’ve been studying CAN Bus systems online for the last week or so, to get the measure of things. 
There is a uk based place licensed to sell Ross tech gear, so I’ll probably go through them.  
 I’m trying to keep as much of the safety features as possible, drivers airbag is still in use, passenger side will be replaced by a suitable resistor to enable the dash warning light to be switched off.

immobiliser and alarm will still be used.
 

D.  
 

19 hours ago, Del-VRS said:

Morris Oxford MO is the big brother of the Morris Minor, and has the same wheel base as the Fabia

Colour me dead interested, if not very able to help.

4 hours ago, KenONeill said:

Colour me dead interested, if not very able to help.

hi Ken, 

thanks for your interest. 

im at the electrics and  heat/ac stage just now. 
then it’s body and paint, before rebuild and interior.  
still a bit to go, but definitely getting nearer. 
thanks

D 

Now to try and get some original-looking paint?

7 hours ago, KenONeill said:

Now to try and get some original-looking paint?

Already bought Ken.

keeping it original “Birch Grey”

Original looking wheels for that sleeper look and you're golden.

Just now, juanse_2691 said:

Original looking wheels for that sleeper look and you're golden.

Got a set of golf steelies with Morris hub caps for the super sleeper look, also have a set of beetle alloys powder coated gunmetal for it too.. they look the biz..

9 minutes ago, juanse_2691 said:

Original looking wheels for that sleeper look and you're golden.

here’s its brother... finished in Audi Nimbus Grey with steel wheels and centre caps..

 

Edited 27 January, 20206 yr by Del-VRS
Forgot picture

That's excellent

Just now, juanse_2691 said:

That's excellent

thank you, 

Yes  you are right, they are excellent. 
Unfortunately not everyone shares your view..

some of the negativity we have faced from both sides of the spectrum has been quite unreal...

 

but if they ever had a go in one, I’m sure they would see it different...

 

cheers

D. 

 

Yes, that's exactly the sort of look I was thinking of.

How on earth did you make that metal surround for the Skoda instrument cluster, or is it something you can buy?

1 hour ago, TMB said:

How on earth did you make that metal surround for the Skoda instrument cluster, or is it something you can buy?

 

All hand fabricated, took 4 days of my life off me that did....😂😂😂

 

D. 

17 minutes ago, Del-VRS said:

 

All hand fabricated, took 4 days of my life off me that did....😂😂😂

 

D. 

I thought it might be, because I didn't see it being in sufficient demand to be a production part.