Yeah, old member back for some more.......

 

So, while I've been away, VCDS seems to have changed it's licensing somewhat. Before, I paid just over £200 for Hex+CAN, which did the MK2 Octavias quite well (as well as a couple of other cars that needed it.) Leaving Skoda (and Briskoda) I sold my VCDS. Now it seems that about £220 will buy me a limited version (3 cars) and £480 for an "unlimited" version. (Am sure I saw a 10-car one a couple of months ago, but no trace now.)

 

Wow, people's quest for more money seems to know no bounds. Such are the days in which we live I suppose.

 

I suppose the general question is, in a family of 3 VAG cars, and the potential of changing always in the air, if I get a 3 car license, and change a car in a few months, can I get that car removed and the new one added, or am I stiffed for another couple of hundred quid?

 

What are the current alternatives to VCDS? (I don't need wireless or Bluetooth etc, am very happy with using a cable.)

6 minutes ago, Enfys-Tan said:

 if I get a 3 car license, and change a car in a few months, can I get that car removed and the new one added,

Been asked on the Ross-Tech forum several times recently, the simple answer is no - once a VIN is used it's permanent and cannot be removed.

 

A VIN is only used when changes are made to coding or adaptation, reading and clearing faults or doing an Auto-Scan doesn't use a VIN.

Big array of VCDS options here: Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda tools :: Gendan Automotive Products

Includes super-cheap option of KKL cable which I think will work with the freeware VCDS Lite if your Roomster (mentioned in other post) happens to be an early one.

Once a VIN is used, you can't remove it to add another VIN in it's place I'm afraid. The full FAQ is here: https://forums.ross-tech.com/index.php?threads/8869/

 

Personally, I'd suggest a HEX-V2 10-VIN edition, they should be around £299 and should cover your 3 cars along with a few extra. It's also only one upgrade ($169 ~£125) from being unlimited. Just for example: https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VCV210.html

 

As for alternatives, many people use OBDeleven or Carista but I don't have any direct experience with either I'm afraid.

 

edit:

Seems some of this may have been answered whilst I typed

 

2 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Been asked on the Ross-Tech forum several times recently, the simple answer is no - once a VIN is used it's permanent and cannot be removed.

 

A VIN is only used when changes are made to coding or adaptation, reading and clearing faults or doing an Auto-Scan doesn't use a VIN.

 

Thanks.

 

So you need to be very sure you want adaptations then. Wish I hadn't sold the old one now. 😞

 

Oh well

2 minutes ago, Pete_Ex-Wino said:

Includes super-cheap option of KKL cable which I think will work with the freeware VCDS Lite if your Roomster (mentioned in other post) happens to be an early one.

You need to be 100% sure that none of the cars you will use a KKL cable with have CAN diagnostics for this option.

 

Second point, cars from 2019 onwards have more complex diagnostics and need either a HEX-V2 or HEX-NET cable (the older cables such as HEX-USB+CAN simply cannot be updated to work with the new more complex diagnostics) - blame VAG not Ross-Tech for this.

1 minute ago, PetrolDave said:

You need to be 100% sure that none of the cars you will use a KKL cable with have CAN diagnostics for this option.

 

Sure, but an option for the one specific car if it is pre March 2010.

Is it @Enfys-Tan?

 

7 minutes ago, Pete_Ex-Wino said:

 

Sure, but an option for the one specific car if it is pre March 2010.

Is it @Enfys-Tan?

 

All 3 current ones are 2013 onwards (Golf, Citigo and Karoq), but the Citigo could be being changed out for an 08 Octavia, Touran, or Passat. (The jury is currently out on that one.)

 

Somewhere I do still have an old K-Line/K-Bus cable for VCDS-Free (if that still exists) from the old Felicia days  

 

19 minutes ago, langers2k said:

Personally, I'd suggest a HEX-V2 10-VIN edition, they should be around £299 and should cover your 3 cars along with a few extra. It's also only one upgrade ($169 ~£125) from being unlimited. Just for example: https://www.gendan.co.uk/product_VCV210.html

 

As for alternatives, many people use OBDeleven or Carista but I don't have any direct experience with either I'm afraid.

 

 

 

Ah, thanks for the link, I couldn't see the 10 car version when I was searching earlier.

 

I've heard about the other 2 too, but as I was not "VAG-ing" at the time, I didn't pay much attention.

Sorry; then I misunderstood your other post, I thought you were saying you'd just got a Roomster?

2013 cars will all be CAN: Don't think any of 08 Octy, Touran or Passat will be non-CAN, but not sure.

Never heard of VCDS Free, but it sounds like it might be the old name for VCDS Lite.

Edited 1 February, 20224 yr by Pete_Ex-Wino

2 minutes ago, Pete_Ex-Wino said:

Sorry; then I misunderstood your other post, I thought you were saying you'd just got a Roomster?

2013 cars will all be CAN: Don't think any of 08 Octy, Touran or Passat will be non-CAN, but not sure.

Never heard of VCDS Free, but it sounds like it might be the old name for VCDS Lite.

 

Ah, no, not quite misunderstood. The Roomster is on the "outer edges" of the family and is in need of help. Not particularly interested in adaptations on that one.   (It's used as a dog transport, so no adaptations needed )

 

I'd saved up rejoining here until I had more than one little niggle.

 

Alex

Got it. 

I'll leave you in the capable hands of the other guys here then.