Is it worth going down the vcds route rather then a more universal reader like Top Don Pro, I'm normally a vag car buyer but I've been known to go for mercs & others .

But VCDS is only for VAG and only able to have 3 vins so I'd have to upgrade later ? 

Pretty new to the whole vcds capabilities compared to others so someone who can share their experiences or comparisons I'd appreciated. 

Thanks.

You would probably have to pay a lot more to get an appropriate level TopDon (or others similar) and then possibly have to pay extra for extra service stuff (battery checking, keys).

 

TopDon (or other similar) are just the brands their models in their ranges can vary a lot as to how good they are depending on what level you want to work to with them (don't believe every bit of advertising for them check on the manufacturers website, models used to change quickly.

 

To me the VCDS look awful, legacy, nerdy, something from the 1990s but many like them and they are based on what VW used to use and of course for VW will be very specific.  If you buy one and then go on to Mercs (frying pan to fire to me) I'm sure you'd have an easy s/h sale of the VCDS if you wanted.

 

Have a look and/or ask on the 'Diagnostics & VCDS' forum for info on VCDS and possibly TopDon (and other similar). - https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/23-diagnostics-amp-vcds/ 

 

Whichever scanner you get it's important to make you you keep it up to date with updates before you use it otherwise you might get incorrect results, many (particularly mechanic or electricians) are too lazy (or don't know) to do this, don't be one of them.

 

HTH.

 

Edited 17 July, 20241 yr by nta16
typo

Take a look at OBDeleven.  Far more affordable than VCDS and 80% of the functions.  Make sure to go for pro version and ignore the inbuilt apps.  There are stories of the apps breaking things and they don't keep a record of changes.  Coding changes via pro yourself keeps a record, at least it did last time I made significant changes.

I've been looking at the XTool D9s pro for around £659, universal scanner, says it does key programming and VAG special functions/coding.