Ok, following on a bit from the recent thread about version 4.09 - assuming a user has a third party interface and uses either version 3 or 4 of vag-com currently.

What differences / benefits does the newer versions have on a single car (eg my 54 octy vrs) that works fine with the earlier versions?

I'm just trying to establish what there is to gain (apart from tech support from ross-tech) in purchaing an official interface (at around

If you register the software, you are tying it to one particular laptop. The genuine leads will function on any laptop and any version of the software. If, like me, the laptop you use isn't yours then you need be able to use the lead with any suitable laptop.

Newer versions of Vag-Com not only cope with newer cars, but have better online help to prevent you making potentially catastrophic cockups.

The following pages may be informative:

Ross-Tech: VAG-COM: Revision History

Ross-Tech: VAG-COM: Function Table

-Uwe-

Thanks for the reply Uwe.

Interesting reading, however I posted it here (as opposed to contacting ross-tech or browsing their site) as I'm curious to know if there are many "general tweaks" that cannot be done using the lower versions, specificly on my own model and year of car.

I know about the auto locking and flashes / horns etc and resetting service intervals and things like that, just wondered if there was much else that I can enable (feature wise) with a newer version and interface that can't be done using 4.09.

The remote window closure thing would be REALLY good if available - I know it can be done using vds pro with a com port interface so surely the clever bods at ross tech could work out how to incorporate it? That's the sort of functionality I'm interested in .

Any input from fellow briskies would be welcomed if they know of tweaks that can save paying a stealer to do!

Weren't there some issues with that remote window closure thing?

Weren't there some issues with that remote window closure thing?

What were you thinking of Stu?

I did quite a bit of research on it and found the supposed code addresses that work on the octy, even got the software after much hunting but it does not work with any usb interfaces as it runs in true dos and there are no dos drivers available.

I know you can purchase a plug in box that does it for you, but that's a one shot deal and no facility to back up or restore if things go pear shaped so not for me!!!

Surprised that the latest vag doesn't seem to do this feature as they appear to have got it working on the mk5 chassis using long coding.

As it only requires two of three bits changing in the CCM I would've thought it would be fairly easy for someone with the correct protocols etc to write the software.

Maybe it's not that simple or the techies just don't want to include it :confused: .

Maybe it's not that simple or the techies just don't want to include it

We'd really rather you messed up your modules with someone else's product. VAG-COM can set the same options as the dealers' tools can -- and the dealers' tools cannot do this. I suspect there are reasons why VW never enabled this functionality in that generation of modules...

-Uwe-

Ok, thank you for clarifying ross-tech's position on that Uwe.