VCDS purchase

dodzy

I've decided to bite the bullet on one. Recommendations as to which model I should get ? Just a DIY enthusiast - last 3 cars have been VAG and likely to stay here; like the idea of unlimited VINs but maybe unnecessary for my use. Source for purchasing ? I believe there's an agent in Rathcoole ?

tossy

dodzy wrote: »

I've decided to bite the bullet on one. Recommendations as to which model I should get ? Just a DIY enthusiast - last 3 cars have been VAG and likely to stay here; like the idea of unlimited VINs but maybe unnecessary for my use. Source for purchasing ? I believe there's an agent in Rathcoole ?

Unlimited VINs is the only way to go, you won't loose much money on a genuine VCDS cable if you decided to sell in a few years.

As far as i know you can scan and reset faults on a limitless number of cars even if you have a VIN limited cable its only when you go to do coding and i think Service resets are you asked to lock in a VIN. You also can't delete a VIN so if you have a 3 VIN cable it will be useless to you and anyone else after 3 cars.

I have my cable about 8 years now and it's paid for itself multiple times over helping out friends and forum members and sorting out stuff on my own cars.

dodzy

tossy wrote: »

Unlimited VINs is the only way to go, you won't loose much money on a genuine VCDS cable if you decided to sell in a few years.

As far as i know you can scan and reset faults on a limitless number of cars even if you have a VIN limited cable its only when you go to do coding and i think Service resets are you asked to lock in a VIN. You also can't delete a VIN so if you have a 3 VIN cable it will be useless to you and anyone else after 3 cars.

I have my cable about 8 years now and it's paid for itself multiple times over helping out friends and forum members and sorting out stuff on my own cars.

Cheers Tossy, locking in a VIN for a simple service reset is a tad mean I feel, that said, and echoing what you said, the price difference is not that great between the 3 and the unlimited. Many thanks :-)

Gonna ring the agent in Rathcoole now to get some pricing:)

dodzy

Jasus, wasn't expecting that. €500 for the unlimited VIN cable from Rathcoole. Pricier than I thought :eek:

tossy

dodzy wrote: »

Jasus, wasn't expecting that. €500 for the unlimited VIN cable from Rathcoole. Pricier than I thought :eek:

Worth it though, when you say for example 5 diagnostic would run you around 5 x 80/90 not to mention follow up coding etc.

dodzy

tossy wrote: »

Worth it though, when you say for example 5 diagnostic would run you around 5 x 80/90 not to mention follow up coding etc.

You're right of course, I think i'll just get it as a Christmas present to myself. I'll check if the Rathcoole seller provides the foam lined box. If he does, then he has a deal. Cheers Tossy.

George Dalton

VCDS is exceptional value for money. Ross Tech could make so much more money out of it if they chose to.

We have 2 VCDS leads, one is over 10 years old and the other is about 5 years old, which means that for 10 years, thousands of cars and tens of thousands of uses Ross Tech have made very little money out of us.

I can never understand why they don't charge an annual subscription.

rex-x

George Dalton wrote: »

VCDS is exceptional value for money. Ross Tech could make so much more money out of it if they chose to.

We have 2 VCDS leads, one is over 10 years old and the other is about 5 years old, which means that for 10 years, thousands of cars and tens of thousands of uses Ross Tech have made very little money out of us.

I can never understand why they don't charge an annual subscription.

I think its because they have too much competition. Many decent scantools like an Autel Maxi-Sys can do everything vcds can, basic settings, coding, adaptations, security access etc without limit in addition to doing more than just vag stuff.

Then you have the likes of carista and obd eleven (I got one to beta test a few years back now) which can do 99% of what vcds can and in some cases more (better logging, apps for coding etc) These have all the coding helpers and .lbl files that vcds have so they are easy to use and only cost 60 quid or so including unlimited lifetime updates.

jca

500 yo yo's!!! Are you mad? I'm using an obd eleven it's brilliant. No bulky laptop with a dying battery on your lap. For occasional work it's brilliant. Be much easier if I had even a syllable of German...