VAG COM Advice

[autohouse]

Hi there. I was wondering if any of you guys can give me a bit of advice. Myself and business partner are looking to purchase the new version of VAGCOM from the main site as I have heard they are the best for cables ect as we nees it for everyday workshop diagnostics. We also need a laptop but are only going to use it for VAGCOM and for the workshop manual cd's we purchased off ebay. Firstly I was wondering if anyone knew of a cheap enough new laptop that would suit us ? The other thing we have been toying with is a notebook although the screens are small or a tablet ? I have seen a guy on ebay selling rugged tablets complete with vcds already installed on them for around £330 but the warranty is very sketchy and the tablet is second hand ? Any advice on any of these or even alternative ideas would be a great help as we dont want to fire ahead and make a bad purchase would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance to anyone that can help.

Paul

 

[Slimy]

Is there a reason to go for a new one? Is it specifically the warranty that you're wanting?

When my job had me working outside (up antenna masts mostly), we used Panasonic toughbooks. They're a bit tougher than normal laptops, and can cope with a bit more 'rough and tumble' than a normal laptop. The outer cases are magnesium rather than plastic, the keyboards are water resistant, and the hard drives are in a gel pack so they don't get damaged. That means if you manage to drop it out of the car on to the garage floor, chances are it will still work.

I think they still do them, but they're extremely expensive new. This place does the older ones second hand;

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?product=SOLV249

I've bought several laptops from them and they've all been very good condition and fully fault free. The 40Gb drive should be fine for VagCom and a copy of the VAG manuals, and the XP Pro licence should make it easier to run the packages.

 

[autohouse]

Mainly the warranty yes but that does look very good and there is a three month warranty with it which is fair. Thank you very much for taking the time to look for me. Do you know anything as far as the vagcom and who is the best to get it through ?

 

[Slimy]

I went for an Ebay lead and the shareware version of the software, as I'm only after fault codes. But if you're wanting it for a business you might as well go to the ross-tech website and follow one of the links for their distributors.

 

[autohouse]

Thats what I was thinking. I have heard a few stories of the ebay one not working on some can bus systems. Thanks again for your advice and ill keep the thread updated to let you know what I went for in the end

 

[BeartheBruce]

Couple things to consider:

1. We have looked at the ASUS T91 Netbook tablet and some of us think they make a great machine for the shop.

2. Most of the eBay products are made for the enthusiast looking for a cheap way to pull codes. The problem is that they cut corners to keep the price down and as a result, reliability suffers. Having said that, there are low cost units available that are reliable.

3. For a shop environment, I would suggest you go for reliability. After all, this tool should allow you to keep repair times down and to make a profit from the repair you choose to do. A reliable tool will return the most profit.

Genuine Ross-Tech products entitle you to Ross-Tech support. Ilexa provides tech support in the UK for those that buy from them. All others refer the support directly to Ross-Tech. Our support is available via phone from 9am-6pm Eastern US time. Our support is available via email also.

 

[autohouse]

Thanks Bruce. I was checking that system out on Amozon there but its a little more money than I am looking to spend although it does look great ! While I am talking to you, could you tell me if I am able to run other operating systems aswell as the VAGCOM software off the same laptop, as in other OBD systems for other car manufactures and if so, would the same lead work or has all these systems got the own programmed lead ? Can I buy off ross tech site directly or do I just go through the UK Based one that you mentioned ? I have been trying to contact them all week but there answering message says they are closed for christmas holidays but I reckon it might be because of the bad weather in England at the minute.

 

[Slimy]

I've tried using the same lead using Nissan OBD for my partners car, unfortunately the software I found didn't recognise the lead. The lead was recognised by the car though, and conveniently even just having it plugged in cleared the fault code that I was after!

The software I was trying was a freebie I found on the web so I wasn't overly confident. I did try the Ross Tech software as well, but that didn't have a clue. I was working on the assumption that OBDII was universal, perhaps it's not as universal as it should be.

From what I can see, when you buy a software/lead package from anywhere, you're paying more for the software than the lead. So if you do look for another manufacturers software, chances are you won't save much by reusing the lead.

 

[autohouse]

Yea I know what you mean, It seems sooooo fricking hard to find a reasonable pc based system that will do all or if not, the majority of cars all systems, ABS AIRBAG ECT not only ENGINE. We are definitly going for the VAGCOM because I used to work for SEAT and SKODA and am very familure with its setup and I know it does all the systems for the 5 VAG brands but I also don not want to buy a SNAP ON scanner at a million pounds to do other cars

 

[autohouse]

This was the ebay one i was talking about but not to sure mmmmmmm. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270500780524#ht_25553wt_1131

 

[Slimy]

Well, that isn't the worst Ebay ad I've seen, but it's pretty close! Why do people think large fonts are effective in selling items? I actually found that ad extremely difficult to read.

To me that sounds awfully overpriced for what is effectively a very low powered laptop. And if you follow their link to their website, it appears that the software they supply is freeware packages. Unless I'm just misreading the absurdly large fonts!

 

[autohouse]

Lol. I thought it was all very sketchy. I dont know anything about laptop specs but i take it from your reply that this one is a load of poo ! The more I look, thd mord I think ill go for the laptop that Bruce mentioned above and the proper VAGCOM package but im still on the look for another program thats good for other makes FULL systems rather than just engine readers and information but its all part of the fun spending 900 hours researching google till you find one (so they say anyway) not even sure if its possible to run both systems off the one laptop and lead ?

 

[BeartheBruce]

While I am talking to you, could you tell me if I am able to run other operating systems aswell as the VAGCOM software off the same laptop, as in other OBD systems for other car manufactures and if so, would the same lead work or has all these systems got the own programmed lead ?

VCDS (VAG-COM) has no restrictions about other software on the same laptop. It simply does not care. However, the lead will most likely not be recognized by other software. That is because of the nature of the dongle interface and protection we build in to slow down the thieves who steal our product and sell it on eBay.

Can I buy off ross tech site directly or do I just go through the UK Based one that you mentioned ?

You can buy either from us direct through our web site or you can buy from one of our UK distribs.

I have been trying to contact them all week but there answering message says they are closed for christmas holidays but I reckon it might be because of the bad weather in England at the minute.

I know of no reason why all 5 UK distribs would not be open for business. See our distributor list for more contact information.

 

[autohouse]

No Bruce, I'm sure all 5 are not closed, I only meant the one that I was trying to contact but I got them today

SLIMMY WROTE
I think they still do them, but they're extremely expensive new. This place does the older ones second hand;

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?product=SOLV249

I was all for going for this one in the end Slimmy but for some obscure reason, they will not deliver to me because I am in Northern Ireland ???? God only knows why not lol. Back to the drawing board for me but thanks for pointing me in the correct direction. Ill keep you's updated