It really depends on the car. Newest VW's require the 701 version of VAGCOM software and the eBay cables only support the 501 version (VW's up to 2003 IIRC) Older VW's require the 2x2 cable. Also, if you are using an eBay cable, the software cannot be the shareware verison and expect everything to work. The VAGCOM shareware version/eBay cable will only allow you to clear codes.

Mine works great once the software was purchased. Get the computer drivers from the site and follow the installation instructions carefully. I do not remember the vendor.

 

Basically, if you are looking to scan codes and clear them, the shareware version with eBay cable should meet your needs.

Beyond that, suggest buying VAGCOM cable.

Opinion - It is worth the investment to buy the VAGCOM cable.

 

Not necessarily unless you plan on VAGging later model cars w/ the HEX / CAN interfaces that require the Ross-Tech Cable.

On a B5 or B5.5 - you can do anything VAG COM related w/ an eBay USB cable. The full version will do more than the shareware (still w/ the eBay cable). for $99 software key from Ross-Tech and a $25 cable - I am able to do anything VAG related on my B5.5

I appreciate ross-Tech's efforts to make this accessible to everyone and I understand Ross-Tech's desire to make some money and I support that as well (by buying a software license), but subtract the $99 license fee and they are charging $150 for a USB cable that you can buy on eBay for $15. That cable should come w/ a tube of vasoline at that price. I would have bought a Ross-Tech KEY USB cable if it was $50 (dongle or not).

 

Has anyone gotten an ebay/knockoff to work? Where did you get it from[ebay seller name/website]?

I just bought a OBDII code scanner from eBay for $40 (shipping included).
The business is in Shanghai (China) and it takes them forever to ship the item. They finally sent the item but the software CD was damaged. You gotta be careful not to buy from Chinese businesses. They mostly cheat or send fake items.

 

An OBDII code reader is not the same as a VAGCOM.

John

 

I bought the cable from ebay and they sent me a hacked verson of VAG for free.....Works great only cost me like $23 shiped I believe http://cgi.ebay.com.cn/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220118530592

 

Do you really want to post on a public forum that you have purchased and are using software that has been hacked to prevent copyright law?

 

The is a shareware version of VAGCOM, on their web site.

Their commercial software uses the cable for copyright protection.

 

i bought a vag cable from alphabid on ebay... Worked like a charm with the 'shareware' version of vagcom

 

I got a vagcom reader off of ebay and It works okay. It will scan 3 sections for codes but it won't scan everything. I think it might be from the shareware. I'm really thinking that buying the software is the best bet. I'm not sure how the non ross-tech connector will work, but if I break down and buy it I'll let everyone know.

 

I had a bad experience purchasing a VAG COM on ebay! :thumbdown The guy sold me a vag com cable that my computer could communicate with. He eventually gave me my money back but I had to file a claim using Paypal. Since then I have been afraid of trying another seller on ebay. All in all, I guess it depends on the seller selling them to you on there! :thumbup:

 

You probably want to buy a USB cable (rather than the serial cable) if your laptop has USB ports and you are running Windows XP or Vista. Ross-tech recommends the RS232 for other operating systems. http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/faq_1.html#1.5
You connect the other end to the OBDII port on the car.

 

Holly Shit! They are asking $249 for a simple cable. These guys are real crooks. No way in my life I pay $249 for a piece of wire. I'm gonna make my own cable. It's so easy. Just buy an OBDII cable for $5 and a USB cable for $3 and hook them together. Voila! There you have a genuine VAG-COM cable.
Be smart. Don't pour your money in pockets of crooks.

 

Bunch of cheap bastards, just buy the real thing and you won't have problems. I have no issue with my genuine rosstech cable.

 

X2
Just bought the real thing at waterfest and have used it on three cars and logged some data, once you use it once you'll be hooked on the real thing, used it on three cars and found two bad coolant temp sensors, one bad O2 sensor and an N75 problem, those three alone cover the cost of the VAGCOM verses having a shop doing the work for you.

 

Doesnt work that easily or everyone would do it ross-tech software is made to work with ross tech cables, what you wanna do may work or it may not but all i know is that with mine i can log data and do way more then a genaric cable can plus i got it for less than that at waterfest. and its not as simple as hooking them together there's more involved with what wires to contect and if there connected right because if you put the wrong wire in the wrong spot than bye bye ECU and hello really big repair cost.

 

Software is free through shareware. Noone pays or should pay for software.
At least I'm not going to. I'm gonna make my own cable and get free shareware and let you know how easy it is. Saving is my first priority.

 

You can use the shareware but there are things that you cant use unless you buy the ross tech cable becuase of the way the cable is desinged it actually looks for the cable to have a specific code on it in order to run the full verison of the software otherwise you just have a laptop that can read codes and only look at data you logged and not save it

 

:thumbdown to ebay VAG coms. Tried it and got burned.

 

get original ross tech cable and forget the ebay cable just remember you get what you payed for. but you should now that you drive a VW

 

So much angst on this thread... look, Ross-Tech sells software and cables separately at various price points. Other people sell cables that (I gather) are variously compatible with various versions of that. If you want to get the best guaranteed functionality, buy from Ross. If you want to save money, try someone else. There's no right or wrong (except perhaps using hacked versions to avoid paying the price of the full-featured software).

 

x2.
I have the generic cable, but I only got it to scan and clear codes. If I want full functionality and be able to do more than a dealer can with their equipment, I'll pony up the $250

 

ebay:thumbdown

 

Because of the age of my B5 (99), my eBay cable and Registered Ross VAGCOM software is like an older home built computer, fully functional for me, but not up to the absolute current peak standards. This is a total investment of $125 well spent not having to travel back and forth to the AutoZone for codes or the dealership for TBA's when I leave the negative off overnight.

With 3 VW's, I can do everything that my cars need but cannot support others with significantly newer cars. I know the limitations of what I have, and they are acceptable to me.

 

Because of the age of my B5 (99), my eBay cable and Registered Ross VAGCOM software is like an older home built computer, fully functional for me, but not up to the absolute current peak standards. This is a total investment of $125 well spent not having to travel back and forth to the AutoZone for codes or the dealership for TBA's when I leave the negative off overnight.

I also use an Ebay cable (from alphabid as someone else mentioned) with a registered shareware version.
Works well enough for me.

 

don't forget, if you have a ebay cable, and have issues with the cable itself, then ross-tech won't help (obviously, since it wasn't there cable).

 

Should we be worried about cable problems? I don't have cable support for my audio/video cables running from my dvd player to my tv. Should I? I figure I will take my chances on a $20 cable that I can replace several times for the $150 Ross is charging.

 

Well said. The only reason you would need cable support from Ross-Tech is because their cable contains a dongle which makes it a much more complex beast than a straight USB cable.

 

I still think that the support that you get from ross-tech and the ability to do multiple things plus its a cable that you know will work and you have support if it does stop working, plus there really cool to talk to musta spent 30-45 min at there booth at waterfest talking with them about the cable and the various things that it could do compaired to the ebay cables