What’s the most inexpensive go to all around Vag Com Scanner everybody’s using?

 

You're asking two questions in one and conflicting.

I think most would say they're using the VCDS by Ross-Tech, but not the most inexpensive.

The lower end tool (in terms of expense), but does a lot is the VAG V-checker (V-202).

I have both. The V202 is kept in the car for roadside emergency encounters.

But, the VCDS by Ross-Tech is all I ever use.

The V202 has never been out of its case, or connected up.....someday.....maybe.....

 

VCDS - Hex-V2 for most I think.

 

Ross-Tech. Works good, lasts a long time.

 

Ended up buying an Ancel VD500 for $49 on amazon that’s specific to VW and Audi. Pretty happy with it, can reset service due and more in depth scan such as parking sensor, navigation, etc... than a typical OBD II scanner. Very happy with its capability for the money.

 

I always think it's strange how people will fork out huge amounts of money for a super nice car, and then risk it by plugging in a £5 cable. Stick with a nice original Ross-Tech and you can't go far wrong

 

How is plugging a cheap scanner risking your cars ingegrity?

 

How can you guarantee the integrity of your cheap VAG-COM clone? I'm not talking a standard OBD2 dongle. These are two different things. Modern Bentley's aren't going to work with the old K K-Line 409.1 Cables, so can't be used with the old fashioned serial<->USB hack which was a surprisingly stable method of 'faking' Ross-Tech's and was also cheap.

The cheap Ross-Tech clones that you see banded about are actual binary copies of an original cable, hence you can't guarantee the quality of the NAND flash, stability of the no-doubt flakey USB Driver, the interface itself, the coding maps etc. So when people say "what's the best cheapest VAG-COM"..... the best cheapest VAG-COM for your 80 grand Bentley, is definitely the brand new one from Ross-Tech.

Google "Audi RB8 DEF". Doesn't take a whole lot to brick one of those clusters even with a good cable.

 

Agreed Ross Tech vcds is the way to go. $200 isn't a lot. One use pays for itself.

For the purpose of discussion, carrying a less expensive knock-offs for on the road scan seems reasonable. Would be interested if just using them as a scan tool can be problematic? Surely coding a dashboard or anything else with one of these knock-offs would be risky.

 

If only that was true....

 

As the saying goes better safe than sorry.