Hi.

I have a B8 Audi A4. The brakes need doing and although I may not need VCDS to turn off the warning light I know it will come in use. For example, i want to unlock the secret green screen to access some freebie upgrades.

The crazy price differences on ebay frightens me, I can get it from £5-300.

I have no doubt the cheaper end is just Chinese leads a ripped off copy software but does it work?

At what price does the gear start becoming legitimate and worth the money?

Any advice or experience?

Basically the older version of the software was really insecure and is everywhere for pennies, whereas the updated version is a lot harder to get a copy of. And the older software only works with older cars, up to about 2004 depending on what VAG car.

I'm afraid for a B8 it won't work. You might just about be able to get the fault codes, but forget the freebies. Which is a shame, because my 2001 got a whole load of stuff added when I got mine, and it cost me about £15!

Have a look at the official page;

http://store.ross-tech.com/shop/cat/VCDS.html

To understand the various packages and their related official versions.

Find someone locally off a vag forum that's got the full version and bung them some £££ to do it

I bought a cheap one from ebay for my sons 2004 golf, it also works on my 2012 Passat.

I have genuine vag com and im in Dartford if this helps you. If you have a how to guide should be fairly easy!

Pm me

Thanks for the offer Dokez.

Im hosting a BBQ at the mo so will U2U you later.

I have two polos, ex wife has a golf and two of the kids have fabias. I bought a genuine VCDS for about £280 three years ago from Ilexa, the UK agent. It has saved me hundreds of quid. I don't know how anyone works on a VAG group car made in the last 15 years without one. (I did try a cheapo VagCom copy which was a waste of time)

p.s. don't buy a pre 04 fabia if you value your sanity.

I have VCDS for my T4. Just downloaded the free demo from Rosstech site, bought an Ebay lead and then registered the demo with Rosstech for $99 and this this gives you what you need. Albeit, I don't think my copy will will across the range, just for a limited number of engines but it does me fine.