Do the cheap ebay VCDS VAG-COM cables work?

[PDR Jack]

They sell VCDS VAG-COM cables on ebay for $20. Do they work the same as the $200 version or is there a catch?

Example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Cable-K...S/323802853656

[sacandagaD]

They sell VCDS VAG-COM cables on ebay for $20. Do they work the same as the $200 version or is there a catch?

Example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Cable-K...S/323802853656

Do you really want to trust your control modules and ECU to a $ 20 bogus cable and sketchy software? If price is a concern, why not get ODBEleven or Carista instead.

[Iwantyourcar]

I use Carista. Works great.

[PDR Jack]

Do you really want to trust your control modules and ECU to a $ 20 bogus cable and sketchy software? If price is a concern, why not get ODBEleven or Carista instead.

Excellent point. Could be VERY bad if something got fucked up.

[Ashtonts]

The non-legit cables usually don’t work at all. Ross Tech has a way to determine if the cable is legit or not, and fake cables won’t communicate with the VCDS software.

I tired one back when I was like 17 and broke as shit, but couldn’t get it to work even with any of the supposed workarounds out there. Just grab a Hex-V2 for $200 or you can try OBD11 or Carista, but I’d rather have the full VCDS capabilities.

[killer_s4]

I think the general answer is theyre fine for reading codes but not for programming.

[PDR Jack]

Just grab a Hex-V2 for $200 or you can try OBD11 or Carista, but I’d rather have the full VCDS capabilities.

Yep, I'm just going to get a Hex-V2. I totally agree about having the full capabilities. One of the things I want to do is enable the MMI green screen that I recently heard about. It would suck to get OBD11 or Carista and discover that I can't do that, or whatever else I end up wanting to tweak. Plus there's no time limitation, so I can change things as I slowly learn about new stuff.

[fR3ZNO]

OP, your thread and this ad were both on the front page of Audizine just now, lol.

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...e-HEX-V2-cable

[doughboy17]

I think the general answer is theyre fine for reading codes but not for programming.

Ditto, I recommend OBD11 for $80 and you get 90+% of the capabilities of VCDS.

[Gunnark100]

[QUOTE=Ashtonts;14182728]The non-legit cables usually don’t work at all. Ross Tech has a way to determine if the cable is legit or not, and fake cables won’t communicate with the VCDS software.

BS

[Ashtonts]

[QUOTE=Gunnark100;14182890]

The non-legit cables usually don’t work at all. Ross Tech has a way to determine if the cable is legit or not, and fake cables won’t communicate with the VCDS software.

BS

I mean, it’s not BS. It’s pretty common/public knowledge that VCDS doesn’t communicate with (and can even brick) knockoff cables. Sometimes the cables come with a hacked version of the VCDS software, but this is sketchy, illegal/unethical, and not guaranteed to work.

Care to elaborate on your stance about this?

[Gunnark100]

[QUOTE=Ashtonts;14182895]

Care to elaborate on your stance about this?

I used knockoffs around 8 years, coding,programming etc, probably done more then 90% of AZ members with original. Yes you get only one version, but they already selling knockoffs which you can update also. Original- yes, no questions it is the best but OP question was will they work. Regarding bricking - original vcds in hands of idiot is also very dangerous toy - helped many who made f...up :)... Illegal or not is not the point here....


OP link on first post is for b7 and older platform for b8 platform you need hex can etc not kline 409 etc

[PDR Jack]

Ditto, I recommend OBD11 for $80 and you get 90+% of the capabilities of VCDS.

I want to enable the MMI green screen which I just learned of, and make changes to the behavior of other little stuff related to the car as I discover it.
What types of things comprise the other 10% that OBD11 isn't able to do?

[Gunnark100]

I want to enable the MMI green screen which I just learned of

For green menu use script available online!

[Ashtonts]

[QUOTE=Gunnark100;14182903]

I used knockoffs around 8 years, coding,programming etc, probably done more then 90% of AZ members with original. Yes you get only one version, but they already selling knockoffs which you can update also. Original- yes, no questions it is the best, but OP question was will they work. Regarding bricking - original vcds in hands of idiot is also very dangerous toy - helped many who made f...up :)... Illegal or not is not the point here....

I'm talking about bricking the cable, not the ECU. If you try to use a fake cable with real VCDS software, you'll likely brick the cable.

It's also not a given that it will work, as I mentioned before. Sometimes they don't work at all, like the one I bought. Yeah maybe it is possible to get a working one, but then you still have to deal with non-legit software. You never know if you're about to be installing malware or a keylogger or some other bs. It's a silly gamble now that they have legit VCDS products for $200 imo.

[Gunnark100]

[QUOTE=Ashtonts;14182916]

I'm talking about bricking the cable, not the ECU. If you try to use a fake cable with real VCDS software, you'll likely brick the cable.

It's also not a given that it will work, as I mentioned before. Sometimes they don't work at all, like the one I bought. Yeah maybe it is possible to get a working one, but then you still have to deal with non-legit software. You never know if you're about to be installing malware or a keylogger or some other bs. It's a silly gamble now that they have legit VCDS products for $200 imo.

As i said original is the best, rest discussion is pointless. For me, people who do few autoscans and couple of vcds tweaks 200 investment is not smart money management:)...but we cant be all the same. If i knew in 2012 that it will be toy which i use many many times, i would buy original...but "if" has no value...

[rrated]

The fake cables work but basically only if you use the pirated cracked software that comes with them. It's a pain in the ass and windows defender will constantly be trying to delete it because it may or may not be a virus.

However they do work.

VCP is a cheap alternative as well. Only works with VCP software which is a bit less user friendly.

Also obdeleven or carista will do some of the things like enable the green menu

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