VAG-COM versus Dealer Tech

scbauer · 08-13-2005, 12:57 PM

Hey guys, I'm wondering if somebody can tell me what kind of things a technician at an Audi dealership can do to the electronics of my A3 that I wouldn't be able to do myself with a VAG-COM License with HEX-USB+CAN Interface?

I'm asking because I'm considering buying the kit from Ross-Tech... It seems like a really valuable tool to have with my car.

Anybody hook their 2006 A3 up to their VAG-COM yet? Any screen shots? Cool tricks? Nifty mods?

Thanks...

-Scott

P.S. - please don't reply with stupid answers like "change the oil" or "upgrade the exhaust system"

April · 08-13-2005, 01:26 PM

alternative, allowing you to do many of the functions done by the dealer. This involves both scanning for problems, as well as programming various features of the car such as rolling windows down and up via remote, etc.

Be sure to get a new VAG-COM unit, as you can get updates as needed from Ross-Tech, and the A3 is just being incorporated into their system, and so updates are sure to follow.

I think somebody on this forum has already shared with us the current list of commands to adjust various features and see a variety of functions. More are bound to follow. We're doubly lucky in that Uwe at Ross Tech has an A3, so we'll probably see some extra benefit;-)

Uwe@Ross-Tech.com · 08-13-2005, 01:39 PM

* Make the seatbelt warning less annoying or kill it completely.

* Windows open/close via remote.

* Turn off Auto-Lock if (like me) you don't care for that "feature".

* Have the whole car unlock (rather than just the driver's door) with one press of the remote.

* Changes to the car's lock/unlock acknowledgements (beep/link/both).

* Changes to the instrument cluster lighting (for example scales lit all the time, not just dials, or nothing lit until you turn on the lights).

* If you'd like DRLs, you can have them.

* Changes to the steering feel/boost should also possible, but we haven't taken the time to sort this all out yet.

Effectively, if the dealer can do it with his tool, you can do it with VAG-COM -- if you have the proper information. One of these days, I guess we should make an A3 page..:-)

Screen-shots don't look much different than on any other modern car. But the car does have some new "big brother" capabilities, for example it knows how warm ups it's had and what distance it's been driven since the last time the fault codes were cleared from the engine.

If you have any specific questions I'll try to answer them.

-Uwe-

http://www.uweross.org/Uwe/8PA/Service/OBD-stuff.png

crew219 · 08-13-2005, 01:43 PM

crew219 · 08-13-2005, 02:21 PM

that i'll leave it on for months at a time . . . .

scbauer · 08-13-2005, 02:28 PM

Okay, please don't steal my thread. That's enough with the MAC/PC issue... we all know that PC's are much better so let's just drop it, okay? Thanks.

-Scott

Theresias · 08-13-2005, 03:10 PM

We've got the A3's in europe allready for a while, VAG-COM works fine on them basicly since the beginning, all necessary functions are covered too.

http://en.openobd.org/audi/a3_8p.htm

Pretarion · 08-13-2005, 03:25 PM

Nice find. Thanks

Uwe@Ross-Tech.com · 08-13-2005, 04:06 PM

April · 08-13-2005, 04:45 PM

A Apple users want a computer that lets them do their work. PC users want to work on their computers. PC enthusiasts are enthusiasts about the hardware, about the process of manipulating it, and "pimping" or whatever. Apple enthusiasts are the same way, but are enthusiasts about what the end result is, and how they got there. Apple users love to drive nice, classy, vehicles, and love getting to the destination in them. PC users enjoy building said vehicle from a kit, changing their oil themselves, and constantly adding bits of chrome and other accessories.

So let's be fair and say there are some things each does that is better than the other.

Don't worry, only mods can see this message;-)

08-13-2005, 01:26 PM	#2
April AudiWorld Uber User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 52,940	The dealer systems are more powerful but they also cost $8 to $15K. Ross-Tech is an excellent alternative, allowing you to do many of the functions done by the dealer. This involves both scanning for problems, as well as programming various features of the car such as rolling windows down and up via remote, etc. Be sure to get a new VAG-COM unit, as you can get updates as needed from Ross-Tech, and the A3 is just being incorporated into their system, and so updates are sure to follow. I think somebody on this forum has already shared with us the current list of commands to adjust various features and see a variety of functions. More are bound to follow. We're doubly lucky in that Uwe at Ross Tech has an A3, so we'll probably see some extra benefit;-) __________________

08-13-2005, 01:39 PM	#3
Uwe@Ross-Tech.com Audiworld Premium Sponsor 2006 Audi A3 Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,230	You can do all the usual mods * Make the seatbelt warning less annoying or kill it completely. * Windows open/close via remote. * Turn off Auto-Lock if (like me) you don't care for that "feature". * Have the whole car unlock (rather than just the driver's door) with one press of the remote. * Changes to the car's lock/unlock acknowledgements (beep/link/both). * Changes to the instrument cluster lighting (for example scales lit all the time, not just dials, or nothing lit until you turn on the lights). * If you'd like DRLs, you can have them. * Changes to the steering feel/boost should also possible, but we haven't taken the time to sort this all out yet. Effectively, if the dealer can do it with his tool, you can do it with VAG-COM -- if you have the proper information. One of these days, I guess we should make an A3 page..:-) Screen-shots don't look much different than on any other modern car. But the car does have some new "big brother" capabilities, for example it knows how warm ups it's had and what distance it's been driven since the last time the fault codes were cleared from the engine. If you have any specific questions I'll try to answer them. -Uwe- http://www.uweross.org/Uwe/8PA/Service/OBD-stuff.png __________________ http://www.Ross-Tech.com

08-13-2005, 01:43 PM	#4
crew219 AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,920	yea well you should also make something for mac too :-P __________________ tyranny and anarchy are never far apart

08-13-2005, 02:21 PM	#5
crew219 AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,920	yes its quite unfortunate that my computer has never crashed since i've owned it for two years and that i'll leave it on for months at a time . . . . __________________ tyranny and anarchy are never far apart

08-13-2005, 02:28 PM	#6
scbauer Audiworld Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 68	enough... Okay, please don't steal my thread. That's enough with the MAC/PC issue... we all know that PC's are much better so let's just drop it, okay? Thanks. -Scott __________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2007 A4 2.0T

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08-13-2005, 03:10 PM	#7
Theresias AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Magdeburg, Germany Posts: 1,675	List of "commands"... We've got the A3's in europe allready for a while, VAG-COM works fine on them basicly since the beginning, all necessary functions are covered too. http://en.openobd.org/audi/a3_8p.htm __________________ Sebastian @ Ross-Tech.com

08-13-2005, 03:25 PM	#8
Pretarion Audiworld Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 55	Re: List of "commands"... Nice find. Thanks

08-13-2005, 04:06 PM	#9
Uwe@Ross-Tech.com Audiworld Premium Sponsor 2006 Audi A3 Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,230	He didn't find it, he wrote it..:-) __________________ http://www.Ross-Tech.com

08-13-2005, 04:45 PM	#10
April AudiWorld Uber User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 52,940	That's unfairly biased. My Mac allows me far more scope and reliability than any PC I've owned. A Apple users want a computer that lets them do their work. PC users want to work on their computers. PC enthusiasts are enthusiasts about the hardware, about the process of manipulating it, and "pimping" or whatever. Apple enthusiasts are the same way, but are enthusiasts about what the end result is, and how they got there. Apple users love to drive nice, classy, vehicles, and love getting to the destination in them. PC users enjoy building said vehicle from a kit, changing their oil themselves, and constantly adding bits of chrome and other accessories. So let's be fair and say there are some things each does that is better than the other. Don't worry, only mods can see this message;-) __________________

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