Big Hank

I can't hold off any longer. I'm ready to take the vag-com plunge but a few questions first:
1. Can I buy the correct cable anywhere (flea-bay)and download the software from vag-com?
2. Do I have to buy the $500 set up from vag-com?
3. Will my warranty be impacted when I take the car to the dealer for any warranty work? Does the dealer verify any computer changes?
4. Where is the port located on the RS4?
5. Is there a re-set option if I were to go too far on a setting?

I await your wise counsel

adg44

1) I beleive Ross-Tech isn't supporting 3rd party cables anymore. Just buy the one from them. I don't think most of the 3rd party cables are CAN-bus cables.

2) It's not $500, it is $349 and you need the HEX-USB + Can: http://www.ross-tech.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=VCHUC&am p;Category_Code=VAGCOM

3) Warranty won't be messed up as long as you don't do something to your car that causes a problem. If you mess something up and have the dealer fix it, I'm sure they'll charge you.

4) The port is where all OBD-II ports are located. Under the dash and to the left, next to the hood release handle.

5) There is no reset option, so be sure to write down the factory code before you change things. If you stick to what is called "Safe" adjustments, you won't hurt anything.

- Anthony

PSmalls::DoggieStyle

May I ask what "adjustments" you guys are making with VAG-Com?

adg44

Little tweaks.. rolling down windows with remote, turning off amber lights, checking DTCs, etc...

Fluffhead

Also, steering wheel recoding for the Euro wheel.

Vijay

I've gone back to Mac, so no VAG-COM for me. I had Mac's my whole life, then changed to a PC laptop mainly because I wanted to be able to use VAG-COM with all the tuning I was doing on my old B5 S4. The Mac is such a superior system and so much easier to use however, for almost everything I want to do, that I can't justify a PC. I still can't believe that at this point in time, as techno-geeky as the Ross-tech guys are (I mean this in a positive way), that they haven't developed a Mac version.

larryV

even my one year old iMac has an intel core duo. You can partition a small portion of the hard drive to boot windows using bootcamp. It's quite easy to do actually.

I never use windows anymore but I did partition 5 gigs of my macbook's hard drive for the sole purpose of installing windows and using the VAG-COM software on it. The cable plugs into the RS4's port and right into my mac's USB port same as it would on any PC laptop. And that is the only time I ever boot my macbook into windows. Works like a charm.

Vijay

I know about the intel processor, I have a MacBook Pro, but I was told when I purchased it that I wouldn't be able to do the windows boot up on the Mac laptops, only the desktops. I can't remember exactly the reason, however. Is that not true?

Snark

Has anyone used VAG-COM with Parallels on a Mac?