Product details

** This VCDS Interface has been superseded by the NEW Ross-Tech HEX-V2 and Ross-Tech HEX-NET interface range. Prices start at £225 inc. Please Click Here for more details **

Please check the
product comparison chart
to select the required version

Connect your PC to your VW, Audi, Seat or Skoda car!

Serious car diagnostics interfaces for Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda models!

Ross-Tech VCDS (previously known as Ross-Tech VAG-COM or VAGCOM) turns your PC into a sophisticated VW/Audi diagnostic tool, that performs the functions of a factory VAG-1551 or VAG-1552 scan tool and more.

Official VCDS (VAG-COM) interfaces from Ross Tech LLC, that work with:

VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda cars with the 16-pin diagnostic socket (i.e. almost all from 1995-2015+)
that includes the 2003 and newer VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda models with the new CAN interface
Pre-1995 VW/Audi cars, when used with an additional 2x2 adapter (not included)

Using VCDS (VAG-COM), you can:

read and clear fault codes from all systems within the car, e.g. engine, airbag, ABS, instruments, parking sensors etc.
view live data from the sensors within the car
reset service lights (both fixed and variable service intervals)
read stored and intermittent fault codes
graph and log live data with the car running
automatically read fault codes from all car systems in a single search
perform basic setting functions, adaptations and soft coding
activate service functions, such as Electronic Park Brake (EPB) to allow brake pad changes
supports bi-directional output test and component actuation

VCDS (VAG-COM) software features:

over 20,820 fault code definitions
free software updates

To visit the Ross Tech website for more information, please select an option below:

VCDS (VAG-COM) homepage
VCDS (VAG-COM) online software tour
VCDS (VAG-COM) useful procedures and car information (e.g. service light reset procedures)
Ross-Tech VCDS Wiki How-to guides, fault code information, coding info and much more

Packages include:

PC-to-car HEX-USB+CAN interface cable (official VCDS VAG-COM Ross Tech cable)
VCDS 'Getting Started' Guide
Ross-Tech Software Support Certificate
VCDS Software updates at no additional charge

Please note that the VCDS (VAG-COM) interface does not ship with software on CD - the full, licensed version of the software can be downloaded on receipt of the interface (full details provided with interface)

Buy with confidence - Gendan Ltd are an official VCDS UK distributor

PC requirements

The minimum system requirements for the VCDS (VAG-COM) software are:

Desktop, laptop or notebook PC
Pentium-3 (or equivalent) processor running at 1 GHz (or higher)
256MB RAM
Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10 (32 and 64 bit editions)
Approx. 100MB of hard disk space
USB port

Important Note:

This interface works with all diagnostic-capable VW, Audi, Seat, and Skoda models from 1990 (with optional 2x2 adapter) through 2015. It does NOT currently support the following vehicles:

2016+ Audi Q7 (Rest-of-World) Chassis 4M (2017+ North American Region chassis F7)
2016+ Audi A4 B9 (Rest-of-World) chassis 8W (2017+ North American Region chassis F4).

We do not know if or when Ross-Tech will be able to make the HEX-USB+CAN interface compatible with these models (and other future models using the MLB 2 platform) so if support for these models is important to you, we recommend contacting us to discuss availability of the HEX-NET interface instead.

Features

Compatible with the latest cars that require a direct CAN connection
Intelligent Dual-K plus CAN to PC USB VCDS (VAG-COM) Interface
Works reliably even with difficult control modules such as the 1991-1994 1Z Audi TDIs
Instantly alerts the user if either the K/K1 line or the L/K2 line is shorted to Ground or Vbatt
Full support for dual-K lines found in new B6/8E chassis Audi A4 and 2002+ Audi A6
Fully backwards compatible with older cars using a single K-line or K plus L
Bi-Color (red/green) status/activity LED
12 month guarantee against defects
Protocol timing indistinguishable from a real VAG/VAS tool
Acts as a dongle for VCDS (VAG-COM) software - no software activation required. Use on any PC.

Product comparison

Below is a comparison of the VCDS packages we offer.

Please click a product link to view more information on the required product.

Package Name	HEX-USB+CAN	HEX-V2® USB	HEX-V2® USB Power Bundle	HEX-NET®
Price including fully-registered VCDS software (inc VAT and delivery)	£369.00 Discontinued	3-VIN limit £225.00 Click here 10-VIN limit £299.00 Click here Unlimited VINs £499.00 Click here	£530.00 Click here	10-VIN limit £430.00 Click here Unlimited VINs £625.00 Click here

Connection to PC	USB	USB	USB	USB/Wi-Fi
Coverage Years	1996-2015	1996-Current date	1992-Current date	1996-Current date
Recommended for Professional Use	No	YES (Unlimited VIN version)	YES	YES (Unlimited VIN version)
VCDS-Mobile included	No	No	No	YES
Compatible platforms	Windows	Windows	Windows	VCDS: Windows VCDS-Mobile: Platform independent
Supports dual K-Line (2002+ Audi A4, A6 models)	YES	YES	YES	YES
Supports VW Crafter Mk1 (2006-2017)	Partial support	Partial support	Partial support	Partial support
Supports VW Crafter Mk2 (2017-on)	No	YES	YES	YES
Supports Lamborghini models	No	No	No	YES (Unlimited version only)
Acts as a "dongle" for VAG-COM, No "Software Activation" required	YES	YES (Registration required)	YES (Registration required)	YES (Registration required)
Protection from the "Aftermarket Radio Problem"	YES Electronic	YES Electronic	YES Electronic	YES Electronic
Status/Activity LED	YES 2 colour	YES 4 colour	YES 4 colour	YES Multiple LEDs
Supports cars which require a direct CAN connection	YES	YES	YES	YES
Supports Diagnostic Over IP (DOIP) connection	No	No	No	YES (Blue 'HN2' interfaces)
Field Upgradeable Firmware in Interface	YES	YES	YES	YES
"Turbo" Mode for Measuring Blocks on newer KWP-2000 ECUs	YES	YES	YES	YES
Adaptor leads for earlier VW, Audi and VW LT van included	No	No	YES	No
3 metre USB extension lead included	No	No	YES	No
Hard plastic carry case included	No	YES	YES	YES
Product link	Discontinued	3-VIN 10-VIN Unlimited-VIN	Click here	10-VIN Unlimited-VIN

Frequently asked questions

Will VCDS (VAG-COM) work with my car?

VCDS (VAG-COM) will work with most Volkswagen and Audi models sold worldwide from 1994 to 2015+. It will work with some cars as early as 1991. It will also work with most 1996-2015+ SEAT and Skoda models.

Certain 2003 and newer models (see below) do require the CAN-enabled interfaces (HEX-USB+CAN or Micro-CAN), whereas earlier cars only require the KII-USB interfaces.

If your VW or Audi has a 16-pin OBD-II style Data Link Connector, VCDS (VAG-COM) will definitely work. If your car has the old '2x2' Data Link Connection, please check the wiring to the connectors: if there are four wires, VCDS (VAG-COM) should work. If there are only three, it won't.

Please see these Application Charts where you can select your model and see which modules can communicate with VCDS (VAG-COM). Also see the Ross-Tech Issues page for a few things that may not work as expected.

What is CAN and why is that different to the earlier cars?

CAN stands for Controller Area Network. CAN is a new means of communicating with the car for diagnostics used by the latest generations of VW, Audi, SEAT, and Skoda vehicles (certain models from 2003). Unlike the older ISO9141 system which used a single K-line for diagnostic communications, the new CAN-Bus system uses a twisted pair of wires with differential signaling. CAN is considerably faster than ISO-9141 (500 kpbs vs. 10.4 kbps). Both new hardware and new software are required in order to communicate with cars using CAN for diagnostics.

Which VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda cars use CAN for diagnostics?

Some examples of the newer cars that require the CAN-enabled interface are:

All Golf-5 platform cars (A5 platform) including:
- 2003+ VW Touran (1T chassis)
- 2004+ VW Golf/Rabbit (1K chassis)
- 2004+ VW Caddy (2K chassis)
- 2004+ Audi A3/S3 (8P chassis)
- 2004+ Seat Altea (5P chassis)
- 2004+ Skoda Octavia (1Z chassis)
- 2005+ Seat Toledo (5P chassis)
- 2005+ Golf Plus (5M chassis)
- 2005+ Seat Leon (1P chassis)
- 2005.5+ Jetta (1K chassis)
- 2006+ Eos (1F chassis)
- 2007+ Audi TT (8J chassis)
- 2007+ VW Golf Variant/Wagon (1K chassis)
- 2008+ VW Tiguan (5N chassis)
- 2008+ Audi A3 Cabriolet (8P chassis)
- 2011+ VW Jetta (16/AJ chassis)
- 2012+ VW Beetle (5C/AT chassis)
2003+ Audi A8 and A8L (D3 platform, 4E chassis)
2005+ Audi A6/S6/RS6 (C6 platform, 4F chassis)
2005+ Audi A4/S4/RS4 ("B7" platform) (some control modules)
2005.5+ VW Passat (B6 Platform, 3C chassis)
2006+ Audi Q7 (4L chassis)
2007+ VW Touareg (7L6 chassis) ("facelift", built after Nov. 30 2006)
2007+ VW Phaeton (3D chassis) ("facelift", MY 2008+)
2007+ Audi R8 (42 chassis)
2008+ Bentley Continental GT/Flying Spur (3W chassis) ("facelift", MY 2008+)
2008+ Audi A5/S5 (B8 platform, 8T chassis)
2008+ Audi A4/S4/RS4 (B8 platform, 8K chassis)
2008+ VW Passat CC (35 chassis)
2008+ Seat Ibiza (6J chassis)
2008+ Skoda Superb (3T chassis)
2009+ VW Scirocco (13 chassis)
2009+ VW Golf Mk.6 (5K chassis)
2009+ Audi Q5 (8R chassis) (2010+ models may have FP in the VIN)
2009+ Seat Exeo (3R chassis)
2010+ Skoda Yeti (5L chassis)

Will a HEX-USB+CAN interface work with the earlier non-CAN cars?

Yes. The HEX interfaces support the earlier non-CAN cars as well as the later CAN-enabled cars.

How do I access the earlier cars with the 2x2 diagnostic connector or the VW LT Van with the round Mercedes connector?

You can purchase the 2x2 extension cable for just £9.95 (inc VAT and delivery) or the LT Van adapter for just £20 (inc VAT and delivery).

What are the computer requirements?

A PC running Windows. The minimum recommended spec is:

at least a 1 GHz Pentium-3 (or AMD equivalent)

256MB of RAM

Windows Vista or newer

VCDS (VAG-COM) may work on some lesser PC's, but anything less than the above recommendation is unsupported. USB interfaces will not work at all with Windows 95, 98 or NT4.

Available disk-space is a total non-issue, VCDS (VAG-COM) requires less than 100 MB.

Systems running Windows in a virtualized environment (for example Virtual PC on a Mac) are not supported.

For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions, please also visit the Ross Tech website.

Product reviews

If you've already purchased this product, you can submit a review here.

43 customers have reviewed this product so far, with an average score of 5/5

Displaying reviews 1 to 5 of 43

Review submitted on 03/10/2016 by [name withheld]
Exelant service and a great product

Review submitted on 05/09/2016 by Stephen Oakley

Purchased this product to read and clear fault codes appearing on my 2011 passat. Got 2 fault codes and more importantly this will reset and get my car out of limp home mode.
Great service from Gendan, excellent communications, next day delivery which was early in the morning and contacted prior with a 1hr time slot.
Does seem like a lot of money, but with free software upgrades I see it as an investment, and I loath paying dealers x amount of pounds just to read a fault code!
Highly recommended.

Review submitted on 24/08/2016 by Stephen Hewitt

had tool a few weeks before trying on audi a1 2012 went straight into car found fault straight away job sorted 2011 plate vw golf plus found injector no 1 fault changed part had to get security code no problem with this tool had to input new injector code in job done would recomend this tool even if you have other tools can be good money maker for instance vw quoted 1.285 plus vat for injector job paid for itself on this job alone get one get it from gendan

Review submitted on 23/02/2016 by Paul
Bought this mainly for working on Bentleys. I already have a VAS lead (copy) which can be a bit flaky at times. This goes straight in and allows you to get into all the systems that I have tried so far. I would also recommend Gendan as your supplier. Helpful, knowledgeable and super fast delivery for free.

Review submitted on 14/02/2016 by Steven Randall

I was in two minds whether to buy the Full or Lite version, but so glad I went for the Full, Had Issues with my Audi A3 Roof, that was quickly sorted with the product, then Work Colleague Peugeot had engine light appear, again a quick plug in and saw that the Throttle Position Sensor had failed, then this week Wifes Car would not start, and again used the equipment to see that the Water Temp Sensor was reading incorrect values, so already the Lead & Software has paid for itself... Cannot Recommend you guys enough, and the Emails are Fantastic !!!