vagcom unit recommendation please

[drcotts]

Just took ownership of mk2 galaxy zetec and my girlfreind has a mk2 ghia also.
Wishing go be forearmed I thought about getting a vagcom unit. I bought a cheap wirelss  obbi unit a few months ago for another car but this wasnt very useful (unless I wasnt using it correctly) as it needed an andriod device which I have 2 of but only gave basic info on coolant temp, rpm, voltage ect which I get from instruments anyway. So I though about a unit with cable and a display. See a few on ebay quite cheap but wanted to get one that I could really make use off even if it costs a bit more than tge 20 to 25 quid that the ones on ebay are going for.
So cananyone recommend a good useful unit please.

Thanks in advance
Phill

[insanitybeard]

Most people tend to download the software onto their laptop and use a lead which can be obtained cheaply from  , there's more info in the second section down here.

[Mirez]

Hi Phill and welcome!  If you plan on doing servicing and maintenance for a while to come (and want to stay with vag group cars) then the full version is the way to go but Isn't cheap. (From gendon or ilexa its just under 300 but will do all vag cars) After that its a licensed version from Ross tech and a cable which is about 100. After that its the free, limited version with cable (these are the 20/30 quid ones on ebay.  After that you are into knocked off software which you should avoid!

[drcotts]

Thanks Paul and Mark
As long as its relatively easy to work out what the unit is saying I dont really mind and the cost isnt too bad even for the full version
I will look into it further when I get home
Thanks again
Phill

[Mirez]

I have to say VCDS is an exreamly easy to operate piece of software which makes it very easy to diagnose. It's also got a big support forum and if you have bought the full thing, the guys are always very eager to help.

The Mk2 Galaxy uses K-Line which is the older communication protocol, you can therefore get away with the old version of VCDS or VagCom as it was called back then. Where possible though, I would recommend supporting the guys at rosstech.

[drcotts]

Thanks again mark