47 minutes ago, Micro said:

VCDS is expensive if you buy the OG version 😉

I did consider a VCDS dongle but the ability to do stuff from a tablet was really the kicker for me.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
 

I didn't buy the gen version though... 

In fairness, I've had a non-gen Lexia/PP2K for about 8 years and it still works.   My VCDS is only 18 months old so I'll probably be in another marque by the time that breaks.

I still haven't found any free software better than Forscan though!  I never did buy a dongle for that either but only recently got a phone with enough storage for more than 3 apps!  I just wanted something cheap and convenient to keep in the glovebox for checking DPF state on the Golf really.  Can't justify more than about a fiver for the dongle as I already have the laptop stuff though.

 

7 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

I didn't buy the gen version though... 

In fairness, I've had a non-gen Lexia/PP2K for about 8 years and it still works.   My VCDS is only 18 months old so I'll probably be in another marque by the time that breaks.

I still haven't found any free software better than Forscan though!  I never did buy a dongle for that either but only recently got a phone with enough storage for more than 3 apps!  I just wanted something cheap and convenient to keep in the glovebox for checking DPF state on the Golf really.  Can't justify more than about a fiver for the dongle as I already have the laptop stuff though.

 

Going off topic a bit, how does your golf handle regens?

The Octy suddenly decides it needs one, and only info you get is that the Stop Start system says "Engine must be running" and it'll idle at 1k (oh, and you get that blast of hot air when opening the drivers door after stopping). Was quite nice watching the soot value steadily decreasing whilst waiting for my food at maccies (originally at 19g calculated).

10 hours ago, Micro said:

Going off topic a bit, how does your golf handle regens?

The Octy suddenly decides it needs one, and only info you get is that the Stop Start system says "Engine must be running" and it'll idle at 1k (oh, and you get that blast of hot air when opening the drivers door after stopping). Was quite nice watching the soot value steadily decreasing whilst waiting for my food at maccies (originally at 19g calculated).

Regens are never told to the driver, the idea is they shouldn't even be noticed by the driver, let alone require any driver input in a perfect world...but of course we don't live in a perfect world lol.  On the Mk2.5 Focus the main sign of a regen was the average MPG dropping compared to what I'd expect.  Then the fans running on after switch off, or around town with the windows down.  On the Mk3 Focus, it drove like crap for a bit, and then once cruising on the dually there would be a single horrific jerk that felt like the engine had cut for a second...that was the start of the regen!  Awful mapping on those lol.  Then again, I'd notice low MPG and fans running at slow speed or after shutoff and occasionally a hot diesel smell during reverse parking.

They're a bit easier to detect on the Golf though, the first thing I notice is it drives like crap for a day or two, jerky, holding back, just generally horrible.  Then eventually, I'll see the downshift arrow come up on the dash which is a sure sign of a regen!  If I stop at lights, the idle is around 1k and the stop start doesn't kick in (I don't get any text warnings though, just a crossed out SS symbol).  The fans run on for about 5 minutes after shutoff when I interrupt a regen...which is at least once a fortnight!  The Golf also smells awful during a regen but sounds pretty cool, more raspy.  Now and then it also blows clouds of coal during a regen which I didn't have on either of the Focus'.  Not entirely sure what that is as soot shouldn't be passing the DPF core!  I can only assume it's very small particles that get stuck in the exhaust, post DPF, and build up until they get blown out with the extra pressure of a regen.

I'm sure the mapping is flawed on the Golf though.  It will start a regen on a cold engine (literally a minute after cold start!) and with barely any fuel left.  Sadly it does have the updated emission 'fix' mapping as it had full VW history when I bought it.  The emissions map is known to cause lots of issues including extra regens.  It was a rushed map purely to try and comply with emissions regs.

On the subject of regens...literally 4 miles after putting in my fresh oil I had to interrupt a regen so that's probably already contaminated the new oil...   It's really annoying as I was driving like an ar5e at the end of last week trying to triggering a regen before the oil change...but the damn thing wouldn't start until a short round trip to Tesco!