I need help. I am trying to figure this out but I have contrasting information. Does anyone know where I can buy (on line) an ODB Cable for my Audi A3 2003 (latest, most recent model)? Both USB and COM are ok, as long as it is good for my car... Thank you in advance

vag com
Comes in USB & serial flavours.
You can use a demo version of the software - still has alot of features, with a DIY / eBay cable, or maybe not, the newer cars are a bit different.

If you just need to check/clear codes or some simple reprogramming, there are many people willing to vag for beer.
http://www20.brinkster.com/beowulf9/tdi/vagcom/vagcom.asp
http://www.steve-hall.com/cgi-bin/VAG-Locator.pl
http://www.audilife.com/features/vaglist.php

Many generic OBD tools will happily speak generic OBD to your Audi, but vagcom easily beats the crap out of them.

There isn't anything else to compare unless you want to spend $thousands on original factory tools that the dealerships use.

I was thinking to buy just a cable to try the demo version of the software.

Maybe I am not understanding their website correctly, but they don't seem to sell the cable alone, and I can't figure out what to do with the demo version if I don't have a cable to test it with. I am assuming a cable would not cost me more than $50, shipping inclued, which is in the end acceptable as compared to the $349 they're asking for HEX-USB-CAN interface (which include the swoftware, am I right?)

What I am not sure about is what cable should I buy, and where...

If I understand their page correctly, for a 2003 A3 you don't need the CAN version. However, since nearly all new cars are now CAN, you are future-proofing by buying the HEX-USB-CAN interface.

Yeah, the price includes the software licence - the latest USB interfaces all act as licence dongles ('hardware keys').

If you're at all unsure then send Ross-Tech an email. They're rumored to be very responsive.

Yup what Ian said, you should be able to find a third party cable that can work with their demo software for about $50 - let me know if you can and I'll go digging.
Their newer cables are all hardware dongles for the software, which makes it easy to move the software from PC to PC, previously you had to jump through many hoops.

Is it worth it? Personaly not to me, but then I have access to sevelar people who have one and hence can get what ever I need done for a beer or two.
I think there is an on-line demo of their software on their site which will give you a better idea of what you can do.
Good luck.

I see also that BiM-COM is in development for BMW and Mini although due to all the modules in BMWs being different it will only support the Mini initially...