Dealer-only repairs/servicing.

AIUI, it's more to do with which model has an electric handbrake, rather than a particular make.

I can certainly confirm that VAG vehicles with this system do indeed need the system resetting by computer after a pad/disc change. Some others such as various Renaults have a procedure to reinitialise the parking brake that doesn't need a computer.

It's the price you pay for "progress"...

Chris

Another Dave gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

No, because the diagnostic equipment and servicing is available to any any workshop who wishes to buy it.

The fact it costs more than buying a new bloody car is a side issue.

How much does it cost to buy it?

Ah! That makes sense. I may have misreported what he said.

But.... electric handbrakes????

Another Dave

Well it's not really *if* the manufacturer is deliberately buidlign in complexity to retain work.

It's the reason why, in a supposedly free-market, there has to be so much legislation to protect the consumer from both sharp and dangerous practice.

The problem is that government haven't the money or expertise to keep up with such extortion.

Andy

Another Dave gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Indeed.

Us poor drivers can't possibly be expected to have to PULL A HANDLE! This is the 21st century, ffs. Computers should be able to do it for us! We've got better things to do than _think_ about our driving.

I'll bet people said the same about electric starters, electric lights, electric wipers etc. and what sort of pansy would buy a car with a heater?

The more that is automated the more time there is to think and avoid all the other road users.

"Mrcheerful" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Oh, probably - especially the heater. IIRC it was Issigonis who refused to countenance the standard fitment of heaters.

But there's a helluva big difference between an automatic electronically applied/removed handbrake and any of those. Same with lane-change warning bum-wobblers, follow-too-close radars, etc etc.

Some technology helps the driver, some shifts responsibility for thinking.

Electric handbrakes are great for hill-starts. You can't get it wrong. Which I don't do myself, but some people have one hell of a job, either stalling or burning out the clutch. It's one less thing for them to juggle.

I'll freely admid that I miss my electric handbrake now I no longer have one.

Back to the OP - Thick Fit managed to do the rear pads on my Passat, with electric handbrake - so it can't be that hard to do.

snipped-for-privacy@italiancar.co.uk (SteveH) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Some people are too incompetent to drive. They must have been able to do it once - because they wouldn't have passed the driving test without being able to.

The sooner they bring in regular re-tests for all drivers...

But the mechanic can either buy the same system from the manufacturer or a similar clone system from a workshop computer supplier.

The fact that it is stupidly pricey has been raised, but that isn't the point. If a mechanic said he couldn't work on a certain make of car because he only had AF/Whitworth spanners/sockets, and Saab/Citpug/VAG had gone metric just to stop british non franchise mechanics working on them would you say that was unfair, or just a need to adapt the workshop?

The ones that bought cars with throttle, clutch and brake on the floor. This meant that the blanket placed on the lap and around the legs could slide off, get tangled with the pedals causing a crash. Not so with throttle on steering wheel, a hand operated brake and clutch lever on gearshift.

;-)

That is exactly the point! If the price is designed to prevent competition.

If a mechanic said he couldn't work on a certain make of car

A new set of spanners can be used on all cars. A computer system which will work only on one make of cars is different.

I spent my working life in the computer industry. IBM and currently Microsoft spend their time trying to restrict competition.

Another Dave

VAG-COM does most of what the dealer widget does, and is affordable enough- IIRC mine (the official cable that does all versions and CAN-BUS) was a couple of hundred. I've made a good proportion of that back on my cars, and helped a few mates out.

The offical VAS5051(?) system is big money though.

Another Dave gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Clone? No. A clone might do _some_ of the stuff, but not all - and will always lag behind on bugfixes, updates and the like.

...and which needs regular updates...

My legit full version of VAG-COM paid for itself diagnosing the boost problem on my old T4 2.5 TDi. Saved me a *fortune* it did. And as you say, you can then help out anyone with a VAG motor for free or beer. Works for me.

JB

Just rip it all out and fit a system with open software giving full access from a computer/laptop.

Starting to get DIY multiplex wiring for kit cars. Not really looked for open source, or checked to see if it's re-programmable.

Peter Hill gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Interesting... Got a link?