It 'seems' as if VW allows you to purchase your manual elsewhere on their site. It's absolutely crazy that you can't get access to your manual in an electronic version that's as portable as the paper version. It's these kind of things that demonstrate car makers have only made baby steps with the release of an EV.
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Add Yours: VW ID. Buzz Owner's Registry
Online Owners Manual Now Available
I spoke with VW Customer Care and mentioned the unavailability of the online owner's manual. To my surprise, a few days later, the rep called to advise me that the ID.4 manual is now available. Go to this link: Volkswagen Online Owner's Manuals | Official VW Digital Resources and enter your VIN. If the system does not recognize your VIN, Customer Care can direct someone to make sure your VIN is in the system. (The rep I spoke with thought that the VIN did not get into the system until after the car is sold and there can be a delay.)
HOWEVER . . . The "Digital Owners Manual" is not a downloadable PDF file. It is simply a site so, while you can access it and find items with the search function, you cannot download it for access offline. If someone knows how to get around this, please post instructions.
HOWEVER . . . The "Digital Owners Manual" is not a downloadable PDF file. It is simply a site so, while you can access it and find items with the search function, you cannot download it for access offline. If someone knows how to get around this, please post instructions.
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This is not specific to EVs (ID.4). Same thing with 2020 Tiguan's (and others I'm sure). I beleive I read that the documentation part of VW vehicles is handled by a 3rd party. Whatever. Bottom line, I have no electronic version of my owner's manual.
Oh, I wasn't suggesting that it's different for the ID.4. To the point: since it's the same modality as being an ICE auto manufacturer, they haven't come to grips with what it means to be a software company.This is not specific to EVs (ID.4). Same thing with 2020 Tiguan's (and others I'm sure). I beleive I read that the documentation part of VW vehicles is handled by a 3rd party. Whatever. Bottom line, I have no electronic version of my owner's manual.
I spoke with VW Customer Care and mentioned the unavailability of the online owner's manual. To my surprise, a few days later, the rep called to advise me that the ID.4 manual is now available. Go to this link: Volkswagen Online Owner's Manuals | Official VW Digital Resources and enter your VIN. If the system does not recognize your VIN, Customer Care can direct someone to make sure your VIN is in the system. (The rep I spoke with thought that the VIN did not get into the system until after the car is sold and there can be a delay.)
HOWEVER . . . The "Digital Owners Manual" is not a downloadable PDF file. It is simply a site so, while you can access it and find items with the search function, you cannot download it for access offline. If someone knows how to get around this, please post instructions.
You can open each chapter, and save that chapter as a PDF, or print it as a PDF. Then you could collect the chapters together into a single PDF. Tedious, but it works. And you could leave out content that you're not interested in.
Oh, I wasn't suggesting that it's different for the ID.4. To the point: since it's the same modality as being an ICE auto manufacturer, they haven't come to grips with what it means to be a software company.
I don't see what being an ICE auto maker has to do with having PDF versions of manuals. My ICE vehicles have PDF owner and service manuals. My 2001 BMW motorcycle had a PDF service manual.
Instead of PDF I'd much prefer a decent phone app that leaves out the crap and shows the content. With a table of contents, search, and index accessible via the menu.
The web page layout and content look like that could work quite well.
The web page layout and content look like that could work quite well.
PDF almost seems like a lesser option than something like this, especially when features might be updated every 12 weeks. Rather than having to create a fresh PDF quarterly, an always up-to-date hosted version seems preferable.Instead of PDF I'd much prefer a decent phone app that leaves out the crap and shows the content. With a table of contents, search, and index accessible via the menu.
The web page layout and content look like that could work quite well.
I could understand why printed/static manuals would become a thing of the past if they become more inaccurate over time.
I have this for my BMW and my MINI. It’s handy for the oddball quick thing on the go. But I honestly can’t sayI reference the owner’s manual frequently enough for it to really matter. I read it cover to cover whenI first get a vehicle, and from that point forward I generally only reference the manual on a rare occasion when I can’t figure something out or forget how to do something.Instead of PDF I'd much prefer a decent phone app that leaves out the crap and shows the content. With a table of contents, search, and index accessible via the menu.
The web page layout and content look like that could work quite well.
I prefer to copy & paste from a PDF owner's manual for the sake of forum discussions and clarifications. But I guess I'm ol' school and should just adapt to a site-to-site approach. But then inputing my VIN each time is tedious.
Fortunately I/we have the Oct 2020 PDF version which is close enough in most regards. 😉
Fortunately I/we have the Oct 2020 PDF version which is close enough in most regards. 😉
Volkswagon needs to take a lesson from Volvo who puts the entire manual in the infotainment system. it comes with every car.
Audi does as well, so ......
Volkswagon needs to take a lesson from Volvo who puts the entire manual in the infotainment system. it comes with every car.
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