I have a £12 reader that can read and reset a limited range of engine codes.
I also have a bbw machine that can do almost everything on my DIsco 3 which I bought second hand and paid to have the licence changed to me for my VIN.
https://blackbox-solutions.com/
As the Merc has ABS/ESP/Brake fault on the dash I was considering getting a suitable device for the Merc - but I fell down a huge rabbit hole. It seems really hard to see who are legit UK suppliers with kosher machines and who is shipping pirate clones from China. It's made even more tricky because all the kit seems to be made in China.
Of course the actual OEM Merc stuff can be had as a pirate version but I am not doing that as even if I knew where to look, there are stories of them being sketchy and obviously, pirates aren't going to help you.
I have been at the point of purchase a number of times and then chickened out at the last moment due to a suspicion I might be about to buy a pig in a poke straight from China.
OBD2 apparatus
-
- Officially Not Quite Totally Useless
- Posts: 5306
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:58 am
- Has thanked: 2263 times
- Been thanked: 1860 times
OBD2 apparatus
2005 Land Rover Discovery SE Manual
2003 Mercedes E320 Estate
1968 AMC Rebel SST Convertible
1967 AMC Rebel SST Convertible (for parts)
1994 Fleetwood Colchester 1850 EB
Hoping for roffle win
2003 Mercedes E320 Estate
1968 AMC Rebel SST Convertible
1967 AMC Rebel SST Convertible (for parts)
1994 Fleetwood Colchester 1850 EB
Hoping for roffle win
- Hooli
- Self Appointed Internet God
- Posts: 33691
- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2019 9:25 pm
- Has thanked: 14428 times
- Been thanked: 11196 times
Re: OBD2 apparatus
I have the same issue with buying something to use on my XJR.
Tried owners forums etc & no-one seems to be able to say what they've got that works, which is no help.
Tried owners forums etc & no-one seems to be able to say what they've got that works, which is no help.
Private signature, do not read
- xtriple
- Paranoid Dog Parent
- Posts: 1981
- Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:26 pm
- Has thanked: 190 times
- Been thanked: 1600 times
Re: OBD2 apparatus
The generic one I bought cost about a tenner from eBay about 6/7 years ago and has worked fine, but as you say, it is very limited. The posh Jaguar one I bought 'seems' to do just about everything and can 'see' all the various modules and even adjust settings on the car. It's an Icarsoft V2 or something like that. Cost me about a ton secondhand, and works on my car and my sons XF-R though he hates electrics even more than I do!
For Mercs all the world seemed to use 'Star' or a rip-off version of the same. The garage I used to 'part-own' had a Snap-on' set up with a variety of keys for just about every make and on the one occasion I used it, it was, very good.
For Mercs all the world seemed to use 'Star' or a rip-off version of the same. The garage I used to 'part-own' had a Snap-on' set up with a variety of keys for just about every make and on the one occasion I used it, it was, very good.
-
- Posts: 858
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 12:08 pm
- Location: Coventry
- Has thanked: 90 times
- Been thanked: 676 times
Re: OBD2 apparatus
On my old xp laptop I have a Mercedes diagnostic software that I bought when I had my Merc c class w202 I think. Damned if I can remember the make but it has a proper cables to plug into non obd sockets. I'll have to dig it out and find out what it is
Re: OBD2 apparatus
I've got a launch x431, and has never failed to read codes on anything thrown at it. Cost £800 3 years ago.
Sent from my RMO-NX1 using Tapatalk
Sent from my RMO-NX1 using Tapatalk
-
- Officially Not Quite Totally Useless
- Posts: 5306
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:58 am
- Has thanked: 2263 times
- Been thanked: 1860 times
Re: OBD2 apparatus
Launch seems to be another brand where there are zillions of fakes about
2005 Land Rover Discovery SE Manual
2003 Mercedes E320 Estate
1968 AMC Rebel SST Convertible
1967 AMC Rebel SST Convertible (for parts)
1994 Fleetwood Colchester 1850 EB
Hoping for roffle win
2003 Mercedes E320 Estate
1968 AMC Rebel SST Convertible
1967 AMC Rebel SST Convertible (for parts)
1994 Fleetwood Colchester 1850 EB
Hoping for roffle win
Re: OBD2 apparatus
Got mine from the official UK launch website. Full updates for 3 years.AMCrebel wrote:Launch seems to be another brand where there are zillions of fakes about
Sent from my RMO-NX1 using Tapatalk
- panhard65
- Posts: 3986
- Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 7:18 am
- Has thanked: 156 times
- Been thanked: 4595 times
Re: OBD2 apparatus
My X431 was about the same money 3 years ago and still does the job. The updates have run out now so I might flog it and buy a new one as the updates are about half the cost of a new one.
1939 Hotchkiss 864
1971 Lancia Fulvia Berlinetta (for sale)
1977 Dodge 3700GT Hearse
1987 Renault 25 V6 Turbo
2007 Honda Jazz 1.4 (for sale)
2010 Skoda Felica tdi (for sale)
2013 Peugeot RCZ
2021 Yadea C1S Gay leccy scooter
1971 Lancia Fulvia Berlinetta (for sale)
1977 Dodge 3700GT Hearse
1987 Renault 25 V6 Turbo
2007 Honda Jazz 1.4 (for sale)
2010 Skoda Felica tdi (for sale)
2013 Peugeot RCZ
2021 Yadea C1S Gay leccy scooter