OBD2 apparatus

[AMCrebel]

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.

[Hooli]

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.

[xtriple]

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.

[dean36014]

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

[fraser]

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

[AMCrebel]

Launch seems to be another brand where there are zillions of fakes about

[fraser]

Launch seems to be another brand where there are zillions of fakes about

Got mine from the official UK launch website. Full updates for 3 years.

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[panhard65]

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.