cMazara

I want to buy one of the cheap 30-50 usd Bluetooth scanners for iPhone on amazon to have in the car so I can diagnose friends cars n such. But also and mostly I want it to be compatible with my w211, not just regular codes, but at least a little more detailed codes and airbags.

do you know of any in particular that will do the trick?

cetialpha5

Lots of options out there. I like the Launch X431 Easy Diag Plus. The plus version gives you software for 2 car manufacturers. This started out at about $30 about 2 years ago, went up to about $50 and now I just looked and it's $90 on Amazon and Aliexpress. The cheaper version aren't the plus version and it costs $40 to add a car manufacturer. Works fine for me, help me narrow down the ESP malfunction to the steering angle sensor, even found error codes that weren't causing any apparent problem but I had a bad vehicle temperature sensor in the passenger foot well. Maybe that affected the temperature for the passenger but never noticed or they just played with the temperature until it was right for them. Seems to do all subsystems from a quick test.


I think there are also other ones that will do MB specific codes like iCarsoft, but that's $114 and I think it just does major subsystems, not all of them.


If you just want to do OBDII error codes which are basically just engine and emissions codes, you could get the BAFX ELM327, works on pretty much every car and is $22, works just with Android. For iphone you need a wifi one.

kajtek1

I read earlier recommendation (thanks cetialpha5) and bought EasyDiag.
When set -up was a nightmare, (not a single command in manual show actual dialog on android) I found some help on youtube and after frustrating hours - got it working.
It is giving (health report) scanning whole car and giving you errors like mentioned cabin temp sensors. I had error on door and seat motors that I had no idea about.
So far it failed to clear MB-specific codes. I am still playing with it as I think I have outdated software.
Usually for clearing ECU codes the scanner ask you to cycle ignition. Mine confirmed clearing without turning ignition off and the codes are still there.
Still Amazon gives me 1 month for trouble-free return, so I can make my mind in that time.
Just for reading the codes and engine parameters - the $12 Bluetooth adapter with Torque app works fine and is easier to set/operate

cetialpha5

Yeah, that's one of the drawbacks, no real instructions manual. But you just have to play with it a little. Try making sure the firmware on the connector is updated. There's a set of submenus on the top left corner. They're not really intuitive. I think I found the firmware upgrade under Mine and then Activate Device. I think the update to the software is under settings. To clear individual faults, you have to select that subsystem and then there's a menu under there. You have to make sure you use the app's menu controls to go back and forth, otherwise if you use the android back button, it exits the app instead of taking you back a menu. I've been able to clear individual faults. It's probably not clear that the car should be on when doing a quick test. It does prompt to shut the car off and turn it back on when clearing individual faults. I've seen the ones for the door and seat, but I've cleared those out and they didn't come back so must have been some weird one time fault.

kajtek1

I think we could make it working much better if we make a topic about the specific scanner.
I know only 1 forum that has scanner section. It is low-traffic, relatively new forum, but with great help site and run by one of other forum veterans.
I will start Launch X431 Easy Diag Plus topic there and post my experience
http://mbmedic.com/forums/mercedes-d...c-scanners.29/

cMazara

Thanks a lot. I will buy the launch later cause it’s 90$ and just reads 2 cars. seems like it reads specifics like you mentioned. Don’t want to give 40usd when doing a favor.

For now I’ll order the Foseal one and let you know what it does, it’s just 20 usd and seems that it reads and clears codes, I assume just generic ones.
also iPhone compatible.

Car WIFI OBD 2 OBD2 OBDII Scan Tool Foseal Scanner Adapter Check Engine Light Diagnostic Tool for iOS & Android https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W0SDLRY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_o0l7zbRD7BE9Z

kajtek1

That WI-FI module looks much bigger than BT modules I have.
I like BT for option to leave them permanently plug and access the gauges on android when convenient.
Nothing beats having wife driving and me on back seat reading the ECU parameters
Let us know if the big module is not hitting your knee and how it works?

cetialpha5

It does 2 car manufacturers so will do all recent Benz models, I think some older ones between 1996-2002 may have had different connectors. Also it will read generic OBDII codes on all cars just like any regular OBDII scanner like the Foseal and BAFX.

If you're just going to get a generic one, I'd get the BAFX, it has over 9k reviews and is #1 on Amazon as opposed to a few hundred on the Foseal one. The problem with the cheaper adapters is that they don't always work as they use cheaper components so you get communications problems on some cars and not on others. There are some cheap ones on aliexpress that are probably in the $5-$10 range.

Ahmed Thamer

I bought one for my w211 Its bad not gives specific diagnoses and when I connected it in vehicle the check engine light on I do not know about the other types If its works I bought like this

ecmexchange

Sounds like a fun date!

VictoryRoadPerformance

We have the android only model

cMazara

Received mine a couple of days, just generic codes, voltage and graphs... fixed a map sensor leak with the codes and can read other cars too. Decent for 12 usd.

btv94

12usd? it's more like $20. Try to get one for my iphone.

cMazara

Yes, sorry.
$20 off Amazon, works with iPhone (wifi) and a free app.. can erase check engine light, and read generic codes.

kajtek1

I refunded the EasyDiag as having several OBD scanners could not justify keeping it only for health scan feature.
The $7 Bluetooth scanner with Torque app does all the basic scanning for me, while newer W212 require MB connection for SCN coding.
MaxiEcu does lot of adaptations on W211 and promise is that after New Year they will work on adaptations for W212. Still when you get to SCN coding, you are at stealers mercy.

btv94

That's good enough for me. Thanks