Anyone have any advice for a decent scanner that supports most functions we would need for trouble-shooting issues out of warranty without breaking the bank or being as complex as a STAR setup?

 

I have found for reading general codes in the OBD, there are good apps available for IOS and Android. Android has Torque app and for IOS I am using Dash Command. Both apps are inexpensive but you will need a dongle to plug in the OBD port. These are also inexpensive on Amazon.

These apps can read and clear codes, but cannot update anything on the MB system. That would be a different discussion out of my knowledge..

Hope that helps!

 

At this point I think iCarsoft MBII for $150 is the best deal.
There are couple more scanners who are similar and for advanced adaptation I like MaxiEcu, but that one is laptop-based scanner.
Point is that when it comes to advanced options, this scanner offers this function, when other - another.
So to have it all takes at least 2 if not 3.
I've been using Torque app with $7 OBD plug for code reading, but found that that live data it shows is often bogus. There is no way my exhaust pumps 3000 psi.

 

The icarsoft gets mentioned a lot along with Autel diaglink which is about $89. Those do MB specific codes and probably half the time you need those codes to diagnose problems. Otherwise a cheap BAFX ELM327 scanner with the torque app will also work, but you only get basic engine and emissions codes.

 

Autell makes scanner with advanced MB diagnostic, but for more

 

The one I mentioned for $89 also does all subsystems. The one mentioned above probably does all car lines, the $89 only does one car line, you have to pay $10 extra for additional car lines.

 

Hey, I like the looks of this one... it will work with other cars, and it seems to offer a great set of functionality.

Do you own one? How is it at providing detailed information on a code. What is not helpful is just providing a code without much of a description of what it means.

Cheers!

 

I bought 2 scanners last year and took advantage of amazon no-hassle return to return the Autell as I valued iCarsoft more for DPF regeneration, that Autell lack.
Still Autell offers smoothnest test, that iCarsoft do not.
In both scanners the manufacturer support was either non-existent, or plain misleading, so you have to test them the hard way.
With new cars, I already run in couple of rare codes that even google could not find.
One emission code got explanation on.... Ford forum.