S-Prihadi

Gents,

I just placed an order for this baby sized scanner. Under US$200. There is a US$40 discount coupon too on Amazon.

Review is here :


My research has shown that there are only 2 camps for MB capable 3rd party scanner which are very popular and used by many indie workshop.
One is Autel with its MB software V18.xx

The other is Launch, ThinkTool and TopDon, which are all Launch software based using MB software V49.xx
I knew this by watching each unit's video review and I saw the MB software version.

My iCarsoft MB v2.0 MB software is v11.70, I do not know who made it for them or it is their own or some sort of copy cat here and there.

I am not speaking of more unique 3rd party scanner like AUTOLOGIC or something of this type.
https://uk.autologic.com/products/pa...erage/mercedes

The capability of the baby Launch Creader Elite For BENZ as per the video is awesome, hence I got to have it for introduction to Launch MB software V49.xx,
before I buy bigger units like TopDown Elite Plus using the same MB sofware V49.xx.


The reviewer has a proper genuine Xentry too, so he knows what he is talking about.

He also reviewed the same Autel I have, MS906BT. 1.5 year old review.


His Xentry comparison to 3rd party scanner, but 3 years ago.


Which is better : Autel MB software vs Launch ?
I don't know.

What I knew was, the last 2 updates MB software and newest being v18.43 for me, from Autel for my MS906BT, Autel ascrew up certain bi-directional controls for LED ILS option 640/641 and
activation of fuel pump also went south. South as in fuel pump at the tank indeed can run/operate as commanded, but scanner does not show fuel pump is running as in voltage and amperage draw.
I did not go to 100% bi-directional capability that went south. Too much to test.
My Autel scanner been with my cousin for few months now, I do not know if it has newer MB software higher than v18.43.

Here is the Autel issue for my E400, was good with V18.41 and went bad with v18.42 and still is bad with v18.43. LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP

So I must get my ear close to the fuel pump to hear it running, RIGHT side under rear seat .. DUGGGHHH


For ILS LED 640/641 bi-directional test. Its menu system has a bug, I need to try twice to get into the headlamp activation test.
Also they FORGOT to add or have deleted a soft button called F1 which is to stop or turn OFF headlight channel 1 to 4 at Control Module after doing activation ... DUGGHHH





Autel then made F11 as OFF for all occupied channels. But it does not work !!!! I have to use ESC ( escape) and exit the menu, and then the commanded light will then be turned off. DUGGHHHHH




Do I know any issue with Launch MB v49.85 software ? Well I seen one already and I hope to see more when I get the baby Creader Elite for MB.
Go to Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostic youtube , there is a very new 5 part-series video of a repair for AMG W212 E63 of 2010.

I am linking the 5th final video only. At 13:17 minutes is the N150 module of interest.


So what happen here is that the Launch or Thinktool ( same software ) could see fault code for the N150 Direct Select Interface as reported by other modules like ISM shift module A80 and Tranny Module,
but could not see/detect N150 module on the CAN-BUS topo or module list.
I took a look at the said E63 wiring diagram and the N150 module by right should be readable by the scanner, because it is a stand alone module at CAN-BUS C channel,
and not a slave module like our flappy pedal N135 which is a slave to N80 Steering Column Module via LIN and not CAN-BUS. N135 is "hidden" inside or at N80 module and not listed at main module list.













There is a TSB on this N150
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...62778-2280.pdf


We have to accept that these reverse engineered diagnostic software for MB , would have some bugs or missing portion , somewhere, no choice.
If you watch Scanner Danner on youtube enough, often I seen he has to change between Snap-ON and Autel to find modules which one scanner can't detect.
Lately Scanner Danner is trying out TopDon ( Launch MB software)


Anyway, I think with the US$40 coupon and hence US$150 approx for the baby Launch Creader Elite MB specific scanner with some little simple CODING CAPABILITY so it seems,
let alone bi-directional capable , this is just too insane for me to not get it.


END

Raj1471

S-Prihadi...I'm researching my options as to what scanner to get. What are your thoughts on the Launch CRP123X Elite? I know it's not MB specific and doesn't have bidirectional capability but I like the fact that it is capable of multi vehicle scanning. Does the CRP123X Elite have the MB software V49.xx that the Creader Elite has? Thanks.

S-Prihadi

Hi Raj,
Honestly I do not know anything about Launch, as this baby sized one will be my first.
My Autel MS906BT is my all-brands scanner, that is all I got now.

One thing about scanner, unless the reviewer have the same car like yours and with higher options or more modules, it is BUY and TELL method.
You only know till you buy it. This is even true for non bi-directional capable unit.

As you can see on my Autel case,the MB specific software update can make a previously good software become "impaired".

S-Prihadi

Review of the baby LAUNCH wont happen so soon. Me still away from my car

Left Coast Geek

Does anyone know if this can diagnose faults in the SRS (airbags etc) systems ? I have a Launch Creader Elite coming Friday ($140 with the coupon, which I note is no longer available), and my wife's 2016 E350 is throwing a SRS fault each time we start it. She brought it by our mechanic, he said there's a rodent induced wiring issue, and I found one chomped wire pair and spliced them, but its still faulting. hoping a code reader combined with WIS can help me narrow down what the source for this fault is...

S-Prihadi

I believe SRS DTC reading should not be a problem for the baby Creader Elite MB specific.

However, the video below showed the weakness of this baby Creader unable to reset after a crash, the drive authorization thingy and for the engine computer only it failed.

S-Prihadi

Only 1 word. THIS BABY SCANNER IS AWESOME.
Regardless of its quirks, see here : https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ent-blind.html
this baby Launcg can read Variant Coding and change parameters too..crazy awesome.
I do not need to test all its capability, I am sold already for what I paid as under US$200 product.

Please DO NOT TOUCH variant coding when you are unsure. I have not changed any parameter yet...me scared for now.



Below is just one example of Coding Data even my naughty Xentry will never show. This is what Master Lou in his youtube explained as HQ Engineer/Developer data grade which technician even in dealership can't access.

This is under BRAKE, just 5% of the coding data probably...too many to show.


I seen the Front SAM N10/1 varian codin content, some only, for interior lights.
We can choose how many milliamps consumption as short circuit limit and open load limit....crazy !!! This means I can change open load limit parameter to suit LED bulb hahahaha.

Bi-rectional test is peanuts....... very complete, but I cant find COMPRESSION TEST feature like Xentry. Maybe it is hiding somewhere in Special Function.
The way menu are arranged is not the same as Autel or Xentry. So need to learn more.


Will update when I have more hours with this Launch.


.

S-Prihadi

Cheapo 1 & Dumb-Azz 2

Cheapo 1 : Its homepage voltage display showing consistent over-voltage, it is showing 13.1 to 13.4V when actual is 12.3 to 12.7 V. I hope no one get a FLAT battery using this thing.
Dumb Azz 2 : Its time zone is so limited, I can't use local time which should be as per my camera time stamp, 1 hour behind. It has wifi capability, but it never self correct itself to local time thru IP..Dugghh !!!







I found out today, the REAL culprit as to why it will give me STORED DTC of Standing Light.
I have for some months now, turned OFF my Daylight/DRL using Instrument Cluster Menu. It seems Launch went banana over it and declared a DTC, albeit a STORED one.
Below image is yesterday test : I thought it was because I set the rotary light switch to maximum left* to kill auto Standing/Parking Light when ignition key is inserted.




Today, before I turned ON the DRL. I scanned again.







With DRL I turned ON, no more the B172B15 DTC from front SAM. I even turned back OFF again the DRL and re-scanned, no B172B15 DTC came back yet as I have not driven the car yet. Will update the DTC does comes back.




================


I thought I bricked this Baby Launch today from update failure...........seems almost so.






And guess what happened ?
I lost the MB and MAYBACK SOFTWARE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!




I then tried to scan my car out of curiosity. I use the AutoDetect menu.
The unit seems to know the software is missing and instead of scanning, it tries to download when I pressed AUTODETECT.
I felt good............. but it failed again !!!!




I thought maybe somehow I can buy again the MB/MAYBACH software at the MALL. Launch call this page as MALL .
Dang, it is not there too. So its like the TV series Lost In Space



.


I tried again............. this time from software update page again. And something weird happened.
The download started not from ZERO % or left most BAR, but started at near 90% level ..... ohhh something good is happening here.





Its like watching US$200 video **** with running time of only 5 minutes




So Mr Benz and Lady Maybach is now back home



What an unhappy event it was.
I have seen also my Autel failed to download updates of some car brands, but its original software never disappeared.
Download>>>SAVE>>INSTALL>>OVERWRITE OLD SOFTWARE>>DONE is supposed to be the standard method.

Maybe buggy OS this launch has... but it works very fast...so far.
From start of plugging OBD2 port till I get full scan report, my Autel MS906BT is slow, like double the time than this baby Launch.


It will take days and weeks for me to test this Launch capability, but at this point in time I really like it because it is CHEAP and so CAPABLE.
I will take this baby Launch any day over any MB specific iCarsoft. Granted I now know MB software on iCarsoft, Autel and Xentry decently well, so I know what to expect from a scanner.

S-Prihadi

UPDATE.

Autel Launch Creader Elite can't list LIN based module . But it will detect any LIN based module being off-line and causing DTC.

My car has 37 CAN modules and 10 LIN modules which are detectable by Xentry and Autel. So total would be 47 modules.

AUTEL LAUNCH REPORT BELOW






BELOW : Using Xentry. Blue ones are the LIN.






My Autel latest update few days ago, went banana. 1 extra module shown ....LOL !!! Whacky.
I did not realize till I seen photos and it showed total 48 modules combined





Since Autel does not show Module ID like Xentry, I can't confirm a 100% yet which is the illegal one, but I am suspecting the error is at the LIN below. Front SAM only has 5 of LIN read by Xentry, but the Autel is reading 6 .

Now the Autel is with my cousin. Next time I wil check is that 6th LIN is an error or what.
I am not familiar with ABF(Instrument Panel Switch) LIN , I mean I do not even exactly know what switch that is.


There are more than 10 LINs in the car, but Xentry does not show all, unless something went wrong with the LIN and the boss module of the LIN will make the DTC report.

Alternator has 1 LIN.
Steering Wheel buttons and pedal shifter, under Steering Wheel Column N80 has 1 LIN.
I am sure there are other LINs which I have not seen, because it need to be seen from wiring diagram.

6speeddave

Loving mine. I was able to turn off ECO stop-start, allow navigation inputs while drive, turn off the start up seatbelt chime, and have applied about 95% of what's needed for full ILS+ headlight operation. I am struggling to figure out how to "hard reset" modules on this device, or the equivalent of such an operation on vediamo. I believe I need to hard reset the camera module for the headlights but am struggling to figure that out.

S-Prihadi

Something to note if you do not want your TEST location to be known :

I have not tested away from home yet, but this unit is likely to have a GPS module in it.
When you print out a report, the location icon can link to a google map ( sort of ) and I am surprised it can be near 50 meters accuracy.
50 meters accuracy is when a GPS module get partial obstruction and we get signal reflection.

Initially I thought unit was able to track test location by internet IP ping, but as far as I know, IP ping can not be as accurate to 50 meters.
Maybe someone with good IT skill and tracking capability can chime in.

MBBUTTER

Hi do you have insite how to activate ILS+ on this scanner

6speeddave

After playing with it more this evening, Ive confirmed the scanner is capable of coding certain parameters of the headlight variant coding but not all of them. Will have to get my hands on Xentry/Vediamo to complete the full ILS+ coding.

With that said, again, I agree with the OP that this scanner is insanely capable and far superior to any icarsoft product. Perfect to have in the glove box at all times!

S-Prihadi

UPDATE :

For reason unknown, last nite I lost the menu of VARIANT CODING and SPECIAL FUNCTIONS at all modules I know used to have this feature.
I then updated the VCI, it is in SETTING menu called Firmware Fix. This is not download type of update, its there in the unit already.

I also updated the CRX something file which latest 2.05 version available last nite.
Now scanner back to normal

But it went banana for a while yesterday. It declared all my speakers as MAILFUNCTION and current not stored...LOL, while they are not.
Got to know the quirks of their software.

jonUF02

I don't really understand the differences between Launch models, but I have a X-431 V (the 8 inch tablet with many connectors). I spent about $750 for it 2 years ago and it has definitely paid for itself between my Porsche and Mercedes cars. It has done all the diagnostics and coding I have needed to do for both. This Launch software is just an Android app. It could be fully capable of running on current flagship Android phones. The only connector I have used is the bluetooth OBD2 dongle thing. I think they disable some features or provide different .apk file with restrictions based on the device model you purchase. They could easily make this app available in the Play store and make it more clear as to what tier of features / functionality you are purchasing, or add in-app purchases for incremental functionality as you need it. I don't understand why they wan to tie this software in with various pieces of hardware. Just discount the cost of the hardware and sell me the app for my phone!

S-Prihadi

They want to sell their own hardware so you can be locked easier

Left Coast Geek

they DONT want to deal with software installation and hardware issues with flakey ODBC adapters. my creader has a hard wired ODBC cable.

that, and an app only version would be far too easy to pirate.

S-Prihadi

USER EXPERIENCE UPDATE :

I have been updating this baby launch 4 times now.
One need to be patient, it may take up to 4 times, each time you get 25%, something like that. You will then see UPDATE FAILED when it stop. Like there is a time out per 45 minutes.
Do RE-ENTRY or RE-Try, it will start again where it was last stop and not from zero.

I think on purpose Launch bottle neck its server when this low cost scanner is updated. Best speed no more than 72 Kb/s, where I have a 100 mb/s internet....LOL.
Its higher cost brother CR919E scanner ( US$400ish ) will do 300 kb/s for the same MB software download.

Now I made OBD plug power supply, so an update no need for scanner to be in the car as it has no battery and need OBD2 power.


Its power consumption never exceed 4 watts or 0.3 amps at 12.8 volts. The male OBD plug in use is my car old one. I already installed new OBD plug for my car.



The update is PLENTY, since new or like 8 months, I been getting 4 updates...nice.

jakwi

So what is the verdict? Is it the best buy for the money? The bad reviews on amazon all indicate that in order to clear and reset you need paid addons... is that the case? Thanks for the in depth review

kajtek1

Do we have dedicated scanner section on this forum?
If not - Sprinter forum has it and very popular.
Scanners are coming on the market just like new androids, so you need weekly updates.
When S is high-tech guy in electronics, I tend to look for scanner easy to understand.
Bought MaxiEcu years ago, but a bit too advanced for my skills.
Than bought AP/HT200, who cost me $49 and that one is portable, easier to understand and when I had my Sprinter failure, it had very nice troubleshooting page, who would show all the parameters needed, with those not working highlighted in red.
Child's play.

Left Coast Geek

the Creader can clear codes, but it can't do feature codings as its delivered. There are apparently paid plugins for it, I've not investigated.

S-Prihadi

BUY IT

Jakwi wrote :
The bad reviews on amazon all indicate that in order to clear and reset you need paid addons..

You believe reviews of people who never own a proper and many scanners ?

They got mixed up/confused between SINGLE BRAND Mercedes only Creader Elite and those able to do more brands with extra payment.
There is no such thing as a quick stand alone RESET menu even in Mercedes official Xentry scanner.
Example, service done for A category oil change, you can call it reset if you want : It will RESET the days to be back to 365 days and X thousand kilometers/miles to zero KM.
You can use your steering wheel buttons if you have no scanner or go to A1 Instrument Cluster module to do this if using a scanner.

There are ADAPTATIONS, in MB cars.
Say you want you fuel trim to start from fresh and not using its memory blocks of the last say few hours of use, you can do that and it is not call a RESET.

The only test I can't do is DPF stuff, because I do not own a diesel engine. Is this a RESET ? I dont think so.
Mr K knows better on diesel thingy like DPF re-gen or whatever they call it.

So, enjoy your purchase .............. if you eventually buy it.

zplightning

Could you expand a bit further on this? Is this because it doesn't have the "Reset" capabilities? I just got the tool, and have started changing Variants yet, but like you found that pretty much everything is there. Just curious where you hit a road block!

wildta

Has anyone used Creader to do a Transmission adaptation reset? I noticed it was an option when I borrowed my neighbor's creader to scan my car. Just curious if it's on the same level as xentry when doing such a reset.

S-Prihadi

Technically it would be the same as Xentry. Its a simple adaptation-reset actually.
The tranny computer kept like the last 30 or so gear shift pattern as per your throttle modulation as ADAPTATION for you the driver.
If you like driving aggressive, the gear shift then becomes more aggressive like waiting longer when needing to up-shift, because it remembered that you throttle foot is "aggressive".

It will not make your car any smoother in gear shift per se.
It will not make your car any faster in gear chance too.