GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

OBDII scanner choice

Old Aug 27, 2025 | 04:47 PM
  #1  
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2102 GL450
OBDII scanner choice

icarsoft v3.0 or Ancel ds160

I was wondering if anybody knew which of these two would be better for diagnostics on my 2012 GL 450 X164? I would like to get one at a reasonable rate that can perform such things as transmission reset or throttle position sensor reset in addition to the diagnostic and live view attributes. As bi-directional scanners, these both seem reasonably good for the price point, but not sure if the features they provide are actually available for the vehicle. Any thoughts or anyone who owns these?

Thanks!
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Old Aug 27, 2025 | 07:06 PM
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Originally Posted by Saint0560
icarsoft v3.0 or Ancel ds160

I was wondering if anybody knew which of these two would be better for diagnostics on my 2012 GL 450 X164? I would like to get one at a reasonable rate that can perform such things as transmission reset or throttle position sensor reset in addition to the diagnostic and live view attributes. As bi-directional scanners, these both seem reasonably good for the price point, but not sure if the features they provide are actually available for the vehicle. Any thoughts or anyone who owns these?

Thanks!
do you plan on keeping the car for a while?
just be done with it and get a cloned MB Star/DAS system.
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Old Aug 27, 2025 | 08:33 PM
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Can't speak for the Ancel, but in my opinion the icarsoft is junk unless they've REALLY improved on the 2.0 which has literally not seen daylight in about 3 years.
There's only about a million threads on this subject...
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Old Aug 27, 2025 | 08:48 PM
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Perhaps get XENTRY as mentioned or buy a Launch CReader Elite Benz V2.0 for cheaper, yet more features.
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Old Aug 28, 2025 | 10:35 AM
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08 GL320 CDI
Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Launch CReader Elite Benz V2.0
Do you know if that one can recalibrate the Airmatic system?? (Still fighting with the wifes uneven ride height)
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Old Aug 28, 2025 | 12:50 PM
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GL550 / AMG GTS
Get @BenzNinja Best investment I've made, after market scanners are very basic
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Old Aug 28, 2025 | 12:54 PM
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2102 GL450
Thanks for the input. The Xentry is pretty expensive and the used laptops with it don’t support the GL450’s that I’ve seen on eBay. I’ll definitely look into the Launch scanner too.
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Old Aug 28, 2025 | 01:41 PM
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Xentry is likely cheaper than getting your transmission reset by a dealer, AND you'll have the tool for future use.
I've never needed or used BenzNinja but from all accounts that is a really good option for getting set up, and you'll have his support just a phone call away.
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Old Aug 28, 2025 | 03:33 PM
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GL550 / AMG GTS


BenzNinja supports all cars. How much did your 2102 GL450 cost?
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Old Aug 28, 2025 | 08:46 PM
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08 GL320 CDI
All cars? Like all the cars/vehicles MB makes? Or all other dealer’s vehicles as well?
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Old Sep 4, 2025 | 12:43 AM
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08 GL320 CDI
Just got this last night, it read 73 modules all over the vehicle and has a lot of bi-directional controls. I "think" I fix my airmatic recalibration issue. But I could control individual struts and save the heights.


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Old Sep 4, 2025 | 02:09 PM
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Now to turn off that pesky seatbelt chime...
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Old Sep 5, 2025 | 12:00 AM
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08 GL320 CDI
Here's the home screen. (its android based, so it has wifi and email, music storage, etc. as well.)





You have to pay for more vehicles, to be expected as it is emulating dealership software, kinda. I plan on buying the VW addition, which is purchased all through the device. It's $80, most other manufactures are around $60.

This next screen is after I did the Auto Scan of the VIN.




Quick Scan of the entire vehicle.



You can even email yourself the scan reports


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Old Sep 5, 2025 | 12:08 AM
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08 GL320 CDI
These next ones are just me going through different menus










Then I clicked on Suspension




Live data of the height sensors.







This next one is of me rocking the vehicle, the sensor changes. (useful to track down faulty sensors) yes blurry because I was rocking lol
















This screen is where you can manually adjust each bag



Last edited by Sallad; Sep 5, 2025 at 12:20 AM.
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Old Sep 5, 2025 | 12:12 AM
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08 GL320 CDI





Then the standard Service Reset stuff most scanners have.



The KEYS menu has my interest... can I recode new fobs? I highly doubt that.

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Old Sep 5, 2025 | 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Sallad
Do you know if that one can recalibrate the Airmatic system?? (Still fighting with the wifes uneven ride height)
Sorry for the late reply but seems like you already got the scanner you wanted.
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Old Sep 5, 2025 | 10:51 PM
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Well, interesting. It looks like most of the automatic menus and options are exactly like that in DAS.

But then there’s some generic stuff that I don’t recognize in Das.

Are you able to run an alternator test and a compression test?
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Old Sep 6, 2025 | 01:59 AM
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08 GL320 CDI
Originally Posted by Max Blast
Are you able to run an alternator test and a compression test?
Compression test, as in the compression of the cylinders? I didn’t know there were even sensors in the vehicle to record that sort of data. So I have no idea yet, I’m still learning this tool. I’ll get back to ya lol

​​​​​​….as we used to say in the Army. “Wait one”
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Old Sep 6, 2025 | 02:04 AM
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Plus I downloaded the VAG software for the tool, cost $80. (All done through the tool). That includes VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini and a couple more I can’t remember. But it worked amazing for my Audi. I was able to “turn on” certain features that were disabled from the factory. Very happy with it.
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Old Sep 7, 2025 | 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Sallad
Compression test, as in the compression of the cylinders? I didn’t know there were even sensors in the vehicle to record that sort of data. So I have no idea yet, I’m still learning this tool. I’ll get back to ya lol

​​​​​​….as we used to say in the Army. “Wait one”
it does a compression test by measuring the amount of air each cylinder admits, cross-referenced with the load on the starter at each point in time and then calculates a differential pressure between each cylinder.

There might be some magic juju ionization reading using the spark plug to determine how much of that air is actually compressed vice leaked out, but I’m not sure about that part.
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Old Sep 8, 2025 | 08:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Sallad
Plus I downloaded the VAG software for the tool, cost $80. (All done through the tool). That includes VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini and a couple more I can’t remember. But it worked amazing for my Audi. I was able to “turn on” certain features that were disabled from the factory. Very happy with it.
Appreciate the tour. Have you ever had the iCarsoft units to compare? As I am chosing between the Foxwell NT710 unit you have and the iCarsoft V 4.0 Porsche with the Mercedes and BMW add ons.
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Old Sep 8, 2025 | 01:09 PM
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Never used any iCar stuff. I did buy the VW package, so it works amazing with my Audi A6.

BMW and Porsche would be a separate cost for those modules, most are around $60-80
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Old Sep 8, 2025 | 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Sallad
Never used any iCar stuff. I did buy the VW package, so it works amazing with my Audi A6.

BMW and Porsche would be a separate cost for those modules, most are around $60-80
See you have had many Audi vehicles is this NT710 one of the better scanners you have used with Audi vehicles?
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Old Sep 8, 2025 | 04:27 PM
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Scanners will do a lot, but not everything. I tried a whole bunch too.
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Old Sep 8, 2025 | 06:16 PM
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Originally Posted by twcom
...is this NT710 one of the better scanners you have used with Audi vehicles?
The BEST scanner I've ever owned. I had a wireless XTool one that was also bi-directional, but the app kept crashing, comm errors with different modules. Didn't like it. I've had an Autel and many other no name ones as well.

For the price of this one, its pretty good. Obviously you can spend more money and get better scanners, but for the price point, so far, this one is doing quite well.

Foxwell!! Super fantastic Great!

...this message was approved by Sallad...
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