Time to update my Scan Tool - Any Recommendations?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 443
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
Time to update my Scan Tool - Any Recommendations?
I've got a Icarsoft MBII tool from about 5 years ago. It's dated and clunky to use with a dated interface and it's only 1 directional. Im looking for a bidirectional tool that will cater to airmatic and allow for the recalibration of ride heights as part of the deal, in the mid level price range. The bidirectional aspect for as many functions as possible is what I'm chasing as well as a user friendly interface. All suggestions welcomed. TIA.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,498
Likes: 6,347
I've got a Icarsoft MBII tool from about 5 years ago. It's dated and clunky to use with a dated interface and it's only 1 directional. Im looking for a bidirectional tool that will cater to airmatic and allow for the recalibration of ride heights as part of the deal, in the mid level price range. The bidirectional aspect for as many functions as possible is what I'm chasing as well as a user friendly interface. All suggestions welcomed. TIA.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 443
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 5,156
Likes: 1,770
From: Colorado
G550
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,498
Likes: 6,347
Thanks for sharing your impressions and yes if OP can get the BBA at a similar price or at the same price, it is a no brainer to the other one. Especially if OP have the other makes that will be used on. The button vs capacitive touch layout of the BBA one might also be worth the price difference.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 443
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 5,156
Likes: 1,770
From: Colorado
G550
The Launch scanner presents an on-screen multipage summary of the scan results, including the DTCs. The report can be emailed to yourself and printed. One advantage of the Launch scanner is its direct wifi connection for updates and scan reports. No PC connection is required as is with some other brands.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,498
Likes: 6,347
The Launch scanner presents an on-screen multipage summary of the scan results, including the DTCs. The report can be emailed to yourself and printed. One advantage of the Launch scanner is its direct wifi connection for updates and scan reports. No PC connection is required as is with some other brands.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 881
From: In the Shadow of the Tetons
2013 ML350 Bluetec
xentry if you're a dedicated MB fan and don't plan on diagnosing any other makes of car.
Launch, for about the same price of entry, will talk to anything. I've got the X431V+ that has yet to let me down and it came with a tpms programming tool. It was about $900 IIRC. I got it from Amazon about 5 (6?) years ago, it came with 2 free years of updates. Last summer, after a couple of years of no updates, I bought back in to the subscription: $150 for another 2 years of updates. It can talk with everything foreign and domestic.
Launch, for about the same price of entry, will talk to anything. I've got the X431V+ that has yet to let me down and it came with a tpms programming tool. It was about $900 IIRC. I got it from Amazon about 5 (6?) years ago, it came with 2 free years of updates. Last summer, after a couple of years of no updates, I bought back in to the subscription: $150 for another 2 years of updates. It can talk with everything foreign and domestic.
Last edited by rapidoxidation; Feb 26, 2025 at 12:36 AM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,498
Likes: 6,347
xentry if you're a dedicated MB fan and don't plan on diagnosing any other makes of car.
Launch, for about the same price of entry, will talk to anything. I've got the X431V+ that has yet to let me down and it came with a tpms programming tool. It was about $900 IIRC. I got it from Amazon about 5 (6?) years ago, it came with 2 free years of updates. Last summer, after a couple of years of no updates, I bought back in to the subscription: $150 for another 2 years of updates. It can talk with everything foreign and domestic.
Launch, for about the same price of entry, will talk to anything. I've got the X431V+ that has yet to let me down and it came with a tpms programming tool. It was about $900 IIRC. I got it from Amazon about 5 (6?) years ago, it came with 2 free years of updates. Last summer, after a couple of years of no updates, I bought back in to the subscription: $150 for another 2 years of updates. It can talk with everything foreign and domestic.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,498
Likes: 6,347
There is that BBA version that also have lifetime (I guess?) updates for BenzBmwAudi if you have those other makes for under 200 bucks. It was 109 on Black Friday so even cheaper than the regular V2.0 version.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 541
Likes: 232
2021 GLS580 | 2011 ML350 BlueTec | 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
I have an Xtool A30M and Creader. The Xtool requires you to use your own device but if paired with a tablet the interface is nearly identical to Autel and Clones. The creader by comparison is slow with a small screen though I believe it has slightly more functionality if you want to actually start testing and actuating things. For a scan tool it is hard to not recommend the Xtool. If you want more control the Creader will give it to you albeit with a very small screen and a time delay.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,498
Likes: 6,347
I have an Xtool A30M and Creader. The Xtool requires you to use your own device but if paired with a tablet the interface is nearly identical to Autel and Clones. The creader by comparison is slow with a small screen though I believe it has slightly more functionality if you want to actually start testing and actuating things. For a scan tool it is hard to not recommend the Xtool. If you want more control the Creader will give it to you albeit with a very small screen and a time delay.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 541
Likes: 232
2021 GLS580 | 2011 ML350 BlueTec | 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,266
Likes: 170
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Hello All,
I've been wondering as well what to replace my iCarsoft MBII with.
Very disappointing piece of equipment. What is BBA?
And in the end what did the OP end up purchasing?
That Creader Elite V2.0 on Amazon sounds pretty nice from you guy's desciption.
Wifi connectivety? Emails you the report? VERY nice.
Torque does that on my phone but of course only OBD.
iCarsoft all you can do is take piciures of the screen, no
internet connectivety, no touch screen, and on both our
06 ML and W203 it read the codes but doesn't know what they are!
Live data works nicely though. Other than that pffft!
It's been useful a few times checking trans temp while doing a service and recharging the
AC. It knows how much freon is in the system and pressure.
So....Creader Elite V2.0 FTW? Or what is this BBA? How is birectional different from say MBII?
I would REALLY like to clear an SRS error on 02 C230. Stupid me I didn't disconnect the battery while doing a steering wheel swap (spare from P&P freshly refinished) because I assumed my MBII would clear it. Wrong, Will this do it?
I've been wondering as well what to replace my iCarsoft MBII with.
Very disappointing piece of equipment. What is BBA?
And in the end what did the OP end up purchasing?
That Creader Elite V2.0 on Amazon sounds pretty nice from you guy's desciption.
Wifi connectivety? Emails you the report? VERY nice.
Torque does that on my phone but of course only OBD.
iCarsoft all you can do is take piciures of the screen, no
internet connectivety, no touch screen, and on both our
06 ML and W203 it read the codes but doesn't know what they are!
Live data works nicely though. Other than that pffft!
It's been useful a few times checking trans temp while doing a service and recharging the
AC. It knows how much freon is in the system and pressure.
So....Creader Elite V2.0 FTW? Or what is this BBA? How is birectional different from say MBII?
I would REALLY like to clear an SRS error on 02 C230. Stupid me I didn't disconnect the battery while doing a steering wheel swap (spare from P&P freshly refinished) because I assumed my MBII would clear it. Wrong, Will this do it?
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Mar 18, 2025 at 03:51 PM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,498
Likes: 6,347
Hello All,
I've been wondering as well what to replace my iCarsoft MBII with.
Very disappointing piece of equipment. What is BBA?
And in the end what did the OP end up purchasing?
That Creader Elite V2.0 on Amazon sounds pretty nice from you guy's desciption.
Wifi connectivety? Emails you the report? VERY nice.
Torque does that on my phone but of course only OBD.
iCarsoft all you can do is take piciures of the screen, no
internet connectivety, no touch screen, and on both our
06 ML and W203 it read the codes but doesn't know what they are!
Live data works nicely though. Other than that pffft!
It's been useful a few times checking trans temp while doing a service and recharging the
AC. It knows how much freon is in the system and pressure.
So....Creader Elite V2.0 FTW? Or what is this BBA? How is birectional different from say MBII?
I would REALLY like to clear an SRS error on 02 C230. Stupid me I didn't disconnect the battery while doing a steering wheel swap (spare from P&P freshly refinished) because I assumed my MBII would clear it. Wrong, Will this do it?
I've been wondering as well what to replace my iCarsoft MBII with.
Very disappointing piece of equipment. What is BBA?
And in the end what did the OP end up purchasing?
That Creader Elite V2.0 on Amazon sounds pretty nice from you guy's desciption.
Wifi connectivety? Emails you the report? VERY nice.
Torque does that on my phone but of course only OBD.
iCarsoft all you can do is take piciures of the screen, no
internet connectivety, no touch screen, and on both our
06 ML and W203 it read the codes but doesn't know what they are!
Live data works nicely though. Other than that pffft!
It's been useful a few times checking trans temp while doing a service and recharging the
AC. It knows how much freon is in the system and pressure.
So....Creader Elite V2.0 FTW? Or what is this BBA? How is birectional different from say MBII?
I would REALLY like to clear an SRS error on 02 C230. Stupid me I didn't disconnect the battery while doing a steering wheel swap (spare from P&P freshly refinished) because I assumed my MBII would clear it. Wrong, Will this do it?
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,498
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
BBA is the LAUNCH Creader Elite 2.0 with Benz, BMW, and Audi programs included. It's a very good and handy tool, but I recommend getting XENTRY first. Then you can add a LAUNCH scanner to keep in the car.
The best source for XENTRY is the BenzNinja Club. Membership includes lifetime diagnostic support, as well.
The best source for XENTRY is the BenzNinja Club. Membership includes lifetime diagnostic support, as well.
