SL/R230: Best scanner tool
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 36
Likes: 4
From: Canada
2018 x2 2012 zr1
[QUOTE=Gene Fiorot;8624658]Forget these get with BenzNinga for the real System and support.[/QUOTE
you didn’t answer my question, it doesn’t help me at all. Thank anyway
you didn’t answer my question, it doesn’t help me at all. Thank anyway
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 36
Likes: 4
From: Canada
2018 x2 2012 zr1
Member
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 76
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From: Far NW Phoenix area
2003 SL55 AMG
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 449
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From: Melbourne Florida
SL500
Well you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. My response to your Non Question was forget those items and get the same system MB uses when they charge you 300 for a diagnosis. So it you want the best system get in touch with BenzNigna who can help you build this MB System that works and is not Chinese junk. Now that I read your Title of your post, I did answer that question sans the ?
Last edited by Gene Fiorot; Aug 29, 2022 at 08:13 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 406
Likes: 137
From: Houston, TX
2005 SL600
A scan tool is good if you just want to do some low to mid level diagnostics, but you plan to hand off any significant repairs to a professional shop.
If you plan to do any significant work on your car yourself, a STAR/Xentry system is recommended because it does everything any aftermarket scan tool can do plus gives you the full Mercedes-Benz workshop information system (WIS), electronic parts catalog (EPC), Starfinder (component location tool) and more. WIS gives you very detailed step-by-step instructions for repair procedures, along with loads of diagnostic and system operational information. And of course, torque specifications. There's lot's of aluminum on these cars, so torque specs are very important.
You really don't want to get into significant DIY on these cars without WIS. You'll waste a lot of time figuring out how to execute a repair, and also risk breaking stuff, because you don't know how things come apart. An R230 is a -very- complicated car, it is not a 1990 Chevrolet.
Last edited by brucewane; Aug 29, 2022 at 09:26 PM.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 36
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From: Canada
2018 x2 2012 zr1
There's a review of a Foxwell code scanner at the top of this forum.
A scan tool is good if you just want to do some low to mid level diagnostics, but you plan to hand off any significant repairs to a professional shop.
If you plan to do any significant work on your car yourself, a STAR/Xentry system is recommended because it does everything any aftermarket scan tool can do plus gives you the full Mercedes-Benz workshop information system (WIS), electronic parts catalog (EPC), Starfinder (component location tool) and more. WIS gives you very detailed step-by-step instructions for repair procedures, along with loads of diagnostic and system operational information. And of course, torque specifications. There's lot's of aluminum on these cars, so torque specs are very important.
You really don't want to get into significant DIY on these cars without WIS. You'll waste a lot of time figuring out how to execute a repair, and also risk breaking stuff, because you don't know how things come apart. An R230 is a -very- complicated car, it is not a 1990 Chevrolet.
A scan tool is good if you just want to do some low to mid level diagnostics, but you plan to hand off any significant repairs to a professional shop.
If you plan to do any significant work on your car yourself, a STAR/Xentry system is recommended because it does everything any aftermarket scan tool can do plus gives you the full Mercedes-Benz workshop information system (WIS), electronic parts catalog (EPC), Starfinder (component location tool) and more. WIS gives you very detailed step-by-step instructions for repair procedures, along with loads of diagnostic and system operational information. And of course, torque specifications. There's lot's of aluminum on these cars, so torque specs are very important.
You really don't want to get into significant DIY on these cars without WIS. You'll waste a lot of time figuring out how to execute a repair, and also risk breaking stuff, because you don't know how things come apart. An R230 is a -very- complicated car, it is not a 1990 Chevrolet.
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Joined: Aug 2020
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From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
I have a STAR system and it is the gold standard if you are going to do serious work on R230's or Mercedes in general. However, these systems are not cheap and are a bit cumbersome to use with a dedicated laptop and multiplexer box.
Recently, I purchased the Launch Creader Elite Benz edition ($130 w/ coupon on Amazon). This handheld scanner has a 4" touch screen and will do at least 90% of what I use STAR for. So far, the only actuation I have found missing is the roof flaps. It will do rodeo, level calibration, brake deactivation, and variant coding so you can adapt most used modules to your vehicle configuration.
If you don't want to invest $5-800 on a STAR system, this is a very good mid-level tool. You can also buy brand specific software for almost anything else you need for around $40 per make. I have Forscan for my Ford, but will probably buy the GM software for it. There is something like a $30 annual fee for updates, but that is optional and if you stick to R230's probably not necessary as the software will be 99.99% complete and stable.
Recently, I purchased the Launch Creader Elite Benz edition ($130 w/ coupon on Amazon). This handheld scanner has a 4" touch screen and will do at least 90% of what I use STAR for. So far, the only actuation I have found missing is the roof flaps. It will do rodeo, level calibration, brake deactivation, and variant coding so you can adapt most used modules to your vehicle configuration.
If you don't want to invest $5-800 on a STAR system, this is a very good mid-level tool. You can also buy brand specific software for almost anything else you need for around $40 per make. I have Forscan for my Ford, but will probably buy the GM software for it. There is something like a $30 annual fee for updates, but that is optional and if you stick to R230's probably not necessary as the software will be 99.99% complete and stable.
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Joined: Aug 2020
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From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
This is the one I bought. It is $190 less a $60 coupon. I saw a GM version a few days after I purchased it for around $100. If you have another make you are interested in you might find it for less and then add Benz software to it for about $40. I also used it on my wife's '11 S550, worked fine on that as well.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 36
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From: Canada
2018 x2 2012 zr1
This is the one I bought. It is $190 less a $60 coupon. I saw a GM version a few days after I purchased it for around $100. If you have another make you are interested in you might find it for less and then add Benz software to it for about $40. I also used it on my wife's '11 S550, worked fine on that as well.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
E500
I have a STAR system and it is the gold standard if you are going to do serious work on R230's or Mercedes in general. However, these systems are not cheap and are a bit cumbersome to use with a dedicated laptop and multiplexer box.
Recently, I purchased the Launch Creader Elite Benz edition ($130 w/ coupon on Amazon). This handheld scanner has a 4" touch screen and will do at least 90% of what I use STAR for. So far, the only actuation I have found missing is the roof flaps. It will do rodeo, level calibration, brake deactivation, and variant coding so you can adapt most used modules to your vehicle configuration.
If you don't want to invest $5-800 on a STAR system, this is a very good mid-level tool. You can also buy brand specific software for almost anything else you need for around $40 per make. I have Forscan for my Ford, but will probably buy the GM software for it. There is something like a $30 annual fee for updates, but that is optional and if you stick to R230's probably not necessary as the software will be 99.99% complete and stable.
Recently, I purchased the Launch Creader Elite Benz edition ($130 w/ coupon on Amazon). This handheld scanner has a 4" touch screen and will do at least 90% of what I use STAR for. So far, the only actuation I have found missing is the roof flaps. It will do rodeo, level calibration, brake deactivation, and variant coding so you can adapt most used modules to your vehicle configuration.
If you don't want to invest $5-800 on a STAR system, this is a very good mid-level tool. You can also buy brand specific software for almost anything else you need for around $40 per make. I have Forscan for my Ford, but will probably buy the GM software for it. There is something like a $30 annual fee for updates, but that is optional and if you stick to R230's probably not necessary as the software will be 99.99% complete and stable.
Thanks!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 365
From: Gretna, NE
'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
If you buy the Benz edition, it will have all of the Mercedes specific functions. You can also add the Benz software to another version if you want to have coverage for more than one make. Sometimes another version is on sale and you can buy that and add additional makes for around $40.
Not all, you are dreaming
all this is low budget cheap partial stuff
nothing replaces Xentry and the Engineering tools
not even the workshop online version by AUTEL that cost $1000+
I am constantly hired by workshops that had AUTEL mess up their codings
all this is low budget cheap partial stuff
nothing replaces Xentry and the Engineering tools
not even the workshop online version by AUTEL that cost $1000+
I am constantly hired by workshops that had AUTEL mess up their codings
Last edited by BenzNinja; Sep 26, 2022 at 09:03 AM.
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From: Carson City, NV
SL600, SL550, SL500, SLK350
If you buy the Benz edition, it will have all of the Mercedes specific functions. You can also add the Benz software to another version if you want to have coverage for more than one make. Sometimes another version is on sale and you can buy that and add additional makes for around $40.
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Joined: Jan 2024
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SL55 AMG
