Which mid range scan tool?

[alpinab3]

I decided my Icarsoft CR pro is not good enough and when it failed to communicate to a 02' Z3 that was the last straw.

I have a come to a list of these following scan tools but they all seem to do the same thing and claiming the earth. Has anybody used any of these?

Xtool D8
https://www.xtool.co.uk/wholesale/xtool-d8-obdii-d...

D1 Otofix
https://www.autelstore.co.uk/wholesale/autel-otofi...

Icarsoft
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144590713094?mkevt=1&am...

Launch
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LAUNCH-CRP919E-Diagnostic...

Autel
https://www.auteldiag.co.uk/products/autel-maxicom...

Thanks

[Grenadier_45]

Don't know any of the others, but I possess an XTool D7, which I can recommend. It has very regular updates of vehicle and App software for 3 whole years (free - paid subscription after that if you want updates). I've used it on a Lexus, Ford, Mercedes, Jaguar, Renault, Audi and Mini belonging to either myself or family. XTool have a function list so you can see which tool of theirs is capable of what here: https://www.xtooltech.com/english/FunctionQuery.ht...

I bought mine off the back of a review by the CarCareNut channel on YouTube, and it was originally intended for the Lexus - his channel is dedicated to Toyota and Lexus. The thing has turned out to be sufficiently universal that the drawerful of scan tools I've collected over the years are now gathering dust. Should I have bought the Autel, or a TopDon or a whatever instead? Who knows. Unless you have the budget for buying all of them, testing them, and then presumably returning the ones you don't favour, you have to pay your money and take your choice. I'm very happy with the D7, and it does everything I wanted it for - bidirectional control of the car's systems, as well as live data logging and obviously detailed code reads from most subsystems.

Why not the D8? Same as above I suppose - it was and is dearer, and the main thing it does extra over what I need is the ability to flash ECUs. About the only thing I do sometimes wonder would have been a good idea is the Bluetooth versions, so the scanner could more easily run from outside the car. An OBD extension cable solves that problem for me as well as I need it solved for now. Your needs may obviously be different, but this is a pretty universal solution for someone that needs a scan tool for multiple vehicles. If you only need VAG, you might be better off with VCDS and a PC...

[alpinab3]

Thanks for your reply. It does seem like I have to just pick on and they all seem to do the same thing give or take a few features depending on the price point. I would just like a universal bidrectional tool which can calibrate Mercedes air suspension and maybe code a few keys on lesser models.

[Grenadier_45]

I'd offer to check that function on my BIL's CLS, but it doesn't have air springs. From the XTools site I linked above (look for Benz rather than Mercedes in the list) it looks like it does do calibration "SP1061 Level calibration Adaptive damping system(N51/5)(ADS)" for the CLS if it's fitted, but perhaps depends which Mercedes you have.

Happy to answer any other questions you might have, but XTools would be more definitive on their specific tools. XTools also respond quickly to emailed queries if you have them. That the updates are free for longer, and the support team are responsive, were things which swung my decision.

Perhaps ask Autel and others similar questions and see what the speed and quality of responses are like? As you've observed, most of these tools appear to do similar things on the face of it, so support and updates start to make a big difference. They might only be 'mid range' tools, but they're still a significant investment that you'd want to last a good number of years, as a DIYer.

[alpinab3]

I ended up spending more money than I planned and got the Otofix D1 Pro. It was between this and the Topdon Phoenix Lite 2. The Otofix edged it because of better specs and larger screen although it does not come with are the adapters for older cars.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364194553173?_trkparms=...

[Belle427]

They look interesting, are they Chinese clones?
I know most of the ebay/amazon autel tools are but have not heard of these.
It's all a bit of a minefield I find with these.

[alpinab3]

Otofix is a cheaper sub brand of Autel equivilant to the MS906 Pro.

Topdon seem to based on Launch
Xtool I'm not sure what they are based on
Icarsoft is unique

[spenaud]

Hi
I have a 2017 mercedes c220 w205 bluetec
And looking at the OTOFIX D1 lite scanner
Was wondering if anyone could tell me if the unit is capable of resetting the adblue and relearning the nox sensors
Thanks for any reply

[Vsix and Vtec]

My other half bought a code reader from these people recently

https://www.gendan.co.uk/

Really friendly and approachable, she asked what she needed (her early model XK8 isn't true OBD2 so isn't guaranteed to work with some scanners) and they were happy to help. Because she told them what she was buying it for, they even charged it and preloaded it with the correct files so she could just plug it straight in when it arrived. To top it all off, they even put a bag of Haribo in the box too.

The website is very 2000s, but the product is basically professional grade. Very impressed with it so far.

[MDT]

I have got that iCarSoft unit, it is good and has been very good at doing everything I have needed it to do, the only slight issue is has a slight issue when connected to a mates volvo XC60 as had to select the engine too and not just able to run off the read vin number for some strange reason.

The live data function is very helpful.

If I needed to replace my unit for some reason I don't think I would look at another.