Carly… for novices

bluespit

Senior member
 Near Chester
Site Supporter
Tell me about Carly? Assuming I next to nothing.

I have a 2010 e89 and iPhone 15 pro

Do I need a specific Carly? Do I need to buy the app? What’s the free app? Will the two work with my phone>

What else should I know that I don’t know I should know?

Thanks, Gary
 
There is no AFAIK free Carly…that’s useful..

Last I looked it was a rental model.

In the rank of suitable diagnostic / coding / programming tools it’s distinctly mediocre..
 
It's a yearly subscription.
Buying the OBD dongle from them will work with your iPhone.
Personally once you've coded everything you want/can (not everything is codable no matter whether it's in the list!), it's then only a fault code reader (unless you do your own servicing).
 
As a fault code reader it's a pain. I don't have it, but whenever anyone has an issue and posts a photo of their Carly read out it is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. I would heartily recommend getting a decent handheld obd reader instead.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: B21
I still have the old one-off subscription, so it is great for the coding side. The only fault codes I have used it for was the ABS sensor, which it picked up fine (except it told me both front left and rear right, and only the front left was faulty so if anyone needs a rear right :p )
 
If you want to code things then its great but how often are you going to want to do that? I have also heard of it causing issues with people who have tried coding because its corrupted something within their ECU. As a fault code reader its poor at best, gives misleading codes and cannot even reset airbag lights.
 
  • Like
Reactions: B21
Guess we’re not overly impressed then 🙂
My suggestion would be to make a list of the few little bits you want coded, then see if someone can do that for you.
Then go and buy a decent obd reader for fault finding: Creator, Autophix etc
 
  • Like
Reactions: B21
I don’t really want anything (folding mirrors on lock might be nice) but the chance of a dongle has come my way.

From experience on my last car (VW Golf convertible ) it’s good to have something that can read fault codes, the Golf used Carista, which was very good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: B21
Back
Top Bottom