Which OBD scanner do you use?

x-driver

x-driver

Active member
 Slovenia
I'm looking for some OBD scanner that would work for various vehicles (bmw e39, e85, g30, g20, other brands would also be welcome).
I need it to be able to provide service functions (such as resetting adaptations, park brake service mode, etc.).
Some basic coding perhaps.

Today I tried some Delphi DS150 clone only to find out it won't provide service functions for my Z4, but it would for g20.

What do you guys use to work on your cars?
 
I have a Carly scanner for basic functions. A Foxwell NT710 bidirectional scanner for more comprehensive scanning. Although, I bought the Foxwell somewhat impulsively a couple of years ago. I see Autel and Topdon more often. Setting up ISTA/INPA is the most comprehensive solution, but that's a challenging process to go through if you don't have good support.
 
I have just ordered the creator 310+ it seems alot of people like It so I ordered one just yesterday as trying to clear a airbag light which my Carly is failing to do
 
I have used Carly, did everything I needed. Annual fee and extra cost to use on all brands of car starts to feel expensive after year 1. Just got an Ancel BD300 for bmw/mini and a range of features for all brands. So far seem to do as much as Carly, but cost less then the annual Carly fee.😀
 
I picked up a BMW specific Creator C110 for £10 from Marketplace, right place, right time - just like the car!

Also, I use the BMW 1.4.0 software on an old laptop - useful for coding extra features. Cost £12 for the cable, and some technical know-how to install the software on an old Windows PC. Works a treat, and now my roof goes up AND down from the key!
 
Hi x-driver,
I have a Creator 310+ which I use when the car starts to misbehave. For the most part this gives me the info which I can then pass over to my mechanic. When I bring the car to him, he runs a diagnostic with his professional OBD2 reader and it pretty much replicates what the Creator 310+ has come up with, with a few more details maybe.
So I would recommend keeping a Creator 310+ ready to hand, and its case fits nicely into the cargo netting in the passenger footwell.
I also bought an OBD2 gadget off ebay which connects with my phone via BluTooth I think. I can't remember the brand name at the moment but generally speaking it gives the same readouts as the Creator 310+. And it is compact enough to be kept in the Creator 310+ case.
 
Just for info; the Creator series (certainly up the 410+) only go up to 'F' series BMWs. They are not compatible with the G series.
 
Thank you all :)

Do I understand correctly that this Creator is just a diagnostic scanner but everything else needs to go to mechanic, so no service functions?

ISTA also probably won't be as powerful for both E and G series, according to chatgpt. One (older) version though might be the sweet spot for my needs.
But there is that nightmare to install it....
 
Creator is a basic scanner. I think the 410 can do a bit more?
Its drawback is that you have to interrogate each module separately.
The Autophix 5900 can also do a full system scan and is the equivalent of the Creator.
The Autophix 7910 also does things like battery coding and putting the electric handbrake in the service position.
I like the fact that after a full scan it presents all the modules with issues at the top of the list, in red.
None of these do much actual coding though, just fault finding and resets.
 
I was recommended Launch, but this is some expensive stuff already.

And I hate monthly fees, I want to buy stuff and then own it without any further paying.
 
x-driver said:
I was recommended Launch, but this is some expensive stuff already.

And I hate monthly fees, I want to buy stuff and then own it without any further paying.
Click to expand...
It boils down to how often you would use it I suppose.
I use the 7910 as my daily checker as it is very good at finding the faults and displaying them in plain English.
For basic coding I have the Scanner 1.4 on an old W8 laptop.
For fancier coding like airbag modules, coding out seatbelt warnings, etc, I have the Eidebas suite on a W10 laptop (for some reason, (probably my ineptitude) I couldn't get the Scanner 1.4 to work on the same laptop). With INPA, WinKFP, Tool32, NCSExpert and NCSDummy, I am able to do most things.
The one thing I cannot do is delete Transport mode. I can reset it using Scanner 1.4, but not remove it completely.

@Street and @bigwinn keep telling me to get ISTA as well, but I haven't yet.
 
I have a Creator C310, but probably going to change it for an Autophix 7910. It is only a little bit more, but offers more functionality. As others said easier automated diagnostics, and some bidirectional stuff. Such as cycling the ABS/DSC pump if you want to do a full brake system flush.
 
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I'll need it quite rarely, but when I do, I need it to be useful. There is no really good mechanic around here and I can't always drive far away to scan or code the car.
 
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