OBD scanner

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Which one is a good OBD scanner? Any, and anyone that could be used with your smart phone?
 
Loads of posts on this here all the time. E.g:

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/5327182/1

Bluedriver is popular at $100 price point.
Otherwise the aforementioned Veepeak ELM327 based readers work well which is what I use (WiFi). Make sure it's compatible with iOS if that's your thing.

For anything more complex/expensive , you wouldn't be asking for advice here
grin.gif
 
I am assuming you are asking for OBD-II.
Depends on what smart phone you are going to use for the task?

IPhone IOS works with WiFi or Bluetooth 4.0 but NOT old Bluetooth.
Android can work with old bluetooth standard which is usually cheaper.

In Amazon, they usually state if it works with Android and BT or just Android or just IOS.

Most of them are ELM based.

So, just pay attention based on your need.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Gebo
I have been very pleased with the Bluedriver. Works with iPhone.


I'm not sure why so many people are a fan of Bluedriver. Doesn't actually work on Mercedes. May also not work on may other models, just haven't looked that far with it yet. Also Autel Diaglink is only $84 and really does all subsystems unlike Bluedriver which only does basic engine and emissions codes on certain cars. For that kind of performance, you mind as well stick with BAFX which is also pretty popular and much cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Autel-Diaglink-Systems-Diagnostic-Transmission/dp/B07GWSLPNY
 
I'm using the $20 Carista. The ELM327 dongle is available elsewhere but this has higher quality and is trusted for bidirectional use.

The included software is a trap, trying to get you to spend $10/month after a free trial. The trial lets you do stuff like turn off backup beepers, set different TPMS sensors, etc. But the dongle also works with Torque Pro. For the Prius, some hackers came up with a huge table of additional PIDs for Torque which is delightful.
 
Originally Posted by Wolf359
Originally Posted by Gebo
I have been very pleased with the Bluedriver. Works with iPhone.


I'm not sure why so many people are a fan of Bluedriver. Doesn't actually work on Mercedes. May also not work on may other models, just haven't looked that far with it yet. Also Autel Diaglink is only $84 and really does all subsystems unlike Bluedriver which only does basic engine and emissions codes on certain cars. For that kind of performance, you mind as well stick with BAFX which is also pretty popular and much cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Autel-Diaglink-Systems-Diagnostic-Transmission/dp/B07GWSLPNY


What do you mean doesn't work on MB? It does, also go on their website and check I can GUARANTEE that it works. What have you got against it?
 
Originally Posted by Pelican
Originally Posted by Wolf359
Originally Posted by Gebo
I have been very pleased with the Bluedriver. Works with iPhone.


I'm not sure why so many people are a fan of Bluedriver. Doesn't actually work on Mercedes. May also not work on may other models, just haven't looked that far with it yet. Also Autel Diaglink is only $84 and really does all subsystems unlike Bluedriver which only does basic engine and emissions codes on certain cars. For that kind of performance, you mind as well stick with BAFX which is also pretty popular and much cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Autel-Diaglink-Systems-Diagnostic-Transmission/dp/B07GWSLPNY


What do you mean doesn't work on MB? It does, also go on their website and check I can GUARANTEE that it works. What have you got against it?



Scotty Kilmer recommends it so it's got to be good
 
Originally Posted by Pelican
Originally Posted by Wolf359
Originally Posted by Gebo
I have been very pleased with the Bluedriver. Works with iPhone.


I'm not sure why so many people are a fan of Bluedriver. Doesn't actually work on Mercedes. May also not work on may other models, just haven't looked that far with it yet. Also Autel Diaglink is only $84 and really does all subsystems unlike Bluedriver which only does basic engine and emissions codes on certain cars. For that kind of performance, you mind as well stick with BAFX which is also pretty popular and much cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/Autel-Diaglink-Systems-Diagnostic-Transmission/dp/B07GWSLPNY


What do you mean doesn't work on MB? It does, also go on their website and check I can GUARANTEE that it works. What have you got against it?


Read it carefully. It doesn't cover MB specific subsystems like keyless go, transmission, SRS, ABS, etc. There's like 20+ MB specific subsystems it doesn't do. It just does engine and emissions codes which all basic OBDII readers will do like the $23 BAFX one.
 
Ok, to get more specific. I have a iPhone. Be nice to have something more than a basic scanner, but don't want spend a lot of money. I also wouldn't mind the bluetooth setup, because it look like I could use Dr. Prius for my RAV4 Hybrid. They didn't mention the RAV4 but it probably would work.
 
Originally Posted by NH73
Ok, to get more specific. I have a iPhone. Be nice to have something more than a basic scanner, but don't want spend a lot of money. I also wouldn't mind the bluetooth setup, because it look like I could use Dr. Prius for my RAV4 Hybrid. They didn't mention the RAV4 but it probably would work.


The basic scanner for an iPhone would be wifi, bluetooth doesn't work. It's $27, consider the extra $4 over the $23 bluetooth one an iPhone tax. Otherwise if you want a scanner that does all the subsystems of the car, get the Autel I mentioned earlier, cheaper than the blue driver mentioned earlier.

https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Reader-Diagnostics-Devices/dp/B078K54MT5
 
Originally Posted by Wolf359
Originally Posted by NH73
Ok, to get more specific. I have a iPhone. Be nice to have something more than a basic scanner, but don't want spend a lot of money. I also wouldn't mind the bluetooth setup, because it look like I could use Dr. Prius for my RAV4 Hybrid. They didn't mention the RAV4 but it probably would work.


The basic scanner for an iPhone would be wifi, bluetooth doesn't work. It's $27, consider the extra $4 over the $23 bluetooth one an iPhone tax. Otherwise if you want a scanner that does all the subsystems of the car, get the Autel I mentioned earlier, cheaper than the blue driver mentioned earlier.

https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Reader-Diagnostics-Devices/dp/B078K54MT5

Then why are these bluetooth 4.0 ones are out there made for the iPhones.
 
Originally Posted by NH73
Originally Posted by Wolf359
Originally Posted by NH73
Ok, to get more specific. I have a iPhone. Be nice to have something more than a basic scanner, but don't want spend a lot of money. I also wouldn't mind the bluetooth setup, because it look like I could use Dr. Prius for my RAV4 Hybrid. They didn't mention the RAV4 but it probably would work.


The basic scanner for an iPhone would be wifi, bluetooth doesn't work. It's $27, consider the extra $4 over the $23 bluetooth one an iPhone tax. Otherwise if you want a scanner that does all the subsystems of the car, get the Autel I mentioned earlier, cheaper than the blue driver mentioned earlier.

https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Reader-Diagnostics-Devices/dp/B078K54MT5

Then why are these bluetooth 4.0 ones are out there made for the iPhones.


The BAFX bluetooth one doesn't work with an iPhone. They're just popular because they have over 14000+ reviews and it works. Some cheaper models might be hit or miss.
 
Originally Posted by Wolf359
Originally Posted by NH73
Ok, to get more specific. I have a iPhone. Be nice to have something more than a basic scanner, but don't want spend a lot of money. I also wouldn't mind the bluetooth setup, because it look like I could use Dr. Prius for my RAV4 Hybrid. They didn't mention the RAV4 but it probably would work.


The basic scanner for an iPhone would be wifi, bluetooth doesn't work. It's $27, consider the extra $4 over the $23 bluetooth one an iPhone tax. Otherwise if you want a scanner that does all the subsystems of the car, get the Autel I mentioned earlier, cheaper than the blue driver mentioned earlier.

https://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Reader-Diagnostics-Devices/dp/B078K54MT5


The Autel AP200 is Bluetooth and works great on my iPhone 11. Was $50 at Walmart and includes 1 free vehicle's full functions but also functions as a generic OBD II reader.
 
For iOS you need Bluetooth LE which was available starting in 4.0. You can make a Bluetooth 4.0 or later device and not include LE since it's optional. So you have to check the specs.
 
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