ShopHDE has the VAG 305 OBD II Code Reader for $31 - $12 off with coupon code benmay125rg3 [Exp 6/2, 100 uses] = $19 with free shipping. Features DigitalDash 5 software, AT command set for wide compatibility, reads diagnostic trouble codes, and supports multiple protocols including CAN Bus. All orders ship free from U.S. warehouse.
Is this good for MBZ or BMW (model year 2000 and later) ? Any suggestion for a budget Code reader ? Bluetooth or wired unit like this ? Thank you in advance for you suggestion.
I think CAN is mazda, ford. Some readers have the adapter that fits and reads BMW and others. Otherwise O'reillys has the universal one. Costs me about 425$ deposit (refundable) where I live
I have a cheap one that I have used on my MBZ....just remember that it may be limited on the MBZ because they also use the 38-pin connector under the hood...you can also get a bluetooth code reader on ebay for not much more that might do a little more for you
You get what you pay for. This will save the time of pulling your battery cable to clear your fault, which does not fix anything. Most vehicles can display the fault code if you know how to trigger the system. Knowing the fault code does not tell you which part or parts are bad, it just gets you a general area of the system to start trouble shooting from. This does not test sensors for input or output values, and has no diagnostic ability other then giving you the trouble code. There is a reason that a shop has a $2,000 scanner and this is $20.
While it may not give all the info a $2000 scanner does, it will easily pay for itself several times over if you have the basic ability to take the code and check relevant subsystems.
Is this good for MBZ or BMW (model year 2000 and later) ? Any suggestion for a budget Code reader ? Bluetooth or wired unit like this ? Thank you in advance for you suggestion.
I think CAN is mazda, ford. Some readers have the adapter that fits and reads BMW and others. Otherwise O'reillys has the universal one. Costs me about 425$ deposit (refundable) where I live
I have a cheap one that I have used on my MBZ....just remember that it may be limited on the MBZ because they also use the 38-pin connector under the hood...you can also get a bluetooth code reader on ebay for not much more that might do a little more for you
Thank you all for sharing! All repped!
Thank you for those who did not contribute but vote thumb down here. That really show quality of some readers here...
You get what you pay for. This will save the time of pulling your battery cable to clear your fault, which does not fix anything. Most vehicles can display the fault code if you know how to trigger the system. Knowing the fault code does not tell you which part or parts are bad, it just gets you a general area of the system to start trouble shooting from. This does not test sensors for input or output values, and has no diagnostic ability other then giving you the trouble code. There is a reason that a shop has a $2,000 scanner and this is $20.
As for voting, I'll leave that to the experts.
While it may not give all the info a $2000 scanner does, it will easily pay for itself several times over if you have the basic ability to take the code and check relevant subsystems.