Acutel Maxiscan MS509

[sinewave]

Anyone got one of these for use on their Benz?

They seem to be around £68 in the UK but this US link has them at £39.62 with free shipping!

Not having bought from the good ole USA I'm wondering if there would be any import tax to pay which would wipe out this 'apparent' saving?

Autel MaxiScan MS509 OBD2 II EOBD Car Diagnostic Code Reader Live Data - Tmart.com

Cheers in advance!

 

[BTB 500]

Yes - you are likely to get hit for import duty, VAT, and a 'handling fee' (for collecting this money and passing it on to customs & revenue).

 

[GRAV888]

Yes - you are likely to get hit for import duty, VAT, and a 'handling fee' (for collecting this money and passing it on to customs & revenue).

Is this also true if it was sent as a 'sample'?

 

[BTB 500]

I don't know, obviously any documentation (invoice, receipt, etc.) would have to be sent separately though.

 

[Igurisu]

Even if sent as a sample or gift it can be liable for import duty. Its all a bit random really, depends if customs stop the parcel as one of their random checks.

I've bought quite a bit from the states in the past, sometimes got away with it, sometimes its been stopped and checked. If it does get stopped then it can be quite expensive. Not only do you have to pay import duty but you also have to pay the transport cost from customs to your home. Last time I had a parcel stopped I had to pay close on £15 for a $30 item.

 

[BTB 500]

I've only bought a few things from the US but have always been caught for duty/VAT/etc.

On the other hand I regularly got things from Japan & Hong Kong and never once had to pay anything on those!

 

[GRAV888]

When I had the 1968 Porsche 911, I bought some rear lights from the USA. They sent 1 as a gift and the other as a sample. (sent on 2 different days). I never got hit on either of them.

 

[markjay]

I have the Autel Maxidiag which is more expensive (around £150) than the Maxiscan, but it does do MB-specific system above the standard ODBII diagnostics.

This includes scanning and resetting error codes for SRS (airbags), ESP/ABS, and TCU (Automatic transmission).

Only downside is that the MB-specific diagnostic only covers models up to MY 2006, for example it covers W203 but not W204. And while they say you can update the software from the Internet, and provide a USB cable etc, it is purely academic because to date no software update has ever been released for this unit... which is stuck in time back at 2006.

HTH.

 

[sinewave]

I have the Autel Maxidiag which is more expensive (around £150) than the Maxiscan, but it does do MB-specific system above the standard ODBII diagnostics.

This includes scanning and resetting error codes for SRS (airbags), ESP/ABS, and TCU (Automatic transmission).

Only downside is that the MB-specific diagnostic only covers models up to MY 2006, for example it covers W203 but not W204. And while they say you can update the software from the Internet, and provide a USB cable etc, it is purely academic because to date no software update has ever been released for this unit... which is stuck in time back at 2006.

HTH.

So is there a better alternative at around that price point that does MB specific codes after 2006 which would be better for W211 vehicles?

 

[markjay]

So is there a better alternative at around that price point that does MB specific codes after 2006 which would be better for W211 vehicles?

If there is, I couldn't find it... the Autel Maxidiag was one of the few low-cost unit where the info specifically mentioned manufacturer-specific diagnostic for the autobox, SRS, and ABS. See:

Autel

The info seem to suggest that is covers up to 2008, but W204 was introduced in 2007 and it is not covered, only the W203 is.

What MY is your W211?

 

[sinewave]

Tiz of 2007 vintage!

 

[joecud]

Tiz of 2007 vintage!

i have the autel 509 which i bought in error as it does not work on my 2001 s329 deisel anyone know what code reader will work for this vehicle

 

[ExSAABpilot]

Guy's be careful as "The Royal Mail" or what ever they are calling themselves now, has changed its policy on charges it will now hit you with. A £8 min "handling charge on any item over approx £15 VAT charging point, so as its now a revenue stream for them (so the day's of letting things thro (blind eye) if they were under the customs charge (bout £75) are well and truely gone.
I know i had a supplier give me a $1 refund for combined shipping of two items from US via HK. I got stung as the combined on these items were just a few $'s over the limit (exchange rate variable, charged on the day) as well. a very expensive $ that was.
Plus any return/warantee costs make me think twice now.

 

[ExSAABpilot]

amazon has these at
£60.00 + £4.48UK delivery
New

• 
• Seller Rating:
  
  100% positive over the past 12 months. (6 total ratings)
• In stock. Dispatched from United Kingdom.
  Domestic delivery rates and return policy.
• These are brand new from the Autel UK and carry a Genuine GB serial number and have support offered on all devices.
  

seems like a fair deal Now will this work on my w203 and later models (when i upgrade)
Can it do can bus monitoing/testing ? As the elm clone unit i got of flebay doesnt work very well and no s/w support.