Fault code reader recommendations?

[clk208]

Anyone care to recommend a cheap and effective iphone/laptop based fault code reader that would work well with a late 2007 MB?

Won't be using it for any DIY work at this stage (car is under warranty still) and appreciate without in depth knowledge some fault codes may be misleading/useless but after seeing my fuel consumption improve after a duff oxygen sensor was replaced (I had no idea it was faulty, no real sypmtoms) I would like to be able to check periodically to see if any errors are being logged.

Also interested in any cool features these units have such as interesting live data feeds etc.

 

[Alban]

what price you can accept?? if you need a cheap, I think the ELM327 Bluetooth Version scan tool can work on your car.

 

[Diesel Benz]

i think you can search the chinasinoy .there are a lot of tools in the web and i buy some to repair cars by myself.

I'd be careful with that shop (actually I would not even consider that shop). If you read other forums that work on diagnosis hardware, chinasinoy, also called ecutools and has some other names, is one of the shops with the most negative feedback.

A few members report success, at least just after their purchase but there are too many who have lost their money (did not raise a dispute in time).

Digital Kaos

Decide on the basis of all available info, not only this message or the one before.

 

[mersum1es]

Chinese clone star diagnostic. A bit risky business (reliability of the sellers, star packages are varying much), but you'll get 'best' available tool if not talked about original ones. Star is not best if fast live events (like during the start) need to be measured or logged, but plenty of online data available and with developer version some of the car systems can be modified. And need to be sure that newest MB models are supported. Price range is 250-700$ without the laptop. Nowadays clones are not fixed with IMB T30 any more, for example DELL laptops are working well too.

I just wrote some experiences to the other forum:
Cheap Star diagnostic - any good? - Mercedes-Benz Owners' Forums

 

[Diesel Benz]

Chinese clone star diagnostic. A bit risky business (reliability of the sellers, star packages are varying much), but you'll get 'best' available tool if not talked about original ones. Star is not best if fast live events (like during the start) need to be measured or logged, but plenty of online data available and with developer version some of the car systems can be modified. And need to be sure that newest MB models are supported. Price range is 250-700$ without the laptop. Nowadays clones are not fixed with IMB T30 any more, for example DELL laptops are working well too.

I just wrote some experiences to the other forum:
Cheap Star diagnostic - any good? - Mercedes-Benz Owners' Forums

I would second the proposal to consider a star clone. Instead of a cheap tool at $300 range, I would recommend a "genuine clone" that costs only marginally more. With a cheap Dell D630 laptop the budget would still be feasible for most DIY enthusiasts.

I'm not registered to this other forum but I would like to add that Television is wrong about the voltage regulator issue. As mentioned above, many cheap tools really have incorrect components. Also the link at the other forum to a tool that "fits for all computers" is something one should avoid. A native Windows XP installation is much more stable and in practice works much faster.

If the budget feels reasonable, find someone who has already purchased the tool and can recommend a reliable shop.