ICarsoft 980 - any good?

[Dee James]

I know nothing is going to be a substitute for STAR but i`ve always found it useful to be able to scan for faults myself before taking a car to the garage so with that in mind has anyone actually used/got the ICarsoft 980 and is it any good?

 

[grober]

Went to their website. Watched a fascinating video complete with pounding soundtrack on how to remove the unit from its box. Then graduated to the video on the C class which was 5 minutes of a guy going through the menus again and again and again and again etc etc . Any piccys of the unit actually doing anything connected to a car------ well no. Then I saw this [YOUTUBE]_nrXcVqo47E[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Dee James]

Went to their website. Watched a fascinating video complete with pounding soundtrack on how to remove the unit from its box. Then graduated to the video on the C class which was 5 minutes of a guy going through the menus again and again and again and again etc etc . Any piccys of the unit actually doing anything connected to a car------ well no. Then I saw this [YOUTUBE]_nrXcVqo47E[/YOUTUBE]

i had a look on the website and saw that video as well but i`m sure i read somewhere that the one on that guys video was a Chinese copy and have seen various posts saying the real ones are very good so i wondered if anyone here actually had one. I used the VAGCOM software on previous cars and found it extremely useful but seem to be struggling to find an equivalent for my Mercedes

 

[Ted]

I have one and I think it is a pretty good piece of kit.
Tests just about everything on my clk including things like window motor current, limit switches, lamps etc - even gives part numbers and software revisions of major modules.
Even gives generic obc engine codes.

One bug I have seen is that when testing some sensors it will give the correct reading and then a few seconds later give the full limit reading -eg temp 10 deg then temp 255 deg - as long as tou know this beforehand it is fine.
One thing to be aware of is that you need to be able to 'read' the figures and know what the correct values should be under normal conditions.

 

[Jeff666]

I have one and I think it is a pretty good piece of kit.
Tests just about everything on my clk including things like window motor current, limit switches, lamps etc - even gives part numbers and software revisions of major modules.
Even gives generic obc engine codes.

One bug I have seen is that when testing some sensors it will give the correct reading and then a few seconds later give the full limit reading -eg temp 10 deg then temp 255 deg - as long as tou know this beforehand it is fine.
One thing to be aware of is that you need to be able to 'read' the figures and know what the correct values should be under normal conditions.

Got one... seems to do what it says on the tin. I would say it's indicative rather than comprehensive, for the money... not bad.

 

[Dee James]

thanks for your speedy input gents, all i`m looking for is something to read fault codes and it`s hard to justify paying a specialist for a scan every time there's an issue on an older car so at less than £100 it seems like a worthwhile investment

 

[Ted]

That is why I got mine. There is also the hassle of dropping the car off and picking it up.
First time you use it you will probably have to clear a number of faults as these are logged and stored.

 

[grober]

Good to know that the genuine unit delivers. However I would sound a note of caution. There was a seed change in MERCEDES electronic systems around 2008???? and while several fault code reader units seem to work with 2007 and earlier systems, post 2008 seem to more problematic to achieve full functional access to all systems? I would love to be corrected on this but I would caution anyone with a recent model thinking this unit will work with their car?

 

[Dee James]

That is why I got mine. There is also the hassle of dropping the car off and picking it up. First time you use it you will probably have to clear a number of faults as these are logged and stored.

May I ask where you got yours Ted?

 

[Ted]

I used these guys. They weren't the cheapest but I was pretty confident it was the real deal. Shipping was also very fast.

http://www.ukpartsdirect.com/catalo...2&q=iCarsoft&***id=CPi0mtnn38ICFWSD2wodl44A2A

I think they also sell a little cheaper on ebay.

 

[Dee James]

I used these guys. They weren't the cheapest but I was pretty confident it was the real deal. Shipping was also very fast. http://www.ukpartsdirect.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?manufacturer=62&q=iCarsoft&***id=CPi0mtnn38ICFWSD2wodl44A2A I think they also sell a little cheaper on ebay.

Thanks for that, a bit of a minefield finding a proper one . . .

 

[Dee James]

Got one and for the benefit of anyone looking into doing the same obviously it's not a cheap replacement for STAR but if you want to read and clear codes well worth £90

 

[flowrider]

Wont a £10 OBDII dongle with Torque Pro work? Works for me on my ML.

 

[ChrisA]

ebay OBDII bluetooth reader paired with the Torque app costs less than £10 and reads, explains and erases codes, enables data logging and a host of many other decent applications

 

[Dee James]

Wont a £10 OBDII dongle with Torque Pro work? Works for me on my ML.

Probably but I do love a gadget and I plan on keeping the car for a while plus a few people recommended them as being Mercedes specific they will read more info than a generic reader - don't know if that's strictly true but so far it's done what I wanted it for and I've not really looked into all the features yet.

 

[Ted]

Much, much more than a dongle and an app.

 

[guydewdney]

Not on my 211 it doesnt.
For sale, hardly used bluetooth adaptor......

 

[Dee James]

Much, much more than a dongle and an app.

I'm just starting to get to grips with it Ted but I'm glad I got it - thanks again for your comments on this thread

 

[219]

I have the wi-fi ELM 327 and the iPhone app - fine for reading engine fault codes and clearing them , that's about it .

I'm sure the iCarsoft will be a good step up .

You pays your money .......

 

[computerman]

I tried my bluetooth adapter and Torque on my S55L... read a few things but not very descriptive.

Bought the iCarsoft here :

Mercedes Benz iCarsoft i980 Multi System Diagnostic Tool - SRS, ABS, Engine etc...

Works very well indeed, £90 inc VAT and delivery (they even take Paypal, and as I had some funds in my Paypal account at the time, it felt like it was free!!).

Reads everything as far as I can tell. seems to allow resets of everything too, very fine detail (tyre pressures, temperatures, etc) and very descriptive fault code explanations.

+1 for this unit!