One of the expenses if you buy the lower priced Autel scanner is the cost of the updates which I heard are very pricey. Might be best before buying any one of these scanners is to determine if you are willing to pay for the updates otherwise thanks for the presentation, nice to see them all lined up side by side .
I just got my new think car pro it will not work on any GM and the tech support sucks. Thinkcar called me back today 12/12/2022 and fixed my problem with the THINKPROS SCAN TOOL. Thank you Thinktool.
Between 30 and 400 you can get the autel ap200 series for around 100 dollar. It's a dongle for phone or tablet. Full diagnostics capacity on one make for free for a lifetime. Every other model 1 year subscription for about 30 dollar. Also includes generic data ofcourse. Perfect for working on your own car.
For the DIY that works occasionally on cars the AUTEL 808 TS is the go to tool for me. Ivan and I have talked about scan tools. It covers most of my needs. My next big purchase is going to be a Pico automotive scope my snap on scope is good but want the functions of a Pico. Hey Santa hint hint on Christmas gift if you are listening. LOL
Also have the Phoenix Lite 2. Great tool and yes, it has topology. Registered the tool with Autoauth ($50 a year for access for up to 5 tools) and used it on a 2020 Ram a couple of days ago. I saw it for less than $700 on Amazon black Friday. Maybe still on sale for cyber monday?
The age old question...what scanner do I buy? Great information Ivan. As a DIY guy I do love my Autel 808 and 906. Oh yes, and have a Great Thanksgiving!
My $30 scan tool is compatible to my level of competence, mainly use it to clear the odd code and for very basic troubleshooting. Thankfully Ivan lives in the next county from me 😂.
I just ordered a Launch CRP919E for $333. A full system scanner with a lot of features for the price, including 2-year free updates and ECU coding. 7" display, Android 10, battery and big memory too.
I travel the country usually every other year in my camper van. I was carrying a multimeter and hand held scanner. I wasn't impressed with either though. After research i found the AUTEL Autolink AL 359 which does what the previous two do and more for ~$100.00
ThinkDiag2 will only chart one data pid at a time. It will display all data pids in numeric form simultaneously, but will only chart 1 at a time. It is handy for portability and price. Awesome at the $113 price currently. Quick, Ivan, put them in your store. You'll sell 100,000 of them. I just went outside to test mine on 3 different brands to see if it was limited to 2, and it went online with Mini, Ford, and GMC. Bi-Directional, and TPMS by lowering air pressure (or buy a $150 handheld device to excite the tire sensor). It even says it will do programming, but I haven't had a need for that.
I just ordered the Launch 919E,have it sunday,I got the Launch 123E but gonna send it back,the 919E is bi-directional & looks the best for the money,amazon had a flash sale for $375
Ivan, I have the TopDon Phoenix Lite 2 and it has Topology for Scan as well as Auto Scan. I don't get why you said it doesn't. I got mine off eBay for $630. I just checked and they are still available in the mid $600 range.
I got the Xtool D8 several months ago for $700, and it has been a pretty incredible little tool. It seems to just be a copy of Autel's layout and software. I should have waited for black Friday though. lol.. It has 3 years free update; It doesn't have the topology map, but it's really good with keys; and they have been super good at fixing bugs within a week or so of them being reported (which I've done myself and seen across at least 3 other videos on different channels now; their customer service has been pretty impressive as far as I can tell).
for just $200 you can get the xtool a30m dongle,its basically the xtool a7 but cuts cost by you supplying the tablet to run it.this also means if you have a fast tablet your xtool will be fast, imo best bang for the buck.
@@pigeonsil240sx I agree-- but It does have a lot less of the extra options. (although it does do a hell of a lot for what it is). I watched a bunch of videos on it before I got this one. Plus the A30M is bluetooth only- which makes it a little slower still; I wanted the direct wire plug. I'm super happy with the D8. I've already made several sets of keys for a few of our cars; and the dealer said it would cost like $500 per key to make them -- so It has already paid for itself several times over; and I've used it to repair about 5 other cars already too. ' I let my buddy borrow it for his truck, and he gave me $20 when he gave it back, just because it worked so well for him and helped him out too. You can't go wrong with any scantool really. It pays itself off so fast, even if you're just working on your own stuff. Cheers.
The 808 line of Autels are nice. I have a MK808BT which appears to be similar to the 808TS and 808S just with Bluetooth and without TPMS capabilities (none of our cars have TPMS).
Thanks Ivan, based on your recommendation purchased the MX808BT, under $500 this summer. Love the tool for a DIY'r , the only thing missing is the graphing function doesn't compare to your Thinktool or higher end tools with more than 2 UNIQUE graphs on one page. Also, to upgrade the software is very cheap compared to other tools. Bi-directional can't beat it for the price.
Great video IVan, quick chime in the max is a 13.3" scan tool with HD capabilities and cloud programming with usa support. $3700 black friday. the direct competitor to the pad 5 is the topdon elite they sell. all cloud programming on all launch, thinkcar & topdon is usa and spain blocked without VPN. If any of your viewers want a Thinkcar thats USA supported i sell them let me know.
I don't think it has any bi-directional controls though. The xtool A30M is under $200 and is also bluetooth to your phone.. and it actually has most of the bi-directional controls somehow; (it is a bit slow though, when scanning).
@@MacAutoDiag The thinkdiag2 also has bi-directional controls I believe-- for barely $100.. It's hard to buy the blue drive for the same price if all it does is basically read codes.
@@calholli what part of generic obd2 are you not understanding here...I don't give a damn about bidirectionals that's not what I'm talking about. This is the 500th time I've said generic OBD2. I use blue driver and my $1,500 launch scan tool. I'm talking about generic OBD2
Aw man, I just got a Thinkcar Thinktool Mini ($400)1-2 weeks ago to keep my 96 Blazer and ex`s 2013 Equinox running good and hopefully avoid the parts cannon.
Now you see why auto diagnostics and repairs cost what they do, the shops have so many many expensive tools needed to do their job. They are also entitled to make a profit. For the diy’er it’s costly but for someone who frequently uses it, it’s well worth the expense.
Ivan take a look at the reviews of the Phoenix Lite. Javian Gordon in the amazon first page of reviews has a video he made showing the latest November update adds topology to its functionality. I was tempted to go with your Thinktool pro S but many of the reviewers say TopDon is very responsive to peoples questions. Thanks for the recommendations.
i also like the thinktool PROS. bought it a month or so when you mentioned the sale. Just need my truck to break so I can test it out! but lately people only want my winter tire install services...
I haven't had it for but a few days, but I have really liked the thinkdiag 2 from thinktool/think car. It is about $180 and has bi directional, and many service resets.. so far I'm liking it. They are finally starting to fill that void from $100-$500 with some decent tools lately
I also own the Think Diag 2. What an excellent tool for the price. 2 years of updates and then $100 a yr for all makes is pretty incredible. I have yet to test FCA or SGW on it but for anything from 2004-2017 it has worked extremely well. Only issue I have had so far was a FORD F-250 gas 6.2 v8. It would not communicate. Not sure if it was my fault or not. I simply connected my Launch X431 and it communicated no issue. That Think Diag 2 is hard to beat.
yes we have all seen you use the thinktool pro, but have you used any of the others more expensive brands,?? If so, how did you like them versus the thinktool pro??? thank you Ivan... what about the cheaper units??? would you ever use them for anything?????
Ivan both the Launch and Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 charge circa $400/year update after the free update period? Is that about the same for the Thinktool ProS? thanks.
The Launch may be a great tool but I would have to do a lot of research before buying it because my old boss bought a Launch (431?) and it was a POS in my opinion.
For GM owners, another channel suggested the "2022 Elite LAUNCH X431 GM Full System Bi-Directional Scan Tool" for $179 (not on sale). If you're a DIY with only GM in the garage, it seems like a heck of deal. As much as I lust after your workhorse Thinktool, as a DIY without a real garage, I have a hard time justifying the price.
This might seem like a dumb question to you guys that do this stuff all the time. Can any or all of these tools reprogram my speedometer larger than factory tire sizes? I have been looking at a tool for a several hundred dollars and all it does is calibrate the speedo. I did a little research and found that the Autel will only let you program factory tire sizes. Do any of these allow me to calibrate the speedo for 35" tires on my Jeep?
Hi Ivan question please please answer in details . When the update is finish after 2 years can I use the scanner as general or what will happen for some one who is the first time buyer . Thanks a Million
Ivan I have the Pad V and this thing is a beast! I also have the Thinktool and the software is the same except for the abiility to do some features. Both are powerful scanners!
My older x431 has been decent performer, does have it's limitations/quirks. But biggest pet-peeve is not enough onboard storage for at least all the major makes. BMW alone is < 600MB. And tool may come w/ 2 yr update, but every additional year is essentially the original tool $. They all hide that fact, but the renewals should be a significant factor in your buying choice.
I have the launch X431v It's an excellent scanner for the price I bought. Just like any other scanner. It has its limits. You mentioned Immobilizer. I was working on my family ford exploder. I went to recode the keys. Launch said to buy the add on tool. 😠 I went online and purchased the program Forscan for 35.00 for 1 year license and as many vehicles I can do the keys for Ford's. I recoded my daughter extra keys for her Taurus. I am heading home to get the EXPLODER keys recoded and ECM reset. I do like my Launch very much.
Great stuff Ivan. Thanks. I personally have the Launch X431 Pad II, ThinkTool ProS and a Snap-On Triton D10. The Launch and the ThinkTool seem to share the same base software. Which is nice. The Launch is essentially an Android tough tablet and can be used as one too. So, you can have your scanner and access to alldata and/or Mitchell-1 on the same device. But I'm really liking the canbus topology that the ThinkTool has though. It's a really great feature to have sometimes.
On your go-to, the launch, you are able to have graphs in a tiled layout. I have an Autel and as you know it's not possible to display it that way. Does the topdon have that capability? I really like that feature on the launch. Thanks!
Which of those scan tool can be used on kawasaki bikes and communicate with the ABS? And can any of them tell you if the ECU has been tuned? Before someone say "just get an ABS enabled scanner", it is a bike, not a car. It use two 'non-standard' connectors. One is for the ECU, one is for the ABS. The ABS don't talk canbus.
Yeah, that's the only phone based tool under $200 that actually has bi-directional controls (at least that I've seen). It's a bit slow when scanning, but it's pretty crazy what it can do if you have the patience... I wanted to be able to make keys though, so I got the D8- and I'm really happy with it so far, after using it on about 7 different cars.
I know the little $180 Xtool A30M dongle is used with your phone, and still has bi-directional controls. It's insanely functional for being phone based, but it's pretty slow; being blue-tooth.
hi Ivan, thanks for such an informative video... as I am planning to buy Thinktool Pros, but some one has told me Pors+ is better than the Pros but there is a big difference in price, I need to know what the worthy difference between both (pros & pros+)
Happy Thanks giving day! Thinktool pro on amazon are $725, it's with 8inch screen, without topology feature, but the PROS $1100 one with 10inch screen and with topology feature, if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact with us.
Software renewal cost may be a factor to be considered. Last I saw, the Launch X431 Pro3S+ “mall” said a standard software configuration renewal is $438.70 for 12 months, $701.92 for 24 months, and $1039.71 for 36 months. I doubt I’ll renew when my 2 year free update is up so we’ll see if it becomes a brick when it expires near the end of May 2023. At some point the tablet wanted to save memory or something and wanted to do something with things I haven’t been using, maybe like putting ‘em to sleep but I don’t think I agreed. (mine has 64 GB memory, 33% used) Many of the software updates are for vehicles that I’ll never see in the U.S. so I didn’t bother installing 75 of them. The story behind my Launch X431 Pro3S+ is incredible because back in 2021, while perusing Amazon for something better than the BlueDriver, I saw the Launch X431 Pro3 S+ priced at only $60 (+ tax) so I jumped on it immediately since the list price was $1190.00 I thought for sure the order would be cancelled but the seller, Kingbolen, actually let the sale proceed. (I see Kingbolen has posted some helpful responses in this thread) Anyway, back when I bought the scanner, the seller emailed a couple times and said an operation error caused a $50,000 loss because all 50 units sold at that low $60 price and asked for another $500 saying the boss agreed to a 50% discount. Their loss dampened my glee about my bargain purchase but expendable cash just wasn’t possible. The Launch X431 Pro3S+ has a kickstand (which I use to hook the steering wheel) and it says V2.0 on the back but eventually the software updated to V7. (Lenovo TAB M10 FHD Rel.) The splash screen opens with powered by android and the desktop has Google, camera, files, settings, Chrome, and Play Store. I don’t recall how long it took to charge but it sure seemed like a long time and I couldn’t use it while it was charging. My unit used 43% of battery life for 1 hr 27 min of screen usage. Quite a few service functions on the scan tool will often say “car model not supported,” such as “compare sample’ so just because it’s listed doesn’t mean it’ll perform. Plus many functions are repeated in different areas of the tree. Somewhat related, I found the Xhorse VVDI mini programmer required their special chipped key so I returned it because I thought it was shady not to mention that upfront. Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
As a Pro working on domestic and Asian vehicles, which tool would you buy to cover diagnostics and services (including programming) I currently use a 2016 Maxisys 908 (overdue to upgrade) and a MDI 2 for GM programming. I have a 4ch Pico scope. Budget 3K (may consider 5K if performance is justified). Greatly appreciate any/all input. Thank You.
I bought the Thinktool ProS on your last sale. Liking it so far, but coming from my Autel, there's a bit of a learning curve! (Truth be told, I'm still not fully familiar with this tool, but I bet I'm only scratching the surface!)
I cannot believe how obtainable much how much they have come down in price I have a snap on bought it a long time ago and I remember these tools used to be a whole lot more money I guess competition does make it for competitive pricing love the video thanks for the information have a Happy Thanksgiving
The think diag2 is a super powerful tool for only a bit over $100 love my thinktool pros but recommend the thinkdiag2 as well for those looking for something cheaper
I also have a thinktool pros, a thinkdiag and a thinkdiag 2 I keep in my car and truck and think that Ivan would definitely recommend them in the $90-120 range for glovebox diag tools with full bidirectional support for road side testing. Full health reports, bidirectional device activation, calibrations/adaptations, 2 years of updates and the thinkdiag 2 supports CAN FD on newer vehicles.
Decisions, decisions... a new scanner, or an Audio Precision audio analyzer off eBay. Should i be fiscally responsible and buy the tool with quickest ROI? Which one is most fun? Perhaps I might consult the Magic 8 Ball, or flip a coin (best of 7 flips). Rock-paper-scissors? More DECISIONS!
Got hooked on your super diagnostic skills today. Love watching Thanks
Ivan, I just bought the Thinktool mini Bluetooth this week on Amazon for 397.00, works great and has helped me with two stubborn diags!
Thanks Ivan literally spent this morning looking at these and was confused as hell. This Has made things a bit clearer.
One of the expenses if you buy the lower priced Autel scanner is the cost of the updates which I heard are very pricey. Might be best before buying any one of these scanners is to determine if you are willing to pay for the updates otherwise thanks for the presentation, nice to see them all lined up side by side .
Bought the ThinkTool ProS on your store today. Thanks for letting us know about the Sale and better yet; how to use it!
$400 for an Autel, that's nuts. I remember back when you were using one with great results. Thanks Ivan!
I just got my new think car pro it will not work on any GM and the tech support sucks. Thinkcar called me back today 12/12/2022 and fixed my problem with the THINKPROS SCAN TOOL. Thank you Thinktool.
Between 30 and 400 you can get the autel ap200 series for around 100 dollar. It's a dongle for phone or tablet. Full diagnostics capacity on one make for free for a lifetime. Every other model 1 year subscription for about 30 dollar. Also includes generic data ofcourse. Perfect for working on your own car.
Better xtool a30d 75-99 bucks , bidirect and 100 makes model free for life. Inside capability is same as 500 bucks scantools.
Thanks for the recommendations Ivan. Will come in handy.
I have been using Torque for several years now. Great for basic troubleshooting.
For the DIY that works occasionally on cars the AUTEL 808 TS is the go to tool for me. Ivan and I have talked about scan tools. It covers most of my needs. My next big purchase is going to be a Pico automotive scope my snap on scope is good but want the functions of a Pico. Hey Santa hint hint on Christmas gift if you are listening. LOL
this guy is amazing with his talent
I know you are thinktool admirer I have just purchased the Thinkpad 10 ,the tool is supposed to support lllmodules ie boroscope Tpms
I own the phoenix lite 2 and it does have topology. It’s a extremely capable tool and for $800!
Also have the Phoenix Lite 2. Great tool and yes, it has topology. Registered the tool with Autoauth ($50 a year for access for up to 5 tools) and used it on a 2020 Ram a couple of days ago. I saw it for less than $700 on Amazon black Friday. Maybe still on sale for cyber monday?
Thanks so much for your time and input !! Happy holidays.
The age old question...what scanner do I buy? Great information Ivan. As a DIY guy I do love my Autel 808 and 906. Oh yes, and have a Great Thanksgiving!
Wow.....I had no idea you received so many nice units to try out! Nice collection.
My $30 scan tool is compatible to my level of competence, mainly use it to clear the odd code and for very basic troubleshooting. Thankfully Ivan lives in the next county from me 😂.
cheetah :D
I have the autel ms906bt. Awesome. I just bought the autel im508 for my key programming needs. Autel support is great and I’m gonna stick with them.
I just ordered a Launch CRP919E for $333. A full system scanner with a lot of features for the price, including 2-year free updates and ECU coding. 7" display, Android 10, battery and big memory too.
I currently have the autel MP808, it's a fantastic scan tool, but the newer ones with the topology are really nice. Tempting as I have Amazon prime. 😳
I travel the country usually every other year in my camper van. I was carrying a multimeter and hand held scanner. I wasn't impressed with either though.
After research i found the AUTEL Autolink AL 359 which does what the previous two do and more for ~$100.00
ThinkDiag2 will only chart one data pid at a time. It will display all data pids in numeric form simultaneously, but will only chart 1 at a time. It is handy for portability and price. Awesome at the $113 price currently.
Quick, Ivan, put them in your store. You'll sell 100,000 of them.
I just went outside to test mine on 3 different brands to see if it was limited to 2, and it went online with Mini, Ford, and GMC. Bi-Directional, and TPMS by lowering air pressure (or buy a $150 handheld device to excite the tire sensor).
It even says it will do programming, but I haven't had a need for that.
I just ordered the Launch 919E,have it sunday,I got the Launch 123E but gonna send it back,the 919E is bi-directional & looks the best for the money,amazon had a flash sale for $375
With all the launch products, do they keep working after the prescription runs out
They’re known for locking you out
i bought a innova 5610 its very nice not to bad mouth his choices
Thanks for putting this together for us Ivan, highly appreciated. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family my friend.
Maybe you don't know, the ThinkTool Pro S has a Web browser,, Just go under "Repair Info"..
Ivan, I have the TopDon Phoenix Lite 2 and it has Topology for Scan as well as Auto Scan. I don't get why you said it doesn't. I got mine off eBay for $630. I just checked and they are still available in the mid $600 range.
I got the Xtool D8 several months ago for $700, and it has been a pretty incredible little tool. It seems to just be a copy of Autel's layout and software. I should have waited for black Friday though. lol.. It has 3 years free update; It doesn't have the topology map, but it's really good with keys; and they have been super good at fixing bugs within a week or so of them being reported (which I've done myself and seen across at least 3 other videos on different channels now; their customer service has been pretty impressive as far as I can tell).
for just $200 you can get the xtool a30m dongle,its basically the xtool a7 but cuts cost by you supplying the tablet to run it.this also means if you have a fast tablet your xtool will be fast, imo best bang for the buck.
@@pigeonsil240sx I agree-- but It does have a lot less of the extra options. (although it does do a hell of a lot for what it is). I watched a bunch of videos on it before I got this one. Plus the A30M is bluetooth only- which makes it a little slower still; I wanted the direct wire plug.
I'm super happy with the D8. I've already made several sets of keys for a few of our cars; and the dealer said it would cost like $500 per key to make them -- so It has already paid for itself several times over; and I've used it to repair about 5 other cars already too. '
I let my buddy borrow it for his truck, and he gave me $20 when he gave it back, just because it worked so well for him and helped him out too. You can't go wrong with any scantool really. It pays itself off so fast, even if you're just working on your own stuff. Cheers.
Thanks for the information on each scanner Ivan, I think I'm going to purchase the Autel Maxi 🙂👍🏾
The 808 line of Autels are nice. I have a MK808BT which appears to be similar to the 808TS and 808S just with Bluetooth and without TPMS capabilities (none of our cars have TPMS).
I picked up the Xtool D7 for $328 on Black Friday. I’m very happy with it.
Thanks Ivan, based on your recommendation purchased the MX808BT, under $500 this summer. Love the tool for a DIY'r , the only thing missing is the graphing function doesn't compare to your Thinktool or higher end tools with more than 2 UNIQUE graphs on one page. Also, to upgrade the software is very cheap compared to other tools. Bi-directional can't beat it for the price.
I got problem to find missfire info on almost all European petrol cars....Its just not there...
I got Autel Maxidas 808Bt kit
I have the Launch X431, I love it
Great video IVan, quick chime in the max is a 13.3" scan tool with HD capabilities and cloud programming with usa support. $3700 black friday. the direct competitor to the pad 5 is the topdon elite they sell. all cloud programming on all launch, thinkcar & topdon is usa and spain blocked without VPN. If any of your viewers want a Thinkcar thats USA supported i sell them let me know.
If you're looking for a good Bluetooth generic OBD2 tool I recommend the blue driver. It's fantastic
I don't think it has any bi-directional controls though. The xtool A30M is under $200 and is also bluetooth to your phone.. and it actually has most of the bi-directional controls somehow; (it is a bit slow though, when scanning).
@@calholli keyword here being "generic" obd2 meaning no bidirectional controls
@@MacAutoDiag The thinkdiag2 also has bi-directional controls I believe-- for barely $100.. It's hard to buy the blue drive for the same price if all it does is basically read codes.
@@calholli what part of generic obd2 are you not understanding here...I don't give a damn about bidirectionals that's not what I'm talking about. This is the 500th time I've said generic OBD2. I use blue driver and my $1,500 launch scan tool. I'm talking about generic OBD2
@@MacAutoDiag You wasted your money. cheers
Aw man, I just got a Thinkcar Thinktool Mini ($400)1-2 weeks ago to keep my 96 Blazer and ex`s 2013 Equinox running good and hopefully avoid the parts cannon.
Now you see why auto diagnostics and repairs cost what they do, the shops have so many many expensive tools needed to do their job. They are also entitled to make a profit. For the diy’er it’s costly but for someone who frequently uses it, it’s well worth the expense.
Ivan take a look at the reviews of the Phoenix Lite. Javian Gordon in the amazon first page of reviews has a video he made showing the latest November update adds topology to its functionality. I was tempted to go with your Thinktool pro S but many of the reviewers say TopDon is very responsive to peoples questions. Thanks for the recommendations.
thanks for what you show us
Happy Thanksgiving, Ivan!
i also like the thinktool PROS. bought it a month or so when you mentioned the sale. Just need my truck to break so I can test it out! but lately people only want my winter tire install services...
What are the subscription/update prices like for the thinktool?
Happy Thanks giving day! The subscription price is 399USD per year after two years free update
Awesome how do you like the topdon and have you tried any of the fox well scanners they seem pretty capable also happy Thanksgiving
I haven't had it for but a few days, but I have really liked the thinkdiag 2 from thinktool/think car.
It is about $180 and has bi directional, and many service resets.. so far I'm liking it.
They are finally starting to fill that void from $100-$500 with some decent tools lately
I also own the Think Diag 2. What an excellent tool for the price. 2 years of updates and then $100 a yr for all makes is pretty incredible. I have yet to test FCA or SGW on it but for anything from 2004-2017 it has worked extremely well. Only issue I have had so far was a FORD F-250 gas 6.2 v8. It would not communicate. Not sure if it was my fault or not. I simply connected my Launch X431 and it communicated no issue. That Think Diag 2 is hard to beat.
@@joshuahstrobele2252 I will have to give that a go... I'll try it in my dad's 2011 f250 6.2L. I'll post back here and let ya know what I find.
What are your thoughts about the THINKDiag 2?
It is sad you did not mention THINKDIAG - $150 bidirectional BT tool for mobile phone. Way more useful than just ELM+torque
yes we have all seen you use the thinktool pro, but have you used any of the others more expensive brands,?? If so, how did you like them versus the thinktool pro??? thank you Ivan... what about the cheaper units??? would you ever use them for anything?????
Ivan both the Launch and Topdon Phoenix Lite 2 charge circa $400/year update after the free update period? Is that about the same for the Thinktool ProS? thanks.
Thanks Ivan, I purchased the ThinkTool per your recommendation a couple of years ago. How do you RENEW the Software?? Please let us know.
I like the Topdon Phoenix Plus
Hi Ivan, went to the Amazon link for the Autel 808s and it only shows a $30 coupon and no place to add a code-any help?
Thanks for the great videos. If you had a 2001 Chevy Silverado with Duramax Diesel, which scan tool would you recommend?
I just bought the thinktool pad 10. I love it.. thanks to you Ivan. 😁👍
The Launch may be a great tool but I would have to do a lot of research before buying it because my old boss bought a Launch (431?) and it was a POS in my opinion.
I have been playing with the think pad bluetooth scanner and it has bi-directional controls. So far it’s been awesome for $150.
Will the Autel mx808 program keys on Dodge or Chrysler products?
Hi
I am a bit confusing should I buy topdon phonix Elite or Thinkcar pros please tell me
For GM owners, another channel suggested the "2022 Elite LAUNCH X431 GM Full System Bi-Directional Scan Tool" for $179 (not on sale). If you're a DIY with only GM in the garage, it seems like a heck of deal. As much as I lust after your workhorse Thinktool, as a DIY without a real garage, I have a hard time justifying the price.
Thanks for the great lineup of scanners Ivan. The Phoenix Lite 2 does have the topology after the latest update .
On gm vehicles chevrosys and a elm can do some crazy stuff
This might seem like a dumb question to you guys that do this stuff all the time. Can any or all of these tools reprogram my speedometer larger than factory tire sizes? I have been looking at a tool for a several hundred dollars and all it does is calibrate the speedo. I did a little research and found that the Autel will only let you program factory tire sizes. Do any of these allow me to calibrate the speedo for 35" tires on my Jeep?
Hi Ivan question please please answer in details . When the update is finish after 2 years can I use the scanner as general or what will happen for some one who is the first time buyer . Thanks a Million
Thanks for posting this! Very attractive choices 🙂
I use the Autel 808BT 608ts for my Duramax l5p it's great so far'
I did #4 injector and Brakes .
Ivan I have the Pad V and this thing is a beast! I also have the Thinktool and the software is the same except for the abiility to do some features. Both are powerful scanners!
My older x431 has been decent performer, does have it's limitations/quirks. But biggest pet-peeve is not enough onboard storage for at least all the major makes. BMW alone is < 600MB. And tool may come w/ 2 yr update, but every additional year is essentially the original tool $. They all hide that fact, but the renewals should be a significant factor in your buying choice.
I have the launch X431v
It's an excellent scanner for the price I bought.
Just like any other scanner. It has its limits.
You mentioned Immobilizer.
I was working on my family ford exploder. I went to recode the keys. Launch said to buy the add on tool. 😠
I went online and purchased the program Forscan for 35.00 for 1 year license and as many vehicles I can do the keys for Ford's.
I recoded my daughter extra keys for her Taurus. I am heading home to get the EXPLODER keys recoded and ECM reset.
I do like my Launch very much.
Think tool also has a thinkdiag that is less then then autel and works very well as well as has bidirectional controls
ive always been an Autel user for years but now i think i want to change over to the Think Tool. Ivan has proven its worth many of times ! 👍
Great stuff Ivan. Thanks. I personally have the Launch X431 Pad II, ThinkTool ProS and a Snap-On Triton D10. The Launch and the ThinkTool seem to share the same base software. Which is nice. The Launch is essentially an Android tough tablet and can be used as one too. So, you can have your scanner and access to alldata and/or Mitchell-1 on the same device. But I'm really liking the canbus topology that the ThinkTool has though. It's a really great feature to have sometimes.
On your go-to, the launch, you are able to have graphs in a tiled layout. I have an Autel and as you know it's not possible to display it that way. Does the topdon have that capability? I really like that feature on the launch. Thanks!
I wonder is ThinkCar created TopDon just to compete with themself just to drive sales between the two products.
Wow, thankfully i bought mine Thinktool Pros in holiday sale with your coupon. It was $936 back then!
Which of those scan tool can be used on kawasaki bikes and communicate with the ABS? And can any of them tell you if the ECU has been tuned?
Before someone say "just get an ABS enabled scanner", it is a bike, not a car. It use two 'non-standard' connectors. One is for the ECU, one is for the ABS.
The ABS don't talk canbus.
I have an XTOOL A30m, bluetooth scanner. It has surprised me. Not the easiest to navigate with but it will do all kinds of stuff.
Yeah, that's the only phone based tool under $200 that actually has bi-directional controls (at least that I've seen). It's a bit slow when scanning, but it's pretty crazy what it can do if you have the patience... I wanted to be able to make keys though, so I got the D8- and I'm really happy with it so far, after using it on about 7 different cars.
@@calholli I am a technician at a dealership. Not a master tech, but i know enough to do stuff on the side And that scanner is pretty useful.
I know the little $180 Xtool A30M dongle is used with your phone, and still has bi-directional controls. It's insanely functional for being phone based, but it's pretty slow; being blue-tooth.
What's your opinion on the Xtool D7 or D8?
hi Ivan, thanks for such an informative video... as I am planning to buy Thinktool Pros, but some one has told me Pors+ is better than the Pros but there is a big difference in price, I need to know what the worthy difference between both (pros & pros+)
Good info. Everyone should own at least the ELM327.
Definitely a no brainer 👍
I've been using torque for years
Some of the Thinktool Pros on Amazon are $725. What's the difference compared to the $1100 one? I can't tell from the description.
Happy Thanks giving day! Thinktool pro on amazon are $725, it's with 8inch screen, without topology feature, but the PROS $1100 one with 10inch screen and with topology feature, if you have any other questions, please feel free to contact with us.
Please give a review of the Topdon Phoenix Smart.
Software renewal cost may be a factor to be considered.
Last I saw, the Launch X431 Pro3S+ “mall” said a standard software configuration renewal is $438.70 for 12 months, $701.92 for 24 months, and $1039.71 for 36 months.
I doubt I’ll renew when my 2 year free update is up so we’ll see if it becomes a brick when it expires near the end of May 2023.
At some point the tablet wanted to save memory or something and wanted to do something with things I haven’t been using, maybe like putting ‘em to sleep but I don’t think I agreed. (mine has 64 GB memory, 33% used) Many of the software updates are for vehicles that I’ll never see in the U.S. so I didn’t bother installing 75 of them.
The story behind my Launch X431 Pro3S+ is incredible because back in 2021, while perusing Amazon for something better than the BlueDriver, I saw the Launch X431 Pro3 S+ priced at only $60 (+ tax) so I jumped on it immediately since the list price was $1190.00
I thought for sure the order would be cancelled but the seller, Kingbolen, actually let the sale proceed. (I see Kingbolen has posted some helpful responses in this thread)
Anyway, back when I bought the scanner, the seller emailed a couple times and said an operation error caused a $50,000 loss because all 50 units sold at that low $60 price and asked for another $500 saying the boss agreed to a 50% discount.
Their loss dampened my glee about my bargain purchase but expendable cash just wasn’t possible.
The Launch X431 Pro3S+ has a kickstand (which I use to hook the steering wheel) and it says V2.0 on the back but eventually the software updated to V7. (Lenovo TAB M10 FHD Rel.)
The splash screen opens with powered by android and the desktop has Google, camera, files, settings, Chrome, and Play Store.
I don’t recall how long it took to charge but it sure seemed like a long time and I couldn’t use it while it was charging.
My unit used 43% of battery life for 1 hr 27 min of screen usage.
Quite a few service functions on the scan tool will often say “car model not supported,” such as “compare sample’ so just because it’s listed doesn’t mean it’ll perform.
Plus many functions are repeated in different areas of the tree.
Somewhat related, I found the Xhorse VVDI mini programmer required their special chipped key so I returned it because I thought it was shady not to mention that upfront.
Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
As a Pro working on domestic and Asian vehicles, which tool would you buy to cover diagnostics and services (including programming) I currently use a 2016 Maxisys 908 (overdue to upgrade) and a MDI 2 for GM programming. I have a 4ch Pico scope. Budget 3K (may consider 5K if performance is justified). Greatly appreciate any/all input. Thank You.
ThinkTool Pros is my favorite for diag and service functions. Don't do much OEM programming except GM with a Bosch MasterTech...
I bought the Thinktool ProS on your last sale. Liking it so far, but coming from my Autel, there's a bit of a learning curve! (Truth be told, I'm still not fully familiar with this tool, but I bet I'm only scratching the surface!)
Hi, I just bought the x431 pad v and I can't find the l/m readiness manitors on that scanner I have autel.
Has the thinktool pros been discontinued?
Great video.Can you recommend me a scan tool for honda crv 2019 not for professional use ,I fix my car myself.
thanks ivan
happy thanksgiving 2 u
No disrespect,like your vids✌️
I cannot believe how obtainable much how much they have come down in price I have a snap on bought it a long time ago and I remember these tools used to be a whole lot more money I guess competition does make it for competitive pricing love the video thanks for the information have a Happy Thanksgiving
The think diag2 is a super powerful tool for only a bit over $100 love my thinktool pros but recommend the thinkdiag2 as well for those looking for something cheaper
I also have a thinktool pros, a thinkdiag and a thinkdiag 2 I keep in my car and truck and think that Ivan would definitely recommend them in the $90-120 range for glovebox diag tools with full bidirectional support for road side testing. Full health reports, bidirectional device activation, calibrations/adaptations, 2 years of updates and the thinkdiag 2 supports CAN FD on newer vehicles.
Thanks Ivan
Forgot to say too the Topdon Lite 2 does have topology as well
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Whats your opinion on the Thinkdiag?
Decisions, decisions... a new scanner, or an Audio Precision audio analyzer off eBay. Should i be fiscally responsible and buy the tool with quickest ROI? Which one is most fun? Perhaps I might consult the Magic 8 Ball, or flip a coin (best of 7 flips). Rock-paper-scissors? More DECISIONS!
You click "add to cart" on both--- flip a coin and then pay for the total and BOOM.. It's done
Explain why you do not stick with snap on. What is the technician reason?
any deals going on for PRESSURE TRANSDUCER !