Thinkdiag OBD2

[andrewwynn]

Been trying to find a scanner that can code. I have been looking at the Carly with apprehension and especially with lacking iPhone support and now subscription service.

So one of my favorite BMW YouTube channels recommended the Thinkdiag Bluetooth OBD scanner that can code.

Anyhow they have a return policy so I ordered and will review. If it does what it says it's the holy Grail. I will definitely post an update.

[Zulu95]

Pay to play after the first year. The cost always goes up in my experience once they sucker you in and get you dependent on the features.

"Each manufacturer software is $39.95 per year."

[andrewwynn]

Yes $40/yr. To save $100s it's a fair price. You get all makes for 1 ur included so of you service a few makes the hardware is effectively free. I will just make customer pay the subscription if I need to subscribe to another make

[Zulu95]

Unfortunately my "customer" shares my bank account or maybe I share her account. No matter as it is all coming off of the same slate.
I have been avoiding P4P like Carly because it is actually cheaper to have somebody else do it and pay them for their time.
Hope it works out for you and please keep us updated in case I find a way to justify my fourth OBD/programming package.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Zulu95

Unfortunately my "customer" shares my bank account or maybe I share her account. No matter as it is all coming off of the same slate.
I have been avoiding P4P like Carly because it is actually cheaper to have somebody else do it and pay them for their time.
Hope it works out for you and please keep us updated in case I find a way to justify my fourth OBD/programming package.

^ What he said, including customer data. Fortunately for me I'm grandfathered in with Carly as an early adopter. Best ~$130 spent. But no way would I pay as I go with it. The Foxwell has supplemented it nicely for everything before "F" chassis Bimmers, and now I've got INPA/NCSexpert/dummy suite running (will work on ISTA+ when I have a bunch of time, and alcohol, handy) most needs are being met.

In your situ Andrew I think that one definitely makes a lot of sense. I hope it does everything they claim. Please do update on the product.

As more of these companies come out with this business model (it's permeated every industry really, not just auto diagnostic) I think a full ISTA package makes more and more sense. It sucks to set it up, but I'd rather spend a week or two fiddling with drivers and software packages than send yet another company money every month. Hell, I even refuse to do monthly auto insurance... I prepay. /rant

[ard]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

As more of these companies come out with this business model (it's permeated every industry really, not just auto diagnostic) I think a full ISTA package makes more and more sense. It sucks to set it up, but I'd rather spend a week or two fiddling with drivers and software packages than send yet another company money every month. Hell, I even refuse to do monthly auto insurance... I prepay. /rant

Agree.



I got carly early, before they went to the subscription. Haven't used it in 6+ years.

Have foxwell and ISTA.


If these companies actually improved their products year in and year out, I might feel better. But they do nothing in the rear view- only look at new models/new customers. IMO


BUT.......very interested to hear what Andrew finds with his review(s)

[andrewwynn]

I'm in computer IT and touching windowz gives me heebie jeebies. Prob about 45,000 hrs on Mac Os and 15,000 on windows and the windows experience was more effort (translate as over 3x the effort). Just can't stand it.

I support plenty of people on each platform and I run win7 on my mac but unless I really need to I do not want to do work kludgy 30 yr old software. I bought foxwell to avoid it and has served me well but doesn't code.

The big question will be can it code an e53. I’m pretty confident it can code the E70. The sooner the better to turn off the stupid every time you get in the car it runs the motors on the steering wheel bullshit.

I saw examples of it coding an E60 and that was the basis for me decide to pull the trigger.

For a pro you can spend 300 instead of 120 and have access to all car makes for two years but that doesn’t save me any money for up to two or three makes so I just bought $120 Option that will give me all makes I think for one year and then after one year I got a pay $40 a year.

[andrewwynn]

First impressions: way way better than foxwell.

On E53 the coding is pretty limited but I have access to a lot of things I haven't in the past such as enable/disable the setting of the seat moving to memory position with selected key etc.

The whole system and presentation is first rate, feels like opening an Apple product.

The initial setup was simple but there was no description how to activate the subscription so it wanted to charge me $40 to access the BMW section.


The next morning all the $40 prices turned to "open" so it just figured it out so if you buy one with the 1 or 2 year subscription just set it up at night and plan to play the next day.

All the mechanic tools are abbreviated so I have no idea what most are yet and many don't apply to e53 but a major part of buying was to access things on e70 like magic parking brake etc.

The system stays functional though power cycle so don't need to unplug the dongle to jump start it like typical 237(?) Dongles

One of the main things I want to do is doable the moronic steering wheel moves every entry to car.

I'll take some screen recordings on the phone. The graphing looks nice but so far cant find a way to show multiple items and no editing of the impossible to read fonts.

A - overall review so far and does do as claimed. Of course it can only access the modules available over OBD but it's a big step up over foxwell and I always have my phone on me.

[Caryalon]

I bought the bimmer geeks software - diagnosis and programming. Using it on my Amazon Fire tablet, works great so far. One time, no subscriptions, and unlimited cars.

[Zulu95]

Originally Posted by Caryalon

I bought the bimmer geeks software - diagnosis and programming. Using it on my Amazon Fire tablet, works great so far. One time, no subscriptions, and unlimited cars.

I have Bimmergeeks and Bimmercode. I also use Torque on the cheap Samsung Android tablet as a supplemental gauge set if I want to check things out.