iCarsoft MB V2 or get a star done by an indie

PovertySpec

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now I am using the Carly app

Carly is insteresting. I asked about that on here a couple of years ago. No response.

I had a free go that app on an evaluation basis off the back of a posible print review.

My observations were disappointing and the review didn't go ahead by mutual agreement.

My time spent working on that pitch, on balance, could have paid for a couple of STAR diagnioses.

The STAR kits on the bay are tempting but .. you can get an awful lot of STAR diagnostics done at your local indy for the cost of even the least expensive options and you still can't buy the experience to work out what 'implausible' might lead to unless you've seen it a dozen times before.

Carista & Torqe pro are the least expensive way to get a bit of a steer as to what's wrong but you'll still end up at your indy who will put it on STAR.

[shrugs] you pays yer money and you makes your choice!

p.s spell checking has stopped working on this site :(
 

NBurns

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Carly is insteresting. I asked about that on here a couple of years ago. No response.

I had a free go that app on an evaluation basis off the back of a posible print review.

My observations were disappointing and the review didn't go ahead by mutual agreement.

My time spent working on that pitch, on balance, could have paid for a couple of STAR diagnioses.

The STAR kits on the bay are tempting but .. you can get an awful lot of STAR diagnostics done at your local indy for the cost of even the least expensive options and you still can't buy the experience to work out what 'implausible' might lead to unless you've seen it a dozen times before.

Carista & Torqe pro are the least expensive way to get a bit of a steer as to what's wrong but you'll still end up at your indy who will put it on STAR.

[shrugs] you pays yer money and you makes your choice!

p.s spell checking has stopped working on this site :(

Um nope. Spell check has stopped working on your device perhaps?!!
Have you seen the iCarsoft Bluetooth based device linked to TORQUE & dashcommand(?!!). Although they have yet to correct the technical specifications and get it connected to IOS.



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PovertySpec

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Um nope. Spell check has stopped working on your device perhaps?!!

Browser pugins conflict probably.

Have you seen the iCarsoft Bluetooth based device linked to TORQUE & dashcommand(?!!). Although they have yet to correct the technical specifications and get it connected to IOS

No, I don't i stuff and if I can't do it on the drive in a couple of hours I'd rather take it to my local indy.
 

LostKiwi

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Have you seen the iCarsoft Bluetooth based device linked to TORQUE & dashcommand(?!!). Although they have yet to correct the technical specifications and get it connected to IOS.
Are you talking about the i620?
If so it's a rebadged Vlink Bluetooth dongle which can only read generic codes. It won't for example read SRS, ABS, ESP, SAMs etc. It will only read basic generic engine codes.

The only phone app based system I know of that claims to be able to read all the MB specific modules is Carly for MB but you also need their dongle.
 

NBurns

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Are you talking about the i620?
If so it's a rebadged Vlink Bluetooth dongle which can only read generic codes. It won't for example read SRS, ABS, ESP, SAMs etc. It will only read basic generic engine codes.

The only phone app based system I know of that claims to be able to read all the MB specific modules is Carly for MB but you also need their dongle.

Yes I was lostkiwi. Okay, I will do my research on that also then.



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D

dav1971

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  • Thread Starter
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  • #26
You know little about cars, mercs in particular and you a buy a gadget you barely understand and it gives you a diagnosis which you can't fix anyway because you know little about cars, Mercs in particular.

You take your poorly Merc into an indy and say 'I've plugged my gadget into it and my gadget says...' and the first thing any decent Merc indy will do is to plug it into STAR to get a proper diagnosis then make a reasoned decision based on their extensive experience.

At least, I hope they would.

There are many garages out there who will swap parts on your instruction until your wallet's flat.

How can you find out if the indy is definitely using Star, also do you get a print out to show it has been done on Star with the code results?
Just wondering if they could be using a generic diagnostic reader and not using Star but using their experience to diagnose.
My local indy on their website says they are a MB specialist but doesn't stipulate it uses Star, just says the latest diagnostic systems with a combined experience of 140 years.
My brothers CLK 500 was playing up and we put an ELM diagnostic on it which showed that the MAF was at fault, he contacted his local indy and got quoted £500.
He bought one for I think £120 if I remember rightly and fitted in 20 minutes.
 

LostKiwi

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My brothers CLK 500 was playing up and we put an ELM diagnostic on it which showed that the MAF was at fault, he contacted his local indy and got quoted £500.
He bought one for I think £120 if I remember rightly and fitted in 20 minutes.
Most Indy's use genuine parts, especially with sensors as aftermarket are very hit and miss and a self employed indy won't want to have to do the job twice, once for free.
As for using Star tell them what you want doing. If they're doing the whole job does it matter what they use? As I said previously, the usefulness of a tool lies in the ability of the operator, not which brand if tool is used.
 

PovertySpec

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How can you find out if the indy is definitely using Star

You ring them up and you ask "do you have STAR/Xentry?"

If they say yes, they have it.

If they say what? They do not.

As always, especially on the internet, there will be exceptions but the avaerage man on the Clapham omnibus would be advised to follow the above indy has got/has not got STAR diagnosis procedure.
 

Terrykal

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Thank you Kev555.
Although I don’t have any experience with MERCs and STAR diagnostic, I do have experience with BMWs DIS and INPA systems. I have a mechanical engineering degree so I can say that I have a fair understanding on cars (although a car diagnosis better fits an electrical engineer studies).
Anyway, as said I am not happy with Carly app at the moment and this is why i was trying to see if these ebay used laptops with Star diagnostics (copies? ) would assist me a bit more. I would appreciate a feedback on this matter, if exists from forum members, alternatively probably i will end up with a iCarsoft.
 

PovertySpec

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trying to see if these ebay used laptops with Star diagnostics (copies? )

Yes, eventually, but when the indis on this forum have spent tens of thousands on buying and licencing the real deal where is their incentive to help explain what 'implausible'means and where to go next?
 

Wighty

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I bourght an icarsoft MB2 , as I have 2xMB's , it has been invaluable and payed for itself the first time I used it .
If I couldn't find an answer with it , I would make next stop Star/Xentry . There is sometimes only so much you can do yourself . Paying hundreds for Star Clones is a lot of Indy diagnosis visits , and they know how to use it .
 

Terrykal

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that's true Wighty. my main problem is that I commute 120miles mainly on M25 (and partially M11 & M4/M40) so most days I don't have the time to visit, if needed, an indy's shop. And this will be if the shop is open till late and would be happy to wait for me.
Lets see what the carly guys will reply back to me. For now, torque pro gives me real data when the carly is not able to do so.
few weeks ago I contacted the icarsoft team and probably this is what i will get as next tool.
I believe, if i remember correctly, that the icarsoft guys told me that at this stage their tool is not capable to register a new battery. if someone knows if this is correct or not I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
 

ajlsl600

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Thanks for the reply. I have read good things about the iCarsoft but wasn’t sure wether it would be beneficial in my case to get one.


if yr sticking with the car brand get one or a star clone ,you will save plenty ,but as stated you will have to learn how to use it to see max benefit . right now my prob is that the time scale between needing to use my star system means that i am often having to "re learn" what i am doing and as such i cannot be near as efficient as ,for example an indie who uses the system daily ..i dont pretend to be so. it takes me longer to get where i need to be ,but i do get there and like learning something new. it can be a liitle aggravating at times, keep a fridge full of stubbies for that !! secret, learn when to walk away from it and try later .sans a skin full of stubbies.
 

Wighty

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if yr sticking with the car brand get one or a star clone ,you will save plenty ,but as stated you will have to learn how to use it to see max benefit . right now my prob is that the time scale between needing to use my star system means that i am often having to "re learn" what i am doing and as such i cannot be near as efficient as ,for example an indie who uses the system daily ..i dont pretend to be so. it takes me longer to get where i need to be ,but i do get there and like learning something new. it can be a liitle aggravating at times, keep a fridge full of stubbies for that !! secret, learn when to walk away from it and try later .sans a skin full of stubbies.
So using Star is difficult when you are absolutely spannered :rolleyes::D
 

ajlsl600

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i am ok with it. sometimes i to take a step back and try again . like it took me about 2hr to get my r230 600 ride height locked where i wanted it. and it aint the sort of thing you want to mess up.
now i want to sort out my w166 rear sensors ,i dont want to mess that up either .parts and workshop info is no issue
 

W245207

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It's better than a generic code reader, although the cheap memory (TF) card is prone to corruption. On two occasions, I had to format the card and reinstall the program.
 

colin ling

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Hi
I have just bought a ML320 diesel w164.
It was struggling on start up on a morning (fine after it had been started after the first time) and blowing black smoke.
I took it to my local garage where I have all repairs done, he did a vacuum test and said it was 2 injectors that was faulty which I had him fit new ones.
The car is still struggling to start on a morning and gives out a cloud of grey smoke now.
He put the diagnostics on and no faults are showing.
The parking sensors are not working also and he could not work out which is at fault using his snap on tools diagnostic and told me ideally I need a Star diagnostic done to see what is happening with the start up problem and to determine which parking sensor is faulty.

Calling my local MB indie they charge £72 inc vat for a diagnostic test, the iCarsoft MB v2 is £136 so am wondering wether to buy one of this instead as long as it will give the codes for the parking sensors and show what fault it is on start up.
At least this way I will have a unit of my own for future repairs but didn't want to buy one if it will not show these problems.

Hi
I have a MBll and a full set of MANN filters (oil, air, fuel, pollen)
I have sold my ML
£110 inc postage
Regards
 

Wighty

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Very good price buddy !!
 

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