[wallyp]

"59 soon" Ah, to be that young again!

Wally - already 78!

 

[Astro14]

It was my intent to portray 40 years’ experience, not, necessarily 40 years of age, but I’m glad it made you smile! If you work the maths in my case, 34 years of flying, knowing that I started a bit after Uni (college in the US), you come to a similar age...all good.

 

[Dave2302]

47 years in the Trade, when I was 12 I was working in the old mans mates Garage on Saturdays,

Also had my own car, old Ford Anglia 105E, used to drive it round Dads land it was a 997cc, a neighbour gave it to me with a blown Engine, I got a complete used 1500GT Cortina Engine from a local guy, pre crossflow Engine, fitted that and with the 997 Diff it went like a bloody rocket ......................

Nothing has changed lol, the Engine transplants have just got bigger

 

[Dave2302]

I'm locking this thread now, it is turning into something I really don't want on this Forum

 

[Dave2302]

Thread now tidied and unlocked, hopefully lessons learned and so I won't need to intervene again, this thread is too good a resource to lose

 

[Astro14]

Well, I decided to take the plunge and see how well this tool works.

Ordered from eBay. Ordered the Mercedes unit.

So far...not really impressed as the box clearly says “BMW”

 

[JC220]

Well, I decided to take the plunge and see how well this tool works.

Ordered from eBay. Ordered the Mercedes unit.

So far...not really impressed as the box clearly says “BMW” View attachment 2685947

It may be a case that you have to select and download the application- which is what I had to do.

So perhaps the box is superficial but yes mega insult giving a self respecting MB owner BMW lettering

 

[Buderim]

I thought I would update my experience with foxwell support . I bought a Nt510 to clear a SRS fault that I created . I took the dash out on my 2004 clk320 to change a stepper motor , I had to reconnect the battery with the passenger airbag disconnected to test the motor , when I put the car back together I had a SRS light on and the visit workshop message .

I just assumed the nt510 would clear the fault . But it is unable to find any faults is the airbag system , I have cleared all the other faults the car had but it is unable to find any SRS faults.

Foxwell support has been very good and have sent me 8 different Benz.bin files to load into the nt510 but none of them can fins any fault codes . They have told me they do not have access to a w209 so they are unable to test anything on a actual car in there workshop.

So Foxwell support has been very helpful but I still have a SRS light on. I even bought a Star C3 multiplexor clone from ebay but after 6 weeks of trying to get it to work using 3 different versions of Star I have come to the conclusion that it is faulty and i am in the process of returning it . I will just have to bite the bullet and take the car to Mercedes and get it sorted out.

 

[Astro14]

I've invested an hour into registering and downloading the software for the NT-510. It appears that it's a tabula rasa, on which you load the make/model specific software.

Registration took three tries - they give you 60 seconds to enter a code that was sent to your email, and the email doesn't show up in 60 seconds. But the first e-mail showed up 15 minutes later and the app accepted the code...

But after an hour, it's still an orange brick. The software download appears to have paused, and my email to tech support from this morning is still unanswered.

This is not a great company. It's not even a good company. I'll be surprised if it works once I get it loaded.

IF I get it loaded.

 

[Buderim]

I've invested an hour into registering and downloading the software for the NT-510. It appears that it's a tabula rasa, on which you load the make/model specific software.

Registration took three tries - they give you 60 seconds to enter a code that was sent to your email, and the email doesn't show up in 60 seconds. But the first e-mail showed up 15 minutes later and the app accepted the code...

But after an hour, it's still an orange brick. The software download appears to have paused, and my email to tech support from this morning is still unanswered.

This is not a great company. It's not even a good company. I'll be surprised if it works once I get it loaded.

IF I get it loaded.

Have you disconnect the unit from the computer and check if the software is loaded ? If it is not showing up just try updating it again.

 

[Astro14]

I've tried a couple of times. I'm giving up for now, and I'll plug it into the car tomorrow and see if it works.

So far, it strikes me as cheap Chinese junk.

The burden is placed on the buyer. The instructions are sketchy. The interface is barely readable and makes little sense.

 

[Witek_M]

I've tried a couple of times. I'm giving up for now, and I'll plug it into the car tomorrow and see if it works.

So far, it strikes me as cheap Chinese junk.

The burden is placed on the buyer. The instructions are sketchy. The interface is barely readable and makes little sense.

Menu system on those aftermarket tools follows same path as SDS, DAS or HHT. Connect it and follow same path.

Sample from Autel AP200M

 

[Dave2302]

Yeah, all of this is all very well and good, but @JC220 tested one of these extensively, not so long ago, and the conclusion was that whilst it might be a good wee tool to carry in the Glove Box on a road trip, it doesn't do much other that read codes and reset, and even then not all codes .....................

IMO the iCS is a better machine for that purpose, but neither machine, (nor anything else that doesn't cost at least four times SDS price) is gonna enable it's operator to do essential tasks such as version coding, initial start up's and a gazillion other functions that SDS does which are all essential on all MB's

.

 

[Astro14]

Thanks gentlemen. For the record, I do have SDS. I just leave that at the shop, along with my laptop for Volvo (VIDA) and my laptop for Toyota (Techstream).

This was bought as a good wee tool to have in the boot of the car whilst on travel. I have small gear organizer, which has a funnel, a quart of oil, a liter of ABC fluid, a liter of transmission fluid, dipstick, a couple of microfiber cloths, small selection of spanners, and a Li-ion jump pack.

Water-Resistant Trunk Bag

Organize your car care essentials with our water-resistant trunk bag. Made of strong polyester, keep your trunk clean and gear safe.

www.griotsgarage.com

I just got the updates done, turns out there was some glitch between activation and update. I had to re-login and re-activate at Foxwell's recommendation. I'm not certain if the problem was on my end or theirs. They recommend the use of their card reader to update the SD Micro card directly, instead of the USB cable to the scanner - except that their card reader doesn't work. So, I used my own card reader. Once the activation/update glitch was resolved, it took only a few minutes.

I heard back from customer service - the Mercedes and BMW units are the same, and so, the box says BMW and the menu has "BMW" in it...which is fine, but somewhat pointless for me. I would rather have Volvo as a secondary make, given my cars at the moment.

I'll plug it in today and report back, but I'm optimistic that the updates and operation are sorted.

 

[tusabes]

I hope it works out for you . Mine came pre loaded with the Mercedes software . So now do you have a unit loaded with both Mercedes and bmw software ?

 

[Astro14]

The box works.

Top level menu shows OBDII, BMW and Mercedes, but only the Mercedes files were updated this morning.

So, I think I’ve only got a working Mercedes scanner.

 

[Buderim]

Update on my SRS fault as stated above the Foxwell nt510 was unable to see any error codes in the SRS , even after several software updates I could not clear the fault . Last week I had my car serviced by a independent mechanic who cleared the code with a Launch scanner , so the Foxwell was not up to the job...

 

[Dave2302]

the Foxwell was not up to the job...

That's what many of us have found

 

[millweigh]

Back in posts 41 and 42 there was chatter about older cars and module access.
By chance, did any further testing on say a '97 vintage roadster get done? I have a '97
R129, SL 600 and was looking at the Foxwell unit. I bought one of the Autel APM200
BT units and found it doesn't cover my model until Sep.'99 production units. I was
able to get an auto scan on 5 modules, nothing more. I didn't do my homework, my bad.
It would be nice to know if the Foxwell unit can read modules like soft top, door locking and
anti theft on one of the pre-MY99 vehicles in the OBDI to OBDII transition years. I am
glad this thread was kept open, it has good information.

 

[tusabes]

I have a 1998 sl500 but it’s currently in storage , if I remember I will try the foxwell on it