Good value for money OBD reader?

[Don Winter]

Hi
Thinking of buying one but dont want to pay silly money or get a cheap dud so any advice please?
Many thanks

[ThomasG]

I'm using cheap (around £6) eBay bought obd-bluetooth adapter.
LM- (some 3-digit number)
That plus Torque app on android phone.
It gets only basic reading, generic codes etc, won't let you kill off your daylight lights or update ETM, but with this pricetag..
I don't complain.
I was thinking about buying a knock-off DICE, (at the time around £100), but then I figured that I don't really need that.
Of course your needs may be different.

[Simon Jones]

DICE is probably best 'value' for money if you want to have main dealer gear without paying main dealer prices. Most generic code reader will tend to cover just the basic mechanicals (engine, ABS, etc) so wont be much good for things like electrical system (windows, alarm activations, etc) or climate control, etc. Also depends on what cars you wish to use it on.

[ThePurplePanther]

I've always had a good experience with these (well two good experiences, gave the 1st one i bought to my old man as he was constantly borrowing it and bought another.)

https://www.google.co.uk/search?sour...72.-sSu0aZKUHg

Have used them on Renault, Peugeot, Jaguar and Toyota so far - as soon as your friends find out you have one they are used on quite a few cars...

Maybe i always got lucky buying them from eBay but have had a good run from them.

[Rooster]

LM327 is the bluetooth dongle thing,

I have one and its a pain to pair to my phone but works well with torque pro app once connected,

Handy for reading engine codes on multiple cars, used mine on volvo's, VAG stuff and a scooby, doesn't like peugeots though,

Used a couple of autel code readers in past and seem ok for money

[GusGecko]

Bought a Bluetooth one from ebay (about £3) , talks to a free app on your phone.

[Max HEADVROOM]

i woundn't use a lm327 code reader if it was free.. total waste of time and money. pay that little bit extra and buy a dice unit that will do a "proper" job of fault finding end of.

Al.

[green van man]

I have foundthe problem with 3rd party code readers is they can misslead you.

Snap on reader, merc sprinter, told us the MAF sensor was faulty, £280 of genuine sensor later, no difference. Eventualy van went to Mercedes, they changed the inlet manifold and erg valve to cure the problem after it had been on their diognosis.

Bit of a difference from a MAF sensor.

Modern vehicles are too complex and costly to guess at solutions and I would use the dedicated diognostics first even if it entailed a trip to the dealer. Hopefully their technician understands the results he gets because that's another minefield.

Paul.

[ThomasG]

In my case the lesson was about intake manifold pressure sensor.
True enough, it WAS giving strange (out of spec) readings at idle.
But then when I stopped and thought for a minute as to what may cause bad readings there, other than faulty sensor itself..
And I bought pre-owned throttle.
And cleaned old one.
And found out that I didn't need either sensor nor throttle.
Its all fine for last 2 years.
Yes, reading was slightly misleading, but at price (mentioned above £3, I paid roughly £6), it still did the job in pointing me in right direction. Well. At least I knew it something about intake, and not let's say camshaft.
Without it all I'd have would be "check engine light"
So, yes, I'll still consider it good value for money.

PS: that throttle is still for grabs. Anyone interested?