yoda888

I've been looking for a scanner to help with some DIY at home. Ideally, it would be used for only maintenance/oil light resets. Now I know there are Porsche specific models, but i'd like to find something that's a reasonable price that will work on multiple brands of manufacturers -- mainly euro, porsche, Audi, and MB.

I had settled on the iCarSoft CR V2.0 originally. Based on everything I've read, it does exactly what the Por 2.0 does except you can add more manufacturers to the device. Information on the iCarSoft site is terrible, so not much information there. I reached out to Diagnostic-world.com who does a lot of reviews on scanners. Their response was to either get the Por 2.0 model or the Pro model. Then I started doing more reading/researching and some folks are suggesting the Foxwell devices. The website is somewhat better than the iCarSoft site, but not a whole lot!

Does Foxwell make a good scanner that can support multiple brands? Do you have any specific recommendations on models/brands? Is there something else I should consider?

Speed2k

Following, as I am also considering a unit for maintenance on my car as well.

thesaintusa

I have a Foxwell 510 that I use for my wife's X3 and am happy with it.

Can add the 911 for $60, not sure if it is worth it yet, and looking forward to some reviews.

shaginwagon

Following ....I have the Por 2.0 for my 991.2 and it works just fine, but now thinking I should have jumped to the CR or Pro to support Audi and LandRover/Jaguar

Barnaby

Not that I've tried but this is from iCarSoft's website on the PORV2.0. Looks like it should support Euro cars already. I don't have another Euro car so I can't test it. If it doesn't work as advertised, Amazon has a great return policy.

18. Supports most of the OBDII/EOBD test modes include: CAN, ISO9141, KWP2000, J1850
VPW and J1850 PWM.
19. Works on most of 2001 and later OBDII compliant PETROL European vehicles
20. Works on most of 2004 and later OBDII compliant DIESEL European vehicles
21. Works on most of 1996 and later OBDII compliant US and Asian vehicles
22. View & Graph Live Data in Color Graphing and blazing fast refresh rate for better graphing and live data readings.
23. Comprehensive Help, Including OBD Parameter, Mode Explanations & More

yoda888

Woah, $60 each? So after another 2-3 brands you're ponying up another $120-$180. Might be better to go with the iCarSoft CR Pro then. It's about $100 more expensive than the CR V2.0. The magic question is how many car brands will you need to support at home?

I think those are for generic OBD2 items. I'm lookin for specific functions for each brand. Resetting oil and service lights on my 991 and my wife's Q5. Release the electronic parking brake to work on the brakes. Reset the system for a new car battery. The "basic" at home DIY stuff.

thesaintusa

I can reset service lights / oil intervals / reset for a new battery etc with the Foxwell. I use it for her X3, but you can use it for other BMW models. Doesn't help me as I only have 1 BMW haha. Unfortunately, there are 5 cars at our place and 5 different brands.

The Foxwell was bought for the BMW and you are given a 'free' car, but yes to add another car it is an additional $60. The dealer wanted more $$$ to reset for a new battery (apparently affects how it charges the battery) than the cost of the Foxwell, so I bought it for that moment and other potential reasons.

However, if it does what I need than an additional $60 to be able to use for my 911 is not that much.

Cannot comment on how it works for the Porsche (waiting for some input), or how the other units (such as iCarSoft and others) work for the Porsche and the costs (if any) to use on other vehicles of different brands.

Noah Fect

If you can swing $700+ for one of these:


... I've been really impressed with mine. It's basically a repackaged PIWIS as far as I can tell, without the need to deal with pirated Windows VMs or sketchy vendors who lurk around on forums you've never been to. Works well on both my 981S and post-facelift Macan.

My iCarSoft POR V2.0 works well with the 9x1 cars, but it lacks a lot of the Launch's coding features. For basic service needs it would be fine.

sparkuggz

I have Carly for Porsche but it doesn’t work at all for my 996, but works great for my BMWs so I was looking for a better tool.

I recently ordered the Foxwell 530 and thought I ordered one without software. It came preloaded with BMW. I didn’t plan to add the BMW software but since it did that was fine I just had to order the Porsche software.

To add a second vehicle manufacturer it cost me $60, so not too expensive. Once you create an account and login with the Foxwell plugged in you can see what is installed on it and or what updates are available.

I primarily for reading cam deviations, and it does do some cool things like test the guages, turn on rad fans to test etc.

I have another BMW car, but if you only need a single Porsche brand, I recommend buying it here and leaving a message for them: Porsche software pre-installed.
https://www.foxwelltool.com/wholesal...0-updated.html

Fullyield

Search 987/981 forum and the 997 forum for numerous recent threads discussing both Foxwell 510 and 530.

AvgPorschefile

Always used iCarSoft Por 2.0 to do all you mention, without issue. Only use on Porsche's though. Following...

CSK 911 C4S

I bought the iCarsoft CR Pro so far used it on my 13 C4S and my 2021 VW Atlas.

Works great.

mjposner

I have the Foxwell NT 520 and it worked great for my 997, checked the dme for over revs, let me turn seat belt chime off and remove nav legal warning. I understand that this is no longer possible with the 991.1.

Noah Fect

The x431 PROS Mini was able to turn off the seat belt chimes in both my 981 and 95B.2, but I was not able to find a way to turn off the legal disclaimer on the 981. (The same will apply to the 991, so if someone does figure out how to do that, don't keep it to yourself!)

Amazingly, there's no disclaimer on the Macan's PCM 5 screen. I assume that's a "bug" that will be fixed eventually.

phi399

Has anyone found a scanner that will do a pdk calibration? I have the Foxwell and it has it in the menu. I tried it and it fails.