jeffm

As anyone tried the Chinese knock off tool found on ebay? Obviously, I would love to have a Durametric Pro, but can't justify the price. However, I am assuming with this item, you may "get what you paid for".

ebay listing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OBD2-PIWIS-C...148603&vxp=mtr

lowbee

It's tempting at that price, but I am not sure I want to risk blowing out the OBDII port on my car even if this could only have a 5% chance. Cheap hardware is a crap shoot and most time you get lucky but .... I wonder what it would cost to fix a blow out OBDII port

ChicagoSpeed996

I have it. And tried it but I didn't have the right operating system. I think that's why it didn't work. The software pulls up and its an older durametric version.

DC911S

It's probably running some hacked versions that will screw up your car. No way I would hook some Chinese malware into my ECU. Who knows what it's up to. It could even hack into your phone when it's paired and do things

nwGTS

Lol. No.

F1CrazyDriver

hmmmm PM if you have it or want one. I have a Chinese version i bought to try and i have pro version that i did buy directly from durametric$800 . Long story, bought enthusiast version years back lost it lending it to a member so i decided to try chinese version for $80.
You need some tweaking to some .dll and it will work - that's all i will say in public. Wont count on # vins either.
Shame on me

wc11

I know someone who bought one and had no issues.

Question is, why are so many willing to spend big bucks to get the best add ons, tires, exhaust, body kits, engine parts and other tools but cheap out on a tool that tells you whats really going on with your car?

Sneaky Pete

Very good point there!

jchapura

For some of us, to be able to get those add-ons you mention, we economize in other areas - when it's appropriate. Finding the best value is important and these forums are helpful because of the vast experience base.

wc11

Yes but value to me is also knowing the codes read and subsequent diagnosis is correct so I bought the real thing.
Just like I buy quality tools to do the work on the car.
Would you buy a cheap no name torque wrench or orbital polisher. We're talking Porsches, not Pinto's.

Some guys will blow through 2+ sets of tires a year tracking.

The durametric pro is half the cost of a set of tires and can be used on multiple vehicles to read & reset codes as well as custom program your car forever. You only pay once. That's real value to me.

jchapura

The value calculation is different for every item and situation. That is why the shared experience sought by the OP is so important - so he/she can make the judgment, not others for them.

jeffm

Honestly, that's a silly statement.
If there is a product available at a lower cost, why would you not try or inquire about it? As I recall, 10-15yrs ago, there were these "cheap" Korean branded electronics from some lesser know companies. Fast forward to today and they now offer some of the best quality.

At the moment, I do not have a need to trouble shoot any codes or make advanced changes to the ECU. I only need to modify one setting to front turn signals. I'm not spending $800 for that. They dealer will do it for $75-100, (plus 2 hours of my await time) so that the real value calculation for this transaction.

Bruce In Philly

2009 C2S 104K miles Durametric Pro owner

Coupla items:

1 - The Durametric Chinese, as of few years ago, did not work with the newer 997.2 systems
2 - From my research back then, this Chinese unit worked fine
3 - Bigger issue for me is the Chinese unit is a rip-off of the Durametric... in other words, it is a stolen design - insert your ethical system here

Regarding my ethical system.... it varies. I have purchased a Chinese rip off of something I never would have owned otherwise..... a piece of photography electronics that allows for complex, timed interval exposures. It is a duplicate of a very expensive Canon product that ran about $180... Chinese was about $12. The quality was awful making it difficult to use but I never ended up using it as I just didn't get into that type of photography. Was I right or wrong with what I did? I was wrong.... I still should not have purchased it.

Ethical issue #2: As free-market capitalists, we should always be looking for a good deal.... wihout it, vendors will take advantage of you. This does not imply purchasing Chinese rip-offs is OK, it just means that always trying to save a buck is an implied responsibility of participating in a free-market system.... it is how it is supposed to work.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

Lvt19672

Anyone know of a cheap China tool that can reset maintenance light on a 997.1, the X431R unit in a previous thread only works for 997.2 as far as I know. TIA

ChicagoSpeed996

I believe I have the X431R, (it's red right?) it worked for my maintenance indicator. I have a 997.1