Vapordan

Need one that can both read and write Cayenne 9Y0 2020, also should be able to do Mercedes Benz. I'm on a budget.
I did purchase a cheap one that did not work, so before wasting more time, here I am.

chassis

iCarsoft CR Max.

95_993

I am using iCarSoft Pro.

matthewr87

Another vote for iCarsoft CR Pro. Check ebay for some deals. Bought one recently for $145.

BobEisenberg

I was in the same boat as you, @Vapordan having bought a 2020 Cayenne in April. Not too many choices for OBD2 devices for 9Y0 Cayennes, nor authoritative posts about DIYers’ experiences with them.

I ended up buying the iCarsoft CR Max for about $400 on Amazon. The reviews on the brand are mixed. I think the CR Max works on a greater range of brands than the CR PRO (might be helpful for your Benz) but the CR Max may have less functionality on your Porsche than the CR PRO. I was frustrated that there is very little info on what each of these units will or won’t do on my car.

That said, I’ve not done my first oil change yet to use the device to reset the maintenance indicator. I did, however, fire the unit up and I was pretty impressed with it. Pretty intuitive to use. Pretty quick scans of all systems. And it has functionality that none of my previous OBD2 tools have. For instance, I was able to activate (operate) the back door window using the device. I’ve got an issue with the sunshade on that window and found that the device could open the window but not the shade. I think the device helps narrow down whether the problem lies in the control unit vs the shade’s motor. The device surely does a lot more that I may never use or understand but it seems there is a lot there.

So, not cheap, but first impressions of the CR Max are favorable. Good luck!

chassis

Specifically which functions are missing on the CR Max which are present on the CR Pro?

BobEisenberg

That's the $64K question that really frustrated me. You can’t find that documented anywhere. I based my comment on possible reduced functionality based on 2 things:
1. A distributor’s YouTube video that reviewed the 4 or 5 different iCarsoft models and their functions. I think they described the CR Pro as having the greatest functionality for Porsches of all the models. They went on to say that the CR Max works with the greatest variety manufacturers/brands.

2. A comment on the forum that the CR Max may work with the widest range of cars but the poster made a point of saying that this didn’t necessarily mean it has the most capabilities for Porsches.

chassis

Thanks. And inconclusive.

BobEisenberg

Correct. Goes back to the stated lack of authoritative info on these devices. That’s part of my frustration. But a guy has to change his oil and reset the service indicator so I made the most educated bet I could as to which device would suit my overall needs best (with your recommendation, @chassis ) and bought the CR Max. So far, I’ve not been disappointed, but it’s early yet.

BobEisenberg

… and I just saw another YouTube video yesterday from the same distributor stating the the iCarsoft CR Max and the CR Pro Plus are functionally identical. The only differences are that the Max can function as a standalone Android tablet (e.g. to surf the web) and it’s rechargeable so it doesn’t need to be plugged into power to work on your vehicle. The Pro Plus is only a diagnostic tool that can’t be used as a tablet and it must be plugged into a power source to work on your car.

The video was referring to the CR Pro Plus. Not sure if this is the same as the CR Pro. It does, at least, make one wonder whether it’s worth spending the extra money for the CR Max. It very well may not be. Again, not much authoritative information to work with and, I will say, a confusing array of different models for iCarsoft devices.

Vapordan

Ordered the CR Max. Total price $393. Still expect boarder fees.