It is good that you understand that OBDII is less "complex". Try just about useless.

Funny thing about knowledge. A little bit can go a long way. The first hurdle any potential technicain passes is the first point of understanding. Such a light appears in their eyes, they think they understand the universe. That is the point many stay.

To become a technician one needs to pass from that state of euphoria to the depression caused by realization that what was just understood is a grain of sand in a desert of knowledge. When he understands what he doesn't know, he becomes a technician.

Ninety percent of the car is not covered with a OBDII scanner, ninety percent of what is covered is not covered by an OBDII scanner. Except for specific information I would be all over any of my techs who performed a money requiring repair from an OBDII based diagnostic. Would it be professional to charge for digging a ditch with a hand trowel.

If you wish a real tool the smallest price combo I know is the Snap-On MT2500 w/MB module. I hear the newest module now does cover some common body and chassis functions like AB and ABS.

There is a program called Carsoft that works from a PC that claims many of MBs scanner functions.

An amazing professional tool that has just hit the markets is the Launch X431. At less than three grand it is right up there with the best aftermarket tools and it covers most other euro and asian cars.

And if you are in the "Ultimate Garage" crowd, you probably should just get a MB "Basic" and do it all for just under ten grand.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician