Should I get an iCarsoft i980 for CDI diagnosis? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

shertex · #1 01-26-2016, 02:32 PM

I have a cheap $20 code reader. But I wonder if something with more capabilities (yet short of an MB Star clone) might be a good investment, in particular to diagnose my CDI. The one that caught my eye was the iCarsoft i980, which can be had for about $135. Would this be as good a choice as any? What sorts of things will it do that the basic code reader will not do?

As you can perhaps tell from my questions, I have, at best, a very rudimentary knowledge of diagnostic tools and what they can do. But I'm happy to spend a bit more money and buy something that I can "grow into" over time.

Thanks.

DieselPaul · #2 01-26-2016, 02:40 PM

I bought the next step up, it was like $169. Well worth it. Buy it.

It's not going to do any coding, you'd need STAR for that. It can put SBC into service mode for pads, it can scan pretty much any system on the car, it can reset the steering angle sensor after an alignment, it can reset the maintenance indicator (yes I know you can do this without a tool), etc.

Mine diagnosed and fixed my airbag light sensor. One hour diagnosis, no parts, no repair at the dealer would have been roughly what I paid for the scan tool. So I'd say it's money well spent.

Using data-streaming I figured out that a $13 sensor was totally screwing my CDI too.

Well. I've re-convinced myself it was a good purchase haha. Used it on my E55, cleared a BAS warning on a friends 210, diagnosed a transmission issue on a 203 with it, reset the maintenance light on the sprinter, etc. It also work as a generic OBD2 scan tool, so I've used it on my BMWs and the F250.

shertex · #3 01-26-2016, 02:46 PM

What's the model number of the one you have?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

I bought the next step up, it was like $169. Well worth it. Buy it.

It's not going to do any coding, you'd need STAR for that. It can put SBC into service mode for pads, it can scan pretty much any system on the car, it can reset the steering angle sensor after an alignment, it can reset the maintenance indicator (yes I know you can do this without a tool), etc.

Mine diagnosed and fixed my airbag light sensor. One hour diagnosis, no parts, no repair at the dealer would have been roughly what I paid for the scan tool. So I'd say it's money well spent.

Using data-streaming I figured out that a $13 sensor was totally screwing my CDI too.

Well. I've re-convinced myself it was a good purchase haha. Used it on my E55, cleared a BAS warning on a friends 210, diagnosed a transmission issue on a 203 with it, reset the maintenance light on the sprinter, etc. It also work as a generic OBD2 scan tool, so I've used it on my BMWs and the F250.

DieselPaul · #4 01-26-2016, 02:48 PM

Apparently I have the i980

Mercedes Benz Car Diagnostic Scanner SRS ABS Engine Genuine Icarsoft Mbii I980 | eBay

I paid $169.99 shipped. Maybe they went down if you're seeing $135.

shertex · #5 01-26-2016, 02:55 PM

It looks like they are two different units. The one that is designated MB II is more expensive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

Apparently I have the i980

Mercedes Benz Car Diagnostic Scanner SRS ABS Engine Genuine Icarsoft Mbii I980 | eBay

I paid $169.99 shipped. Maybe they went down if you're seeing $135.

shertex · #6 01-26-2016, 03:08 PM

Interesting that you were able to use it on your friend's 210....I didn't think it worked on those.

Zulfiqar · #7 01-26-2016, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselPaul

I bought the next step up, it was like $169. Well worth it. Buy it.

It's not going to do any coding, you'd need STAR for that. It can put SBC into service mode for pads, it can scan pretty much any system on the car, it can reset the steering angle sensor after an alignment, it can reset the maintenance indicator (yes I know you can do this without a tool), etc.

Mine diagnosed and fixed my airbag light sensor. One hour diagnosis, no parts, no repair at the dealer would have been roughly what I paid for the scan tool. So I'd say it's money well spent.

Using data-streaming I figured out that a $13 sensor was totally screwing my CDI too.

Well. I've re-convinced myself it was a good purchase haha. Used it on my E55, cleared a BAS warning on a friends 210, diagnosed a transmission issue on a 203 with it, reset the maintenance light on the sprinter, etc. It also work as a generic OBD2 scan tool, so I've used it on my BMWs and the F250.

did the unit come with the 38 pin round connector?

shertex · #8 01-26-2016, 05:46 PM

It looks like the MBii one is the one to get. Some vendors also give it the i980 designation, others do not. It looks like it's the same product....the one with the horizontal rather than vertical orientation.

DieselPaul · #9 01-27-2016, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

did the unit come with the 38 pin round connector?

No I didn't. None of my cars use it.

shertex · #10 01-27-2016, 10:13 AM

I ordered the MBII....mainly for my CDI. It would be nice to have a scanner that would do similar stuff with my 98 E300, but the W210 is not supported by this particular scanner.

Zulfiqar · #11 01-28-2016, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

I ordered the MBII....mainly for my CDI. It would be nice to have a scanner that would do similar stuff with my 98 E300, but the W210 is not supported by this particular scanner.

The W210 are interrogated from the mercedes benz serial interface in the fuse box in the engine room - you will need an oldschool muxer unit in between to jump between systems. While the 16 pin DLC is far more advanced and just takes different command patterns to determine what unit to talk to, the 38 pin interface literally has separate pins leading to different modules.

the old car soft works on the w210.

shertex · #12 01-28-2016, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

The W210 are interrogated from the mercedes benz serial interface in the fuse box in the engine room - you will need an oldschool muxer unit in between to jump between systems. While the 16 pin DLC is far more advanced and just takes different command patterns to determine what unit to talk to, the 38 pin interface literally has separate pins leading to different modules.

the old car soft works on the w210.

Is there a particular unit you could recommend for the W210?

Zulfiqar · #13 01-28-2016, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

Is there a particular unit you could recommend for the W210?

the old carsoft 7.4 works. You will have to buy the whole kit with the muxer and then have a really old laptop with an actual hardwired serial interface.

make sure the kit you buy is reliable, some kits coming from china only have 4 or 5 pins wired up in the 38 pin plug which will be useless.