|
|
Post by studabear on Apr 18, 2021 22:14:22 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by studabear on Apr 18, 2021 22:36:26 GMT 1
Another though is some may be shipped from abroad and the potential to t shafted for import tax.
|
|
remmington
Apprentice
Owns Spark Eroder
Posts: 4,971
|
Post by remmington on Apr 19, 2021 9:01:29 GMT 1
They both look like copies to me for the price. Headline cost in the UK for a MK808EU is about £800 + VAT www.impactdiagnostics.store/autel-range/autel-ds808euAdd bluetooth on this it is £900 + VAT (MK808BT). The prices I am quoting you on are for a genuine EU model.Saying that - I am sure they would work - these copies are good - but it is risky. And I reckon you could kiss the idea of updates into the future goodbye.
"you pays your money and and takes your choice"I just bought a genuine Launch @ well over £2.2k - I could have bought all sorts of "copies" at just over half of the price - but I want a warranty and updates into the future - plus I could not work out - which ones were EU/UK spec. |
|
|
|
Post by trickydicky on Apr 19, 2021 10:05:50 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by trickydicky on Apr 19, 2021 10:36:53 GMT 1
I prefer a Bluetooth VCI myself, might be worth a look at the Launch Diagun V/Launch pro mini S (although I suspect the software of the thingdiag Pro will be very similar) The TOPDON stuff is all Launch based BTW I would buy ThinkDiag again its a super value little tool to be honest, it's got some annoying quirks, like you need it connected to the Internet (I just tether tablet to smartphone) It sends adverts with 5 second countdowns for other Launch products and add ons occasionally (I can live with that for the price) Sometimes it won't pull the VIN and you have to enter it manually (again a minor issue) There are a lot of brands that you won't of heard of or ever see taking up memory (I don't mind as I dedicated the tablet purely for diagnostic stuff) The DTC descriptions are good (includes freeze frame if applicable) Live data is very good lots to choose and you can graph Actuator tests are great, you can do a lot with engine running and display relevant live data as you actuate components I've not really used the special functions, but they are all there and do work from the few I selected and tried as tests |
|
|
|
Post by studabear on Apr 19, 2021 12:44:31 GMT 1
Does the thinkdiag lock out after the 2 years or just doesn't update?
|
|
|
|
Post by trickydicky on Apr 19, 2021 16:49:46 GMT 1
Does the thinkdiag lock out after the 2 years or just doesn't update? Not sure, I suspect they will offer you an online license renewal two years from when you activate the device If it costs £75 per year, you could do a lot worse as they add new stuff to it almost weekly I've got other scan tools, but I like this as it's easy to have everything on one tablet. It will also automatically google search DTCs at the touch of a button, any questions about the device get answered on a user group chat It will try and sell you upgrades for TPMS and Battery testing modules,so only ads relevant to the tool itself from Thinkcar If you do go this route, definately look at FORscan lite for about £5 from playstore, you need the v-gate dongle from Amazon as well but it is great on Ford/Mazda and has probably the best data graphing I've ever seen I like the android stuff, I'm looking at the H-Scope demo as well to see if I can run that wirelessly too (a guy in Canada has one on YouTube) |
|
|
|
Post by givusaclue on Apr 19, 2021 17:55:11 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by liam99 on Apr 19, 2021 18:22:10 GMT 1
This is how I understand it, Might be wrong
Models starting with Maxisys/Ms/Ds are uk models and you'll have back up of Autel uk with no worries
Models with Makicom/Mk are imports and Autel uk won't want to know. These can be restricted so they'll be blocked if they connect to the Internet in a location they wasn't meant to be sold, Warranty can be another issue if dealing with someone in china as they only keep stock in a uk warehouses.
You can buy imported ones from reputable uk sellers who will back it up and no worries, So be careful with Ebay/Amazon
|
|
|
|
Post by valhalla on Apr 19, 2021 18:23:45 GMT 1
Are Autel scanners a minefield for counterfeit models? Yes, the sweet irony of the fact that Autel themselves data-harvest the information on their systems from many other sources - hence they are excellent coverage and generally work better than most systems - is that their fellow Chinese peers then go and re-copy that data-bank yet again, knock-off the hardware, then undersell the genuine items by 50%.
Autel systems that are non-genuine are a minefield, as are many of the other knock-off tools, and you will end-up very disappointed at the point in time where you need to upgrade; it just isn't possible. In fact, it's bad enough trying to upgrade through the official channels when you do actually have a genuine UK license on your equipment - not the happiest experience of Autel from my perspective. It's all very "voodoo" with multiple web-sites, but only one that works with your Autel customer login, and this is because the service for the UK is through the USA, or used to be.
Autel does not time-out like many tools, so if you do need a holiday from the update/subscription service, then that is OK for a while. I'm still using by MS908 after 2+ years of being out of contract, and I just accept that the field of cars coming through my workshop will rely more and more on the Autocom CDP+ software that I now run as mainstream - the Autel is just there as a back-up.
It doesn't make much sense upgrading with Autel after a few years, as the hardware gets progressively slower and more scratched/bashed, yet the software updates are little less than just going out and buying the whole kit brand-new again. Certainly by the time you have amortised the hardware over 3years, it wouldn't make much sense to keep flogging the old tools, not when you can sell them on secondhand to the private market and buy new again. So from that perspective, if you are not having to constantly deal with new cars, it would almost make sense to buy the knock-off tool, and accept all the risks that go with it (such as, it will stay in the cupboard after it has broken, as nobody is going to help you get it going again)
I used trickdicky's suggestion of Diagnostic Connections a wee whiley back, and I cannot agree more that they would be my first port-of-call - excellent service, and definitely the feeling that you are getting something for your money, albeit it's at full-price. The peace-of-mind that someone competent is on the end of the Emial/phone is worth the extra money, IMHO.
|
|
remmington
Apprentice
Owns Spark Eroder
Posts: 4,971
|
Post by remmington on Apr 19, 2021 19:25:01 GMT 1
Are Autel scanners a minefield for counterfeit models? Yes, the sweet irony of the fact that Autel themselves data-harvest the information on their systems from many other sources - hence they are excellent coverage and generally work better than most systems - is that their fellow Chinese peers then go and re-copy that data-bank yet again, knock-off the hardware, then undersell the genuine items by 50%. Autel systems that are non-genuine are a minefield, as are many of the other knock-off tools, and you will end-up very disappointed at the point in time where you need to upgrade; it just isn't possible. In fact, it's bad enough trying to upgrade through the official channels when you do actually have a genuine UK license on your equipment - not the happiest experience of Autel from my perspective. It's all very "voodoo" with multiple web-sites, but only one that works with your Autel customer login, and this is because the service for the UK is through the USA, or used to be. Autel does not time-out like many tools, so if you do need a holiday from the update/subscription service, then that is OK for a while. I'm still using by MS908 after 2+ years of being out of contract, and I just accept that the field of cars coming through my workshop will rely more and more on the Autocom CDP+ software that I now run as mainstream - the Autel is just there as a back-up. It doesn't make much sense upgrading with Autel after a few years, as the hardware gets progressively slower and more scratched/bashed, yet the software updates are little less than just going out and buying the whole kit brand-new again. Certainly by the time you have amortised the hardware over 3years, it wouldn't make much sense to keep flogging the old tools, not when you can sell them on secondhand to the private market and buy new again. So from that perspective, if you are not having to constantly deal with new cars, it would almost make sense to buy the knock-off tool, and accept all the risks that go with it (such as, it will stay in the cupboard after it has broken, as nobody is going to help you get it going again)
I used trickdicky's suggestion of Diagnostic Connections a wee whiley back, and I cannot agree more that they would be my first port-of-call - excellent service, and definitely the feeling that you are getting something for your money, albeit it's at full-price. The peace-of-mind that someone competent is on the end of the Emial/phone is worth the extra money, IMHO.
Your quote "Yes, the sweet irony of the fact that Autel themselves data-harvest the information on their systems from many other sources - hence they are excellent coverage and generally work better than most systems - is that their fellow Chinese peers then go and re-copy that data-bank yet again, knock-off the hardware, then undersell the genuine items by 50%." That does make me smile as well...  Bottom line is: I go the same route as Vahalla - I just buy new - go for two year update deals and run to four years and sell it off. I am selling one off at the moment on ebay - just under four years old. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114763206704Keeping a bit of old diagnostic kit about is a good idea - if you have older cars in and want to do something on them - a job you have done time and time again - digging out a bit of kit that has done it before and you are familer with - does speed up the process. Time out software is what is the enemy. Hold this thought I did a paying job last week with a year 2001 SP ACR4 diagnostic tool I had lying about. |
|
|
|
Post by trickydicky on Apr 19, 2021 19:25:31 GMT 1
Are Autel scanners a minefield for counterfeit models? Yes, the sweet irony of the fact that Autel themselves data-harvest the information on their systems from many other sources - hence they are excellent coverage and generally work better than most systems - is that their fellow Chinese peers then go and re-copy that data-bank yet again, knock-off the hardware, then undersell the genuine items by 50%. Autel systems that are non-genuine are a minefield, as are many of the other knock-off tools, and you will end-up very disappointed at the point in time where you need to upgrade; it just isn't possible. In fact, it's bad enough trying to upgrade through the official channels when you do actually have a genuine UK license on your equipment - not the happiest experience of Autel from my perspective. It's all very "voodoo" with multiple web-sites, but only one that works with your Autel customer login, and this is because the service for the UK is through the USA, or used to be. Autel does not time-out like many tools, so if you do need a holiday from the update/subscription service, then that is OK for a while. I'm still using by MS908 after 2+ years of being out of contract, and I just accept that the field of cars coming through my workshop will rely more and more on the Autocom CDP+ software that I now run as mainstream - the Autel is just there as a back-up. It doesn't make much sense upgrading with Autel after a few years, as the hardware gets progressively slower and more scratched/bashed, yet the software updates are little less than just going out and buying the whole kit brand-new again. Certainly by the time you have amortised the hardware over 3years, it wouldn't make much sense to keep flogging the old tools, not when you can sell them on secondhand to the private market and buy new again. So from that perspective, if you are not having to constantly deal with new cars, it would almost make sense to buy the knock-off tool, and accept all the risks that go with it (such as, it will stay in the cupboard after it has broken, as nobody is going to help you get it going again)
I used trickdicky's suggestion of Diagnostic Connections a wee whiley back, and I cannot agree more that they would be my first port-of-call - excellent service, and definitely the feeling that you are getting something for your money, albeit it's at full-price. The peace-of-mind that someone competent is on the end of the Emial/phone is worth the extra money, IMHO.
If you are a member of simplydiag.net, diagnostic connections have many special deals available definitely worth thinking about as they are a major network sponsor and deal in most of the top brand equipment |
|
|
|
Post by valhalla on Apr 19, 2021 23:05:18 GMT 1
Hold this thought I did a paying job last week with a year 2001 SP ACR4 diagnostic tool I had lying about. It's been a while since I used mine!! I just have it for the 1990's Rovers, although I think I have some other dongles around the desk-drawer somewhere..... |
|
|
|
Post by givusaclue on Apr 20, 2021 12:54:15 GMT 1
Yes, the sweet irony of the fact that Autel themselves data-harvest the information on their systems from many other sources - hence they are excellent coverage and generally work better than most systems - is that their fellow Chinese peers then go and re-copy that data-bank yet again, knock-off the hardware, then undersell the genuine items by 50%. Autel systems that are non-genuine are a minefield, as are many of the other knock-off tools, and you will end-up very disappointed at the point in time where you need to upgrade; it just isn't possible. In fact, it's bad enough trying to upgrade through the official channels when you do actually have a genuine UK license on your equipment - not the happiest experience of Autel from my perspective. It's all very "voodoo" with multiple web-sites, but only one that works with your Autel customer login, and this is because the service for the UK is through the USA, or used to be. Autel does not time-out like many tools, so if you do need a holiday from the update/subscription service, then that is OK for a while. I'm still using by MS908 after 2+ years of being out of contract, and I just accept that the field of cars coming through my workshop will rely more and more on the Autocom CDP+ software that I now run as mainstream - the Autel is just there as a back-up. It doesn't make much sense upgrading with Autel after a few years, as the hardware gets progressively slower and more scratched/bashed, yet the software updates are little less than just going out and buying the whole kit brand-new again. Certainly by the time you have amortised the hardware over 3years, it wouldn't make much sense to keep flogging the old tools, not when you can sell them on secondhand to the private market and buy new again. So from that perspective, if you are not having to constantly deal with new cars, it would almost make sense to buy the knock-off tool, and accept all the risks that go with it (such as, it will stay in the cupboard after it has broken, as nobody is going to help you get it going again)
I used trickdicky's suggestion of Diagnostic Connections a wee whiley back, and I cannot agree more that they would be my first port-of-call - excellent service, and definitely the feeling that you are getting something for your money, albeit it's at full-price. The peace-of-mind that someone competent is on the end of the Emial/phone is worth the extra money, IMHO.
If you are a member of simplydiag.net, diagnostic connections have many special deals available definitely worth thinking about as they are a major network sponsor and deal in most of the top brand equipment simply diag is Steve with no front teeth? used to be on ukautotalk before a seemingly mass exodus / fall out , ex forces was my impression. clever guy from what i've seen |
|
|
|
Post by trickydicky on Apr 20, 2021 13:12:43 GMT 1
If you are a member of simplydiag.net, diagnostic connections have many special deals available definitely worth thinking about as they are a major network sponsor and deal in most of the top brand equipment simply diag is Steve with no front teeth? used to be on ukautotalk before a seemingly mass exodus / fall out , ex forces was my impression. clever guy from what i've seen That's the fella, I used to be on UKAT but I like simplydiag better for the money It's all diag/business talk though, no general mechanics chat like we have at CM You can join for free, you don't have to pay BTW |
|
