Capabilities of Entry Level Autel Scanners

Hello, Niether one of these tools is a bi directional scanner. The ms906 models are bi directional and those are or relatively over $1300.00 the mx808 is as close as you can get however it mainly has more reset capabilities. The ms906 models will actuate components. For professional tools the line starts at ms906 and the diy tool top model is an 808.

I'm not sure I follow you completely. There are four “808” models I referenced, two cheaper ones and two more expensive ones, so just saying “808” is confusing. While I'm having trouble collecting and displaying the info Autel has scattered around their many websites, there are tons of aggregate and review sites which show comparisons such as the one I cherrypicked below which state what I…

Hello as a DIY mechanic I have the 906bt which has been a good tool BUT the warranty and service from Autel is a complete joke do not expect any support and the yearly subscription to renew is a bigger joke when you have to spend 600-700 dollars for update software every year my tool would not update the VW software and now will not operate the VW software without completing the update and…

Thanks, I'll look into Launch if I can't find a suitable Autel product. Updateability is my least concern.

Hi Tony, Harbor Freight has some good Zurick brand offerings, so they may be an option. They did carry Autel for a short time, but they were a mixed bag.

Hello Tony, I am a fan of the 906BT. Anything worth having that is Bi Directional and touch screen will not be very cheap. A lot of this depends on the individual's capability and access to good service information. Reading codes is simple, what to do with the information is where it gets people in trouble. A code does not mean throw parts at it. I will say avoid Amazon, they have to many…

I don't have 906 money for this. Realistically active testing is overkill for him but I was hoping to be able to afford something that could do that if possible. That puts me in Amazon non-US territory pricewise. $700ish buys a full feature model. If it works out of the box and can't be updated I'll still consider it. If it doesn't work then that would be a deal breaker for sure :-)

Out of all of these tools that are on your list, the MX808 is the only tool that is updatable in the U.S. I would recommend the MS906S. It would be the lowest priced tool to do what you want.

Updating is not necessarily an issue if it's low enough cost. He won't see a 2020 for a long time. If he catches the scanner bug by then he can get a better one. This is a trial run so to speak.

Hi Tony, Not to sound like a cheapskate, but there are plenty of used Snap On's that come up on Ebay every day. They need to learn how to walk before, they can run, start them out slow. If you go that route, like I said earlier, make sure the seller is the user/owner and ask plenty of question. Many of them are being sold cheap because they need a new battery after a couple of years and the…

That's a good point, I will consider something that is updated to about 2017. Anything cheap on ebay is likely a legacy platform that can't be updated but that's OK. My experience is that SO scanners are physically made more durably than Autel so I would consider used even for myself.

I use the MaxiDAS 808 and so far I find it more than adequate and it does have bidirectional capability and some key fob functions (which I haven't used so I can't detail here, sorry) …. It's cheaper to update software than MaxiSYS, which has a faster processor and more functions I believe. Generally, I am permanently confused by the avalanche of various Autel products, and I cannot get any…

Thanks, Alex, that's exactly the kind of user based input I was looking for.

There are many Autel models, and some of them are not for the U.S. market. If I were to buy an Autel scan tool, I would get one from aeswave​.​com because I know they would take care of any issues if something goes wrong. I'm not advertising for them, I just know they are a reliable source for Autel scan tools. They have the MX808, and it does not have bi-directional controls. Then…

Thanks. It seems more difficult that it should be to get exact capabilities and regions for each model. I'm glad to hear the MX808 and others in the $500 range are not bidirectional capable. That was the price range I was hoping for but I'd regret giving a gift that would be useless in certain testing scenarios. Despite being warned against updateability and warranty, if a $750ish MP or DS works…

JBTools​.​com is a good source for Autel. I paid about $1200 for a MS906BT with 2years updates. I have bought 2 from them. Very pleased. If you will be assisting over the phone, familiarity with the platform is indeed helpful.

Auteltech​.​com/c/www/mk2/3223… auteltech​.​com/c/www/mk3/3743… scroll down click on comparision

Thanks, Dennis. I've checked out a few of their comparisons. They are pretty generic in info but do point out service functions and active test functionality which is my chief concern.

Thanks, I'll look into them, but $1200+ is off the table. The MP and DS seem to be as capable for testing but smaller, no camera, and different processors. Those features aren't important in this case.

Tony, I have had the DS808 MaxiDAS for several years. It has FULL bi-directional capabilities. The only thing it won't do is “coding”. That is no longer sold, but was recently replaced by the MP808, shown here; amazon​.​com/gp/product/B06… Don't believe all the nonsense about “do not buy” from Amazon, btw. As soon as I turned it on, it went to the…

Thanks, Jeff, I was thinking about our old conversation on the 8xx series scanner. I knew less about it then than I do now, if that's possible. I'm glad you have been happy with it and I'm sure you've gone through all of its capabilities on at least a few different makes by now. As far as DS808 not being available, here is one for sale on Amazon claiming “2021”, not that I believe anything just…

I updated my Maxidas DS808 about once a month, during the free year. Then I let it lapse. Then they eventually had a "sale" on renewing, so I got a whole year more of updates, for only $250. That year just ended 10/31 and I let it lapse again. No need for the newest stuff out here, and (as you know) any update can just as easily cause an issue as add a function. e.g. there was one update back in…

Great what did you work out were the specific differences between the MO808 and the DS808?

Hi Tony. I'm late to the party, but agree 100% with Geoff on this. Buy from a trusted source through Amazon and you should be fine. I'd be happy to deal directly with Jorge and Carlos at AES Wave, but shipping and brokerage fees kills the deal on some tools. I ordered a MaxiCom MK906BT through Amazon from Autel CA late on Sunday January 9th. The package arrived around 10 am on Wednesday…

Hi Martin, I have to say I am not fond of Amazon because they sell many products that are not proven as genuine. The same thing happens with Ebay and other sites all the time unfortunately. The avenues are rife with poor and misrepresented sales. They have no seller vetting processes. It is a process of free enterprise that is being heavily exploited. Over the years I have dealt with both…

Agreed Glenn. It is absolutely buyer beware out there and it pays to spend time doing research before making a decision to purchase. Being here in Canada, it's a bit more challenging to make certain purchases, especially from another country. I very nearly purchased the Maxisys MS906BT from Napa locally, but when I went online to order, the price had been jacked up by $200 overnight for the…

Hi Martin. I did get him the MP808 from Amazon. When discussing remote desktop software usage with someone at Autel's tech line he confirmed the MP designation means it is not a US market tool, but I still don't know what that means (or if I'm even repeating the phrase correctly). The MP808 works perfectly (and has all US based lines coverage), takes updates, and when registered shows it has 1…