Autel MaxiSYS MS908 - thoughts?

[The Critic]

Looking to get a decent all makes/models scan tool with decent coverage for Japanese makes (other than Toyota, which I already have Techstream Lite).

I am looking for something with bi-directional controls, J2534 programming capability and a reasonable level of coverage (no one's going to be as good as OE, that's a given).

The MS908 seems to be a pretty good bang for the buck. What do you guys think?

 

[Vikas]

I don't think you are going to find many people around here who own that one. So you are mostly going to get usual "don't buy chinese excrement; buy Snap On" type of answers.

If I am not mistaken, both Scotty K and Eric O have them and reviewed them highly.

 

[Silk]

We've had one at work for about 5 years. At first I wasn't happy that it could do Veyrons and Bently's, Maserattis and Aston Martins...but not a Nissan Primera or Toyota Caaldina, which we see a little more of. It is biased to later model cars and has nothing for older Japanese cars. I was away for a couple of years, and coming back it appears to do a bit more of the older stuff now. Scanned a 2003 Passat today, and a later model Estima, both ok.

My biggest critisism is it's so slow, I'm used to faster scanners.

 

[Vikas]

I do not believe MS908 was even made 5 years ago.

 

[Silk]

Maybe 4? I was working somewhere else for a couple of years, coming back to the same place is a bit sureal. I'm in New Zealand, we got our MaxiDas well before I started seeing them mentioned on US forums.

 

[Vikas]

OK, that makes sense. But aren't Autel almost 1/4 of the equivalent Snap On scanners even in New Zeland? Snap On is not known for its reliability either. Eric O. has been fixing his Snap On Verus every other month for thousand dollars or more. It has become a running gag now.

 

[Jim_Truett]

Originally Posted By: Silk
Maybe 4? I was working somewhere else for a couple of years, coming back to the same place is a bit sureal. I'm in New Zealand, we got our MaxiDas well before I started seeing them mentioned on US forums.


Seems you are talking about the MaxiDas DS708. Its considerably older and slower than the MS908 MaxiSys the OP is inquiring about.

 

[The Critic]

Thanks guys.

In doing more research, the MS905 is the mini version of the MS908. The only differences between the two are battery life, screen size and the capability of adding a J2534 interface for the MS908.

I do not plan to rely on their J2354 module since it is not OE approved for most manufacturers, so that's really a non-issue for me. I can live with the smaller screen size and slightly shorter battery life.

So for me, the Maxisys Mini (MS905) is probably the better deal. I can get the Mini for $1350 shipped, which is about $600 less than its larger Maxisys brother.

 

[bowlofturtle]

To drop $1350 on a scanner.... you would have to be working/needing this once a week to make it work out enough.

Most of the time you can get by without using bi-directional stuff. U use it to confirm what you 90% already assume.

When i had access to snapon stuff, i didn't use it much. Only thing i really needed was for EVAP problems to manually activate/deactive the purge valve.

Stuff like door locks and window motors, u can do it old school and sometimes even faster.

I have techsteam lite at my finger tips too but rarely use that.

 

[Vikas]

And you need to be able to charge your customer $130 for telling them which code is active when they bring it to you for check engine light. Since he is in CA, his customers can NOT get free code read from Autozone. He only needs to get ten such customers and the scanner is paid for!!





Those who know me, understand that I am only kidding.

 

[The Critic]

Update:

I ended up with a Snap-On Solus Ultra with the 15.2 software (with Euro). The price was about $1500 from eBay.

After giving it some use on a few vehicles, I will say that its coverage for Honda and Toyota are surprisingly good for bi-directional controls. I can initiate many of the same tests that are available in the factory scan tool, but it's also far from the real deal.

For an all makes/model tool, it isn't bad for what it costs. The graphing is quite good and the data is reasonably accurate for the mainstream makes.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
And you need to be able to charge your customer $130 for telling them which code is active when they bring it to you for check engine light. Since he is in CA, his customers can NOT get free code read from Autozone. He only needs to get ten such customers and the scanner is paid for!!

Why can't AZ or AAP read codes in CA?




Those who know me, understand that I am only kidding.


Why can't AZ or AAP read codes in CA? Is that Calif or Canada?

 

[Vikas]

California; I think they do NOT allow the code to be cleared but I have no first hand knowledge about it.

 

[Trav]

Can you get the loyalty discount to bump up to 15.4 for $550 or something like that, ask the SO guy he can do it right in the truck.
I have used this tool, its good but the cost of updates is high.