I’ll defer to others with more current knowledge, but I would suggest a Mercedes C4 SD Connect system. I have a C3, which is hardwired via serial port, but the C4 can do WiFi with the MUX, I believe.
I looked on Ali Baba and eBay. Ali Baba had some deals under $400-$500, but the prices on eBay were stupid. Not sure what that’s about. Try your “BangGood” guys and see if there’s anything there. You could also post a “want to buy” on BW and see what you get, maybe someone has a C3 or C4 system they want to get rid of. The computer is the easy part, you gotta have the MUX and cables to do it. I would suggest trying to buy a complete system rather than cobble something together out of different sources, as with a complete system you’ll have someone to go back to if you have issues. -D > On Jun 27, 2019, at 10:36 AM, Buggered Benzmail via Mercedes > <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > I’m thinking I need to get one as I mess now with these “newer” cars. I would > appreciate your recommendation as I am lazy (though I have looked through > those BW posts) and you have experience. Paying someone (who is not Joe) > would cover some of the cost. > > What I divined from the BW posts is that buying a HDD loaded with the > software and the Fancy Box with connectors from a chinee vendor is the way to > go, then buying the Special Flavor of laptop (some specific Compaq model if I > recall) to put the HDD in. I looked up those computers and found a bunch > cheepcheep on eBay. > > --FT > Sent from iPhone > >> On Jun 27, 2019, at 10:06 AM, Dan--- via Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> >> wrote: >> >> I don’t recommend the SnapOn scanners for a first time user. As Mitch >> mentioned, they have gaps in what data they can access and display, so you >> end up not having visibility into some things. I have a SnapOn MTG2500 that >> I like to take for inspections, as it’s easy to use and powered by the car, >> so I don’t have to worry about getting power (necessary for the SDS.) >> However, it doesn’t do everything the SDS does, so I lose some visibility >> with it. >> >> There is a good but very long thread on the SDS clones on the BW R129 forum. >> >> You can find a good clone with a laptop, cables and MUX (multiplexer) under >> $500. If you plan on working on just about any MB from the early 90s through >> late 2000s (2000-2010/12) the SDS is indispensable. You’ll wonder how you >> got along without it once you have one. >> >> I figure mine has paid for itself many, many times over in time saved and >> confirmation of diagnoses. >> >> -D >> >> On Jun 27, 2019, at 9:33 AM, Mitch Haley via Mercedes >> <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: >> >>>> I know several of you guys have SDS clones. Dan I think recommended an old >>>> SnapOn setup. Autel has a pricey tablet. Icarsoft has a dedicated MB >>>> tablet. >>> >>> I recommend you find 'Joe's Garage', where Joe is a guy who likes to buy >>> tools (I can tell you where to go in Bellevue Michigan, but that's about >>> it), and see if Joe will plug in his fancy scanner, select the appropriate >>> year and engine size W163 from the menu, and display and clear all the >>> engine and transmission codes. There's a good chance Joe will do that for a >>> picture of Jackson (Tubman?) and no paperwork. >>> >>> I know a Snap-On Soleus Ultra will link up to the TCU in a 2003 ML and >>> display all the transmission stuff. >>> I strongly believe it'll clear all the transmission faults. >>> But it doesn't do EVERYTHING. For instance, I can clear airbag faults from >>> a late model GM car, but I can't clear crash data and make the SRS light go >>> out. The owner of the Ultra says the other Joe down the road has a better >>> scanner that can clear crash data. >>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>> >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
