I am looking at buying some diagnostic kit but need to know from those who know what I'm getting / buying.

I am going to buy a brand new Launch diagun or second hand Snap on Solus. Prices are similar.

If I go for the latter what am I looking for software wise - not OEM specific but the year it can actually diagnose.

I see loads of Solus systems on ebay and they are advertised due to upgrade - I thought this system was the tits? Why dont people upgrade / get latest software?

Any comments, advice, discussion is welcome.

One advertiser has a Solus and the equivilent osciliscope too - my budget is possibly £1K (hence 2nd hand) and just dont want to be ripped off.

 

its cheaper to trade it in and get a new one for what the upgrades cost as most people pay monthly for them from what ive seen in my centres.

never liked the launch personally

 

Good to know

 

So what should I do? I am not working on stuff thats brand new - dealer stuff for the owners.

I am looking at up to 2009 at a guess though. If independants / franchises are trading in each year as it seems economical to do, what software / version am I looking at buying?

I'd like the actual codes so I can ask questions

 

if its the snap-on stuff then
the software code is easily explained,
eg 10.2 10.4 10.6 etc
the 1st part is the year its introduced, i.e 2010
9.2 is 2009 8.2 is 2008 11.2 is 2011 etc
the second part comes up in .2 intervals and its just the number of update for the year, he bigger the number the later the update
eg 10.4 is newer that 10.2 etc
they generaly cover up to that year eg 10.2 will cover upto 2010 cars etc
but more recently the newer updates are also adding more manufacturers as well
the latest 12.4(i think) had added jaguar, so if you wanted to do a 2008 jag then you'd need to get the latest software,
the solus itself is a very capable machine, but again it becomes more useful with newer software as the more up to date software lets you do dpf regeneration, but the older software doesn't have this facility,
if you do a lot of jap stuff then the launch is without a doubt better but the snap on software is catching up recently, but if is mainly european stuff you do then the snap-on stuff is better,
overall they are both good capable machines, they both have strenghts and weaknesses
it depends on what you want to do with it, both will let you down at some point where the other would have succeded, but unless you want to buy both theres no getting round that
if you do go for the solus, then i highly recommend getting the 1 with the latest software you can afford

 

I have a diagun and its excellent very good piece off kit and I use it daily

 

Snap-on has massive dealer backup dont forget...... always worth a premium IMO

Also, a scan tool is only as good as the person using it,
if i was looking for something myself i would just buy a cheap scan tool and a 4 channel picoscope

so i guess it depends totaly on how good YOU are relying on what is basicaly a scan tool.

i use a Bosch KTS670 that has wiring diagrams, etc etc on its windows based system and has a good `scope on it too, but there like £8k or summat lol
with the exception of some Range Rovers and Jags, there isnt a lot these wont do

again it brings you back to what YOU are going to be doing with the diag gear really

hope that didnt sound arsey, genuinly wasnt ment to be

Sean.

theres a used 670 on fleabay here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOSCH-KTS6...item35c1dc8d31

 

i agree with that if its just to be used as a scan tool,
but if you want to use it to code injectors, regen a dpf or reset systems etc
then you need something better than a cheap scan tool,
but these are only useful if you know how to use them correctly so again that comes back to what you've said,
but if its just for reading fault codes then there's plenty systems out there that will do the same job for much much less than a grand

whats the like bosch like for updates?
how'd you go about it and whats the cost, i remember looking into 1 a couple years ago, but the moron sent to demo it to me didnt realy know so i didnt even consider it, but being bosch i thought it might be quite good, but never did find out

 

Hey guys thanks for the quick responses

I have code readers lol, I just know I need to invest in some diagnostic kit now with all the crap I'm getting from my small and regular custom.

I am not a mechanic but need to be able to fix stuff. I know a diagnostic kit wont tell me whats wrong but it will give me data to enable process of elimination. I also need the bi functional option of machines to trigger things.

I am willing to learn, be educated etc. this is deffo not a points for prizes thread. I need to do, not think lol.

 

i think its the bollocks, easy to use and work out how to use too.

if it fails they have it collected,repaired and sent back out ASAP

update disks sent next day

over the phone help, down to earth people with a lot of experience too.

updates every 3 or 4 months i think?!

it does walk you through testing with pictures of terminals and plugs with suggested correct readings etc, good

 

Cosnada, the Solus might "hold your hand" better than the launch i think,

but the KTS670 will show you what to check, where to check it and how!

but its all cost....... you need to make it work for a living, especially if its a £1.5k+ jobbie.

 

OUCH!

Dont get me wrong, I know diagnosis aint cheap

For what I do I dont need dealership quality every time - a good knowledge and year range would be sufficient.

Hey Sean, I am no way knocking your experience or skill but I am almost at doing this at favour level - if you can assist with my stupid requirements then great - not saying you have not been helpful up to now

You seem a guru in your field - I need to start to venture in - my budget is deffo no more that 1K hence 2nd hand Solus etc. I have not come accross or had dealings with DPF yet

 

hmmmm,

so will you get into coding injectors, throttle bodies, DPF regens and that sort of bollocks?

if not then early used solus will do you good

Listen, we all gotta start somewhere!
the more you play, the more you learn right...........
think of it like a girlfriends orgasms

 

Exactly!

So, whats best - Solus as near up to date version as I can get then?

Whats sooo wrong with the dia gun?

I have a handful of peeps I keep quiet but this day and age you cant keep the diognostics at bay - this is my introduction lol. TBH, if I am spending I will be recouping lol.

I know you are possibly 10 years ahead of me - I am not ignorant, I am just not in the know - help is very much welcomed. I am not so humble to not ask

 

good good, willing is key!

i just dont like launch, dunno?! lol

try to buy used solus from snap on dealer, used ones can be scetchy, when you go to update them, if "stolen" or money owed, they are shut down and your fucked.

find some local sellers, and go have a play mate, cant say better than that really
pity your so far from me to help you, distance wise

you might like the launch, different strokes for different folks n all that

 

by the sounds of it, an early solus will be ok for you,
but you will of course end up getting more involved with more modern stuff eventualy,
so the newer software will mean you can go longer before you need to update again in x years time,
there is nothing at all wrong with the diagun, its just differant to the solus in some area's
as i said earlier, they bot have their strenghts, i think the solus is more user freindly for what your looking at, but if you get offered a realy good deal on a launch then go for that as its just as good realy

defo try see your local snap on dealer, they are getting lots traded in to them just now as lots of people are trading up to te new ultra, it does pretty much the same stuff just faster and touch screen, but defo more than you need and and way over your budget, but the trade ins would be excellent for you, thats actualy a good idea, i was talking to my snap on guy couple weeks ago and he was doing trade in models with 2011 software for £1000, so might be worth asking

 

TYVM

I apreciate your advice. I know your diagnostic knowlege is hard earnt and sharing do's and dont's for free is awesome

 

Thing is you can pick the diagun up brand new off eBay for under 700 quid albeit a Chinese one but that's were mine come from and It so far does everything I ask off it from programming stuff to live readings ect and its Bluetooth which I find very useful!

 

Thinking of this one maybe........

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2511895239...84.m1423.l2649

 

Never been impressed with the Launch stuff...

Love the Bosch equipment. So easy to use and so much info with it.

Used to have a Solus. While it was ok at getting into diagnostics it was that simple to use with the Yes/No interface that it made it long winded and a pain in the arse to use. Sold it on for a KTS670 and never looked back. The newer Snap On stuff is coming through with touch screens on now and better user interfaces so they are a lot nicer to use but obviously they're not really in your budget!

Sean, the KTS should be getting a JLR shot in the arm over the next few updates.

 

Exactly the one I got mate

 

So, being a copy did you have any issues firing it up the 1st time? With the genuine Launch stuff you have to enter keys into the official Launch site to get the sofware to download. I s the software already in the unit?

 

No problems at all started straight up so far I had it on all sorts from clios to x5 and audis with no problem there are better kits on the market, but I think for the money there ace