For years, I’ve relied on a DS150e OBD2 scanner, and it’s consistently proven its worth across numerous vehicles. From simple tasks like clearing persistent EGR fault codes on older cars – a common software quirk even with new parts – to helping friends and family diagnose their rides, it’s been an invaluable tool. My retired mechanic friend, once accustomed to dealership diagnostic equipment, even got his own after experiencing mine. My brother-in-law, after a minor mishap with his car resulting in a flurry of fault codes, was equally impressed by its ability to clear them all post-repair.
When it comes to my current Mini Cooper, this scanner has truly been a money-saver. I’ve encountered EGR valve codes a couple of times, which were easily cleared. More crucially, a frightening airbag light incident, which deactivated all airbags and safety systems, was swiftly resolved. My basic Bluetooth Android reader was useless, unable to even detect, let alone clear, the codes, and I was bracing myself for a hefty repair bill. It turned out to be a blown boot light fuse. Incredibly, this seemingly minor issue caused the passenger airbag disabled light to fail, triggering the airbag module into a full system shutdown. Replacing the fuse and restoring the warning light function wasn’t enough; the fault code needed clearing, and my trusted scanner did the job perfectly.
It’s important to note that the extra cables often included with these units are generally unnecessary for modern vehicles. They are designed for older cars with pre-OBD standard connectors, particularly older BMWs. Unless you’re working on a car older than the mid-90s when OBD became standardized, the standard OBD plug on these scanners will be all you need. The additional cables simply adapt the OBD plug to those older, proprietary connectors.
If you’re looking for a similar unit at a potentially lower price point, there are alternatives available.
I’ve had a similar unit bookmarked for a while, though I haven’t yet made the purchase. My ideal upgrade would be a Bluetooth-enabled unit without the extra cables, typically priced around £35 plus postage, although prices fluctuate. The main reason for my hesitation is simply that my current scanner continues to function perfectly well, but an upgrade is definitely on the horizon.
On the topic of Bluetooth OBD2 scanners, I’ve had a negative experience with the Carista unit. I tried it twice, drawn in by its advertised coding capabilities. The first time, I returned it within a week as its coding features were far less comprehensive than claimed. The second attempt, two and a half years later, was even more disappointing. The software had become cluttered and less user-friendly, and basic functions like reading and clearing codes were now locked behind a subscription paywall. Furthermore, it was detecting phantom error codes that were not actually present and wouldn’t allow clearing them without subscribing. Despite this, I persevered with testing, hoping to utilize its coding features to disable bulb checking – I had switched to LEDs and wanted to avoid the flickering light show on startup and during driving. However, the coding options had actually decreased since my first trial, including the previously available light checking settings. Therefore, I strongly advise against Carista. Save your money and invest in a more reliable and transparent Bluetooth OBD2 scanner for your Mini Cooper diagnostic needs.
