For automotive enthusiasts and professionals alike, having a reliable OBD2 scan tool is indispensable. These devices bridge the gap between you and your vehicle’s complex computer systems, offering insights into performance, diagnostics, and overall health. When it comes to Bluetooth OBD2 adapters, two names frequently surface: BlueDriver® and OBDLink MX+. Both promise to transform your smartphone into a powerful diagnostic tool, but a closer examination reveals crucial differences. This article provides a comprehensive comparison, dissecting key features to determine which scan tool truly reigns supreme – OBDLink MX+ or BlueDriver®. We’ll delve into categories including enhanced OEM diagnostics, sampling rate, over-voltage protection, OBD app support, battery drain protection, and warranty to provide a clear and data-driven verdict.
The true measure of a scan tool lies in its ability to access and interpret vehicle data beyond the basics. “Enhanced OEM diagnostics” is the key here, referring to manufacturer-specific data unavailable through generic OBD-II protocols. This enhanced data falls into two main categories:
- Enhanced Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): Going beyond generic codes to include system-specific codes like ABS, Airbag, and HVAC.
- Enhanced Parameters (PIDs): Accessing live data streams for parameters like transmission temperature, tire pressure, and individual wheel speeds.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Generic OBD-II | Yes | Yes |
| OEM DTCs | Yes | Limited support |
| OEM Live Parameters | Yes* | No |
| GM SW-CAN | Yes | No |
| Ford MS-CAN | Yes | No |
*Refer to the “Manufacturer-Specific Enhanced Diagnostics Support” for detailed vehicle compatibility.
While both OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver support standard OBD-II functions, their capabilities diverge significantly when it comes to enhanced OEM diagnostics. BlueDriver offers limited support for OEM DTCs, but crucially, it lacks the ability to read any OEM live parameters. For users seeking in-depth monitoring of parameters like transmission temperature or tire pressure, BlueDriver falls short.
Another critical limitation of BlueDriver is its inability to access manufacturer-specific networks in GM and Ford vehicles. This is due to a hardware deficiency – BlueDriver lacks the necessary pins (1, 3, and 11) to communicate on these networks. OBDLink MX+, however, is equipped to communicate on both GM SW-CAN and Ford MS-CAN networks. This broader network access unlocks thousands of additional DTCs and parameters on these vehicles, data points that remain inaccessible to BlueDriver.
OBDII connector pins highlighted to show the hardware difference between OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver OBD2 scanners.
Consider the network architecture of a 2015 Ford Expedition as an example. Modern vehicles utilize multiple electronic control units (ECUs) to manage various functions. These ECUs communicate over different networks, such as HS-CAN and MS-CAN in this Ford example. OBDLink MX+ can interface with modules on both networks, providing comprehensive diagnostic coverage. In contrast, BlueDriver is restricted to HS-CAN, leaving modules and valuable data on the MS-CAN network completely out of reach.
Comparison of OBD app support between OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver Bluetooth OBD2 adapters, highlighting the versatility of OBDLink.
Both OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver include their own companion apps for Android and iOS platforms. However, OBDLink MX+ extends its compatibility to Windows-based diagnostics with a license for OBDwiz software. The real advantage of OBDLink MX+ in app support lies in its open architecture. Unlike BlueDriver’s closed system, OBDLink MX+ is compatible with a vast ecosystem of third-party automotive apps. This expands its functionality far beyond basic diagnostics, enabling users to perform specialized tests, track lap times, create custom digital dashboards, optimize vehicle performance, improve fuel efficiency, and even control vehicle features like door locks on compatible models.
BlueDriver’s closed architecture restricts users to their proprietary app, limiting flexibility and potential functionality. The open platform of OBDLink MX+ provides users with a wealth of choices and customization options, catering to a wider range of automotive needs and preferences.
A variety of third-party apps compatible with the OBDLink MX+ Bluetooth OBD2 adapter, showcasing its open architecture and versatility.
The single proprietary app offered with the BlueDriver OBD2 adapter, highlighting its closed architecture and limited app ecosystem.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party apps | Yes – Dozens of popular apps | No – BlueDriver® app only |
| iOS support | Yes | Yes |
| Android support | Yes | Yes |
| Windows support | Yes | No |
Sampling rate is a crucial performance metric for OBD devices, representing the number of data samples captured per second. A higher sampling rate is essential for accurately capturing rapidly changing signals, monitoring multiple parameters simultaneously, and achieving smooth, responsive data visualizations like graphs and digital dashboards.
Visual comparison of PID graph smoothness, demonstrating the impact of a higher sampling rate in OBDLink MX+ compared to lower rate tools.
Video demonstration of high sampling rate benefits in OBDLink MX+, showcasing smoother data acquisition and real-time responsiveness.
Benchmark tests reveal a significant performance gap in sampling rate. BlueDriver’s sampling rate fluctuates between 5 and 10 samples per second. Under identical testing conditions, OBDLink MX+ demonstrated speeds up to ten times faster. This superior sampling rate translates to more accurate and responsive data, crucial for detailed diagnostics and performance monitoring.
For OBD2 adapters designed to remain plugged in, low-power “sleep” mode is a critical feature. When the engine is off, the vehicle’s battery is no longer being charged, and any parasitic drain can lead to battery depletion. An intelligently designed scan tool should enter a low-power state quickly and consume minimal energy in sleep mode.
Image depicting a dead car battery due to parasitic drain, emphasizing the importance of low sleep current in OBD2 adapters.
Multimeter readings showing current draw, illustrating the difference in power consumption between OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver in sleep mode.
Testing reveals that BlueDriver takes three times longer to enter low power mode and consumes 7.5 times more energy during idle state. Alarmingly, BlueDriver’s sleep current consumption is 19.3 milliamperes, which can be double the vehicle’s own parasitic draw and ten times greater than OBDLink MX+. This excessive current draw poses a real risk of battery drain, a concern echoed by numerous BlueDriver users.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep delay | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Idle current | 39 mA | 73 mA |
| Sleep current | 1.8 mA | 19.3 mA |
Automotive electrical systems are harsh environments, and OBD devices must be engineered to withstand voltage fluctuations and transients. A particularly dangerous condition is the “load dump” pulse, a high-energy voltage spike that can occur when the battery is abruptly disconnected from the alternator while charging, often due to corroded battery terminals.
Diagram illustrating a load dump pulse in a vehicle electrical system, highlighting the importance of overvoltage protection in OBD2 scanners.
Overvoltage protection is therefore a critical safety feature. In overvoltage protection tests simulating a load dump condition with a 90-volt pulse, OBDLink MX+ survived without damage, while BlueDriver was rendered inoperable. Further testing, slowly ramping up voltage, caused BlueDriver to smoke and catch fire at just 19 volts. OBDLink MX+’s protection circuit engaged at 18 volts and continued to function normally even under continuous 90-volt exposure. BlueDriver, in contrast, suffered catastrophic failure, with capacitor explosion and permanent damage.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| 90V pulse | No damage | Permanent damage |
| Slow ramp-up, 12V to 90V | No damage | Smoke at 19 volts, caught fire, permanent damage |
| Continuous 90V | No damage | Capacitor exploded, smoke, permanent damage |
Aftermath of overvoltage testing: BlueDriver OBD2 adapter showing fire damage and complete destruction of power regulator.
Warranty coverage reflects manufacturer confidence in product quality and durability. OBDLink MX+ offers triple the warranty period of BlueDriver, providing 3 years of coverage compared to BlueDriver’s 1 year.
| MX+ | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year |
Summary table comparing key features of OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver OBD2 adapters, highlighting the superior capabilities of OBDLink MX+.
| Feature | MX+® | BlueDriver® |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced OEM diagnostics | DTCs and thousands of OEM parameters, access to GM and Ford proprietary networks | DTCs only; no access to GM or Ford proprietary networks |
| OBD app support | Dozens of compatible apps | One app |
| Sampling Rate | Up to 100 samples per second | Up to 10 samples per second |
| Battery drain protection | Excellent | Inadequate – sleep current too high |
| Overvoltage protection | Survives continuous 90 volts with no damage | No overvoltage protections (fails at 19 volts) |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year |
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