When it comes to diagnosing car troubles, having the right scan tool can save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration. Two popular Bluetooth OBD2 adapters on the market are the BlueDriver® and the OBDLink® MX+. Both promise to turn your smartphone into a powerful diagnostic tool, but which one truly comes out on top? In this detailed comparison, we’ll delve into the key features of BlueDriver® OBD2 vs OBDLink® MX+, examining everything from enhanced diagnostics to performance metrics, to help you make an informed decision.
Enhanced OEM Diagnostics: Unlocking Deeper Vehicle Insights
One of the primary reasons to invest in an OBD2 scan tool beyond the basic code reader is to access Enhanced OEM Diagnostics. This capability allows you to go beyond generic OBD-II data and tap into manufacturer-specific information. Think of it as the difference between understanding the surface symptoms and getting to the root cause of a problem. Enhanced OEM diagnostics breaks down into two crucial areas:
- Enhanced Trouble Codes: Accessing fault codes beyond the standard OBD-II, including systems like ABS, Airbag, and HVAC.
- Enhanced Parameters: Monitoring live data parameters unique to your vehicle’s manufacturer, such as transmission temperature, tire pressure, and individual wheel speed.
| 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 |
*Reference the “Manufacturer-Specific Enhanced Diagnostics Support” for specific vehicle coverage
While both BlueDriver® and OBDLink MX+ offer generic OBD-II functionality, their capabilities diverge significantly when it comes to enhanced diagnostics. BlueDriver® provides limited support for OEM DTCs, but crucially, it cannot read any OEM live parameters. If you’re looking to monitor vital signs like transmission temperature or tire pressure, BlueDriver® simply won’t provide the data you need.
Furthermore, BlueDriver®’s limitations extend to network compatibility. It lacks the hardware to access GM and Ford manufacturer-specific networks (SW-CAN and MS-CAN), specifically pins 1, 3, and 11. OBDLink MX+, on the other hand, is equipped to communicate on both networks. This difference is significant, especially for owners of GM and Ford vehicles, as it unlocks access to thousands of additional DTCs and parameters that are completely inaccessible with BlueDriver®.
Consider the network architecture of a modern vehicle like a 2015 Ford Expedition. Electronic Control Units (ECUs), the brains behind various vehicle systems, are often distributed across multiple networks, such as HS-CAN and MS-CAN. OBDLink MX+ can communicate with modules on both networks, offering comprehensive diagnostics. BlueDriver® is restricted to HS-CAN, leaving a significant portion of the vehicle’s diagnostic landscape unexplored, particularly the MS-CAN network.
OBD App Support: Flexibility and Functionality
The usability of an OBD2 adapter is heavily reliant on its accompanying app. Both OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver® provide their own proprietary apps for Android and iOS. However, the ecosystem of app support differs dramatically between the two.
OBDLink MX+ comes with a license for OBDwiz, a Windows-based diagnostic program, expanding its compatibility beyond mobile devices. More importantly, OBDLink MX+ boasts an open architecture, making it compatible with dozens of third-party automotive apps. This open approach significantly enhances its versatility, allowing users to tailor their diagnostic experience with apps specialized for various tasks. These apps can range from advanced diagnostics and performance tracking to fuel efficiency monitoring and even vehicle customization features like remote door lock control on compatible vehicles.
BlueDriver®, in contrast, operates on a closed architecture. Users are limited to the single app provided by BlueDriver®, restricting flexibility and access to specialized functionalities offered by third-party developers.
| 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: Capturing Data with Precision
Sampling rate is a critical specification for an OBD device, representing the number of data samples it captures per second. A higher sampling rate is essential for accurately recording rapidly changing signals and monitoring multiple parameters simultaneously. This is particularly important for tasks like creating smooth graphs of sensor data and displaying real-time digital dashboards.
In direct benchmark tests, BlueDriver®’s sampling rate fluctuated between 5 and 10 samples per second. Under identical conditions, OBDLink MX+ demonstrated a sampling rate up to ten times faster. This significant difference translates to more accurate and responsive data, crucial for diagnosing intermittent issues and performance monitoring.
Battery Drain Protection: Ensuring Long-Term Vehicle Health
For OBD2 devices designed to remain plugged in, low-power “sleep” mode is a vital feature. When the engine is off, the vehicle’s battery is no longer being charged. A poorly designed OBD2 adapter can become a parasitic drain, potentially leading to a dead battery over time. An intelligent scan tool should recognize when the vehicle is off, quickly enter a low-power state, and minimize energy consumption in sleep mode.
Testing reveals a stark contrast in battery drain protection between BlueDriver® and OBDLink MX+. BlueDriver® takes three times longer to enter low power mode and consumes 7.5 times more energy while idle. Alarmingly, in sleep mode, BlueDriver® draws 19.3 milliamperes, which can be twice the parasitic current draw of the vehicle itself and ten times greater than OBDLink MX+. This excessive current draw by BlueDriver® could indeed lead to battery drain issues, a concern echoed by user reports.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep delay | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Idle current | 39 mA | 73 mA |
| Sleep current | 1.8 mA | 19.3 mA |
Overvoltage Protection: Safeguarding Against Electrical Spikes
The automotive electrical system is a harsh environment for electronic devices. One particularly dangerous condition is a “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.
To assess overvoltage protection, both BlueDriver® and OBDLink MX+ were subjected to rigorous testing. Both devices initially operated normally at 12 volts. A 400-millisecond, 90-volt pulse, simulating a load dump, was then introduced. OBDLink MX+ successfully withstood the pulse and continued to function. However, the BlueDriver® unit failed completely, becoming inoperable.
Further investigation involved slowly increasing the voltage supplied to a replacement BlueDriver® unit. At just 19 volts, the BlueDriver® began smoking and caught fire shortly after. In contrast, OBDLink MX+’s protection circuitry activated at 18 volts, and it remained fully functional even after the power was returned to 12 volts.
In a final, extreme test, OBDLink MX+ endured a continuous 90-volt supply indefinitely without any damage. The same continuous 90-volt test caused a BlueDriver® unit’s capacitor to explode, resulting in smoke and permanent failure.
| 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 the slow ramp-up test: BlueDriver’s® power regulator caught fire and was completely destroyed.
Warranty: Long-Term Support and Reliability
Warranty coverage reflects a manufacturer’s confidence in their product’s durability and reliability. OBDLink MX+ offers triple the warranty coverage of BlueDriver®, providing a 3-year warranty compared to BlueDriver’s 1-year warranty (accurate as of September 1, 2019). This difference in warranty periods underscores the differing levels of protection and longevity offered by these devices.
| 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 |
Conclusion: OBDLink MX+ – The Clear Winner for Comprehensive Diagnostics and Robust Performance
In the comparison of Bluedriver Obd2 Vs OBDLink MX+, OBDLink MX+ emerges as the superior scan tool. While BlueDriver® offers a user-friendly experience for basic OBD-II diagnostics, it falls short in several critical areas when stacked against OBDLink MX+. OBDLink MX+ provides comprehensive enhanced OEM diagnostics, a significantly faster sampling rate, superior battery drain protection, and robust overvoltage protection. Combined with its open architecture and longer warranty, OBDLink MX+ offers a more versatile, reliable, and future-proof solution for automotive diagnostics. For users seeking in-depth vehicle insights and a tool built to last, OBDLink MX+ is the clear choice.
