I bought this over five years ago. This used to be the best car scanner I have ever seen. They used to give you all kinds of fixes including fixes from backyard mechanics and level VI auto technicians. They would give you actual step-by-step how to troubleshoot the problem and how to fix it. ButI picked this up and attached it to my harness and he gave me a firmware update. So far so good. But was I ever shocked when I saw the codes of my cars faulty equipment, but it didn't even tell me what it was it just give me a generalized answer with no advice, no where to look or anything. I don't know what happened to such a great program but it's no longer great. Looks like I'll have to wait to go back to work and use the offices snap-on auto scanner.
UPDATED TO 5 STARS.
Bluedriver NEVER STOPS TRYING! It keeps updating its firmware through my phone, and BD Keeps updating its Fixes and Solutions. After my 1ST bad experience with BD, it uploaded another software update via Android, to correct all the bugs that I had from that update. Now everything, all the advice, potential cost, Tech Level 6 suggestions, etc are back. And it is dead on. Before the update, it told me that I had an overheating water code, but it wasn't specific. It could have been the electric fan, the electric thermostat, the relay, the capacitor in the electric fan, anything. So because, in that update, the fan didn't start, the electric thermostat was volatile, I didn't have a relay tester, I had to book an appointment with a level 6 technician at the dealer, waiting two weeks for the appointment.
While I was driving to the mechanic, it's already too late to cancel, I forgot that I left my BD scanner hardware in the obd connector, and my Bluedriver App updated and the firmware updated on the way to the mechanic and when I arrived, it gave me a LIVE READING that my Water Temperature was Overheating, and that my electric fan couldn't start because it couldn't connect with the electric thermostat. In other words, it said the code meant that the most likely culprit was not the fan but the electric thermostat. It allowed me to save the report as a PDF file which I exported to my computer. It also gave me the FIXES, How to fix it, I'm not sure if it gave me the cost or not, but it gave me the cost for the part which was $42 on Amazon. It also told me that I was leaking oil when it compared oil levels, in 30 minute time frames etc. This happened too late, while I stood in line and gave my car keys to the mechanic. I ended up paying $900 to install a $42 thermostat and two new rocker panels which I could have put in myself had I known. So now I keep the firmware updated, having faith that the people who run BD will immediately correct any bugs, and also update daily new fixes, new solutions, new car makes and models. This scanner is reasonably priced, too popular to go away, and has the best fix solutions for do it yourself backyard mechanics like myself. At the very least, if a mechanic tells you have something wrong that costs more, you know he is lying because this app will tell you. But for now, I have had this since 2017, and it has never broken. I usually keep it in the house where it is cool, i wouldn't leave this is a very hot car in the summer. What I love about this obd scanner is that not only does it give me fixes and what likely what part it is, but also the cost for a do it yourselfer, by going to the auto parts stores to find the exact cost for your model, you don't have to put your model, as they have your vin number. It gives you several solutions what it could be if the first one you did, had no effect. It gives you Level 6 Technician suggestions and how to do it. It also lets you take the car for a run in the live mode and check for smog. It checks on my ABS brakes, detects SRS, and allows me to SAVE that report, and Export the entire Report as a PDF file which I can print later and try to figure out. Their tech support is outstanding, their updates seem to be every 2 weeks to once a month. I have not been compensated for this review, but their Solutions to your codes are so USER FRIENDLY, and written in a code for the backyard mechanic, it just makes it so easy. But the reason that BD can do all this is because unlike the most expensive scanners like Snapdragon, which you are paying for an entire computer in a suitcase, which includes processors, hard drives and data that is uploaded to that hard drive with yearly memberships is because Bluedriver uses the processor on your phone, the flashdriver on your phone and its ability to connect to its vast online database. BD is also helpful to professional Level 6 technicians, because most of the solutions or fixes are accurate and verified by Professional Automotive Technicians because its db is online and frequented by comments from technicians. it checks Airbag, Transmission, etc. It has separate windows for Pending and permanent codes and will clear codes, It shows things that you may not be able to fix yourself like Freeze Frame: Vehicle snapshot. It offers Live Data how your care is functioning while you drive around. It gives you a smog check and suggests whether it's the EGR valve, Oxygen sensor, etc. All of its fixes that have been verified by ASE Certified Technicians. It even tells you if your vehicle has had PARTS RECALLS so you can get down to your dealer. It offers maintainence schedules for oil changes, air filters, etc, Technical Service Bulletins about your vehicle, and what other car owners have found out what usually goes wrong the vehicle. It tells you if your car is ready for an emissions test, gives you fuel trim info how your driving can improve mileage, i assume that's what its for.
It does have a couple of weaknesses, it doesn't support bidirectional communication which means it can't open your doors, etc. And This will not work without an online connection.
One last thing, I brought my BD to advise a friend who wanted to buy a car at Christopher's Auto nearby which has a reputation as an honest car sales unit. I checked out the toyota he was about to buy with this, and Bluedriver said that the the brakes had pending codes and functioning problems. It also said in the history that someone had cleared the codes for a waterpump issue without fixing the pump itself. But The salesman told me that the owner had tried to pawn his vehicle off on him when his snapdragon had caught that, and so he offered several hundred dollars less for the vehicle to the owner. The salesman showed me the service bill to show he had just replaced the brakes and the waterpump on the car, but forgot to clear the codes so he cleared it with his snapdragon and the code disappeared when he drove it. But the snapdragon didn't give an important PARTS RECALL for this vehicle. And my bluedriver said the engine was misfiring in live mode and costing the fueltrim several miles per gallon, which made the guy tune it up before selling it to him.
At some point, Bluedriver will be offer millions of dollars to sell their company will be bought out by a larger company who will merge it with his failing company to save money, they will lay off BD employees who update the database while the new company strips everything valuable to sell it, they will use cheaper materials in the scanners so it doesn't last and a good business will fall apart. But for now, it's mine and it works! I have gotten my $99 purchase repaid back many times.
| Brand | BlueDriver |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 2.2"L x 1.9"W x 1"H |
| Operating System | iOS and Android |
| Language | English |
| UPC | 822195000081 889284337718 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00822195000081 |
| Manufacturer | Lemur Vehicle Monitors |
| Model | BlueDriver |
| Item Weight | 2.08 ounces |
| Item model number | LSB2 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Manufacturer Part Number | LSB2 |
| Special Features | Freeze Frame:Vehicle snapshot when a code is stored., Repair Reports: Code Definition, Possible Causes, Reported Fixes (Vehicle-specific for each DTC)., Read and Clear Enhanced Codes: e.g. ABS, Airbag, Transmission, etc for GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, 2005+ Mercedes, 2008+ Mitsubishi, and 2011+ Hyundai (available worldwide), as well as VW (available in North America), 2003+ Honda (available in North America), and 2005+ BMW (available in North America) and Subaru (available in the U.S.)., Read and Clear CEL Codes: Confirmed, Pending, and Permanent for all makes., Smog Check: See if the vehicle is ready for a smog test |
