Member Since: 05 Feb 2014
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Posts: 60
Confused over Diagnostic solution
Hi All. I have just purchased a D3 and so far am very pleased with it. I like to do my own servicing and thus I'm on the look out for a diagnostic solution.
Excuse me for being a noob, but I've searched and searched the forum for a comparison on the various diagnostic tools. So far, there is Hawkeye, Nanocom, IID etc etc.
Without stepping on the toes of the vendors, (who might I say I have great respect for) does one system have it over the other or does it just boil down to pricing?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Andrew
(It would be great if I could actually see one of these tools in action to better help the process, but since I'm a new member I've yet to make any contacts)
12th Feb 2014 3:27 am
discoandrewoz
Member Since: 05 Feb 2014
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Posts: 60
Also, one question I forgot to ask. Why aren't people using software only solutions? Is there any particular reason?
Cheers
12th Feb 2014 4:23 am
nighthawk
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
I think mainly it boils down to copy protection.
Software is highly susceptible to piracy and there's no way to stop it. Even the best efforts of the big guys like Microsoft have failed miserably in preventing piracy.
The other reason is sheer convenience. I'd hate to be having a laptop permanently in the car just for fault reading/clearing.Dennis
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial Manual Buckingham Blue
12th Feb 2014 7:40 am
nighthawk
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
As for your first question. Price range will determine capability. So Faultmate MSV-2 will do more than an IID Tool or Hawkeye.
Within the same price range, capabilities do vary between units. All have their pros and cons.
IID Tool vs Nanocom Evolution vs Hawkeye
IID Tool is great, capabilities increasing with every firmware etc, but it's VIN locked for the initial price
Hawkeye is not VIN locked but capability is below IID Tool.
Nanocom is mostly head to head with the IID Tool in all aspects from what I understand.Dennis
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial Manual Buckingham Blue
Last edited by nighthawk on 12th Feb 2014 11:22 am. Edited 1 time in total
IID is going to be unlocked for most common functions soon, with just the programming and some advanced functions being unlocked. There is a thread on the new features on here somewhere.Mark.
2006, D3 SE Auto - gone but not forgotten.
2014 BMW 530d M Sport Tourer.
1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500
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12th Feb 2014 8:07 am
nighthawk
Member Since: 24 Jul 2010
Location: Malta
Posts: 1163
Yep. All in all I still think IID Tool is best bang for buck, and I'm very happy I went with it Dennis
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial Manual Buckingham Blue
12th Feb 2014 8:22 am
albal
Member Since: 31 Jul 2011
Location: Southampton
Posts: 592
This thread shows what is coming up on the IID Tool:
Member Since: 30 May 2012
Location: St. Lawrence Bay Essex
Posts: 186
I have a hawkeye and does most general fault codes which can be reset and points one in the correct direction.As its not vin locked it will have a resale value if you don't upgrade to a d4 or rr which can also buy a license to aquire. All do a good job but you still have to do the maintenance ones self to save on dealerships prices.
mine lives in my drivers seat rear pocket but suspension is the one that gives most people problems that seems difficult to tie down to a particular fault/ fix scenario.
12th Feb 2014 4:49 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20784
No one system is superior to the other. All systems do things differently. One may be may the most advanced, but it is a bit complicated to navigate.
One may be the easiest to use, but is a bit limited in features.
Cost is also another factor...
FWIW, I have an MSV2, and IID, and a Hawkeye. The Hawkeye is rarely used My D3 Build Thread
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
The discussion should probably exclude the manufactures but as for my view:
Well I agree with Mikey!
Tools such as the FCR are completely overtaken by time. The MSV is far too much of a tool for almost all regular users and the price is in eye-watering land. SDD is even more expensive and in some ways rather limited too. Autologic is for workshops and is overtaken in capabilities by some of the newer tools. AutoEnginuity is an 'almost' tool that just never keeps pace with other Land Rover bespoke tools.
Hawkeye was a good bit of kit and being VIN-free it cornered the market in just getting on with the job without restrictions. I liked it but with the advent of new tools with much more capability and less restrictive VIN rules the Hawkeye market has evaporated. So that leaves the Nanocom, that fills the previous gap in the BBS product line, and the GAP BT IID Tool.
Nanocom pricing is good but still a fair bit more than the BT IID Tool. The Nanocom is currently more powerful but has an additional layer of difficulty. Also with great power comes great responsibility and the temption to fiddle with stuff has proven too tempting for some. IID Tool is a neat and simple package. It is not as powerful as the Nanocom but is already pushing the boundaries of what most people will ever do and much more is coming. It is moving to a less restrictive VIN policy (controlling CCF manipulation to 1 VIN only) giving it the ability to use the diagnostic functions on all relevant vehicles. This will give BT IID Tool users the ability to diagnose D3 / D4 / RRS and FFRR with one tiny little tool. The new GAP Control app looks pretty special too.
My choice out of the 2 is currently the BT IID Tool, but choice is everything and some will find the Nanocom is the better choice for them, especially those who want to do a deep level of reprogramming or make use of the 'instrument' function that has proved very popular on other LR vehicles.
I have used all the tools mentioned with the exception of Autologic, so hopefully I have a balanced view.
Did I mentioned how much I like the IID Tool?
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
I am using my nanocom more and more on a day to day basis, but when it comes down to serious flashing/updates I always use my MSV.
The Nanocom is excellent for doing the EAS system and recalibration..
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