Is OBD Really worth the Cost?

[Daveski]

Question regarding the purchase of an OBDLink MX+ Reader. I am considering the purchase of one of these and they are not all that expensive. My question is, if I am not planning on making any major changes, is it really worth the cost? I mean, I see a lost of posts regarding it's capabilities, but what would you really need one for if not making any major changes with the systems controls or settings?

 

[MADDOG]

I believe that there are folks who make a minor change that is important enough to them to spend the money.

It's sort of a value proposition thing. Let's say you have a 2500 truck, you've installed some 35x12.50 Nitto tires and want to adjust your TPMS threshold values so that the pesky little light goes away and you can run your tires at a lower pressure. For some that's worth it even if it's all you do.

For many OBD users it's avoiding dealer labor charges for updates they have installed. It doesn't take long to recoup your investment when you avoid those shop labor costs.

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

I think it is very well worth it ... I have changed quite a few things that the dealership would of probably charged me a ridiculous amount for and alfaobd did that and can do changes whenever I need them to without having to take it in, wait on a scheduled visit or long waits and lines ...

 

[DirtyWipers]

If you program 1 key fob with it, it will pay for itself.

 

[BudsRam]

I'm pretty sure that the changes I've made has paid for the OBD at least 3 to 4 times what I paid for it...just sayin.

 

[48PowerWagon]

Add that it's not just programing, if you have some kind of Android Car Monitoring App they generally need that OBD connection, I bought a OBD "Y" cable to keep my reader installed all the time tucked up behind the dash and still have a Port in the OEM Spot

 

[Daveski]

I'm pretty sure that the changes I've made has paid for the OBD at least 3 to 4 times what I paid for it...just sayin.

What changes have you made regarding the purchase?

 

[Daveski]

If you program 1 key fob with it, it will pay for itself.

DirtyWipers, I was not aware you could do that with an OBD+...

 

[Ricks Ram]

The thing that's not being pointed out is the Alfa tool can enable codes the dealer Cannot enable. Every truck has a list of available codes dependent on trim level and installed options. The dealer cannot enable codes not available in your options list. Let's say you have a Bighorn and you want to add push button start/proximity entry. The dealer cannot enable the code but the Alfa tool can easily do it. The dealer will usually charge $80 to $160 to enable codes that they can and if the code isn't available to them they are going to chage you regardless. The Alfa app costs $49 plus you will need a good OBD reader which is about $70. You're money ahead after you enable your first code. You can also program keys plus run diagnostics. It's a very powerful useful tool. I basically have enabled every option available on my Express and tons of other trucks. The tool has paid for itself 20 times over in my case.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[RodeoRam]

@Daveski,

Are you ONLY asking about the OBD code reader and not AlfaOBD? A code reader has been an essential tool for vehicles since the '90s for those of us who would rather fix problems with our vehicles than letting someone else fix them for money.

If you aren't going to use AlfaOBD, I wouldn't spend the money on the OBDLink unless you like the fancy gauges and logs that come with it. There are cheaper code readers that do less but still read and clear codes.

 

[Daveski]

@Daveski,

Are you ONLY asking about the OBD code reader and not AlfaOBD? A code reader has been an essential tool for vehicles since the '90s for those of us who would rather fix problems with our vehicles than letting someone else fix them for money.

If you aren't going to use AlfaOBD, I wouldn't spend the money on the OBDLink unless you like the fancy gauges and logs that come with it. There are cheaper code readers that do less but still read and clear codes.

Rodeo,

https://www.amazon.com/OBDLink-Blue...child=1&keywords=obd+mx&qid=1601399280&sr=8-2

 

[Firetruck41]

I got this adapter for $11 last year, it works with AlfaOBD for my 2010 2500. The android Torque App works on it, as should most OBD apps.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B011NSX27A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hu3CFb97S8S4A

 

[DirtyWipers]

Alphaobd is a must have regardless of the adapter you choose. So +$49 on top of adapter price and you are in business.

 

[fitzmann85]

Even if you don't plan on doing anything "major" I still will say it is well worth it. I got a lift kit and bigger wheels and tires installed a couple of months ago so my speedometer was off(as well as everything associated with it: mpg, range to empty, and so on)

When I bought the reader and AlfaOBD my priority was the speedo correction. But I have since installed and enabled a backup cam, windows down from key fob, and I will be installing a front facing grille cam and enabling that once the mail man drops it off.

To me It has already paid for itself and with the separate app for the OBDLink MX+ Reader you have the ability to read codes if your light is ever on. If you are on the fence about it I would just go ahead and get it.

 

[WY-Dave]

I enabled the embedded alarm. Dealer said i couldn't be done on the tradesman. Also set the CHMSL to LED. Other than that not going to have much use for it, I beter to have and not need than to not have and need.


What sucked is that I had the extra cost of the security bypass cable

 

[2DirtyKids]

Add that it's not just programing, if you have some kind of Android Car Monitoring App they generally need that OBD connection, I bought a OBD "Y" cable to keep my reader installed all the time tucked up behind the dash and still have a Port in the OEM Spot

Do you have a link to "Y" cable?

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[48PowerWagon]

Do you have a link to "Y" cable?

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071L8W7Q7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Daveski]

Even if you don't plan on doing anything "major" I still will say it is well worth it. I got a lift kit and bigger wheels and tires installed a couple of months ago so my speedometer was off(as well as everything associated with it: mpg, range to empty, and so on)

When I bought the reader and AlfaOBD my priority was the speedo correction. But I have since installed and enabled a backup cam, windows down from key fob, and I will be installing a front facing grille cam and enabling that once the mail man drops it off.

To me It has already paid for itself and with the separate app for the OBDLink MX+ Reader you have the ability to read codes if your light is ever on. If you are on the fence about it I would just go ahead and get it.

fitzmann, thanks for the feedback. Which one did you purchase regarding all the changes made?

 

[89grand]

I've only used mine to activate the mirror turn signals and puddle lights for the color matched mirrors I bought, and turned on the window roll down feature, and I think it's worth the cost, which really isn't that much.

It's only not worth it if you don't need it for anything.

 

[ViolentMouse]

The honest truth.

As someone in the industry, I own more than $50,000 worth of scanners, and various vehicle specific diagnostic tools that are required for me to be able to "properly" commit repairs on customer vehicles.

A snap on Zeus, which costs thousands of dollars, is a great scanner capable of performing an entire host of diagnostic functions. It even has a built in multi channel scope for component testing which I have used 0 times since I started using it earlier this year lol.

With a price tag over $10k just for the platform, it still cannot activate or disable features, or adjust TPMS ranges, it is just a diagnostic tool.

So for quite literally $65.00 for a veepak reader, and AlfaOBD, unless you are feeling spendy and want to get fancy you get the OBDLink MX+ and AlfaOBD for $150.00 you have access to features most shops don't have access to.

Is it worth it? in no smaller terms. YES!

Do you NEED it? no.

Should you get it? entirely up to you, but that's basically the same price as two tanks of fuel in California (if you go the expensive route, I use the veepak.), unlocking thousands of dollars of potential.

I haven't used it on anything with secure gateway but apparently there is a bypass for that floating around.