Buying a Launch X431 -Advice Please

kincaid

Hi, I'm thinking of buying one of these machines but no sure what or where to buy.

There is a guy around the Belfast area selling them for £750stg who says they are original and comes with 2 years updates.

Then i see them for sale in china at $1160 + $195 delivery and im sure these are clones and if so would work out more expensive.

Would appreciate any advice on buying one of these

Thanks

Owen

There's a guy in Dublin selling the newer smaller version on adverts for 750 too, but AFAIK it's a chinese clone. I'll be buying one this year, and I'll most likely source one from the UK, with the Master program on board. I've spent a good deal of time using a friend's one, and they're probably one of the best on the market. I've used an Autologic one, a Snap On one too, but the Launch can talk to a lot of cars where the others can't.

Here's an original X431 for sale in Cork, but the guy's away with the fairies on the price :
http://www.adverts.ie/car-parts-accessories/lunch-computer-diagnostic/1005945

And here's the updated one, but a clone :
http://www.adverts.ie/car-parts-accessories/launch-diagun-x431-diagnostic-pro/332807

I think it's achievable to get one of the originals for about 700, and they're still pushing out program updates for them.

kincaid

Thanks..So this one at £750(thats brand new) would be a clone too but how can you tell the difference in them?
Also how is he able to offer future updates?

Owen

I'm not sure how you'd tell what's a clone and what isn't TBH without having two units side by side. The guy selling the newer model in Dublin altered the description of his ad - previously he was saying that it was a Chinese made model, but that it was alright since the original was also made in China. The updates on the older one are just on a compact flash card, so it's just software.

George Dalton

Anything at that price is a Chinese clone. Genuine European Launch units are around €3000.

kincaid

@owen- whats the newer model updates on???

ok so by buying a clone i can not get updates in future and these guys are only telling this to get a sale.

George Dalton

There are ways around it. You can get updates just not through the official Launch system.

Owen

Not sure I understand the question, but updates shouldn't be a problem even for the clones. Updates are literally just software on a memory card - a compact flash card.

Nissan doctor

We have an x431 in my place as a back up to the Delphi DS350 we run. It may be a clone as I know it didn't cost anything like 3k but its never given bother and has done everything its ment to. Very handy for the pre obd2 cars and japanese imports etc

We've never bothered updating it though as we don't need it for newer cars.

crosshair1

Owen wrote: »

N
Updates are literally just software on a memory card - a compact flash card.

Updates on these are machine specific, with each tied to the smartbox no.

I would suggest that theyre not too bad as a general all rounder but if its your main scanner then you dont want a lucky bag when it comes out

there are a plethora of tools out there but imho if you are looking at a clone as the first then your sqeezing yourself into a corner before you started work
I think to be real, expenditure of say 20k over 4 or 5 years is going to be average diag spend to keep in touch

as an aside autodata costs near 20eu weekly now so there you go
Its like get in or get out

Owen

crosshair1 wrote: »

Updates on these are machine specific, with each tied to the smartbox no.

You've got a point ... I didn't say they weren't, but it's still software on a compact flash card - and can be done by a few different companies specialising in Launches. I was just trying to make the point that the clones should also be updateable. The last time I upgraded the workshop's one where I chip in every now and again, the unit went off to the UK for a 1 day turnaround and upgrade to Master level. It's dog simple for them to do.

kincaid

There is also the launch diagun i see which is more compact and cheaper and may do the job for me,
Do these do the exact same things the better models can do?

Thanka

Gary ITR

We have one in the garage, it's not our primary one but it's pretty decent but did have issues with some Mercedes and post '09ish cars even though it was fully updated

McP2011

http://www.woodford-diagnostics.com/list.php?Catid=2&Fault_Code_Readers