Launch GDS diagnostic Scanner, your thoughts?

[mspecperformance]

Just got a brand new Launch GDS at a SICK price off the tool truck. One of the truck customers bought the GDS and never registered it, USA version. Traded it in for a verus pro.

I am contemplating reselling it or keeping it as a spare all around scanner. We work exclusively on German cars with MAYBE 1-2 non German cars a month from friends and family.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Don't know much about the Launch except they are pretty much competing with Autel for the China made aftermarket scanner market.

The older Launch product used by the Euro tech in our shop was replaced last year with the Maxidas DS708 which seems to be kicking some serious *** in the raw power department.

If you got a good deal on if, keep it.

 

[mspecperformance]

I already have a Maxidas DS708 which seldomly gets used. The GDS has cool functions like adding on a Sensor box and scope but I don't know how much it will actually get used for those functions.

 

[firebox40dash5]

We've got a GDS, and the sensor box. The Launch is pretty good, it get loaned out to our neighbor a good bit when his Autel won't do something. Then again, we also have possession of a Modis I use when the Launch won't do something, although it's also failed to do things the Launch can. Definitely need to learn proper Engrish to use the Launch though, kinda disappointing that for $3500 they can't have someone who knows how to speak English write the menus.

Haven't used the sensor box, so I can't offer anything there. Someone's borrowing it right now to use on a Land Rover, so if he says it kicks ***, I'll let you know.

 

[wrnchmonkey]

I have one and it is awesome. Has limitations but I did just program a 2007 galant key. A lot of the guided vw functions are nice.

 

[mspecperformance]

Id be curious to hear some other thoughts!

 

[devoncoolman]

I have the gds and the shop has the gds pad. The pad is better. Faster and has blue tooth. Its not all that and a bag of chips. My snap-on solus is better in my opinion. My gds is a dust collector. In my opinion its no better then the maxidas. Sell it while its still worth something.

 

[mspecperformance]

Hmmm ok sounds like i should probably try to unload it. The launch pad looks plenty interesting however getting another scan tool would be just to satisfy my inner urge to collect things as i already have a maxidas and dealer level scanners for the makes we primarily work on.

 

[devoncoolman]

I have plenty of scan tools. They are a losing proposition. Not an investment. 5 years down the road they're obsolete and worthless. The gds is already obsolete. Its why launch is having all the sales on them. Trying to blow the warehouses of them just laying around.

 

[mspecperformance]

i hear ya. I bought the autel last year and its served me well. For the $1250 I spent, its been nice to have around as a spare scanner. Although I use it a handful of times in a month, its nice to have around on the odd non German car that comes in. I was trying to convince myself i need another one but I think best to sell off now.

 

[ptschram]

Haven't used the sensor box, so I can't offer anything there. Someone's borrowing it right now to use on a Land Rover, so if he says it kicks ***, I'll let you know.

I'm curious about this as well.

When the Autologic rep visited (and crashed and burned, what a piece of junk!) he wouldn't even demo the Launch products because their Land Rover coverage was so poor.

 

[MLB0611]

I'm curious about this as well.

When the Autologic rep visited (and crashed and burned, what a piece of junk!) he wouldn't even demo the Launch products because their Land Rover coverage was so poor.

If Autologic crashed and burned for the product, you need a new rep, if it was about the price well yep they are expensive as hell, but so are the OE tools for Euro, but that tool is the only real alternative to OE scan tools for Euro period. It can code and program almost any thing the factory tool can and unlike the factory tools it can do different coding that OE cannot

 

[turdferguson13]

We use Autologic for BMW, Land Rover, and Jaguar. Much better than buying 3 different manufacturer's scan tools. We also tried out the Launch GDS before getting the Autologic. The only thing I liked about it was the built in printer to print out codes. It was clunky and slow to use.

And btw if you work on a lot of VWs I recommend VCDS.

 

[ptschram]

Have you guys ever used the Rovacom/Faultmate?

Software written by the same guy who wrote the Autologic stuff. Fantastic tools, I've had one since '03 and have the 15th unit sold in North America. If you think Autologic is better than Testbook/T-4, give the BlackBox Solutions stuff a go.

For reference, the day the Autologic rep was here, we had a bunch of '88 Range Rovers, a bunch of '91-'95 Range Rovers, a bunch of Discoveries , a coupla P38s, two L322s and an L319. The Autologic was really only able to communicate with the EMS on the GEMS Discos and was pretty weak in the rest compared to the Rovacom.

 

[bimmerTEK]

Rovacom/Faultmate how those it do in later production rovers? we have LR auto logic is good but sometimes fault codes have no descriptions and how many times fault was detected. We don't see many older LR's since we are primarily a german shop but we get couple new ones post 08. I tough Rovacom/Faultmate is only activated for one vin? how much is it usa dollars?

 

[ptschram]

Rovacom/Faultmate how those it do in later production rovers? we have LR auto logic is good but sometimes fault codes have no descriptions and how many times fault was detected. We don't see many older LR's since we are primarily a german shop but we get couple new ones post 08. I tough Rovacom/Faultmate is only activated for one vin? how much is it usa dollars?

The Faultmate MVS is the multiple-vehicle platform, SVS is single vehicle system.

The modules for anything post '04 are expensive but more comprehensive than anything else on the market. I cannot count the times I have had to call DEC about my SuperScan and had the engineers ask why anyone would ever need that functionality-functionality that is built into the BlackBox Solutions stuff.

In the past week, I have had four shops call me for help with Lucas Range Rovers. I have been astounded that all four shops claim to be Rover experts but NONE of them have even a single scan tool for the early EMS.

I haven't a clue at price as I've had mine so long and I only buy new modules as needed.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Not to derail this thread but are you all shop owners or do you work for someone else? I have been a tech at various GM dealers for the past twenty years and have never had to purchase my own scan tool. The past eight years or so I could barley pay my household bills on what I have been making, I couldn't imagine thousands of dollars on a scan tool to make someone else money. GM says there should be at least one computer for every two techs, the dealer only provided one for a shop of eleven techs. I was put out because I had to bring in my own computer from home (that I already had).