solus edge or maxisys

[SteveMorris]

I have a solus ultra updated to 12.2 and am considering trading in for the edge or maxisys.I can get the edge for 1800 with euro which i dont have now.I used the edge and liked it but i was wondering if the maxisys would be a better choice.

 

[devoncoolman]

I would think long and hard about buying any autel product right now. Ford is in the midst of a lawsuit with them. http://www.law360.com/articles/582278/ford-sues-car-equipment-co-for-hacking-copying-database

Buy the solus edge. Probably going to upgrade my pro to the new edge or the new modis.

 

[devoncoolman]

Autel has been known for stealing other peoples technology and information. They have been accused many times. This isn't the first time. I meen come on harbor freight sells their product now. So i think they are getting desperate to hock their product through harbor freight.

 

[blown94conv]

The Autel represents part of the problem this country has. They steal the info, slap it in a tool, and sit back and collect the money, while a legit company pays for the info and then has to charge for it. We will buy the cheapest, reverse engineered **** out there, so I can save a few bucks. Then we cry about American jobs going overseas, etc, etc.

Buying that **** is no different in my eyes then going to an unlicensed repair shop, so I can save the money over a legit business that pays taxes, employees people, and will be there when you have a problem.

Sorry for the rant, but I get fired up about this stuff.

 

[SteveMorris]

my boss has the modis ultra and autel ds708 and the autel has done more output controls than the modis that is the only reason i am thinking about maxisys.

 

[devoncoolman]

Nothing wrong with that. And your right the autel can do some things the snap-on wont. The autel has alot of pirated info and technology thats why its a little more capable. But whats gonna happen in 2 years when autel is belly up and ur stuck with a broken scanner. Snap-on pays for their info and their technology is legit. Honestly its a better product. Still your purchase and your money so. Take our sugestions and info and do what u will with it.

 

[imalexodell]

I upgraded my 14.2 modis about two weeks ago to the solus edge 14.4. It was that or a maxisys as well for me. I did a lot of research and between the interface and the problems autel is having as mentioned are some reasons why I went with the edge. Its been a great tool thus far and. Its proven superior to the modis, with the exception of the scope that I rarely use anyways.

 

[DanInVA]

I have used the maxisys and the solus. I really like the maxisys, as far as the layout, menus, ect. The wireless adaptor is also very handy. Between the solus and the autel I use the autel when I have a choice. I hadn't heard anything about that Ford suit until this thread started. One thing about the autel: in my experience, it doesn't function well with Hyundai and Kia cars. They may have done some software updates to improve that, but the last time I tried it would only do generic obd2 on them. Something to consider if you see many Korean cars in your neck of the woods

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I have the MaxiSys, its awesome (I've used the Mac Mentor Touch/OTC, and Snap On Verus.)

I too just recently heard about this lawsuit. I tried some minor hunting on the internet, it seems the alleged theft is on the Autel DS708 (MaxiDas) not the MS908 MaxiSys.

I'm not sure what to think until more info is presented. This could just be similar to the Apple and Google lawsuits? IDK?

I know the Snap On reps are constantly talking about this, and most likely they are misinformed, exaggerating, or both. The MaxiSys is about the only scanner (IMO) that can seriously compete with the Verus. The MaxiSys is 100% faster the Verus, way easier to navigate, and a third the price.

 

[SteveMorris]

i got a chance to demo the maxisys last week.I like the wireless bluetooth part but the edgethat i tried acouple weeks ago is faster easier to use and the maxisys would not communicate with a 96 camry.I think i am going with the edge or update the ultra

 

[SteveMorris]

also the troubleshooter part is a big reason i will stick with solus

 

[mtkst19]

what do you intend to work on and how in depth?

personally i will never buy another tool truck scan tool again. have had just about everything snap on has sold from a brick up to verus pro. In addition, have had otc's genesis system. Also own/owned autoenginity, autoland vedis and a few others.

An autel or a launch do way more on import cars than any of the tool truck or above mentioned brands. Autoenginity is nice but lacked ability to program/code. As they purposely did so as their initial market was not intended to be repair market but diy people.

For what it costs to update a snappy scan tool a year for a little more i can go out and buy a new lanch/autel tool with more functions.

personally, i use vagcom for vw/audi and im using the launch for my other stuff i do. It has good coverage on euro-- which is my main area of work. For asian stuff it works well too-- program nat security on nissan, install ecus/keys on hondas etc. Well worth buying from that perspective alone. On the euro side, i can program/install modules in mercedes/bmw that snap on or any other tool truck doesnt even communicate with. Same thing with volvo and saab coverage.

on the domestic side, i do not see to many domestics. yet when i do, have not had an issue using launch but more often ill grab the snap on scan tool.

if money were no object, then a autologic would sit in the shop-- but to rich for my blood. Maybe one day ill have an extra 50k.

so what are you working on and what are you trying to accomplish. that should be what yo base your buy on. Do you need to code modules or bi directional controls? Or you looking to just be able to retrieve fault codes?

 

[dnosnapon]

My shop has maxisys 908 p it was great for the first six months, but it's getting slow. And the android system glitches. Free updates are over and cost 1250.00 to up date. I'm looking to boy solus edge for my self. Ford does have a lawsuit against autel for copy rights. If ford wins the rest of the automakers will follow. The 908p is getting where it won't connect with Toyota. But I do use the j box to reprogram gm's and fords.but you need a laptop to do this.

 

[blown94conv]

Thanks for the press release.

 

[Tallpilot]

Really the situation ***** if you work on more than one make. None of the diagnostic tools have all of the controls and programming abilities of the manufacturer tools. It is either impossible or takes 5 times as long to diagnose sensors and electrical problems without bidirectional controls and computers need firmware updates for TSBs or cloning when replacing. This makes it tough on both DIY and independent shops.

This of course is by design but it's rediculous to need 3 different scan tools and have to try them all to finally get the control or PID you need.

 

[Super Mech]

I have a Solus Edge with most present software European included. It’s pretty good and will do 90 percent of what I need it to do. Like others have mentioned one scan tool cannot do it all. In today’s day and age if you are working professionally on vehicles you will, at some point need more than one scanner.

 

[Mattwrotethis]

The dealership I work for has an Autel Maxisys and a SnapOn Solus Edge that is always 6+ months out of date on updates. I don't use the Autel unless I'm desperate.

That said, I'm almost never desperate. I have my own SnapOn Solus Edge that stays up-to-date, a Launch CReader 129, an Autel MaxiCheck (biggest piece of junk ever), and an old Actron CP9580 that I just use to verify monitors are set for emissions testing purposes.

The CReader was my first "professional" scan tool that I bought four years ago. It's great for what it is, but the interface is clunky, the boot times are slow, and it's not bi-directional. It can reset most oil life monitors, calibrate electronic steering, and does basic SRS and ABS codes and data, so it's not useless, it's just redundant at this point since I bought my SnapOn. I should probably Ebay it, but Launch gives free lifetime updates to that little guy, so I hang on to it for now.

Every Autel product I've tried, Maxisys included, has been junk. It crashes, it loses bluetooth connectivity, it gives incorrect data (including showing a Mustang to have over 100,000 miles when it had 5,000), and the badly translated generic names given to pids can leave you scratching your head when you should be figuring out what's wrong with the car.

My SnapOn Solus Edge isn't perfect, but it's the best I can afford. It sometimes locks up when dealing with VW and Audi, and I had to update my WiFi firmware today due to an error that kept me from being able to use SureTrack while working on a Mercedes E350 last night. That said, it does a damned good job more than 99% of the time. I can pull codes from virtually any system on any car, view the live data that I need to track down what's actually causing the code, use SureTrack to see what other technicians have reported as being the cause of said code if I'm running into a dead end (or use it as a starting point), pull Ford door codes and manually write TPMS IDs on stubborn cars that won't accept them from my Bartec TPMS tool, and more.

I know this is an old thread that was recently revived, but I figured I'd throw in my $0.02 since I know a little about the topic.

 

[Super Mech]

Wow. I didn’t even realize the age of this thread. I must have been half asleep.

 

[anndel]

Yeah it's old but interesting reading. Our shop has the Autel Maxisys 906TS and though I was going to sell it, I didn't for the TPMS capability. We have the Snap-on Zeus and use that as our first choice.

 

[bigdav160]

I have a Verus, Solus and Maxisys908

I prefer the Autel, hands down