As a long-time user of car diagnostic tools, I’ve had extensive experience with devices like Carly and iCarsoft, particularly when it comes to Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Having upgraded my Carly dongle to the latest version a couple of years ago, I’ve come to appreciate its capabilities, especially when compared to other scanners like the iCarsoft MB v2.0. Both tools connect to a similar number of modules in my Mercedes (26 in my case), but the user experience and features differ significantly.
One of the standout advantages of Carly is its user-friendliness. Compared to the somewhat old-fashioned interface of iCarsoft, Carly is remarkably intuitive. It excels in quickly scanning all car systems in one go. This efficient process culminates in a comprehensive PDF report, conveniently stored in your cloud account. This cloud integration is a fantastic feature, allowing you to maintain a digital history of all car scans and access them from any PC. The convenience extends further; Carly allows you to perform a full system scan even while driving. It’s worth noting that during the scan, the EPS/ABS might momentarily disengage, which is a minor and expected interruption. Furthermore, Carly smartly remembers your car model after the initial selection, saving valuable time during subsequent uses. Its compact and mobile nature is also a significant benefit, particularly if you own multiple vehicles or are in the market for a used car, allowing for quick pre-purchase inspections.
In stark contrast, the iCarsoft scanner feels dated. It lacks the seamless cloud integration, the ability to scan while driving, and the user-friendly interface that Carly offers.
However, my experience hasn’t been entirely one-sided. I’ve encountered instances where Carly struggled to erase fault codes, despite repeated attempts. In these situations, iCarsoft consistently succeeded in clearing codes on the first try. This could be specific to my vehicle, and it’s something to consider.
I recently downloaded the updated Carly app for my Android phone, but I haven’t had the chance to test it in my Mercedes yet. It’s possible that this issue with fault code clearing has been addressed in the new version. The advertised ability of the new app to access stored service data is certainly an impressive prospect.
Ultimately, I find value in owning both the iCarsoft and the Carly. For someone who wants a single OBDII scanner, choosing between them requires careful consideration of their priorities. I also possess a basic ELM327 scanner used with the Torque app, adding to my diagnostic toolkit.
Finally, it’s crucial to address a common misconception regarding Carly for Mercedes. Many users have expressed disappointment, expecting it to offer the extensive coding capabilities found in Carly for BMW or Carly for VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group). However, due to technical limitations with Mercedes-Benz vehicles, deep coding functionalities are not possible with Carly for Mercedes, as clearly explained in various resources and online discussions. It’s essential to have realistic expectations and understand that Carly for Mercedes excels in diagnostics, ease of use, and data access, rather than advanced coding.
