British diagnostics - any good?
 

I'm looking at buying a diagnostics tool, but one which will allow some form of control, not just for reading error codes. The product by British Diagnostics presents itself well: Jaguar Land Rover Diagnostics Equipment | British Diagnostics | JLR Software Specialists

Has anyone bought this? Thoughts please?

[mmIf it makes any difference, I'm looking to use it on my 1996 XJR (X300)]

All I see is for 1998 and newer. Read the FAQ:

Will my Land Rover work with the JLR SDD Software?
As long as your Jaguar is between 1997 and 2014 and your Land Rover is between 2005-2014, our kits will work. (OBD2 port must be present.)

Have you researched the Autel MaxiSys or MaxiSys ?

Yes I have but they are many hundreds of pounds!

British Diagnostics list the X300 as compatible with their software...?

They sell cheap crap Chinese clone Mongoose interfaces. Clones are unreliable, I went though three of them before learning the hard way that you need the real thing.

The BEST setup for an X300 is a VCM and an old version of IDS. Or a WDS system.

Some discussion here ==> https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...pening-158958/

And there are a few threads in the General Tech Help section about the various tools too.

Their Mongoose clone did not work for my X300. I have a ford VCM and a laptop with Windows XP and a fairly old version of IDS. If you get your hands on a VCM, there are ways to get IDS software. PM me for more details.

I can't tell you what to buy but I can tell you what not to buy.

Don't buy EASY OBD2.

The guy ripped me off. His "premium" software, the one you pay for, has constant ads and links to his website page where he sells interfaces. He refused to give me a refund. A mere $30 usd.

My OBD2 interface works perfect with the car and the software but if it's not from his website you get locked out and adverts :/

Basicly he has programmed the paid version of the software to lock you out for 10 seconds every time you click something and display a link to his sales website if you haven't brought an OBD2 interface from his website.

I cant believe a paid version would do this.

It's a con really.

Sorry for the negative post everyone. I just don't want what happened to me to happen to other good people on this forum.

Hopefully this warns some others against this software and company.

Harry

I am not THAT computer literate, is there any OBD reader that I could use on my 1995 XJR that failed the emission test here in Ontario Canada?
Snowball

Vast majority of emissions-related OBDII codes are standardized, they are the same for all makes and manufacturers. A generic OBDII scanner costs $10-$20 and can read these codes. It may be able to clue you in on fairly straightforward issues like dead oxygen sensors. If the car throws manufacturer-specific codes, you will need more expensive equipment. Too bad you are not in New England. I'd read the codes for you for free, I have the tools.

$10-20$ code reader are crap clone. JLR SDD interface is also clone, but works more function than these code readers. Just stay away from anti-virus program and set up sw on WinXP laptop,it does work, limited though. If you have enough budget, autel maxisys certainly the best solution.

I have a clone of the Mongoose that British Diagnostic sells. I forgot to mail it to them to get a refund. I was unable to get it to communicate with my 1995 XJ6, and I tried multiple versions of the IDS that the vendor suggested. I have not tried it with my 1997 XJR, but I suspect that the result will be the same.

I have a genuine Ford VCM and it seems to work fine with V118 of the IDS. I also have an EM327 based USB scan tool. A CD with software was included with the tool, all for princely sum of $26, if memory serves. It works perfectly fine for pulling the generic OBDII codes from my 1995 XJ6.

If anyone is interested in an alternative Jaguar diagnostic interface I've just listed my Autoenginuity system with Jaguar Add On in the classifieds section.

Probably only of interest to UK members.

I would provide a link but not sure it's allowed and it's easy to find anyway :)

A friend of mine was selling a used ford VCM with cables. Genuine unit, came from a Ford dealership that closed down. He had two of them, I bought one and it works perfectly. He is in Boston, so I can verify that the gear works if anyone is interested.

I bought this from British Diagnostics. It works for my 96 XJS.

I had to go through a few different versions before it would work, but it does.

It's not very consistent, but after a few tries, it'll make the connection. I needed to get something to help me diagnose which ABS sensor was triggering a fault, which it did. I figure a shop would charge me $150 for that diagnosis, and this unit was $150, so I consider myself even on the purchase.

Had I not pulled the trigger on that, I would have bought that AutoEnginuity piece that is being sold in the UK.

Which versions of the mongoose device driver and IDS are you using with the British Diagnostics Mongoose clone?

IDS v134 finally worked.


Not sure about the faux Mongoose device driver. How would I know?

Are you using Windows XP? I vaguely seem to remember that you can see what drivers are installed with their versions.

Did the vendor provide the software for you to install on you machine, or did he provide a VmWare virtual machine with the software already installed?

I was using Windows7.


The vendor supplied me with a CD that included the VMware as well as the WDS/IDS software

Don’t buy british diagnostics
 

I had the following experience:

I ordered the unit on Jan 6, 2021. Per the instructions on his web, it says it takes 5-7 working days to ship and 14 - 21 working days to receive. Not to email unless it is pass the period. I waited for the full length. It did not come. I email him Feb 16 and he replies it should be there in 2 to 3 working days. It did not come. I emailed him again Friday, March 5. No answer. I emailed him again in frustration Tuesday, March 9 asking him to respond regarding the status. There is no phone number to contact him and he won’t answer emails apparently. There are other scanners that will let you program I am sure. Imagine if I need support with the software??? If he is one man outfit, I understand. There is no reason to ignore emails given this is the only method to communicate.

Stopped working a few weeks later. This is not an outfit to be trusted.

Very helpful to get it working. As soon as I confirmed it worked, that was the last I ever heard from them.

did you order using eBay, or did you go direct?

can you stop the credit card transaction?