What's the difference between the Foxwell and the Schwaben? I see you can get a gray one or an orange one...

 

I don’t have experience with the Foxwell but the Schwaben and do most things except reset adaptations. For that I use my Launch

 

Just curious which Launch model and what made you decide to get it? Not trying to hijack, just been lurking on this thread and hadn't heard about the Launch brand until today.

 

 

 

i
I bought this cause I couldn’t get other scan tools to reset my adaptations and the closest dealer is 200 miles away and I’m not that savvy loading programs to make things happen. This is there top of the line unit. Very easy to use and does it all along with all the other makes of vehicles including Ferrari and Lamborghini just thought that was neat. It’s also Bluetooth so you can be a 100 GT away from your car while diagnosing it. A little pricey but was worth every penny for me.

 

I have a Creator C310 and it's been great! Reads, resets codes... Even told me which corner's wheel speed sensor was faulty. Amazon link:

Creator C310 Plus V11.7 C310+ Code Scanner for BMW Mini Multi System Scan Tool …

 

Thanks for the tip!

 

tell you what I have that scanner and in basically new I’ll sell it to you $25 shipped

 

PM sent, I think I might be the buyer you're looking for.

 

I live in the Netherlands. Even though I feel honored, it might be easier for you to ship it within US.

 

I had the Peake tool for my old R50
at first but then got the Schwaben
which is very versatile. I use it on
my R55 now. It does almost everything.
I also have a Launch X431 PROS mini
which does even more including multiple
platforms. I got it because my wife got
a 2020 BMW M240i ‘vert and although
the Schwaben covers MINI BMW and
RR, it wouldn’t work with that car even
with the latest update and no further
updates planned to cover it.
I would recommend the Schwaben or
the Foxwell NT510 which is essentially
the same. You can buy additional
software to cover additional makes
if desired.

 

 

Hey there, I think I stepped on your toes, I apologize for that. It was offered to you and I just jumped right in. So the only thing to do is jump back out.

Anyway, I'm still procrastinating on exactly what I'm looking for.

 

No not at all! But 25$ inc shipping to the Netherlands is almost impossible afaik haha. If I check items on eBay and see the shipping fees from US, then I think it would be better to make someone else happy without you selling the scanner for way too little money.

 

Just ordered this myself, since its on sale on ECSTuning

 

I am getting ready to beg help on another thread, and saw this one, and figured I can build some karma as I have some experience here...

I started with the original Creator C100, and used it to diagnose bad wheel speed sensors (a couple). The live plot was very valuable, and I think it was cheap, so "good enough".

But it has issues, the UI is awful, and it was suddenly (even though I think I have done it before) unable to recalibrate the steering angle sensor. Maybe it was buried there somewhere still, but the thing is awful to use with the lousy UI and time consuming navigation, and I couldn't find it anymore.

So I went to the Creator site and updated the firmware. It looks like this more or less updated my C100 to the C130 or whatever, but now the screen showed the buttons in the wrong places. Easy to work around, ignore the screen buttons and push the right ones based on the physical button labels. But it still wouldn't do steering angle recalibrations. And the Creator site implies it can't. Though I could ***swear*** I have done it before with that creator C100, but I can't swear it actually worked. And if I read the live data for the steering angle sensor, it would read for a few seconds right and then just lock into one number. Which I assumed was a bad sensor (and likely was not).

So then I ordered the Creator C501. Short story, it is currently in a box behind me with a return tag to go to Amazon. It still would not do the steering angle recalibration, and the UI was still really frustrating to use. You could will it into submission, but, why?!?! So I go to the Creator website and download a decidedly sketchy firmware update program, and try and run it, and it is broken with some kind of "server error". That UI is even harder to decipher than the unit itself, they clearly hate you.

So I got a Foxwell 510+ elite to replace it. That is a much less frustrating device to us (though it does take quite a bit of time to get itself into the service mode menus), and it appears to have done the steering angle sensor recalibration correctly. I am still fighting a weird combination of errors that I need to track down. But now I can read the sensor and see that it keeps reading live correctly indefinitely. So while the Creator gave me good reason to think the sensor was absolutely broken, the Foxwell makes it clear that it is continuing to send data (which may or may not mean it is not broken, but it is a less misleading conclusion).

So I will be keeping the Foxwell. It is well made and seems to not be way better than the Creator units (though it is also more expensive). But less "more expensive" than buying some new sensor because the Creator told you a sensor wasn't sending data, when it clearly was.

I haven't tried the Schwaben tool, so I can't speak to that.

 

I have the Schwaben 510 Foxwell scanner....it's been very helpful for both Mini's.....however, I found out that Foxwell is no longer providing updates for the 510.....when I bought it, the sales pitch said lifetime updates for it....I inquired and they said it's no longer being updated and would I be interested in the 530 series.....

Bryan

 

Duh, I didn't realize Schwaben and Foxwell were the same thing, Doh!

The current 510 for sale is actually the same as the 530, and I think they call it the 510+ Elite. It has wifi built in and more ram.

That's frustrating that they stopped updating the original 510's. At least it is a stand alone device so it will at least keep doing everything it originally did. But now you can't update it for other cars (which is one of the things that appealed to me about it).

 

When I inquired about why my 510 was not accepting updates, they only offered me a 530 as an upgrade .....I'm probably not going to get the 530, mainly because there's probably not anything extra that could be done on my R52 that my 510 already has or can do. I wish it could get into the modules on the car to do some coding and turn certain features on or off, but I have the computer program on my laptop for that, just reluctant to try it for fear of screwing something up that cannot be fixed again.. I also have a Snap-On scanner as well, but it doesn't do the SRS systems on the Mini

I also have a couple other brands of vehicles on my 510 as well, which I cannot update anymore either.....I'll just live with what I have here.....the 510 works well for me

Bryan

 

Early on; I also started out with a generic scanner (can't recall the brand) which wasn't BMW/MINI specific. It was pretty much useless other than diagnosing a wheel speed sensor., I then also bought the Creator C110 Plus - BMW/MINI OBDII.
The Creator also showed to have limits in diagnosing elevated issues. I wound up buying the Foxwell 510N Elite (same as Schwaben) specifically to extinguish the Airbag light after I'd made the BST (diode/resistor) fix.
The Foxwell 510 has suited my needs for everything my Mini has thrown at it (so far). I've heard that with the intention of connecting to some of these updates has crippled (if not bricked) a few users OBDII devices....
I'm not a mechanic. Just very mechanically inclined. So for me - I feel its prudent just to leave well enough alone. I'm fine with my Foxwell just the way it is.

 

I agree with you...I have heard many bad reviews of the C10 or C110 or whatever it's called.....many have reported back that it does not do what it's advertised to do.....

My 510 has suited me well over the years....but I was wondering if I have the latest updates in it before they stopped servicing the updates for it.....guess I will never know....it still works, that's all I really need

Bryan

 

Does this Schwaben scan tool clear your "AIRBAG" light? I tried it with this Creator 501 ( for BMW & MINI ) --- it did not work.

any scan tool recommendations to clear AIR BAG light?

 

Howdy,

Came here specifically for this type of information, so thank you everyone above here & anyone else who adds some insight.

I'm shopping for a used Mini (I have no idea which Generation yet I might end up with) & want a scan tool to take with me...ounce of prevention & all that. The Foxwell seems to have a good amount of love here & I'm looking at 3 different ones based on the above comments...

• The 510 seems to have come to an end of service life due to no more updates, so I guess I'm not really looking at this one
• The 530 seems to be the upgrade/replacement
• And in looking at the Foxwell site I see the NT650 may have a bit more functionality

I'd prefer to spend a few extra 50(ish) dollars for the 650, if it is a better tool with more functionality for Mini's to have a better understanding of any problems a potential buy may have & then to help fix any problems it might have after I own it than to not spend the extra money & end up with a bigger financial sink later, if that makes sense. That said, if the 530 (or another one...say sub-$300) might be a better option, I'd love to hear it.

I've been looking at review videos on youtube for a week or so, but they all seem sponsored by the various brands & while Project Farm did a good video on scanners, their videos are more about the overall use & functionality of products & not specific to BMW/Mini.

Again, thanks in advance!

 

Howdy,

(my first attempt to post here seems to have gone *poof*, so I apologize if it seems I've posted twice)

I cam here specifically for this type of information, so thank you to everyone who has already commented & to anyone who may after & I know this started as an R53 question, but the thread seems to have branched out a bit.

I'm looking to buy a used Mini & I don't know which generation, as of yet. I want to take a scan tool with me...ounce of prevention & all that. From the comments above & visiting the Foxwell site I see some different options...

• The 510 seems to be at end-of-life due to no more updates
• The 530 appears to be the replacement
• The 650 may have more functionality

I'd like to take the scan tool with me when looking to see codes & post purchase help me fix/diagnose future problems & I have been watching videos on various scan tools, but most of them seem sponsored (never anything wrong with the item...it's perfect!) except Project Farm, but his videos are more about functionality & not if it will work well with a specific vehicle line such as BMW/Mini.

If anyone has any insight into the above or maybe a better option, say sub $300, I'd like to hear it as I'd prefer to spend a few extra dollars up front on a good tool vs. spending or regretting a purchase which could have been avoided by the extra money spent up front.

Again, thank you!