Carly app vs alternative?

[NitroBiz]

Doing some research on how to clear codes and customize my car and I’ve been told that the Carly app is the easiest way to do so. But I wanted to create a discussion on what other people’s experience is with the versus alternative methods .

Carly app and OPD adaptor vs. BMW INPA / Ediabas K+DCAN USB Interface. Why would I choose one over the other?

[nycplumber]

I picked up the foxwell NT510 for $140 on Amazon a few days ago and it's great. It cant code as well as Carly can but it gives a ton of useful info.

[NitroBiz]

Originally Posted by nycplumber

I picked up the foxwell NT510 for $140 on Amazon a few days ago and it's great. It cant code as well as Carly can but it gives a ton of useful info.

What can’t it do that the Carly can do?

[nycplumber]

It doesn't do coding, at least to my knowledge.

[BOOF-M3]

Blue Driver is good for reading codes and resetting them. It doesn't do anything else.

[Aktavate]

Apparently Carly is now a 'service'. When you could just pay once for it, it seemed worth it but now probably something I can do without.

[vincE92M3]

Originally Posted by Aktavate

Apparently Carly is now a 'service'. When you could just pay once for it, it seemed worth it but now probably something I can do without.

Really? They just offered existing Carly customers access to the full application of features and it's not a service.

[Aktavate]

Originally Posted by vincE92M3

Really? They just offered existing Carly customers access to the full application of features and it's not a service.

Yea unfortunately I got my car right around the time the switched from a single payment to a yearly subscription so I missed out.

[Abdul]

It's shocking how many M3 owners do not have a code reader that can pull BMW codes. I would say, 70% of the people the purchased TA'S for me didn't have a code reader to read and reset codes. I couldn't believe it. Before doing any mods, the first investment of a new ///M owner should be a solid code reader!

[NitroBiz]

Originally Posted by Abdul@mpowermotorsports

It's shocking how many M3 owners do not have a code reader that can pull BMW codes. I would say, 70% of the people the purchased TA'S for me didn't have a code reader to read and reset codes. I couldn't believe it. Before doing any mods, the first investment of a new ///M owner should be a solid code reader!

Got a suggestion?

[MJBO]

I bought Carly during my M3 search, ran the diagnostics on a few of my potential purchases. Was great to read codes and other info before committing to a proper PPI.

Also good for coding some basic things. Only ones I’ve done so far are video in motion and disabling the iDrive nag screen. Was super easy and worked a treat.

Next thing I plan to code is comfort access mirror folding.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by Aktavate

Apparently Carly is now a 'service'. When you could just pay once for it, it seemed worth it but now probably something I can do without.

I noticed the newest app is $60 annually. The "old version" is still on the app store for a one time purchase of $65, but they've removed all information and descriptions in the app store, so...

[New2Roundel]

I don't think there's a good one stop shop if you're interested in dealing with faults and coding. I have the NT-510 and Carly. The Carly seems like a work in progress to me--the company while very responsive, seems like it's still trying to figure stuff out. I've written to them multiple times about how to interpret or proceed based on something that did or didn't happen after using their product. I know people swear by Carly, but I don't care for it. Since I paid for it, I will still use it however.

From a diagnostics perspective, the NT-510 just seems like a more stable setup. I was in a situation where I needed reset the steering angle, which the Foxwell unit can do, but Carly cannot. So far, so good with regard to the Foxwell unit.

In my experience, I'd probably buy both Carly and an NT-510. If you use one versus and the other and are happy, that's cool as well.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

Blue Driver is good for reading codes and resetting them. It doesn't do anything else.

This is what I use for error codes

Then I have INPA/ISTA, etc for coding, etc.

I really like using BlueDriver when looking for used cars. It's easy to see if the car has readiness (if not it's likely they just reset codes before your test drive
I also really like it works across platforms.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by MJBO

I bought Carly during my M3 search, ran the diagnostics on a few of my potential purchases. Was great to read codes and other info before committing to a proper PPI.

Also good for coding some basic things. Only ones I’ve done so far are video in motion and disabling the iDrive nag screen. Was super easy and worked a treat.

Next thing I plan to code is comfort access mirror folding.

"Idrive nag screen" does that have the ability to quiet up the wife when she's sitting in the passenger seat and keeps nagging at you to slow down?

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

"Idrive nag screen" does that have the ability to quiet up the wife when she's sitting in the passenger seat and keeps nagging at you to slow down?

No, but she's happier now she knows where the bolster adjustment is to slide around less.

[Route 16]

Originally Posted by MJBO

I bought Carly during my M3 search, ran the diagnostics on a few of my potential purchases. Was great to read codes and other info before committing to a proper PPI.

Also good for coding some basic things. Only ones I’ve done so far are video in motion and disabling the iDrive nag screen. Was super easy and worked a treat.

Next thing I plan to code is comfort access mirror folding.

cant it code out the EDC module?

[MJBO]

I’d have to plug it in and take a look, but I’d be surprised if it could.

[codinge90]

Originally Posted by Route 16

cant it code out the EDC module?

No you'll need to use NCS Expert to code out the edc module.

For a code reader it really depends on the what your looking for. Carly is a great tool for diagnostics and coding. Some of the cons of Carly are: takes a while to complete diagnostics on car, at least on the android system I use. Carly cannot do extensive coding, for instance it cannot code out tpms, edc, adaptive headlights etc. If you want an extensive coding program and diagnostics tool get NCS Expert and Inpa. You can find he software free online.

[smyles]

Originally Posted by NitroBiz

...
Carly app and OPD adaptor vs. BMW INPA / Ediabas K+DCAN USB Interface. Why would I choose one over the other?

INPA - or rather Rheingold, - not only properly reads codes (not exactly a correct comparo, but on one F15 I recently scanned for my buddy it showed 46 (!) codes while Torque only listed 1), but it also has all kinds of documentation, diagrams, service functions, etc. Basically, if you know what you're doing, you won't need anything else for maintenance & repairs.

For coding, Bimmerlink is a solid tool, although I haven't used it on E9x so can't comment.

Disclaimer: I always had a negative bias towards Carly.

[NitroBiz]

Originally Posted by smyles

INPA - or rather Rheingold, - not only properly reads codes (not exactly a correct comparo, but on one F15 I recently scanned for my buddy it showed 46 (!) codes while Torque only listed 1), but it also has all kinds of documentation, diagrams, service functions, etc. Basically, if you know what you're doing, you won't need anything else for maintenance & repairs.

For coding, Bimmerlink is a solid tool, although I haven't used it on E9x so can't comment.

Disclaimer: I always had a negative bias towards Carly.

Thanks for the info, however I don't think Bimmerlink works with e9x at least it doesn't read as a supported vehicle on their website.

[NitroBiz]

Originally Posted by codinge90

No you'll need to use NCS Expert to code out the edc module.

For a code reader it really depends on the what your looking for. Carly is a great tool for diagnostics and coding. Some of the cons of Carly are: takes a while to complete diagnostics on car, at least on the android system I use. Carly cannot do extensive coding, for instance it cannot code out tpms, edc, adaptive headlights etc. If you want an extensive coding program and diagnostics tool get NCS Expert and Inpa. You can find he software free online.

I guess what I'm trying to do is clear out codes, program the radio to display album art from my iPhone and give me shuffle capability along with increase the brightness of my headlights and make both side mirrors tilt down when I put in reverse. If there is anything else cool, I would be interested in those too. I guess I'm not really sure what is out there to do.