LAUNCH X431 PRO5 J2534 Protocol Bidirectional Scan Tool with SmartLink C V2.0, Car Diagnostic Scanner with Topology Mapping, 60+ Services, Intelligent Diagnostics, Guided Functions, 2-Year Free Update

I purchased this automotive tool to use on a 1991 BMW M5, one of those few almost-antique cars that are appreciating. This model year of 1,623 imports is the last year that BMW's M-racing division hand assembled the engine and race-developed components that turn a stock BMW 5 series into an M5. At 3.6 liters, the engine produces nearly 100 brake horsepower per liter. That is Ferrari-type territory. Co-developed with Bosch, its digital engine management electronics (yes, this is early 1990s...) play a key role in this feat. I'm looking at over $20,000 should I mess up the electronics. Fortunately, my past work experience at a BMW dealer resulted in the knowledge of the correct tool to "talk to" the electronics. Peake Research offers two reset tools designed specifically for BMWs of various model years oil service lights only and this one.You can buy the Peake tools direct at full retail plus shipping. The same tool rebranded with a popular BMW parts distributor's name is available at full retail and free shipping for orders exceeding $150. Amazon delivers the Peake labeled and warrantied tool with a small discount and free shipping to its Prime customers.I ordered it from Amazon on Labor Day. It arrived Thursday exactly as predicted. Within two minutes, I had just recovered $90 not spent for a BMW oil service / service indicator reset. One more use and I've passed the breakeven point!But wait! It gets even better. This R5/FCX-3 also reads fault codes. A dealer or aftermarket shop may charge you $150 or so to scan the codes and provide you with a repair order. Unfortunately, I've encountered smaller urban-area shops that are less than honest or simply inept at diagnosis. Now I'll know exactly what is needed. Armed with that knowledge, I can assess the quality of a potential repair shop if I cannot do the work myself, very likely on this complicated car.For the older BMWs, there is yet another benefit to having your own code reader / reset tool. The sensitive electronics operate from very slight electrical currents. Older cars often develop shorts or corroded connections that result is false readings. The read fault code points to the area for you to look. You may find a loose wire or defective sensor easily replaced. Or you can simply erase the fault code and see if it returns. Tip, you can disconnect the battery negative terminal for a few minutes to accomplish this. You will need to know how to reset the clock and radio codes.If you can drop your oil and replace an oil filter, you can do this too, in minutes!Peake Research R5/FCX 3 BMW Scan/Error Reset Tool 87-00

I have had this scanner for a month now and I am very happy with it. I have worked on several different vehicles with it and I am amazed at what all you can do with this tool. It has saved me so much time and money. The capability of this scanner is so vast. It took me a little while to learn it but it wasn’t hard to figure out. I would highly recommend this scanner to anyone.

This thing is CRAP!! This thing comes from China...and I'm not talking about its made in China it comes from China! So when I got the machine it won't do much of nothing without the update...pretty much a paper weight without the update...so I did everything they told me to and it would NOT update at all...but it's cool if it don't update because they give you a 24 digit number to call China and talk to them about it...that was stupid since most people like me don't have international calling!! I tried for 2 days to update and it would not...just crap had to send it back! Even called launch usa and they looked up the serial number and they said it came from over seas so there was nothing they could do to help me!! Even tho it says launch on the machine...so just crap do your self a favor and get the one from matco tools it's about 200 bucks higher but WELL worth it....I still haven't got my money back from theses people and prolly never will!

This product was somewhat difficult to master but it did eventually give me codes. There were not enough instructions on how to reset the oil light and check engine light and the instructions were a little vague. It did arrive quickly and I have no complaints about the shipping. It did diagnose a bad catalytic converter which is a tough thing to diagnose without a sophisticated electronic vehicle monitoring system like the one in my BMW. I suppose for the price compared to a Snap-on code reader, it's a pretty good deal. I was expecting more however and I'm not completely satisfied. I'm hoping my point of view will change after I use it a few more times.

I have an older Actron unit which reads generic DTC codes, but not the vehicle specific ones, so I purchased this unit after seeing several recommendations from people on several forums. This found a sensor fault in my 4x4 system - an axle speed sensor that my older unit couldn't find. This paid for itself the first time I used it. There were mentions in some reviews on Amazon that the unit was unusable, because it had to be updated, but I found the updating process straight forward. The enclosed instructions were clear and I had the latest firmware and vehicle specific files downloaded in about 10 minutes. The only thing lacking in the instructions was how to get the display into English rather than Chinese - it took a few button pushes and English became the default. I've read that there are youtube videos out there demonstrating it, but it wasn't that difficult to find the language setting option.My only concern is the registration process that you do to get access to the download files (firmware and vehicle specific ones). You enter the device serial number and another code unique to your scanner - making it possible to limit your access to future updates. It's not an immediate concern, as I have the vehicle files for all of my existing vehicles, but it appears that the manufacturer could easily "expire" your ability to download files in the future if they chose to.I purchased this because it has the capability to read ABS & PCM modules as well as the ECM, and has coverage for a very wide variety of cars, including my Jaguar.

I've had the pro 5 and the pro 4 elite, amazing tools to own.