Choosing the right OBD2 scan tool can be confusing, especially with numerous options available on the market. For those seeking a reliable Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, the OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver are often top contenders. This detailed comparison, brought to you by carparteu.com’s auto repair experts, will delve into the critical differences between these two popular adapters, helping you determine which is truly the Best Bluetooth Obd2 Mx Bluedriver for your needs. We’ll analyze key features, performance metrics, and overall value to provide an informed recommendation.
Enhanced OEM Diagnostics: Unlocking Deeper Vehicle Insights
The diagnostic capability of a scan tool hinges significantly on its access to enhanced OEM data. “Enhanced OEM diagnostics” refers to manufacturer-specific information beyond the generic OBD-II standards. This crucial data falls into two main categories:
- Enhanced Trouble Codes (DTCs): Going beyond basic engine codes to include systems like ABS, Airbag, and HVAC.
- Enhanced Parameters (PIDs): Monitoring specific data points such as transmission temperature, tire pressure, and individual wheel speeds.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Generic OBD-II | Yes | Yes |
| OEM DTCs | Yes | Limited support |
| OEM Live Parameters | Yes* | No |
| GM SW-CAN | Yes | No |
| Ford MS-CAN | Yes | No |
Reference the “Manufacturer-Specific Enhanced Diagnostics Support” for specific vehicle coverage
While both the OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver support standard OBD-II functions, their capabilities diverge significantly when it comes to enhanced OEM diagnostics. BlueDriver offers limited access to some OEM diagnostic trouble codes. However, it completely lacks the ability to read any OEM live parameters. If monitoring critical parameters like transmission temperature or tire pressure is important to you, BlueDriver will fall short.
Furthermore, BlueDriver’s limitations extend to network compatibility. It cannot access GM and Ford manufacturer-specific networks due to missing essential hardware (pins 1, 3, and 11). In contrast, OBDLink MX+ is equipped to communicate on both GM SW-CAN and Ford MS-CAN networks. This crucial difference grants MX+ users access to thousands of additional DTCs and parameters that remain inaccessible to BlueDriver, providing a much more comprehensive diagnostic experience.
Consider the network architecture of a modern vehicle like the 2015 Ford Expedition:
Modern vehicles utilize multiple electronic control units (ECUs) to manage various systems. In the Ford Expedition example, these ECUs are distributed across networks like HS-CAN and MS-CAN. OBDLink MX+ can interface with modules on both networks, providing a holistic view of the vehicle’s health. However, BlueDriver’s limitation to HS-CAN restricts its access, leaving out valuable diagnostic information residing on the MS-CAN network.
OBD App Support: Expanding Functionality and Choice
Both OBDLink MX+ and BlueDriver provide their own companion apps for iOS and Android platforms. OBDLink MX+ further includes a license for OBDwiz, a Windows-based diagnostic software, offering broader platform support.
However, the true advantage of OBDLink MX+ lies in its open architecture. It boasts compatibility with dozens of third-party automotive apps, significantly enhancing its versatility. These apps unlock specialized functionalities ranging from advanced diagnostics and performance tracking to fuel efficiency optimization and vehicle customization. Users can leverage apps for lap timing, custom digital dashboards, performance enhancements, fuel saving techniques, vehicle setting adjustments, and even remote vehicle control features on compatible models.
BlueDriver’s closed system restricts users to its proprietary app, limiting flexibility and future feature expansion. This lack of third-party app support can be a significant drawback for users seeking specialized functionalities or preferring a specific app interface.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party apps | Yes – Dozens of popular apps | No – BlueDriver® app only |
| iOS support | Yes | Yes |
| Android support | Yes | Yes |
| Windows support | Yes | No |
Sampling Rate: Performance When It Matters Most
Sampling rate, the number of data points captured per second, is a critical performance metric for OBD devices. A high sampling rate is essential for accurately capturing rapidly changing signals and monitoring multiple parameters simultaneously. This translates to smoother graphs, responsive digital dashboards, and more precise data logging.
Benchmark testing reveals a stark contrast in sampling rates between the two devices. BlueDriver’s sampling rate fluctuates between 5 and 10 samples per second. Under identical testing conditions, OBDLink MX+ demonstrated speeds up to ten times faster, providing a significantly more responsive and data-rich user experience.
Battery Drain Protection: Ensuring Long-Term Reliability
For OBD2 adapters designed to remain plugged in, efficient low-power “sleep” mode is paramount. When the engine is off, the vehicle’s battery relies solely on its own charge, and any parasitic drain can lead to battery depletion. An intelligently designed scan tool should quickly enter a low-power state and minimize energy consumption in sleep mode.
Testing reveals that BlueDriver takes three times longer to enter low power mode and consumes 7.5 times more energy compared to OBDLink MX+. Alarmingly, BlueDriver’s sleep mode current draw of 19.3 milliamperes can be twice as high as the vehicle’s own parasitic draw and ten times higher than OBDLink MX+’s.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep delay | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Idle current | 39 mA | 73 mA |
| Sleep current | 1.8 mA | 19.3 mA |
BlueDriver’s considerable current draw poses a genuine risk of battery drain, as reflected in numerous user reports of battery-related issues.
Overvoltage Protection: Safeguarding Against Electrical Spikes
OBD port-powered devices operate within the harsh electrical environment of a vehicle. One of the most dangerous electrical events is a “load dump” pulse, a high-energy voltage spike that occurs when the battery disconnects from the alternator during charging, often due to oxidized battery terminals.
Rigorous overvoltage protection testing subjected both BlueDriver and OBDLink MX+ to simulated load dump conditions, including a 90-volt pulse. While OBDLink MX+ withstood the pulse without damage, BlueDriver suffered catastrophic failure, becoming inoperable. Further voltage ramp-up testing revealed BlueDriver smoking and catching fire at just 19 volts, while OBDLink MX+’s protection circuit activated at 18 volts and remained functional even under continuous 90-volt exposure.
| MX+® | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| 90V pulse | No damage | Permanent damage |
| Slow ramp-up, 12V to 90V | No damage | Smoke at 19 volts, fire |
| Continuous 90V | No damage | Capacitor exploded |
Aftermath of the slow ramp-up test: BlueDriver’s® power regulator caught fire and was completely destroyed.
Warranty: Long-Term Support and Confidence
OBDLink MX+ provides a significantly longer warranty period, offering triple the coverage of BlueDriver. This extended warranty reflects the manufacturer’s confidence in the product’s durability and reliability.
| MX+ | BlueDriver® | |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year |
| Feature | MX+® | BlueDriver® |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced OEM diagnostics | DTCs and thousands of OEM parameters, access to GM and Ford networks | DTCs only; no GM or Ford network access |
| OBD app support | Dozens of compatible apps | One app |
| Sampling Rate | Up to 100 samples per second | Up to 10 samples per second |
| Battery drain protection | Excellent | Inadequate – sleep current too high |
| Overvoltage protection | Survives continuous 90 volts with no damage | No overvoltage protections (fails at 19 volts) |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year |
Conclusion: OBDLink MX+ – The Clear Winner for Best Bluetooth OBD2 Scanner
After a comprehensive comparison across critical categories, OBDLink MX+ emerges as the superior choice and the best bluetooth obd2 mx bluedriver option for users demanding advanced diagnostics, robust performance, and long-term reliability. While BlueDriver offers basic OBD-II functionality, it falls short in enhanced OEM diagnostics, app support, sampling rate, battery drain protection, and overvoltage safety. OBDLink MX+’s broader capabilities, faster performance, and superior protection make it a worthwhile investment for both DIY enthusiasts and professional mechanics seeking a dependable and versatile Bluetooth OBD2 scanner.
