Foxwell Diagnostic Tool

[Tommm]

The battery in my 2008 128i is beginning to go. Pep Boys will register the battery for about $30 and the battery is about $40 more than Advance Auto. So, for about $70 I can have the job done, or I can pinch a few more pennies and put the $70 into a tool.

Foxwell/Schwaben has a few models. Who has experience with these? I ask because I cannot get a clear side by side comparison of the tasks. Here is what I found so far

NT520 - Brand specific about $160 on eBay , each additional brand is $70 (I think it's $70 so for another $140 I can play with the Volvo and Porsche). It can do full functions for that specific model. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=foxwell+nt520
NT650 - Can work with many different car models - cost about $200 on eBay. But cant do all the functions. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=foxwell+nt650

Does anyone have any insight? I know, if I am asking this question I shouldn't own this car because I am too cheap, and I should bring it to the dealer to do everything. Apologies in advance.

[gjm120]

I have had the NT510 for a good bit of time. It's a good tool. Very easy to read and clear codes. It will register a battery but will NOT code (ah change or AGM<>flooded cell). Fiddling around with it recently also found it will active the ABS/DSC pump for a bleeding process. Also, it's nice to be able to add other brands to the tool for $60 each.

I think the NT520 isn't hugely different than the NT510.

A minor negative is you have to go online every so often and check for updates. Then you have to update your chip. It would be nice if they would send out an email notifying owners of updates. However, usually the updates aren't anything significant.

[Tommm]

From what I've read, and it is usually a choppy translation from Chinese, the 520 is an update from the 510, and instead of a chip it plugs into the computer. Now I will see if the 650 pumps the ABS/DSC since I bleed the brakes on all my cars. Thanks.

[Matticus91]

Read this thread: https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1384864

[gjm120]

I didn't know that about the chip vs internal storage. I kind of like the chip as I keep two of them up to date in case one gets corrupted. I tend to be over the top on back ups tho.

[gjm120]

There is a big group that really like Carly and it seems to be a good tool. I think it has gotten a little more pricey with annual subscription fees but still probably a good deal.

I already had the NT510 so when I need to code a battery I plunged into NCSExpert rather than purchase Carly. Also, just wanted to learn a little about coding for no real good reason other than because.

Also, maybe the NT520 will code batteries but don't trust anyone who says it can but hasn't done it. With the NT510 you are led to a screen to code but then it tells you to go to Progman or something.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Tommm

The battery in my 2008 128i is beginning to go. Pep Boys will register the battery for about $30

If you don't know this already, registering if for the same Ah and type. I'm about sure Pep Boys can't code a different capacity of type of battery. If you are replacing like for like life is easier.

[Tommm]

Originally Posted by gjm120

If you don't know this already, registering if for the same Ah and type. I'm about sure Pep Boys can't code a different capacity of type of battery. If you are replacing like for like life is easier.

I will go like for like knowing there could be hassles. Here is a link to what the 650 does for BMW Volvo and Porsche without buying extra stuff.
http://www.foxwellsupport.com/foxwel...foxwell-nt624/

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Tommm

I will go like for like knowing there could be hassles. Here is a link to what the 650 does for BMW Volvo and Porsche without buying extra stuff.
http://www.foxwellsupport.com/foxwel...foxwell-nt624/

Sorry but I know nothing about the NT650 so won't comment so as not to steer you wrong.

Here is Foxwell's comparison of the NT510, NT520 and some of the NT600's.
http://www.foxwellsupport.com/foxwel...t624-vs-nt414/

From this and the link you posted it appears that the NT650 and NT644 Pro can code batteries - 'Battery Management Service' or 'Battery Configuration' are checked. I'd personally be wary of this as there may be some language translation issues at play.

If you can get a battery with the same rating and type as was original on your car, I'd be tempted to go with the NT510 or NT520 and use those to register it. Quite a few are in the hands of people on this and E90 Post so you can get some forum support. (ECS tuning has sold a lot of the Schwaben tools which are thought to be the same as the Foxwell.) The counter to this is Carly is so user friendly and so many on this site have it so support is easy.

Another potential stumbling point is if the battery on your car is not the original and is different from the original Ah rating and type and wasn't coded to the car. You might be able to sort that out if there is a stamp on the negative post showing a week and year numerically. It is faint so you have to look closely.

AND if you can't find candidate replacement batteries Ah rating use this formula RC*0.452 + 17.8 = Ah. It gets very close.

It's almost comical how complicated it is replacing a battery on these cars. Matticus' diy is a good read.

[Mineral///M4]

I bought the Foxwell NT520 to turn off my seatbelt chime on my 911 along w/ some other things. I paid and downloaded BMW also but I haven’t played w/ it yet. I definitely recommend the NT520, I’m sure it will be a great tool if I ever need it.

[Tommm]

I took the car to advance auto for a battery test. Came out with 583 of 720CCA so I have a while. I want to get more info on the NT650.

[Tommm]

i got lazy, or I should say tired of thinking. I bought the NT520 with BMW and Volvo software for $195 from this place http://www.obdii365.com/search/?q=nt520&DirID=

It was a PITA manually releasing the electronic parking brake on the S80. Now that I have the tool, the pads will never wear out. Worth the $$.

I may try to get the memory seat function to work now that my kid is using the car. She who must be obeyed has zero desire to drive the 128i or Cayman, but the kid does.

[gjm120]

Good to hear.

[tuita]

Originally Posted by gjm120

I have had the NT510 for a good bit of time. It's a good tool. Very easy to read and clear codes. It will register a battery but will NOT code (ah change or AGM<>flooded cell). Fiddling around with it recently also found it will active the ABS/DSC pump for a bleeding process. Also, it's nice to be able to add other brands to the tool for $60 each.

I think the NT520 isn't hugely different than the NT510.

A minor negative is you have to go online every so often and check for updates. Then you have to update your chip. It would be nice if they would send out an email notifying owners of updates. However, usually the updates aren't anything significant.

yeah,nt510 is good one,I have used it for two years,it's from a foxwell scanner site