$12 shipped for a bluetooth OBDII reader

I have one of the eBay OBDII sensors, $20 including shipping from Japan (if I remember, had it for probably 2 years). Matched up w/ Torque Pro it works like a champ. And very handy for clearing that pesky O2 sensor code that pops up on my car occasionally. (I'll replace eventually...probably.)

I think one of these and an iPad mini would make for a super sweet gauge cluster in a custom dash. When you put that up agains a bevy of Autometer gauges, it's not a bad deal either.

I bought one a few weeks ago: just look for ELM327 on various online resellers - the price is typical.

You CANNOT use a bluetooth dongle like this one with a non-jailbroken iPhone. I used mine on an Android using Torque to scan and turn off a CEL on an E36. I also have used it to log boost on my TDI. You can get free software to use on a BT equipped laptop as well.

Does it do live data?

Now I can reset my SES without undoing the battery.

Yes, it does live data, and it will tell you whether or not your DTCs or whatever have set so you can have it emissions tested. I don't have Torque Pro, but I plan on buying it soon. I bought my adapter for $10 on eBay, so I figured $12 shipped was good enough of a bone to throw you guys. If all I ever do is get out of limp home mode, I'm happy. I used it to troubleshoot a weak battery earlier this week.

DrBoost wrote: I think one of these and an iPad mini would make for a super sweet gauge cluster in a custom dash. When you put that up agains a bevy of Autometer gauges, it's not a bad deal either.

If my E30 was an OBD2 car, I'd be seriously thinking about picking up a used 7" Galaxy Tab on eBay for less than $100 and doing just that.

I've got one of these that I bought off of Amazon for around $10 shipped. It works great with Torque, and I've already had to use it once on my Dakota. Highly recommended.

I'm sort of a in-car datalogging junky. I've used Maxqdata and most recently trackmaster for Android. I just bought one from the link. I have a htc vivid that runs trackmaster with an external GPS. My old phone is an android Motorola Bravo. I'm half tempted to permanently install install the old phone in my race car to run torque, and use my current phone with external gps to do trackmaster.

Good fun cheap project.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Does it do live data?

Very limited quantity, yes. There's quite a bit of diagnostic live data that it and torque combined cannot access, but other tools can. I've never gotten it to read oil temp, voltage, trany temp, misfire, etc for example.

Tom_Spangler wrote:

DrBoost wrote: I think one of these and an iPad mini would make for a super sweet gauge cluster in a custom dash. When you put that up agains a bevy of Autometer gauges, it's not a bad deal either.

If my E30 was an OBD2 car, I'd be seriously thinking about picking up a used 7" Galaxy Tab on eBay for less than $100 and doing just that.

From what I've read - you need a fast sample time on the adapter (OBDII spec supports up to 60Hz) to use it like that and the $12 variety are hit and miss in that regard. They might only poll once a second or something too slow for a smooth looking dash display. Mine is frustratingly not "out for delivery" so I won't be able to report on this until next week.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

Tom_Spangler wrote:

DrBoost wrote: I think one of these and an iPad mini would make for a super sweet gauge cluster in a custom dash. When you put that up agains a bevy of Autometer gauges, it's not a bad deal either.

If my E30 was an OBD2 car, I'd be seriously thinking about picking up a used 7" Galaxy Tab on eBay for less than $100 and doing just that.

From what I've read - you need a fast sample time on the adapter (OBDII spec supports up to 60Hz) to use it like that and the $12 variety are hit and miss in that regard. They might only poll once a second or something too slow for a smooth looking dash display. Mine is frustratingly not "out for delivery" so I won't be able to report on this until next week.

My el cheapo one seems to update in real-time in my truck. The boost gauge reacts as you'd expect.

Ordered one. I'm interested to see how it works with the Prius.

If it worked on my 87 MR2 I'd permanently glue my old Droid X to the dash and use it there. Have to settle for the xB and real phone on a mount.

So...I could buy this and grab a used Android tablet off CL for a digital dash setup..?

Anybody using an android tablet with one?

I'm totally seeing a HUD display, just for squiggles....

You get a heads up display with Torque using a regular cell phone laying on the dashboard. It's a built in feature. A tablet would probably be too big to lay up there on top of the dash.

foxtrapper wrote: You get a heads up display with Torque using a regular cell phone laying on the dashboard. It's a built in feature. A tablet would probably be too big to lay up there on top of the dash.

I'd rather just get a mount and use it facing me than try a HUD setup.

Nathan JansenvanDoorn wrote: I bought one a few weeks ago: just look for ELM327 on various online resellers - the price is typical. You CANNOT use a bluetooth dongle like this one with a non-jailbroken iPhone. I used mine on an Android using Torque to scan and turn off a CEL on an E36. I also have used it to log boost on my TDI. You can get free software to use on a BT equipped laptop as well.

What would be the laptop software I can interface with? I'm not using an android but my laptop has blue tooth.

ultraclyde wrote: So...I could buy this and grab a used Android tablet off CL for a digital dash setup..? Anybody using an android tablet with one? I'm totally seeing a HUD display, just for squiggles....

That's what I'm trying to do with my iPad but its impossible to do unless you're jailbroken (like me) and impossible without jailbreaking. There should be no issues with an Android based device. In fact, I remember someone advertising in GRM for a data display based off of an Android tablet.

Nitroracer, it comes with software that will work with your laptop, but at last look this particular deal is sold out.

If sold out, head over to Amazon were you should find many people selling the same item at similar prices.

Ordered on thursday, my wife reports that it hit our mail box today(monday). California to Vermont. Not too shabby.

Mine showed up today, now to see if it can play nice with iOS

Otherwise, I need to steel my niece's kindle fire (not really)

Got home, and the envelope shows it was shipped from ny. So it was shipped promptly, but I no longer think the USPS used warp speed. Works as advertised with torque. Of course the car decided to develop a mis fire and throw a code today on the way home. Good thing I have a code reader.

In reply to neon4891: You'll probably need to jailbreak it unless its specifically designed for IOS. Jailbreaking actually isn't as difficult as many boastful smartphone users make it out to be; it's really no more difficult than installing say Microsoft Office or any other computer program.