A**.
Stay away. Overpriced, poor value, and misleading price/features compared to competitors.
My setup is a 2002 BMW 325xi (e46). I need to reset the airbag system after replacing a window regulator, but I was also interested in coding capabilities, other diagnostics, and live data.The Good:This app can access more systems in the car than a standard ELM327/OBDII reader.It appears to be high-quality hardware.The Bad:The manufacturer deliberately obfuscates the cost of everything needed. Depending on your model, you may also need additional adapters for this device to even work.For the year of my model, an additional "extension adapter" is required, though this is not easy to determine. Further, there is no indication from the manufacturer about what this adapter does. It is well-known that a 20-pin adapter is required for the e46 because the K-line is not exposed in the OBD connector prior to 2002, but I have no idea what the "extension adapter" does except add $15 to the overall cost.The Carly app is the only one that is compatible with the advanced features of this adapter and its cost is another is $60... PER YEAR! They recently (March 2018) changed the pricing model from a one-time $60 cost to annual. They force you to download the "free" app and then unlock it with an in-app purchase to learn that you need to pay another $60 and then again in a year.The module compatibility apparently varies depending on the year/model of the car, though this is not explained anywhere. You are forced to pay between $60-$75 for the hardware in order to learn what is supported. This should be explained up front.I get that the developer of the software wants to create an ongoing revenue stream, but an annual pricing structure for a tool like this is inappropriate, and it is not to be found anywhere in their documentation. When I buy a hammer, I expect to be able to use that hammer whenever I need to pound in a nail, and not have it expire in 365 days. I am not sure who they think their target market is, but I simply cannot afford to renew this app every year. Further, it supports only three modules in my car and therefore has less value when compared to other BMW models. Carly should look at their competition, including professional devices that sell for a similar price, offer more module support, (ABS bleed for example), and never stop working arbitrarily.The performance of the hardware is no better than a standard OBDII adapter for live logging. If you are looking for better performance, you won't find it here.A more appropriate revenue model would be to charge a one-time in-app fee for each BMW generation/model, according to the modules supported. If they make significant changes to the app, then charge for an upgrade.The annual fee is a complete rip off and if it had been possible to determine all of this information prior to making a purchase, I would have got the iCarsoft tool instead. Unfortunately, Carly obfuscates this information and forces you to invest in the hardware before you know what you are getting. Should you decide that the annual $60 is a poor value, you are stuck with the hardware investment.I would never recommend this tool to anyone and I am quite disappointed with it. If I could return the hardware and refund the $60 for the app, I would gladly do so.
D**E
Buy a cheap adapter and use Torque instead
Borders on 'Rip off'. Just get a cheap compatible adapter.So here is how Carly's sales model works... you spend over $60 on their adapter (equivalents can be had for <$20 on Amazon), then download their 'free' worthless demo software. Spending $62 on a $20 adapter isn't enough profit for them... they want _Another_ $60 to subscribe to their actual software. That's a per year subscription, not a software purchase, you'll owe another $60 in a year.There free software was worthless. Did NOTHING. Couldn't even read speed or tach. Says it's not compatible with my engine (e36 M3) despite what their website and Amazon listing claims. Basically I overpaid about $45 for a cheap bluetooth ODB2 adapter.The adapter works fantastic with Torque. Bought that instead. Carly is a mistake. Do not buy for an E36 M3. Do not buy their adapter even if you do want to use their software, get a $20 compatible one instead. Don't bother downloading their free software for Android. I see no purpose for this product to exist for my car.I am hoping to return this, uninstall their joke of a 'free' program, and replace with a cheaper adapater and use Torque. Which, as I said, is working fantastically.$60 wasted and not a happy camper. I feel their pricing model is deceptive, and feel lied to about support for my specific engine. It's an over priced $20 BT adapter with a 'Carly' sticker and a sales pitch for a $60 a year subscription for software that is 100% non functional with my engine (despite their claims). I have a very low opinion of this product at this time.Presumably it does _something_ on other BMWs. I'm happier with Torque and want my $64 back.My constructive criticism for Carly;Don't hide your pricing model. Be upfront. This adapter includes nothing. It's just hardware. I'm more upset that you were so evasive about cost of the full version. The 'Lite' version has next to no functionality. You can't even read codes in app, you get a one time email of any codes found (that I never got actually). It seems that older BMWs that are still OBD2 (1996-2004 it looks like) require multiple adapters to work. This is NO WHERE on the Amazon page selling this, and not easy to find on your website. Be upfront about the crap you need for Pre-2004 cars. Be upfront about the pricing model. Kill the 'lite' version, or make it actually do... something. For a contrast, I suggest looking at your competitor Torque. Their Free version has functionality, worked great. Extra features in the full version for $5. I'm not saying drop your price to $5, but at least let people read codes.How is this for a suggestion; when you spend $65 on a $20 Bluetooth adapter, why not give your customer 30 or 90 days of the Full Version? Not a full year sub, hit them with a $60 bill after the Trial time... but if someone buys your hardware, give them at least one month of the full version. IF someone says it's for a pre-2004 car, be upfront about extra costs in adapters and cables and EXACTLY what it can and can't do.So far, I've spent ~$64 on an adapter that didn't work with your software at all. Worked great with Torque. All your 'lite' program did was ask me for more money and say 'your engine not supported' with anything I tried. When, IN THE APP, it said I needed cables, I gave you the benefit of the doubt and ordered the 20pin to ODB2 adapter... which did nothing. Maybe I need a _THIRD_ adapter? Why would I screw with this. I plugged this in and it worked great with Torque, no cables, no adapters. Their free version was useful and kept enough full features back to make me want to pay $5.As competitors go, they kicked your butt here. You guys look a LOT more expensive, are evasive on pricing, and you never once worked on my car. i still have no clue what or if your software can do anything that Torque can't do for less money. If it can, you are doing a poor job of conveying that.So let me ask you this; why would I spend $150 ($65+$60 for one year of full version + ???? for cables and adapters) to keep trying with you guys after Torque sold me on a $5 app that will work great with a $18 adapter?If you have an honest answer for that, I'm all ears. But from my perspective, this was a botched customer experience on your end.As of now, I'm happier with Torque Pro and don't understand why Carly exists. You guys were nothing but a week long pain in my butt constantly asking me for more money.
S**A
Expensive, yet doesn't offer the full package!
Works like a charm. However, you need to bear in mind that in order to fully utilise the adapter you'll need to buy a Pro version of the application on the Play Store which costs around £50 and be prepared to spend further on in-app purchases; for example battery registration or iDrive coding which will set you back £10-£15 each. To fully utilise the application you are looking at around £150+ in total. Very greedy developer(s)!
G**I
Perfect tool
Great bmw tool. Could not understand having a BMW car without one of these. Yes you will need to pay extra for the app and add ons within the app but is a lot cheaper then dropping car off at garage for check up rather then a very detailed test with this adapter. Also for them who like to do some coding you could to loads off it with this and I do not mean everything but plenty for the price you paying for it . Also for diesel bmw a great feature is the dpf check and regeneration option. Battery replacement an add on still a lot cheaper then paying dealers.Another great thing about this 2nd generation adapter is that has got on off button so you could leave it pluged in all time and just press button once you need to use it.I would advise to anyone as yes expensive but very handy tool if you have problems with the car.Hope I helped any one who is thinking 2ice on buying this.
D**M
Brilliantly simple and robust
I was a little sceptical about this product with the mixed reviews across many platforms and forums. Main reason for purchase was the recode a higher rated agm battery after the last one died. The car is a 2011 e93, the item arrived next day, and connected immediately to my android phone. It quickly set me up to download the pro version with a yearly subscription of around £55. I thought I would have to purchase an add on for the battery coding, but alas did not. Maybe it is now included in the yearly cost rather than a one off payment. I also coded the digital speedo , the roof closure on the move, and also video in motion.... all successful. Also cleared a number of faults.
A**W
Its NOT 100%
When buying this I knew that I'd have to buy the 'pro' app for my phone or tablet to accompany the adaptor to get anything useful from it. What I didn't realise that more 'in app' purchases would follow (battery reset for example). I found this disappointing. To add to this I then discovered that the app and bluetooth connector failed to 'code' 80% of the things I was trying to customise. I followed all instructions and still it failed. Time and again.If I had the chance over again I'd contact Bimmertech and ask them to code the car instead.Would I buy it again ? NOWould I recommend it? NOWould I like a refund? YES, and I'm going to ask for one.
M**W
The Second Adapter Worked (BMW X5 E70)
If you consider that BMW will charge you an arm & a leg just to change the number of seconds that the indicators flash for, Carly has already paid for itself.The first OBD adapter that turned up didn;t work and frankly was frustrating as hell as it wouldn't connect, Amazon processed the return in no time and I ordered a second one that arrived the next day. The 2nd worked straight away and connected within seconds. YAY!The Carly for BMW andorid app is also expensive at +40 euros and that doesn't include everything either, with the battery reset an additional 10 euros and the DPF regen is even more! But it works well and is straight forwards to use.I like that the app backs up the settings before applying any changes and a huge tip is to check any alternative settings that may be available from the carly website as on my BMW X5, quite a few of the alternative settings are active rather than the main settings (eg the number of seconds to blink in FRM is in settings #2).Also to be able to easily remove the adapter, making a tab with some strong sellotape works well, so you can remove the adapter easily, rather than trying to fumble with zero space to get it out.Hope that helps!
Trustpilot
1 month ago
1 day ago