Purchasing Code reader??

I want to purchase a new code reader for my 2006 Boxster .I have never had a code reader before. Some of the key features I want are low cost, ease of use in reading codes. Works great for the 987.1 Not interested in what other Porsches or years it will work on. I have done a little searching on the net and the Foxwell NT520 Pro sounds like it would do the job. Cost on the USA site is $159 US (FREE SHIPPING) Im in Canada. It come with 1 Porsche download and I believe the necessary cables for the car and your computer. Please advise your thoughts on this unit and other possibilities. Im definitely no expert on this stuff.But having to drive 3 hrs to a Porsche shop to read a code for $150 plus Tx seems crazy .Thx for any guidance

Hi Warren. I have the iCarsoft PORv1.0 and it's been great. Used on both my 987 and 991.

Thx I will take a look at that product

I love my Autel MD802. I think I paid a bit more for it, but this thing can diagnose and do live data monitoring of Manufacturer codes on just about any make or model of vehicle I have ever heard of. I have used it on my 981 , a friend's 987.1 , as well as a 2015 Mazda CX9, 2004 Mazda 6 , and 2008 VW Jetta.

Thx Ledbette

I have the Foxwell NT520. Very nice unit; user intuitive. I also have the Durametric Enthusiast version. Very capable but u have to have a laptop interface while using (can b a PITA!)

I use the Durametric enthusiast version, although cumbersome as noted, I bought it the same year I bought the car so it has paid for itself and then some.

I just bought a Foxwell NT530 (newest model) with Porsche module for my ' 06 Cayman S (going away) and my '14 Boxster S . It's a standalone unit and very easy to use. I pulled overrev reports and also reset my oil service reminder with no difficulty. Presumably it can read the basic set of codes for any OBDII vehicle, which could be handy. Got it from Amazon / Foxwell .

Is there some reason the Porsche needs such an expensive unit? I bought a Bluetooth unit from Amazon for $11 and I can read / reset codes on my phone. It gives me full engine diagnostics, showing me voltage, RPM, speed, sensors and air / fuel ratios.

Will the 520 read codes on most any vehicle other than the Porsche (my 06 Boxster ) if I purchase. I appears from the USA/UK website that comes with 1 (one) selected download . It would be nice if it would read my Toyota and wife VW rabbit.

Porsche has many custom codes beyond the standard OBD II codes that you can get from a generic reader. They are very detailed and specific. Helps with troubleshooting.

I have never heard of the Foxwell , it is nice that you can read over-rev, can you reset things like brakes, pdk , and battery coding.

Foxwell would be hard to overlook. Extremely thorough and in depth scanner. Amazon.com: FOXWELL NT530 for Porsche Cayman Multi-System OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner SRS ABS DPF EPB Airbag TPMS Battery Reset: Automotive

I can’t speak for the Foxwell but I have had good luck with the Durametric product. I’m able to activate all the systems not just read code which has come in very valuable when dx issues.

I purchased the ' SCHWABEN PRO SCAN ' (for Porsche & other OBD-II vehicles) from Pelican Parts (Part# PEL-01865SCH01A ). Regular price is $229.95, but they're 20% off right now, using the TOOL20 discount code, and FREE shipping. Click here ...

For comparison purposes regarding capabilities, the Schwaben scanner is the Foxwell , NT520 I think, a good unit. I looked at Schwaben and then went to Foxwell through Amazon .

Resurrecting an older thread but thought I'd contribute my very recent experience. I purchased a Foxwell NT530 for Porsche from Amazon (sold by Quick Ship Auto Parts). Amazon.com: FOXWELL NT530 for GM Multi-System OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner Read Erase Error Codes: Automotive Buy FOXWELL NT530 for GM Multi-System OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner Read Erase Error Codes: Automotive - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases www.amazon.com I placed the order Friday evening and received the scanner the following Tuesday). I'd heard horror stories of Foxwell scanners arriving and not having the correct software loaded, scanner not able to read the proper car type, poor customer service, etc., so was ready to fight the battle. I opened the box, removed the scanner and took it to the garage and plugged into the OBD port on my '08 Cayman S. Pressed the 'Porsche' icon and it immediately gave me the option of '987 Boxster' or '987 Cayman'. After selecting 'Cayman' it gave me the vehicles VIN number and a few other pertenents relating to my car. I then went to 'quick scan' and the tool scanned 18 or 19 items, giving me four (4) fault codes, all of the 'C' variety. A big of research told me these were communications-related and possibly from a previous owners' work on the vehicle. I cleared these codes and will run another test in a week or so to see if they reproduce? I played around with the scanner, just seeing what options and items it could address, and was impressed with the options available (including the obvous oil and service reset options, but quite a few more involved options as well). So far, early in the game, I'm very satisfied with what this scanner brings to the table. Definitely worth the price of admission for a DIY like me. I believe my positive experience is in part due to the fact that I purchased from a North America outlet and not shipped from China. Included in the box was a paper that gave me customer service contact info (including phone numbers and contact times) and stated 'we are a North America company located in Portland, OR'. If you are looking for an affordable scanner with Porsche options, this would be worth a look.

@up - cool! Can you pull overrevs on it on a 987.2 ?

FYI. The NT530 can't program or pull overrevs on the 981 . At least it can't on my '14 Cayman . According to its web site the NT530 has User Special Function programmability for Customer Specific Settings on the 987 and the 997 but not for the 981 and 991.

I have a 987.1 , so can only speak to that, but yes, it can. Not sure on a 987.2 .

I took the Foxwell out to my '11 Cayenne today, and came back disappointed. It really doesn't offer programming on the 958 series ('11-'18) Cayenne, even though there are a LOT of things that can be programmed on that car. They do offer programming (extensive actually) on the first generation Cayenne (955/957, '03-'10). In looking though the list of vehicles on the Foxwell , with it hooked up to a USB port on my computer, I can scroll through the different cars it supports, and only about 1/2 list "Programming" as an option. The 987 obviously does, but the 981 doesn't. Some 911 series do, some not. What this means is for now - it's of limited use with my Cayenne (a disappointment) - it will do all the normal diagnostics for all modules and live data readout and device activations, but in this respect, it's no better than my X481 iCarScan dongle (that uses my Android phone for the computer and display.) I did inquire of Foxwell as to when we might expect to see programming added to the 958 Cayenne - no answer yet. That doesn't make it a bad buy. It certainly outshines the X431 iCarScan in use with the 987 Boxster , and is worth the money just for that ability. iCarScan makes no claims to programming, and the Durametric enthusiast version, which is more costly than the NT530 is much more limited in its abilities. I bought it in the hope it could program the steering wheel display for "Sport/Sport-Plus" and " Launch Control" on the flappy-paddles sport steering wheel I put on my '09 base PDK . I had been quoted $150 for that from an independent shop with a PIWIS - about $160 including tax. This device cost me $155 delivered and did the job just fine. So I'm $5 ahead of the game, and have other options that can be programmed on the 987 (auto-locking, side-marker turn signal repeaters, etc.) that I can play with. So - overall I'm not disappointed. Meanwhile..

As I recall, I ran a full scan and scrolled to the values. It gave you the various rev ranges over 2 pages. I took a pic with my phone for documentation.