Anyone use a PIWIS II w/996?

My Bosch KTS500 w/ PIWIS finally and totally crapped out. It had full functionality (as far as a 15/16 year old unit could have.) Need to replace it. I'm considering the unit below. Anyone use it with a 996? I've asked the vendor the question but wondering if anyone here has used it. My 996 is a 2000 C2. The tester is: Porsche Piwis Tester II 2 Piwis2 V18.150 porsche diagnostic tool w/ EVG7 tablet I searched PIWIS here and didn't find any posts on this topic. Thanks, GA

I'm leery of these Chinese knockoff factory computers - especially now that Porsche uses a cloud-based version of PIWIS called PCSS. You gain access to PCSS by joining the Porsche Partner Network (PPN) which is an annual fee and then you pay for the diagnostic service per hour. The reason why I bring this up is because if you now attempt to connect a knockoff PIWIS (They do not issue anything earlier than III currently,) to the "Mothership" it will deactivate your counterfeit unit. I'd look into joining PPN and using the official PCSS or I'd look at an official 3rd party solution such as Durametric to work on a 996. Too much risk of a Chinese unit becoming an overpriced outdated laptop.

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Well, that seems to explain some of the verbiage in the listing. Thanks, GA

From what work you have done in the past, do you really need the full functionality of PWIS? If you search on the forum, there are many threads regarding other systems for diagnostic. Personally, I used durametric and the X431 unit. The X431 website is a bit sketchy on coverage of 996 but up to this point, I have found it will do everything that Durametric will do and more. But it's also over twice the price of Durametric. The upside is that the x431 works on nearly every car make/model so I use it on all of my other cars as well.

ok, so you haven't used the system I'm asking about. Thank you.

I have used the Porsche factory PIWIS II for many years, and can tell you it does WAY more than Durametric and any other tool. I will also say it does WAY more than any normal Porsche Enthusiast can effectively use. But if you love to Geek-out on Porsche testing/diagnostics, and have the $$$$, it will teach you a few things. As far as the Chinese knock-off PIWIS II testers, I have no experience with them, but I think the Durametric Pro will suffice for any Enthusiasts ..

Thanks for the input. My dead PIWIS (I) wasn't nearly the system my Mercedes Star Diagnostic system is but was capable enough to keep me dealer independent ever since my car came off of warranty almost 16 years ago. PIWIS II looks to have capabilities similar to my Star Diagnostic system which, to me, you almost can't put a price on. Being four hours away from dealer or even a decent Indy totally skews the ROI decision.

Look into this before you purchase a PIWIS II off of a mechanic... I have good information from a friend in the auto industry that some PIWIS II functionality has been stripped because Mothership wants everyone on PIWIS III at least if they won't pony up to PNN and use PCSS. Long story short - it may be worth it for you to pay for a PIWIS III if you were going to spend $$ for a II.

Not surprising, especially with the newer models and advanced functions but I have a pretty hard time believing they'd strip out anything associated with the 996. I never updated my PIWIS or Star Diagnostic system. I bought them to work on the specific cars I had, they worked perfectly and I never needed to. If I was in business, that'd be another story.

I have a knock-off PIWIS 2, does everything I need it to do. The only drawback is that it runs only on Windows XP.

Yeah, that XP requirement means if I go this route, I'll get the whole kit including hardware, loaded and ready to use. Thanks for the comment.

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When I purchased my Durametric, I understood that it could do everything the PIWIS could except for programming. (I would assume the factory tool would have manuals, schematics, etc. as well) Is there anything else that you're aware of that it's not capable of doing? I would also love to know if anyone has experience using something like the Autel Maxisys or other tool truck scanners.

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I am actually running Windows 10, but running VM so XP can run virtually in Windows 10.

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The Durametric is great for the engine, not so great for anything else. It can do nothing with the ABS or Tiptronic except clear codes. Yes, there are buttons to do more, but they don't actually work. Same with alarm or HVAC.

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theperf is correct, the PIWIS II can do buttloads of things that Durametric can't do. Things like ABS, Tiptronic, Convertable top, instrument cluster, radio, MOST system, HVAC, alarm control, you can read old control units and write the info into the replacement control units so the options equipment function as desired, you can code for special functions, you can program control inits, you can see the actual values, you can command certain functions for testing (drive links). You can make the doors lock at 5mph, or to unlock all doors at once,or relock after a time period, Mirror dip in reverse ect. it has active wiring diagrams that can highlight a wire ( color coded) and follow it though pages of diagrams. There are just buttloads of things, so many I can't even remember them all. All that said, the Durametric Pro will do 90% of the things an owner will need, it's the other 10% that will cause you to go to the Dealer and pay the big bucks..

Considering getting PIWIS 2, maybe with the tablet - there are a lot of threads with driver issues when running with VM etc, getting the bundle seems to be less painful option?

The advantage of the VM based system is that when the system crashes, which it does all the time, you just reload the VM and carry on.

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in the case of using the tablet, if it crash wouldn�t you just reboot the tablet and carry on?

It usually corrupts the filesystem. If you have backups perhaps you could restore? I don't know.

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wow it does? good to know..

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Ain't that the truth! I have a PIWIS II clone, works with my 996 as well as the 991 but is kind of fussy about how you boot it up, order of connecting cables, turning off ignition while using it, etc. and is generally a real PITA to use. I also have a few Porsche specific handhelds (Foxwell and iCarsoft) that I VASTLY prefer to use for anything that is within their capabilities. Easy to use, no muss, no fuss, and only screw with the PIWIS if I am trying to do something that the Foxwell doesn't support. Perhaps buying the 'integrated tablet' system is less fussy than my Windoze notebook and VM emulation of XP, but I wouldn't count on it. Also have a durametric enthusiast. I almost never use it... Doesn't work well with the 991 platform, doesn't do much if anything more than the handhelds on the 996 platform, and still requires windoze. Don't expect much in the way of support from the Chinese PIWIS vendors. If you expect zero support, you definitely won't be disappointed! On the other hand, Foxwell support and updates have been great!

How do these work on an early build 996? My Durametric doesnt talk to the airbags or the cabriolet top.. The next step is to source the tools that will work on my '99 model. What can be bought that works?

My base durametric runs the top calibration fine... 2003/C4/Cab

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early 996 builds seem to not talk well with this software, I have it, it talks to immobilizer and ecu but that�s it ..

Ah that kinda makes sense, my durmetric lists several ECu combinations in the software..

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A friend of mine had a Durametric Pro that he loaned me as I was thinking about buying it. It was almost useless on my 5/99 Carrera. It would read the ECU, but nothing else.

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correct, the early builds are not the same.. im starting the guess it�s all the ME 5.2.2 dme systems but I wanted to start the conversation and learn from those who are better informed

If you could find one of the original PST2's like is shown in the 996.1 workshop manuals you would be golden..It would do things in the early cars that even PIWIS wouldn't do. But Porsche sent out an update that purposely killed them when PIWIS came out...They wanted everyone to use PIWIS, some computer nerd figured out how to revive the dead PST2's and was doing the resuscitation for $500 ,but Porsche got wind of it and sicked thier Lawyers on him, and he faded away...

Did you ever pull the trigger on this. Thinking of doing the same since I am doing a tip to 6mt swap. I notice notsome of the listing g they state you need some online e modules, one of them being g the DME.

I did but we couldn't get it (PIWIS II) to talk to my 996. If I remember correctly they came to realize their version would talk to all of the newer cars but couldn't/wouldn't talk to 996's. Full refund and they paid me to ship it off. Shortly thereafter, I found a guy in Tampa or Orlando (I think) with PIWIS running on a laptop. It works perfectly but I only use it on my 996. It is, as some suggest, a tad clunky to use. Lots cables, interface box, power supplies, etc. Not lean and mean like my old KTS500 with PST. I finally spent a few hours one day tie wrapping and mounting everything into what passes for a "single entity." I'll look tonight and see if I can dredge up his info. Pretty sure I found him on ebay.

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Thanks, any help would be appreciated. I'm still acquiring all the parts needed for the 6mt swap, but I want to be ready with the electronics as well.

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PIWIS II worked fine with my 996 when I did my tip to manual swap. Still no issues...at all.

I am finding that a PIWIS III VM and knockoff VAS 6154 works great and much faster on my 996 than the PIWIS II did. To get even better performance I converted the VM to a physical install on an old laptop that was good for Win 10 and it works great.