Foxwell Nt510, NT520 or something else?

The intended use is primarily for a '14 BMW F10 (such as spinning back the rear brake pistons to change pads, feature codes, etc.) and on '04 Porsche C2 (for things the Bluetooth OBDII can't reach). There seems a wide range of opinions concerning which of the Foxwells is better and the price is similar. Or, should I look to a different device altogether? Thanks in advance -- all thoughts & comments appreciated.

I have the NT520 pro with the Porsche software. It reads Porsche specific codes and can clear them. Also it can do "active tests" on the car such as turning on engine compartment fans and testing the headlight system (but what is available to test and code is dependent on the car model). I bought it for bleeding the PSM and ABS comments but found out it does not have that function for my car (996.2). There is also no coding capabilities for my car. I think NT510 and NT520 are the same, but the 520 can adapt more vehicle types. The price difference is small, so I went ahead with the newer 520 model. I also looked into the icarsoft but apparently it has difficulties reading/clearing ABS codes.

I think the one I have is the NT510. It works for my cars - doing everything I�ve ever needed. The instructions for getting the porsche specific software onto the device was poor at best. If you get one and get stuck, either post in the forum or message me directly and I�ll try to help.

JJ_W, Thanks for the post. I also have a Mk2 and after ten years of driving it have only found the need twice to look to something other than a generic OBD2 reader - once to reset an airbag light (my bad, didn't leave the battery disconnected long enough before removing steering wheel) and once I wanted to look at some tiptronic codes. It's disappointing that the Porsche specific program won't assist with a brake bleed, although I read recently on the forum that it can be done successfully without purging the ABS. cds72911, Thanks for responding, I'm encouraged that you found it to work well for your purposes. With the passage of time with an aging car it should come in handy and glad to know it works. My plan is to order it set up for the BMW and add the Porsche program - I may have to reach out if I get stuck. Thanks again guys, I'll post my impressions once I've bought & used it.

Those of you that own the Foxwell NT510 or NT520, does it read the over-rev counts at all (Range 1, Range 2 ignitions in Durametric terms)?

Peter, there is some discussion concerning that here: https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...-software.html , but relating to 997 models. I've been also looking at the possibility of the Foxwell NT650, which seems to have the functions of the NT510/520, but preloaded with a large number of vehicle software(including Porsche) and lifetime updates. It comes in at about $200. Interested to know the impressions of anyone that has used the NT650.

I was interested in one that would let the brakes be bled in a 996.2.

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Thank you! That was exactly what I needed to know.

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I have the NT520pro and cannot find that option for my 996.2. There are plenty of active tests available, but no coding, no PSM/ABS bleeding, no over-rev counts information.

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That is disappointing. I would have thought that it would read over-revs on the 996.2 if it read them on the 997. Don't they both use the same DME version?

I picked up a NT520 this week with the MB module on it and am debating if I should purchase the Porsche module. The list of supported modules link is throwing a 404 now so I cannot see what is there. Can someone chime in who has this module on the 520 if it is worth the additional cost? IIRC it's $60 more so pretty cheap, I just would like to know what I am getting in return.

I have the 510 not the 520, but (being in the software biz) it is likely the same software. To me: for $60 (or even $160) it is a no-brainer - one airbag reset or code read/reset yourself rather than taking it to a shop and you are money ahead.

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Did you ever reach resolution? I need to find a tool that will do the same so that i may power-bleed my '04 cab with PSM

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If you are just looking to change your brake fluid, you won't need to activate the ABS/PSM module. If you've gotten air in the lines or you have another need to activate the system, a Durametric is probably your best bet.

OK, I picked up the NT520 Pro (ebay best offer $135 delivered) set up for BMW several weeks ago, but have had little time to use it. My initial impressions are that the device was easy to register & software was easy to update to latest version. I found it to be slightly quirky, such as randomly not automatically displaying the VIN when choosing that option, yet displaying it when manually entering year and series. I've so far only used for the brake service on the f10, which worked great and alone worth the price of admission. I plan on loading up the Porsche software sooner than later -- as ipman said it's a no brainer. If you avoid a shop visit once for, say an airbag reset, you're way ahead. On the other hand, according to the image below the 996 functionality per Foxwell seems a little lean and uncertain. The columns, L to R are for ECU info, Read Code, Erase Codes, Live Data, Active Test.

I did purchase the Porsche module yesterday, scanned and it picked up more than the generic reader, I was pleased. Can you post the link where you got the screenshot? I saw it last week but now it returns a 404 I wanted to see all that it could do for P cars. Unless someone has this as a PDF.

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So, I guess you're saying a Durametric is the minimum reader that will cycle the ABS in PSM cars?

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No, I'm saying that the information available on other devices is conflicting. The Durametric will do what you need and do a lot more.

I have the NT520 Pro and it works really well with my 997.1 and not as well on my 955 Cayenne. It can do most basic stuff on both like service reset , code reading and reset etc but when it comes to programming much better on the 997.1 . I turned off my seat belt chime which i could not do on my Cayenne ... It will give me run hours & over revs and engine info on the 997.1 but once again not on the Cayenne. It depends what specific model car you have and what you are intending to do with it if this will be right for you. In my case it works really well as others posted that it plays really well with a 997.1 the other thing that made me purchase it was it does not have a vehicle limit and it does programming which the enthusiast Duametric does not. I have lent mine to buddies with older Boxters and 996's that wanted to do service reset and air bag reset and code clearing and it also did the job for them. The Foxwell site has a listing on its capabilities specific for each Porsche model.

If you look under alarm system there are 3 spots to enter numbers. One is labelled remote but it only has 6 digits. Is this for key fob programming?

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Sounds like "Quit f'ing around with junk and buck up and buy the right tool"!! I get that.

It all depends on how much you plan to do yourself. Durametric is Porsche-specific and has a lot of functionality that is missing in other diagnostic tools. And so, yes.

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I have the pdf. PM me with an email address & I'll send it as an attachment.

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Interesting... this is the first time that I have read that it can read over rev info (on any model). Have you ever had the opportunity to try it on a 996.2? I would love to know if it will work to give over rev data on these.

Link to the latest one NT350 mine just arrived yesterday. 169.99 shipped next day to my house https://www.amazon.com/FOXWELL-NT530-Porsche-Multi-System-Diagnostic/dp/B07XQJG3NB/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=FOXWELL+NT530+for+Porsche+Multi-System+OBD2&qid=1576261005&sr=8-4 https://www.amazon.com/FOXWELL-NT530-Porsche-Multi-System-Diagnostic/dp/B07XQJG3NB/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=FOXWELL+NT530+for+Porsche+Multi-System+OBD2&qid=1576261005&sr=8-4

Serious question.... The Durametric enthusiast kit is $287. Sure, $100 more than these other models but less than the cost of a DIY oil change. it appears these other readers don’t have the same capabilities as the Durametric? Is that true? If so, other than the cheaper price what is the allure of these other brand readers?

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For the 996, I don�t see much difference between the Foxwell with Porsche bundle and a Dura. Perhaps the newer, more electronic vehicles will have more disparity between them. But unless you have all Porsches, the allure is you can add a different maker�s bundle for $60. I don�t want to spend $5-800 per make for a specific reader, nor spend $1000 -$1500 on a generic that may not read something. This allows me to support other vehicles in my fleet for a low entry price; so far it�s been fine for me.

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Okay. That makes sense. I purchased a Durameric professional a few years ago so I haven't been keeping up with the new technologies. Sounds interesting!

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For me its bigger margin of cost I don't have a laptop to run Durametric so that has to be added to the cost of the as well even a cheap laptop from walmart that will run it is about $250-300.00. So 169.99 compared to 590-690.00 with a cheap laptop and does 90%

Any Foxwell 520 or 530 owners know if it can measure cam deviation? I saw a post somewhere that it could, in the real-time display portion. I bought a 520 this week, but haven't unwrapped it or downloaded Porsche software, etc.

We had a Foxwell NT530 and could not find the must have cam deviation or fuel trim, and it did not communicate with convertible top and Tiptronic modules so returned it. Got Durametric and could access cam dev and fuel trim info. Another forum member said "I have the foxwell NT520 pro and it shows cam deviation when looking at live data.", so apparently some Foxwells display it, and if the NT530 had it I couldn't find. Durametric doesn't display state of door microswitches, and NT530 does. This is needed when troubleshooting the many problems that occur in the doors, and so unless there is another model that does all functions unfortunately we need to buy more than one to cover everything.

I also can confirm the NT520 does not have this.

On my 2000 C2 it does.

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what menu were you able to get to that? DME>Live?

That sounds right, but I can't recall off the top of my head.

I can also confirm that the Foxwell NT530 can show cam deviations. Out of the box, it doesn't have 911-specific logic, but after downloading the Porsche module and selecting the 911/996 model, the live data included a number of great fields, including cam deviations.