FOXWELL NT530 for Volkswagen Multi-System OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner Read Erase Error Codes

I'm very satisfied of this scanner. This because it lets to do all those operations you need on a car and only with a shop diagnostic scanner is possible to do; but these scanners are much more expensive because they let to works on many other brands and this isn't useful for me as I have cars of only 2 brands. And if in the future I'll buy a car of another brand, I can buy new software from Foxwell and so I'll use again this scanner: it's wonderful!

this scanner is supposed to tell me of stored engine codes,it tells me there is no engine codes,yet the glow plug light is flashing and telling me there is a problem with the engine.What a waste of time and money when it cant tell me what is not working properly,should have spent a bit more and bought the snap on scanner.

This review is for the NT530, for which I purchased on Foxwell's site and added software coverage for Mercedes, BMW, and VW/Audi. This review is independent—I paid for these units without any reimbursement. I am not a mechanic, in fact, I’m a psychotherapist for little kids, and a shade-tree enthusiast. It is an amazing time to be alive when so many GenZ and GenX people are ‘Makers’ and ‘Fixers’ and companies like Foxwell are producing equipment to support that cultural shift!Since the pros, far, far outweigh the cons--I'll start with the cons------1. This is a text-based scanner. You have to click through lines of functions and options with mechanical buttons below the small low-definition screen. No color, no touchscreen, not intuitive. Because of it’s basic-ness it only functions off of the car’s battery through the OBD port, when cycling power or unplugging, you will need to reboot the unit each time.2. There is a basic required knowledge of mechanic-lingo, brand-specific lingo, and in the case of German cars—an ability to muddle-through the German language.3. This is truly bi-direction (later listed as a HUGE pro)—and with that, introduces risk for getting too deep with changes (unmarrying a transmission ECU with the unit, could cost a grand to tow to a dealer for reprogramming!). Beginners can use this—but don’t just mash buttons!4. Software requires purchase for each cluster of makes. The NT530 always comes with one make of your choice, but if you add for instance, Mercedes/Maybach/Smart/Sprinter package—it has a one-time $60 fee—some makes are more, some are less. (Although it may surprise you, this is also listed as a pro below.5. Though some features show as bi-directionally accessible through the car’s computer, in my experience, some of these features time-out and don’t actually function across-the-board. Since they update the software regularly, I think you can report functionality issues and hope for it to be addressed in future updates.Now for the Pros------1. True Bidirectional scanner. There are no sub $200 scanners---let me rephrase that--- there are no sub $600 scanners that have this feature. Bi-directionality is what makes working on European cars possible. Replace an injector in your 2013 Mercedes, it needs to be recoded—replace the battery in your 2007 7-series Bimmer—it needs to be registered. It is outrageous the simple shade-tree tasks that have to be done at a dealer because you don’t have OE-level Bi-directionality. This scanner is a freak—it literally should not have this capability at this price point. Search any enthusiast forum for Euro cars—this is essential kit from Porsche to Jaguar.2. You purchase the software for each make (listed above as a Con as well) and own the support and updates for life. For $60 I added Mercedes—which encompasses almost every Mercedes with OBD-II and OBD-I (have to have the old-school Mercedes adapter for OBD-I). Let’s say you buy an Autel MP808k for $799.00. The Autel unit covers every make essentially for that price, it’s certainly bi-directional, more intuitive, touch screen, has internal batter, and about a hundred other benefits. Problem is—it’s about $350 each and every year to update the software—and you can’t just use outdated software to do most of the bi-directional functions like ECU coding or sensor relearning. The Foxwell NT530 is lifetime free updates, which is absolutely crazy and literally the only way to get this support for this price.3. The cost. Although this is addressed in pro-1, I have to reemphasize the pricepoint. At sub$180, you should only be able to buy something better than a Pepboys code reader. I can’t emphasize enough that the NT530 should not exist with this price, upgradeability cost, or list of functions.I have had this unit since June of 2020—at the time of this review, approaching two years. I have purchased the above-listed Autel and also an Ancel FX9000 within that timeframe. Those units certainly have benefits over the NT530—but I only consider the NT530 to be the essential scanner within this list.I hope to get my hands on a Foxwell GT60 Plus at some point—Foxwell’s high-end answer to bi-directionality. If the NT530 is this capable, I imagine the GT60 Plus would be life-changing!Joe Alexander (written for Foxwell site and Amazon)