EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

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wfdTamar
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EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by wfdTamar »

Just wondering why we would buy a Lexia3 from EasyDiagnostics (ED) over somewhere like eBay or one of the direct from China sites (Alibaba, dhgate)?

Looks like the hardware is the same as better eBay sellers and provided the firmware and version is the same what benefit is there buying from ED?

V. 7.83 seems to be the latest available on eBay, but ED say theirs is 8.17. Does that refer to the same thing - the Diagbox version? Given that I have a 2015 C5, would that alone be a reason to go ED?

Is it that you know you’ll get one that works and somewhere to go back to if it doesn’t? I’m in Australia, so it’s just as expensive to return something to the UK as China, though though language barrier isn’t there.

I have no experience of the Lexia, but have with other car diagnostics. Is it a troublesome beastie, so if you get good English language support, is that worth paying the extra for?

Seems about 2-3 times the price, so what are you paying for? I’m not having a go at them. I just want to know. If it’s a PITA and ED are really helpful that might be enough to warrant the extra, but if you’re reasonably handy and they’re not too tricky, maybe I could manage by myself and forum help.
Last edited by wfdTamar on 30 Oct 2019, 19:42, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by Stickyfinger »

Real chips, not fake or cut-downs
Works on ALL models. upgrades to software for new models
Trustworthy
Customer support is very good
Correctly wired fly leads
Up2date software choices
Being "good ones", the resale price is better so if you give up and get a Bugatti you can help pay for 5 mins (not 2 mins) of petrol

Need I go on ?
Last edited by Stickyfinger on 30 Oct 2019, 19:45, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by GiveMeABreak »

It really depends on where you are of course - Aus is a long way from the UK.

The thing to watch out for is the marketing - some say their kits are all singing all dancing, but then in the small print they often say "does not work good with C5" or similar cracking phrases. Avoid any of those. The important thing is you do need a Full Chip Revision 'C' kit that works with full CAN vehicles. Generally - the full chip ones are more expensive.

Many members over here buy from ED as they are UK based and provide a year of support and help with installation if you need it and we know the quality of the kit is top notch. Not all the clones are made equal...

If you are not getting any communication with some or all of the ECUs with a cheap one - then it probably is not the full ticket.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The Easy Diagnostics kit (of which I have an earlier version) will have the full opto-couplers (some of the cheaper e-bay ones don't and may say "will not work on C5" or something like this), the most current version of the software they recommend (when you go past a certain version number (7.62, I think) the Lexia needs to connect to PSA for certain tasks, and clone equipment may well then be disabled), and they will provide 1 year aftercare (I cannot say what their returns policy is, especially from the other side of the world!).

The Lexia equipment is very powerful, and can do almost everything the professional PSA equipment does. This does mean that, if you are not careful, you can 'brick' equipment and kill the vehicle. The safest attitude should be "I don't know WHAT that function does, so back out, DON'T save any settings, and ask for help!". Saying that, when you know how to use it the Lexia is very useful.

There are no manuals or guides on using a Lexia, because the PSA group never intended it for release to the public. All Lexia clones are copies of the PSA stuff. Because of this, only the PSA trained mechanics really get all of the information. However, when you look around (and this Forum is a good place to start) you can find guides on how to perform tasks (such are resetting the Eloysis counter).

You will need a laptop, one with a good battery, at least 2GB RAM, and a 32b O/S (such as Windows XP or Windows 7).
Last edited by Hell Razor5543 on 31 Oct 2019, 15:04, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by xantia_v6 »

I have bought a Lexus clone from a vendor on Ali-Express, and it does what it should, but you have to read the advertisements carefully and check for relevant buyer feedback.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by wfdTamar »

What about the version being 7.83 on eBay vs ED at 8.17? Is that a big deal?
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by GiveMeABreak »

There's no such thing as an "opto-chipset" James..... :roll:

I think he's referring to Optocouplers which are used to extensively in a full chip kit to isolate signals between higher and lower electrical sources (like input and output) using light. A lot of these will be missing in a non-full chip kit:
Octo A.PNG
Octo B.PNG
Here you can see what the Octocouplers in yellowHere they are missing!
But that's not all, there are other components like resistors that are missing that can also affect CAN communication.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by GiveMeABreak »

wfdTamar wrote: 30 Oct 2019, 19:58 What about the version being 7.83 on eBay vs ED at 8.17? Is that a big deal?
If you have a C5 X7, don't update it past 7.62 - there's no need as this will take it up to 2015 and any later and you will loose some functionality.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Easy Diagnostics also may do the little module required to communicate with certain PSA vans, either on its own or as part of a larger Lexia kit (I have seen it in their 'shop' in the past, but I just checked and it is not in the website 'shop' today). If you don't plan on working on vans you don't need it, but if you want to help out friends and family it could be a useful addition to your diagnostics gear.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by wfdTamar »

Sorry Marc, should have had this discussion before I asked you to arrange my ED discount.

I reckon I'll go with this (Australian seller, though just a 'we sell any Chinese crud' type) which means zero support, but returns or refunds possible:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/79C8-Profes ... SwwyZdf4hr

Lexia 3 version: full chip version (Japan original chip, SUMSUNG chip): Lexia3 full chip Gold Edge 12pcs Japanese relay and 7pcs optocoupler firmware reference serial port 92815C
Firmware Reference Serial Number 921815C
Support vehicle: For Ci-troen: C-Zero / C1 / C2 / C3 / C3 PICASSO / DS3 / C-ELYSEE / C4 / C4 CACTUS / C4 PICASSO / DS4 / DS 5LS / C5 / DS5 / C6 / C8 / C- CROSSER / C4 AIRCROSS / NEMO / BERLINGO / JUMPY / JUMPER / AX / SAXO / BX / ZX / XSARA / XANTIA / XM / EVASION / C15 / FUKANGFUKANG 988 / ELYSEE / C-ELYSEE (R3) / C-TRIOMPHE / C-QUATRE
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A$90 vs A$253 at ED

Does say this though. Would this be the case for the ED ones too? I'm guessing any function that requires online dealing with Citroen is out for any of them being clones. It's not that I want that function, but more that it might indicate an inferiority to the ED version (if they can do it):

(Please disconnect the internet connection when installing the software, otherwise the equipment will be damaged and damaged)
For programming, diagbox supports basic programming, but some programming such as car alarm systems require an account username and password, we do not provide a username and password, only for Citroen and
Please note that there is a username and password for the eugeot center repair shop.



The other issue is - am I going to lose brownie points on here for not supporting a forum favourite? I mean if I ask a Lexia related question in the future, am I going to get the 'well if you'd bought from our boys at ED' treatment (snub)? :-) It's often hard to tell how entwined forums are with sellers. I've known some which are the same person (unbeknownst to forum users).
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wfdTamar
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by wfdTamar »

Found this article. Not sure how up to date it is, but gives some idea of what to look for.

http://blog.obd2shop.co.uk/how-to-choos ... n-peugeot/
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by xantia_v6 »

This forum has a firm policy of not getting too close to any commercial operations which may want to engage with our members. Our relationship with Easy Diagnostics goes no further than them agreeing to give our members a discount, and us vouching for the membership status of those asking for a discount. The forum has never received, not asked for, any support (financial or otherwise) from any commercial operator.
We have no editorial axe to grind, and everyone is welcome to discuss products from any vendor, provided that the discussion is fair and reasonable.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by wfdTamar »

Excellente! :-)
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

The French Car Forum are not associated with Easy Diagnostics, but various Forum members have bought their equipment, found it to be of good quality, and then recommended it to others (I know I have). Because of this Easy Diagnostics have agreed the discount scheme. To the best of my knowledge neither party has had cause to regret this.
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Re: EasyDiagnostics vs eBay etc for Lexia3

Post by Michel »

No one here will tell you what to buy or who from. They'll give recommendations based on their knowledge and experience, and in Marc's case with the Lexia stuff, he's the guru... but, no one will mind if you choose differently.
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