I tried Topscan from Topdon on 3 different vehicles and everything worked flawlessly. I can recommend it as one of the cheapest way to get a professional bi-directional scanner in your own toolbox.
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Sponsored Warning: I got this product for free to make a review. Despite that, I provide an honest review based on personal testing and share my truthful opinion of the product. Read more in sponsor policy.
I used Topscan for the first time and not only the connection and setup was extremely easy, but I also tried it with 3 different vehicles (video below) and everything worked flawlessly.
Topscan is currently the cheapest way that I know of, how you can add a Bi-Directional scan tool to your tool set.
Even though it has some cons mentioned below, I still think it is an amazing deal considering the price.
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Who tested product & wrote this review?
Tester & Editor for this review: Juraj Lukacko
Hello, I am Juraj (Yuri) and I tested this product to help you decide if it is something you would want to buy, and if yes, show you how to use it.
I make honest reviews based on personal testing in my own garage and If I see the product is bad, I will make it very clear in review.
Read more about how I do reviews on Iamcarhacker.com in my review policy.
I tested a lot of different Bluetooth OBD scanners
I tested more than 30 different Bluetooth OBD scanners, so the review is crafted based on the level of value it can give you for money spent. Here is a list of the Best Bluetooth OBD scanners.
Topscan Lite vs PRO | Which one to choose?
Topscan lite seems to be better value for money since it is half price compared to PRO but has almost the same functionality. The only 2 things missing in the LITE version are the immobilizer function and 5 service procedures (a total of 13 in pro). The lite comes with 8 service procedures but already includes the ones you will need most often like battery, throttle, DPF, brake unlock, and 4 others.
| Features | Topscan Lite | Topscan PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Price for device + first year license | Around $60 | Around $130 |
| Update cost (from 2nd year) | $59/year | $99/year |
| Full scan + diagnostic report | Yes | Yes |
| Full live data | Yes | Yes |
| Bi-Directional | Yes | Yes |
| Global OBD Modes | Yes | Yes |
| Immobilizer | — | Yes |
| Service procedures | 8 | 13 |
My Review of Topdon Topscan
I also got a Topdon warranty card in the package that extends the warranty by 1 additional need, but I don’t think I’ll ever use it. These adapters usually won’t break down, or at least any of mine didn’t.
I know that a lot of you guys hate subscription-based scanners, especially when you want to transition from a cheaper code reader/ELM327 reader. But subscription cost is normal across most professional scanners and with Topscan it is actually very affordable starting from $50/year with the first year free (just buy the device).
Topscan is a good choice for mechanics as well
You can access all modules to read/clear codes, read live data, and even do bi-directional tests for all modules. This alone is enough for a small car shop but on top of that, you can also print out or send diagnostic reports directly to your customers.
Getting your customer report like this will increase their trust in you, and if you want to look even more professional you can get a tablet. It will look very similar to pro scan tools in the price range of thousands of dollars.
It worked fine for all tested vehicles
I tried it with the 2022 Corolla which is easy for almost all scanners, but I also included tests of 2 other cars. Fiat Punto 2004 and Renault Kangoo 2005 are not easy for diagnostic devices to communicate with and provide special functions like all system scans or bi-directional controls.
I remember when testing Topdon Artidiag 900 lite, it couldn’t scan all modules from this Punto, only the engine.
The topscan on the other hand handled it without issues and I was able to access all control modules. Now this is why why pay a subscription for the tools. To get better software each year.
The app is very user-friendly
Topscan/Topguru app is easy to work with and I was able to use all the features naturally without any connection issues or looking for anything. Every feature and setting was exactly right where I expected it to be.
I definitely recommend it, check it out on Amazon: https://amzn.to/42Jfq2B
Features
| Feature | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Connection Type | Bluetooth |
| Device type | Bluetooth adapter (J2534) |
| Need extra device | Yes (smartphone, iOS/Android) |
| Need internet | Yes |
| Own software | Yes |
| Can use 3rd party software | No |
| Subscription/Update | Yes ($59-99 per year) |
| Vehicle coverage | All |
| Global OBD Modes | Yes |
| Live data graphs | Yes (4v1) |
| Data logging | Yes |
| Scan other modules | Yes |
| Diagnostic report PDF | Yes |
| Full live data | Yes |
| Bi-Directional | Yes |
| Service Procedures | Yes |
| ECU coding | No |
| Full review + video | https://iamcarhacker.com/topdon-topscan-review/ |
| Price range | $50-150 |
| Current price | https://amzn.to/42Jfq2B |
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