Considering buying the Autel AP 200, but slightly confused by the statement on the Autel website that says "Not supported after 2017 year". So does that mean no backwards support for cars built before 2017, or no support for 2017 onwards vehicles? On the Autel website, the unit is currently on offer at £45, and I'm interested, but not if it doesn't support my car (2022 Arkana). Probably a poor translation from Chinese, but a bit ambiguous, anyone got one and used it on post 2017 Renaults?
Goinker
Autel Store UK seem to have two models available.
This one specifically says 2023 version...little bit more expensive
2023 Autel MaxiAP AP200 Bluetooth OBD2 Code Reader with Full Systems Diagnoses (autelstore.co.uk)
On the support.....
Autel UK....the official Autel outlet in UK do not sell the AP200 and offer no supprt.
Note that the phone number on the Autel Store website is Hong Kong..though the kit is posted from Manchester.
Bit more expensive on A|mazon but they will offer a 30 day no quibble refund and honour warrantee if supplier won't.
Autel did tell me that any sold in the UK are unlicenced (by Autel) and imports from far east.
But they did confirm that the App for your phone is genuine Autel and "supported". although mainly by email/whatsapp.
Updates and vehicle specific data for the app is genuine
Just make sure you download the right app.
That's the iffy bits.
I actually took the plunge and bought one last week....from the Autel store UK above, it arrived in two days.
Largely based on LVR being very positive about the unit over the years... and he is a diagnostic nerd so I trust him.
Had a little problem with registering with my email addy.... not Autel, bl00dy Virgin media blocking what they think is spam.... signed in with google mail and got the verification code within a minute.
You then bind the unit to your email addy so you can swap device and sign in on new one if needed.
One maker is free...so you would download Renault from their store (in the app)...updates are automatic for "life"
If you need another maker, you can but that is $21 a year
EOBD (which is the basic that a cheap reader will give) is included so you can plug it in a Ford and still get codes, live data and can clear codes, just only the generic EOBD
I downloaded the KIA specific, it wanted Asia software as well (free and works in background)
Plug into the car with key on and connect via bluetooth.
Identified my Sedona though I had to manually input VIN
Full scan brought up 4 pages and gave data for all sensors I was aware of and some I wasn't
Diagnostic scan included things like modules for powered doors and tailgate, certainly went far beyond engine alone.
EOBD scan gave two pages..42 items.
You can log live data, freeze frame it, selct data to log, display as graphs, save it.....
Not the most intuitive diagnostics I've used but so far it seems to do what it should.
Still working along the learning curve.
Screenshot of part of the full scan
![Image]()
This one specifically says 2023 version...little bit more expensive
2023 Autel MaxiAP AP200 Bluetooth OBD2 Code Reader with Full Systems Diagnoses (autelstore.co.uk)
On the support.....
Autel UK....the official Autel outlet in UK do not sell the AP200 and offer no supprt.
Note that the phone number on the Autel Store website is Hong Kong..though the kit is posted from Manchester.
Bit more expensive on A|mazon but they will offer a 30 day no quibble refund and honour warrantee if supplier won't.
Autel did tell me that any sold in the UK are unlicenced (by Autel) and imports from far east.
But they did confirm that the App for your phone is genuine Autel and "supported". although mainly by email/whatsapp.
Updates and vehicle specific data for the app is genuine
Just make sure you download the right app.
That's the iffy bits.
I actually took the plunge and bought one last week....from the Autel store UK above, it arrived in two days.
Largely based on LVR being very positive about the unit over the years... and he is a diagnostic nerd so I trust him.
Had a little problem with registering with my email addy.... not Autel, bl00dy Virgin media blocking what they think is spam.... signed in with google mail and got the verification code within a minute.
You then bind the unit to your email addy so you can swap device and sign in on new one if needed.
One maker is free...so you would download Renault from their store (in the app)...updates are automatic for "life"
If you need another maker, you can but that is $21 a year
EOBD (which is the basic that a cheap reader will give) is included so you can plug it in a Ford and still get codes, live data and can clear codes, just only the generic EOBD
I downloaded the KIA specific, it wanted Asia software as well (free and works in background)
Plug into the car with key on and connect via bluetooth.
Identified my Sedona though I had to manually input VIN
Full scan brought up 4 pages and gave data for all sensors I was aware of and some I wasn't
Diagnostic scan included things like modules for powered doors and tailgate, certainly went far beyond engine alone.
EOBD scan gave two pages..42 items.
You can log live data, freeze frame it, selct data to log, display as graphs, save it.....
Not the most intuitive diagnostics I've used but so far it seems to do what it should.
Still working along the learning curve.
Screenshot of part of the full scan
I seem to remember hanging the animal off a post 2017 vehicle or 2 for S+G but cannot confirm make/model at all .......................
Post 2017 and particularly 2019 things may become iffy and ANY generic and even brand-specific scanner (read eg CLIP for Renault) may cause you endless hassles and emptying of wallet contents.
Vehicles around those dates are now equipped with "Security gateways" that basically is a cloud based unlock key system you HAVE to pay extra for that sits between the OBD port and the vehicle's computers ................... that is if the brand owner will even allow you as a non-dealer to fiddle in the brains of the vehicle.
Some details from Autel
I know my Autel MP808 can do this (though I have not needed or tried to achieve the blissful status yet) ................. but I seriously doubt if the AP200 (white) will be able to do the same.
As for the Arkana of 2022 ............... It's not on MY older AP200 ....................
The MP808 says it can speak Arkana - if you can let me have your full VIN I can see if the specific vehicle is covered.
This is the first of 10 pages of the Renault model covered by the MP808
![Image]()
@Dancingdad ................ glad it's working for you too!
Post 2017 and particularly 2019 things may become iffy and ANY generic and even brand-specific scanner (read eg CLIP for Renault) may cause you endless hassles and emptying of wallet contents.
Vehicles around those dates are now equipped with "Security gateways" that basically is a cloud based unlock key system you HAVE to pay extra for that sits between the OBD port and the vehicle's computers ................... that is if the brand owner will even allow you as a non-dealer to fiddle in the brains of the vehicle.
Some details from Autel
I know my Autel MP808 can do this (though I have not needed or tried to achieve the blissful status yet) ................. but I seriously doubt if the AP200 (white) will be able to do the same.
As for the Arkana of 2022 ............... It's not on MY older AP200 ....................
The MP808 says it can speak Arkana - if you can let me have your full VIN I can see if the specific vehicle is covered.
This is the first of 10 pages of the Renault model covered by the MP808
@Dancingdad ................ glad it's working for you too!
So far so good.@Dancingdad ................ glad it's working for you too!
Seller website does say it will not do injector coding, key programing or mileage correction ..... though the first two do seem to be in the service tools menu.... not playing with them but may be peed orfe if I need and it don't work.
As my car is under warranty, I've no immediate need for the Autel, but as I don't trust the main dealer (I've had dealings with their other franchises before!) it's basically as a 'plank across the a*se' if they try to bullsh*t me in the future. I'm unlikely to want to dig too deeply into things like injector coding, but if it can do the simpler things such as resets and fault codes, then it'll be ok for me. The 'Professional' MP808 is too expensive for me to consider, way beyond my needs anyway, and as it happens, one of my neighbours brothers has his own business as a specialist Renault only one man business. He has the full Renault software on his laptop, but at almost 70, he's on the brink of retiring, so may not now bother keeping things updated. I'd also like to include the software for my Wife's Suzuki Swift, but as any extra software is only updated for one year, it'd be not much more cash to buy a second AP200 just for the Suzuki software with lifetime updates, rather than keep paying annually for one unit. As it's the same "Multi-franchise' dealership for the Suzuki as for Renault, the same reasons apply for why I want one. (Whisper it quietly, dealership is Stoneacre!)
I look at it as 4 levels of diagnostics, each with their own price range.
Basic OBD...£10 to £50 though if buying the top of the price range, more money then sense.
I firmly put the humble ELM327 and free/cheap App such as Torque as the front runners in this lot.
Will only cover engine, generally emission based codes, IMO if it will not give live data on those, not worth having
Semi Pro DIY... £100 -£300 companies like Launch, Topdon etc etc...covers OBD and other modules plus generally multi vehicle.... have seen good reports on various ones but cannot comment more then that.
IMO too pricey for the average DIY who does simple service items but compared against the cost of even a single dealer diagnostic, worth it if needed.
General Pro units..... which many garages will have.....400 upwards.. Autels MK808 in this category, Again a wealth of makes, supposedly do anything on any vehicle. Personally I don't think DIY guys need this level but cannot see how a garage offering more then simple service can operate without.
Dealer/maker specific.... such as Clip... should cover any of one maker in great detail..generally not available to public except as clones
The Autel AP200 sits between the basic and semi pro, limitation is the one maker only plus time limited subscription.
For what you want, I'd look at the Elm327 and app as a starting point, it may be all that you need.
Basic OBD...£10 to £50 though if buying the top of the price range, more money then sense.
I firmly put the humble ELM327 and free/cheap App such as Torque as the front runners in this lot.
Will only cover engine, generally emission based codes, IMO if it will not give live data on those, not worth having
Semi Pro DIY... £100 -£300 companies like Launch, Topdon etc etc...covers OBD and other modules plus generally multi vehicle.... have seen good reports on various ones but cannot comment more then that.
IMO too pricey for the average DIY who does simple service items but compared against the cost of even a single dealer diagnostic, worth it if needed.
General Pro units..... which many garages will have.....400 upwards.. Autels MK808 in this category, Again a wealth of makes, supposedly do anything on any vehicle. Personally I don't think DIY guys need this level but cannot see how a garage offering more then simple service can operate without.
Dealer/maker specific.... such as Clip... should cover any of one maker in great detail..generally not available to public except as clones
The Autel AP200 sits between the basic and semi pro, limitation is the one maker only plus time limited subscription.
For what you want, I'd look at the Elm327 and app as a starting point, it may be all that you need.
In the end I decided to go for the Autel AP200 via the link DD showed, and it arrived yesterday. All registered via my iPad and bluetooth linked to the car via dongle, selected 'Renault' as the software download, also the 'Diag Europe' software, got to the VIN enter stage, tried 'Auto' several times (which failed), tried manual entry several times and that came up as 'error' each time. Looking into the 'Diag Europe' software, I see that it hasn't been updated since 2016, so no surprise that my 2022 Arkana isn't listed. Not sure quite what to do now, as I'm no computer whizz, anyone any help/suggestions?
Check for any updates on the Diag Europe?
According to apple store, should be on version 1.47 and last update was 6th Sept 2023.
Diag-Europe on the App Store (apple.com)
Should be able to update via the app
I'm sure I have seen a list in either the main app or the Diag add on so I could select the vehicle but cannot plug into the dongle at the moment to check
Contact support..... app support link on the apple store, EU support in germany, page 34 of the manual in the Ap200 app, online chat via the website where you bought it??
Return for a refund
Load another Renault similar to Arkana and see if anything relates?
Out of options now?
According to apple store, should be on version 1.47 and last update was 6th Sept 2023.
Diag-Europe on the App Store (apple.com)
Should be able to update via the app
I'm sure I have seen a list in either the main app or the Diag add on so I could select the vehicle but cannot plug into the dongle at the moment to check
Contact support..... app support link on the apple store, EU support in germany, page 34 of the manual in the Ap200 app, online chat via the website where you bought it??
Return for a refund
Load another Renault similar to Arkana and see if anything relates?
Out of options now?
Try an Android device? .................. perhaps it is an Apple peculiarity? (As so many things are)
Google talks about updates as recent as 28/8/2023 here
play.google.com
Google talks about updates as recent as 28/8/2023 here
Autel MaxiAP200 - Apps on Google Play
Advanced automatic scanner for quick and easy diagnosis of all systems
I set it up initially on my iPad rather than iPhone as it's easier to see, but I also have the softwares on the phone but not yet tried with it, so will try again when I have time. (Family round today, Wife's birthday tomorrow, Daughters "Can you just" bathroom floor job on Tuesday). The 'Diag Europe" software was downloaded via the App Store and is the version 1.47 so is up to date and both iPad and iPhone 12 have been updated to the very latest updates issued just a few days ago. Unfortunately LvR's suggestion to try an Android device isn't an option as all Family, Self and Wife all have iPhones/iPads, but I know what He means about Apple 'peculiarities'
I got to the list of vehicles, Captur is listed, but not Arkana, so I might give opting for the Captur a try, though it might not accept my VIN either manually or automatically so might not get very far. If I'm still stuck, I'll try the upport lines and see if they can help. Not giving up yet, but thanks for the forum help so far!
I got to the list of vehicles, Captur is listed, but not Arkana, so I might give opting for the Captur a try, though it might not accept my VIN either manually or automatically so might not get very far. If I'm still stuck, I'll try the upport lines and see if they can help. Not giving up yet, but thanks for the forum help so far!
I think that if you manually select a vehicle, you don't need VIN..... I was playing in that direction when I first plugged it in, couldn't be assed to find the VIN and auto VIN would not work.
I could certainly set up for a similar age Sedona but could not find one with the right engine for some reason.
Captur should be close but codes may be iffy if Renault use different between Arkana and Captur.... can't see any harm from trying though
I may try downloading on my iPad.... but it is an old one so not sure if IOS system wlll play
Similar with my Android tablet but I'll try
I could certainly set up for a similar age Sedona but could not find one with the right engine for some reason.
Captur should be close but codes may be iffy if Renault use different between Arkana and Captur.... can't see any harm from trying though
I may try downloading on my iPad.... but it is an old one so not sure if IOS system wlll play
Similar with my Android tablet but I'll try
Had another go at the Autel this morning, using my iPhone 12 this time and got slightly further. Using the Auto VIN, it eventually came up with some wierd VIN number, certainly not mine, identifying as a 2016 Jeep Wrangler!!! Tried again adding the VIN manually, came up with the same again, so far I can see no way to move forward without a VIN being accepted and identifying the correct vehicle, and I've not been able to get back to the bit where you select a vehicle model, so contacted Autel's helpline. Been told no-one available so await their reply.
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