Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (2024)

Want to read honest reviews of Carly OBD2 Bluetooth Adapter? Then you’ve landed on the right page.

You know that your shop will charge you a whopping amount of money to hook up your car.

This could potentially be expensive if you run diagnostic checks regularly. This is the niche that Carly sought to take advantage of.

What’s more, you can easily code your car, using the app to your suitability. You could have autonomous control of some functions of your car by using the app.

For the app to run, you need to have an adapter. The adapters are made by the company and work well with the app. The app can run a comprehensive diagnostics check on your car.

Read on to see if this is what you’re looking for.

Read more: BMW dashboard symbols: What are they telling you?

Table of Contents

  • Carly detailed review
    • Carly is compatible with a wide range of vehicles
    • Perfect display
    • An excellent choice for any car owner looking for a reliable scan tool
  • Carly vs. Foxwell NT510 Elite vs. Carista
  • Final Thoughts

Carly detailed review

Carly Scanner + Carly Diagnostic App

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (1)

Rating

Price range: $69-$139

Don’t miss out on using ourspecial gift codeOBDAdvisor23” to get a10% discountat Mycarly.com!

Carly is compatible with a wide range of vehicles

Carly is made explicitly for any OBD2-compliant vehicle. The device works on most OBD2 car models that were manufactured after the year 1996.

Take BMW as an example. For these particular supported models, all functions are entirely accessible once you unlock them. The models include:

  • For BMW 1 series, the supported models are E81, E82, E87, E88.
  • It Supports models: E90, E91, E92, E93 for BMW 3 series.
  • For the BMW 5 series, the supported models are E60, E61, E63, E64.
  • For the seven series, the supported models are the E65 and E66.
  • The adapter is compatible with vehicles in the X series. These are X1, X3, X5, and X6, specifically the E84, E70, E71, E72 models.
  • The BMW Z4 model E89.
  • Mini’s above the model R56.
  • All the F models.

The particular Carly adapter is compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones/tablets.

Perfect display

The display, albeit functional, is a bit bland. It shows you all that you need to know about your car. However, it is not colorful or bright, just a dull orange color.

The question is, how much this appearance matters to the user of the application.

To a car owner who only cares about the app’s degree of functionality, this application is ideal for them.

But if you care more about the application’s appearance, then this app might put you off. Everything you need, though, is on the screen.

Carly Scanner + Carly Diagnostic App

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (2)

Rating

Price range: $69-$139

An excellent choice for any car owner looking for a reliable scan tool

Features

  • Performance of diagnostics
  • Enables coding
  • Gauges the parameters
  • Used car check

Diagnostics

The software performs a comprehensive diagnostics check. Carly connected car for car conducts a thorough check of the electronics in your car.

It checks them to make sure they are performing at their optimum.

In addition to this, Carly informs you which electronics are likely to malfunction based on specific algorithms.

Coding

This is perhaps the best feature of Carly. The application gives you a comprehensive capability to code.

Coding will not only help you to customize your car electronics to your suitability, but you can also change the code in about 100 different things.

Among the aspects you can change are the warning beep for not wearing seatbelts.

The first thing that most people do is change the coding for the side mirrors so that the side mirrors fold after you switch off the car.

As you get more familiar with the application, you begin to tweak more with your electronics.

You could even change the display to play your videos directly from a USB flash drive.

However, Carly makes the service cheaper for you.

Carly Scanner + Carly Diagnostic App

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (3)

Rating

Price range: $69-$139

Parameters gauge

The system analyzes all of the gauges in the engine just like an expert would. This gives you a clearer picture of how the electric parts of your engine are doing.

Used car check

It is essential that you thoroughly check any used car that you are buying.

The best way to do so is by bringing a certified mechanic to the transaction.

However, there are electrical lines that a mechanic could easily miss.

This is where the Carly scanner comes in handy.

Carly performs a proper diagnostics check on any vehicle within the compatible models.

The check makes sure you do not get a bad deal on a second-hand car. In addition to this, Carly informs you of the actual state of the vehicle.

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (4)

Pros

  • Coding is relatively easy to understand.
  • You can alter several electrical aspects of your car. Services could cost you a lot of money.
  • Saves you the money you would have otherwise spent on diagnostic checks.
  • Having the ability to diagnose your car at the convenience of your palm means you will perform the checks more regularly. The result is that you will be aware of any issues beforehand, and you can take corrective measures. The result is a healthier car.

Cons

  • The adapter only works with specific enlisted models.
  • The app has several critical in-app purchases that could make the app expensive to run.
  • The adapter of Carly is hard to remove because of the soft head.

Carly Scanner + Carly Diagnostic App

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (5)

Rating

Price range: $69-$139

Carly vs. Foxwell NT510 Elite vs. Carista

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (6)
Carly Scanner Plus

Check Price

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (7)
FOXWELL NT510 Elite

Check Price

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (8)
Creator C310+

Check Price

Customer Rating

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (9)

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (10)

Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (11)

Price rangeCarly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (12)Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (13)Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (14)
Product Dimensions3" x 1.8" x 0.9"7.9" x 1.5" x 3.9"9.6" x 6.2" x 2.7"
Item Weight1.76oz1.35lbs1.1lbs
OBD2 functions10/10*10/1010/10
System diagnostics10/1010/1010/10
Advanced service functions8/108/105/10
Customizations/ Coding7/106/101/10

Final Thoughts

Carly gives you the convenience of diagnostics checks at any time from the convenience of your phone.

The application, Carly Scanner, is designed for car enthusiasts. The application is specifically designed for any owners with iOS or Android phones.

The owner should be versed in the various components of the car. So that when a particular warning comes on, they will understand what it means.

BONUS: Carly Vs. BimmerCode Vs. BimmerLink

READ MORE:

  • FIXD Vs. Carly Vs. Carista: Which is better for my car?
  • Carly vs. BlueDriver: Which is better for my car?
  • Carly Vs OBDeleven: Which Is Better for My Car?
  • BMW dashboard symbols: What are they telling you?
Carly Review: A Reliable OBD2 Car Scanner - OBD Advisor (2024)

FAQs

Is Carly a good OBD-2 scanner? ›

Carly aim goes one step further than other OBD II scanners, detecting mileage discrepancies via the Mileage Check and making the device both temptingly small and affordable. All of this combined makes it a fabulously appealing device, and with a premium subscription, a deep dive of every nook of your car is seamless.

Does Carly Scanner require a subscription? ›

This is a monthly recurring subscription and will be renewed every 30 days. If you want to cancel your subscription with 30 days notice, you can apply to do so through your Carly account (MyAccount). Are there different subscription periods I can choose? The minimum subscription period is always 30 days.

How much does the Carly car scanner cost? ›

The pricing is a bit odd, too. As a "basic package", which will read fault codes, Carly's website will tell you the cost is £74.80. And to access its enhanced features, you'll need to opt for the premium package, which can run well past £100.

Does Carly work on all cars? ›

We support different features depending on your car brand. You can check here the specific features for your specific car model and brand. We also support every model from the year 2001 or later, BMW from 1996 or later, and Mercedes from 2005 and later.

Is Carly a one-time payment? ›

With Carly there are no upfront deposits or hidden costs. Carly is a transparent 30 day recurring subscription that is free to join, with no membership fees.

Can Carly Scanner clear codes? ›

After you have run diagnostics using your Carly adapter and app, you can then use the app to clear the fault codes in your car. Remember, just because you have cleared them doesn't mean they are fixed. That's why we have the option for Carly to remind you to run another health check soon.

Can you leave Carly plugged in? ›

The Carly adapter connects to your car's software through the OBD2 port and gathers all the information about your vehicle. Its small pocket size allows you to carry it everywhere and you can even leave it plugged into your car! Carly's solution uses the latest technology for onboard diagnostics called “OBD2”.

What is the Carly Basic package? ›

1. What is Carly Basic Package? Carly Basic Package only includes Carly scanner and the app is available in the Carly Lite Version (Free). As the Basic Package only provides access to the Basic OBD Features, we recommend the Carly Premium Package, which includes the Carly Scanner and Carly license.

Which is better, Carly or BimmerCode? ›

The app is much better designed than Carly, the user support was excellent and most importantly, it works. They let me try their latest version in beta (3.3) which includes some additional coding options, so we know they are working to cover more coding features. Don't waste your money on Carly, go with BimmerCode.

What kind of car scanners do mechanics use? ›

Basic code readers are the most straightforward type of OBD2 scanners. These are designed for simplicity and ease of use. And these are perfect for mechanics who want to quickly check and clear diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs).

Can you code your car with Carly? ›

With our device, you can access all the coding and personalizations available for your car, allowing you to customize and optimize its performance to your exact specifications.

Are OBD scanners worth it? ›

But the point is, without an OBD2 scanner, it'd be near impossible to start diagnosing the root issue of your check engine light. That's why having a scanner around is so handy, especially if you're keen on fixing things yourself.

Does Carly void warranty? ›

There is a reason for this: Carly is a certified dealer for diagnostic equipment and is therefore legally protected. This means that we grant you the ongoing warranty, even after coding.

What do you have to buy to use Carly? ›

In order for the Carly app to work as intended, you need our Carly adapter. You can find it for €59.90 on our website. In addition to this, you also need the Carly app, which you can use to control your commands. Annual costs of between €21 and €80 are incurred for this.

Can Carly remove the speed limiter? ›

Apart from the increase in performance, the app also offers additional paid options like disabling the maximum speed limiter and exhaust gas recirculation. Fully-secure, the app is reversible and unlike traditional remaps, it can be uploaded and restored to standard configuration at any time.

What is a good OBD-2 reader? ›

Our Top Picks
  • Best for DIY Use. Ancel BD310. $78 at Amazon. ...
  • Best Bluetooth Scanner. BlueDriver Bluetooth Pro. $118 at Amazon. ...
  • Best for Diagnostic Use. Innova 5610. ...
  • Best Budget Scanner. Motopower MP69033. ...
  • Honorable Mention. Innova 1000. ...
  • Honorable Mention. Foxwell NT301. ...
  • Fixd Bluetooth Scanner. $40 at Amazon. ...
  • Autel AL319. $36 at Amazon.
Oct 17, 2023

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