Autel MaxiCheck MX808S Scanner, 2025 Bidirectional

Up and running quickly, after powering through a batch of updates. From the unit itself to the blowmold case, it seems well thought out and as simple as any Android tablet, just more forgiving in a garage environment thanks to the outer case design. More power than I need, but no way you’re taking it away from me! Worth it to pay a little extra for this feature set. Have not needed support help yet; only ~10 vehicles needing live scanning since purchase. Positive initial experience and hopeful it continues as I get more time with the unit. Would buy again if ever there was a need.

So I purchased this to work on a couple Mini Coopers, a Dodge Ram 1500 and a Honda Element.

I emailed support about Vanos Erase/Relearn on the Mini. There was a sale going and their responses were molasses slow. Eventually they responded saying that it couldn’t do it. It was already on its way to me by that point. Spent a couple days going through menus and finding out when options are available. Turns out you can use it to do VANOS re-learns and clear the ECM. Support has no idea what they are doing.

Things I think suck about this device.
1. Navigating the windows is a chore for a tablet.
2. The thing comes with no updates installed and there is zero way of making it any faster even on WIFI.
3. There is no ethernet port making the download process slow as molasses.
4. The tablet has limited memory and doesn’t come with an SDCARD.
5. The price for updates is ridiculous. 1 year is not enough considering it will take you an entire year to go through all the options and by the time you find out an option is missing or broken it will be too late. Then they will charge you 150 for something you already paid for buying their overpriced tablet.
6. They spam the hell out of Amazon’s interface. How many places can you post this thing? Why are there so many?
7. They spam New for 2022 and the thing doesn’t use USB-C to charge. It stuck using 2008 USB-OTG.
8. They give you no ability to connect an ethernet adapter or bluetooth. Why should there be another model just for bluetooth. The feature doesn’t cost that much.
9. The design is kind of bulky.
10. I have no idea why the process of printing stuff or taking screenshots requires you to go to a menu. We can literally swipe left or right on phones or tablets to take screenshots.
11. I need the ability to hide the vehicles that I don’t need and to have each vehicle have its own icon with the the VIN and a screenshot. Then you can save all the PDF files and video in their own folders.
12. On mine the OBD2 plug is too loose. It will fall out of the socket just looking at it. The cable is hard core and thick as hell but the plug part doesn’t even have a way to stay connected. It should have some kind of strap just to keep from falling out.
13. Put all the documentation on the device so you don’t have to google everything.
14. I feel like a kid with one of those horrible teaching tablets using this interface. It’s bad. You can slide left to right on only some pages.
15. Functionally you could get by not purchasing this device and getting a $150 model that has the exact same features just a smaller screen. Charging an extra $500 for a larger screen is dumb. I can buy a whole a$$ tv for the price and have a better menu system with a remote. Hell why don’t they make a remote for this?
16. If you are a newby that doesn’t like to read and figure things out the do not buy this. Pay someone to borrow theirs or just find someone that bought the higher model and use that. The things are not for people that don’t want to be experts.
17. As far as I am concerned there needs to be some regulation on what these Software as a Service devices can post on Amazon. The updates need to be on the device before it ships. I don’t want to see anyone being ripped off because they had to pay for updates a year later. I am not spending $150 for bugfixes that should be free anyway.
18. I wasted an entire week looking for something functional. Every single one of these devices claim that there are between 15-35 special functions that can be used but do nothing to tell you what is available. There should be a flow chart or something.
19. This thing cannot help you program body computers on a Dodge Ram. You might as well buy and OBMX+ and use AlphaOBD or buy a programmer interface and use a desktop app.
20. I feel like I spent too much for the device even though it was discounted because it has less features than a current tablet. There should be an HD camera, a microphone. Some way to upload videos to Youtube. A kids tablet can do more than this. It’s really slow.
21. Why can’t I program anything with this? Where is the oscilloscope functionality? The data is there.
22. Do something about this 1990s web interface. I shouldn’t have to back out of so many windows.
23. I ran into some issues where the instructions tell you to turn off the vehicle or turn them back on but it doesn’t tell you what its doing and it just spins in circles. It had me thinking I had done something wrong or that I was waiting for something to happen next. Put some lights, animations or prompts to show when its actually doing something.

I’m tired. I have worked with automotive tools since I was in elementary school. I do electronics, training and tech support for a living. This isn’t my first rodeo with OBD2 or computers and tablets. I expected more refinement. I need easy of use as well as data collection. This doesn’t make me want to move up to a higher model it makes me wonder if it’s just going to be the same only a bigger screen. I need to be able to see all of my data. Having to go back to another window to create a report is a chore. The WIFI connectivity was also not that great. I have enough WIFI signal to block out my neighbors devices and this thing wouldn’t stay connected for nothing.

After looking at the other models you should go with the one that gives you the most actual physical features as the software across most of the lower models do not have a camera or a good UI experience if you have to use the thing all the time. Does it have a long battery life, cameras, the ability to send files and take snapshots. More free updates. USB-C. WI-FI & Ethernet to get updates and send files/videos. Does it have the ability to program keys, or to use other features like programming or reading tire sensors? Can it run more live tests? Does it come with vehicle info outside of the scan info? Does it take forever to load? Does it have more memory for faster testing/operation? After having hands on and testing with multiple vehicles you will start to notice a trend.

The Autel MX808s for me, is the next step in DIY diagnostics for my cars. I’ve been using this in a 2013 BMW 335 and the Autel scans all ECUs and provides much more detail than my plain old code scanner. The Autel auto scans my VIN and recognizes what make, model, and year the scanner is connected to. There is a learning curve here, solely due to the large step up over a plain old code scanner. It also comes in a protective case, very impressive, I can see my friend’s envy. The biggest reason I bought this scanner is the ability to program injector flow rates into my ECU. With modern direct injection engines, it’s a matter of time before injectors need replacement. It’s a relatively easy DIY provided you can program flow rates, which I can now do. I’m seriously impressed with this scanner and I HIGHLY recommend this model to anyone who does auto DIY repair and maintenance like I do.

Great value for a tool that does so much!

I bought this for replacement of an ABS hydraulic pump on a 2009 Ford edge, to be able to the ABS system to air bleed. Worked very well. Also, when I scanned the car for codes with a cheap scanner, it gave me Steering angle sensor. But the Autel gives a lot of other sub codes. It ended up being the traction control yaw sensor.. so the scanner helped proper diagnosis and much cheaper and easier fix. So far, I am happy with it

all what I needed. Just as described. I highly recommend this product. you will never regret of buying it. the value is more than the price