Some ECU tunners feel confused which one of KESS V2 ECU tunning tool or ktag to choose from obd2diy.fr.
In the following parts, I offer you three methods to guide you how to choose the best one.
Option 1: Check the basic information including version especially the hardware version, the tunning way (via OBD or BDM), the vehicle coverage, the language and if the price.
Details shown as following comparison table
Item No. | SE87-B | SE87-C | SE87-D | SE80-B | SE80-C | SE80-D |
Item Name | KESS V2 master | KESS V2 master | KESS V2 master | Ktag master | Ktag master | Ktag master |
Price | €69+shipping | €81+shipping | €225+shipping | €165+shipping | €75+shipping | €349+shipping |
Version | Software version: V2.28 Hareware: V3.099 | Software V2.28 | Software version: V2.28 Hareware: V4.036 | Software V2.11 | Software V2.13 | Software V2.13 |
Hardware V4.036 | Hardware V6.070 | Hardware V6.070 | Hardware V7.003 | |||
Tokens | 60 Tokens available, after use it up, get J-Link to add tokens. | No Token Limitation | with token reset button, ater use up tokens, just press it to reset. | with token reset button, ater use up tokens, just press it to reset. | with token reset button, ater use up tokens, just press it to reset. | with token reset button, ater use up tokens, just press it to reset. |
OS | Windows XP | Windows XP | Windows 7 and Windows XP | Windows XP | Windows XP | Better Win XP |
Language | English, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French | English, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French | English/German/ Spanish/ Italian/ Portuguese/ French | English, Italian, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish | English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish | English, Italian, Portuguese (other language is customized) |
Function | read and write the Data of Engine ECU | read and write the Data of Engine ECU | read and write the Data of Engine ECU | read and write the Data of Engine ECU | read and write the Data of Engine ECU | read and write the Data of Engine ECU |
Vehicle Coverage | World-wide famous brand cars | World-wide famous brand cars | World-wide famous brand cars | World-wide famous brand cars, trucks,traktors and bikes | World-wide famous brand cars, trucks,traktors and bikes | Support both Car, Motorcyle and Truck ECU Programming |
Support Truck | NO | NO | NO | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Support Motorcycle | Yes, work with a small part | Yes, work with a small part | Yes, work with a small part | Yes, work with a small part | Yes, work with a small part | Yes, work with a small part |
Via BDM or OBD | Via OBD | Via OBD | Via OBD | Via BDM | Via BDM | Via BDM |
Update | by CD | by CD | by CD | by CD | by CD | by CD |
Update fee | SE87-B,SE87-E can be updated to SE87-C, But Need to send back the main device and pay additional money. |
This table can only show the basic information; customer feedback on kess v2 and ktag is more helpful.Many ECU has the advantage that can be read and write from OBD port (so KESS V2 is perfect), but there are lot ECU that need to disassemble from the car and open and this is the case for all the ECU that need to be programmed with Jtag, BDM and Boot protocols, so KTAG is needed.Option 2: refer to customers feedback
Customer Feedback on Kess V2 VS Ktag:
Kess (even china good clone)…more stable than Mpps on can-line and good job on recovery…
and best ktag-trasdata-no obd but safe boot mode,pinout direct conection and bdm…
KESS V2 is a ECU programming tool that is perfect for OBD use, while KTag is perfect for Jtag, BDM and all the Boot application (tricore and ST10).
With KESS V2 you programming directly through the OBD port of the vehicle, while with Ktag you need to take apart the ECU and open it, after you can make the read/write operation.
FYI, the difference between master and slave version:
If you have master version you can work directly on the program you have write on the vehicule (tunning, egr off, ….) and rewrite after diectly. If you are a slave custommer (who depend of a master (who do modificated), you read the programme (cripted by genius), you send it to the master, he do what you whant (money paid) and he re-sent to you to write in the ecu machine
it is expensive for the slave user who depend of a master.
Option 3: Check the PCB, from the PCB, you can judge KESS V2/KTAG quality.
Take the best selling Ktag V6.070 (SE80-C) and Kess v2 V4.036 (SE87-C) for example.
For other PCB, just browse www.obd2diy.fr and search KESS V2 or ktag.
Hope this article is helpful.