XPertAuto S510 OBD-II review

Looking like a budget smart phone, the XPertAuto S510 is a unique OBD scanner that is mostly touchscreen — but has control icons if you prefer to use them. The 4-inch display shows it all, from running a scan to interpreting fault codes to diagnosing problems. All you need to do is tap to use. 

While it’s able to reset the oil change light and other high-end functions, the S510 lacks access to any of the manufacturers’ specialty fault codes. See if letting your fingers do the diagnosing is for you.

XPertAuto S510 Review: Pricing and availability

At $135, the XPertAuto S510 is a mid-priced OBD scanner that is a step ahead of the pack with a touchscreen. The company also has conventional budget scanners for as little as $20 as well as the similar S512 aimed at BMW and GM models that costs $151.

XPertAuto S510 Review: Design

The XPertAuto S510 is unique because its industrial design and use mirrors that of a smartphone with an all-black case that has no buttons or keys. While all the action is on its 4-inch touchscreen, there are hotspots below for going to the home page, looking up a fault code and going back one screen. 

Based on Android 6, the interface’s homepage has seven tiles that cover the gamut of its abilities. In addition to a full system scan, there’re places to look up a diagnosis, upload firmware updates and look into the scanner’s maintenance and reset abilities.

At 6.3 x 3.4 x 1.1 inches, its design resembles a short, thick phone, but with an OBD cable sticking out of the top. It weighs a hefty 13.8 ounces, making it tedious to hold while working. Its 44-inch cord length is good for in-cabin use only, but it worked well with my OBD extension cord. 

While the S510 can connect via its integrated Wi-Fi radio for communicating with the company to register the device and get software updates. It’s all powered by a high-performance processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space for its firmware and settings. The S510 can take screen shots and videos of any item, which are easy to email to myself or a mechanic. 

Able to show the results of its scanning as a report, the S510 can print or share it but it needs to be connected to a network via Wi-Fi or a computer via its USB-C port. There’s also a micro SD card slot for saving data. 

XPertAuto S510 Review: Setup

Getting the XPertAuto S510 connected and running took about a minute. After plugging it into my Surbaru Outback’s OBD port, the scanner’s screen came on with its seven main icons. 

With Wi-Fi built-in, I needed to go to the Settings area and get the scanner online. Once connected, it yielded a wide assortment of firmware updates and upgrades.

On the downside, as is so often the case these days, the S510 came up short on a manual with an 8-page explanatory booklet. There is a help line to call. A DIYer will need further resources to get the most out of the scanner. It comes with a 1-year warranty and lifetime firmware updates.

XPertAuto S510 Review: Performance

In addition to reading a vehicle’s fault codes, the S510 shows a variety of live data, like engine speed, coolant temperature, throttle position and air flow. All can be graphed with thin line plots on the unit’s screen.

The S510 takes a big step ahead of the crowd with the ability to reset the oil change light as well as several other high-end functions, like ABS bleeding and resetting the battery circuit. It can’t, however, run a cylinder balance test and lacks a dedicated key or icon for running an I/M Readiness routine before the vehicle’s annual inspection. 

When I unplugged the passenger seat’s occupant sensor, the S510 recorded the fault and it disappeared when I reconnected the harness. 

XPertAuto S510 Review: Verdict

With its large screen and built-in Wi-Fi abilities, the XPertAuto S510 is a unique OBD scanner that can not only find and show generic fault codes while also being able to kill the check engine light and oil change lights. 

Its touchscreen and hybrid interface makes finding what you need easy but it’s on the heavy side and lacks any manufacturer specific fault code information. For some, $135 might be a deal-breaker but the S510 earns its garage chops by changing the automotive diagnostic paradigm for the better.