LEONARDO DIAGNOSTICS, FOR ME NUMBER 1

Durametric offer a one car package for porsche and BMW for owners, I am sure that there will become an option like that, maybe based from this Leornado. Honestly, the market is for independent shops, and at the projected pricing is very reasonable currently. Consider this, how many of these 'personal' devices can or will be used to create some "monster" problems for subsequent ownership? Aleady people are concerned about running costs/reliability, throw in the wildcard of personal tuning and where can that go? Not goo I think.,,,

 

Tazandjan, The full version of the machine will be able to do all SD1, SD2, SD3 & SD4 functions according to Giovanni. I hope you can attend the clinic in California so you can see the machine in action. I have been in contact with Giovanni & he is checking on flights from Italy to the bay area, shooting for June 26th, which is a Saturday.

I am hoping to purchase a machine myself very shortly so there will always be one here in the USA for demonstration purposes & so I can travel to independent workshops & show the operations of the system.

This machine is not a toy, Brian.S basically said it, put it in the wrong hands & you could easily damage a car!


I will discuss with them on a personal use type system just for diagnostics & see what we can work out, that sort of stuff is best to discuss after I get to know the machine myself.

 

Can you keep us posted on this? I bet Scott M. would like to go too.


Jay

 

They aren't Asian cars that one can swap a ruined engine for a few bucks, that's for sure, and most of us, I think, know that.

I honestly believe a lot of enthusiasts would be too scared to mess with them (other than diagnostics and repair) unless they have good knowledge or experience, or have those with same, guiding them..

For sure, I can see the clever enthusiasts doing the tuning and testing (like the 348 brotherhood) where everyone else can benefit from it.

The whole idea of enthusiasts being able to diagnose and tune 355/360 era cars is exciting and would open a whole new arena for discussion and development of the cars potential (besides being able to finally diagnose more than generic OBD).

my pen is on my checkbook Nick..

 

It may end up with a final cost which would make economical sense for a number of owners, far from a dealer network to share the investment as well. This is never a convenient option for shops, I have tried with my Autologic for Rover and Jaguar but it always ends up elsewhere when I need it.

 

I am looking forward to the results of the demo in California. I'm sure we'll get some honest reviews from some of our independent techs who attend.

 

+1 (Hopefully)

I'm a little surprised we haven't heard anything from Rifledriver.....

I'm *certainly* no Ferrari tech, but I am *real* close to Campbell Motors and a computer geek. I could also be tempted to allow my car to be used as a guinea pig - Nick, need a car for the demo?

Cheers,
Ian

 

Wish they had a demo here in new york area...curious to see if this thing actually works...

regards, jim

 

Jim, maybe a second tryout in this half of the world would be a good idea. Nick??

 

He has an SD3

 

Indeed. And at least one SD2 as well. [One of the reasons we love him ]

But, he was vocal wrt the ST05.....

Cheers,
Ian

 

He has an SD1, too, and, you are correct, was not an ST05 fan.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

He's probably also got an SD0

I didn't say that!

I just said he voiced his (very valued) opinion.

He's (ominously?) quiet on this.......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Because in my opinion this entire thread has been a promo and that is pretty low rent in my book.

I don't know about you guys but buying a piece of equipment from some guy with no bona fides 9 time zones away just doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy. On top of that his web site is all sizzle and no steak. Sorry, I'm just not feeling it.

Dureametric is already working on a piece of equipment and has contacted me among who knows how many others who are in the industry to ask US what we want it to do and what systems and functions it needs to perform. That company DOES have an exellent reputation for their equipment. Their prices, and quality is what all the others are compared to. And one phone call gets you a technically astute english speaking person on the phone for whatever tech support you may need.

 

But they are P-bug guys...blah...yuk...plah...plah...Just kidding.

 

I think Duram has finally felt enough legitimate need to approach an Fcar project. I hope he does get something together, the Pcar software has while not factory level been a legitimate tool for many shops and owners. I hear the Bimmer stuff is the same.

Throw in the english speaking support as Brian C. says and it's worth a lot. The ST? Well that works only in as much as it's a tool which although a PIA to use and limited in coverage comes at a reasonable price (50% 0f the SD3). If the SD were offered at a similar price WITH support, I am sure they could/would sell many and this thread would never happen.

 

Fair enough. It would probably have been better "received" had it been started by Nick - At least he's a sponsor so can "legally" pimp his stuff.

+1 on the website. But, it does seem that they're trying to answer Q's herein and appear to be willing to show this thing off - Bringing an engineer over from Italy to demo it seems like a pretty good start.....

Brian, as I said above, I'm real close to the proposed demo location and while I don't know a capote from a hole in the wall, I'm OK on the computer end of it - I'll buy you lunch (or that G&T I still owe you!) if you want to take a few hours to check it out - I'm certain there are *many* here who would appreciate your input and comments on the thing - In fact, your comments would probably "make or break it", at least in this community.....

The SD3 is now unobtanium, correct? The ST05 *claims* to have made progress, but still seems to have a pretty poor reputation. Maybe, just maybe, this sucker could be the answer? Particularly if the price is right when configured for just a single car (?)

As always, my 02c,
Cheers,
Ian

 

I will be glad to chip in on a dinner if we can get Brian to give an honest assessment of the tool.

Taz
TerrY Phillips

 

At this point I think getting an SD3 is out of the question. What is needed is for someone to develop a system that will cover 458, California, forward and begin working backwards with software packages going back hopefully to the 355/550/456.

 

Really? Very interesting comment!

I would have thought (accepting I know nothing!) the other way round would maximize it's potential - 355's, 360's and 430's (+ similar vintage V12's) are now way out of warranty and want/need a good independent with the right tools.

IIRC, you've already said you can't (yet?) touch the "new" cars as they're all diagnosed via network links back to the factory rather than the SD3 - So, I can understand your personal desire to get this sucker for these cars, but I would think the bigger market, at least in the short term, would be for the others?

Are you gonna come and see the demo? [So far you've got lunch, both liquid and solid (!) plus a dinner on offer! ]

Cheers,
Iaqn

 

One thing we know and love Brian for is his unwavering, if sometimes harsh, honesty!....

As I mentioned, I'd be more than happy to "host" his visit in return for his unbiased, honest and no doubt poignant feedback

Cheers,
Ian

 

My interest is in a professional grade system. It is not likely going to be of any great interest to owners and do it yourselfers. While a very few owners bought SD2's it was designed for shops and 90+% were bought by them. I have no interest in a piece of equipment and I think it would be a serious mistake to develop and market a piece of equipment that was designed for the do it yourselfer.


Terry wants something to reset PIS. That can be done cheap and would need to be no bigger or more complex than a $15.99 Radio Shack VOM. If the market gets flooded with something like that my clutch business will go through the roof. Cheap hand held scanners are already doing that for us.

 

Understood. It seems that is indeed where they've targeted it - It was only a suggestion by some here that a "stripped down" version (only one car) may be an idea. (?)

+1

Indeed. That's not my impression though - "We" (the great unwashed) may think it'd be cool, but realistically this is a "high end", pro piece of kit it seems (?)

I understand Terry has an obsession (!) with the PIS, so maybe a tutorial on setting it with a cheap VOM would be good!

No comment

Cheers,
Ian

 

In 20 years of being in business working on Ferraris I can count the few I couldn't fix without a factory computer. Common sense goes a long way and there is no computer that will fix a car for you without proper knowledge to support it.
Yes it is and will be more and more necessary to have the right diagnostic equipment as time goes on which is exactly what every manufacturer is striving for.
I contacted leonardos manufacturer over the weekend and had a response by the time I was awake Monday morning. That by itself is a promising sign.
I am planning on attending the demo next month providing our overwhelming workload permits.

Karl Troy

 

Brian, Ian- I have no desire to do any work on my car, including setting PIS, but want to buy something for my car for my techs, who cannot afford an SD3. I am 300+ miles from the nearest dealer and the only thing that can really ground my car is a clutch or the F1 system. I have no desire to truck my car 600+ miles to get PIS set. Hence my interest in a reasonably priced system. Brian is correct. If amateurs start doing that work, he will make a fortune fixing the results. Bleeding the F1 system would be nice, too.

Taz
Terry Phillips