Adapter guide
OBDLink MX+ — the honest compatibility story
The MX+ is one of the best adapters money buys — fast, well-built, with a proper sleep mode. We've tested it ourselves. But there's an iPhone wrinkle almost no listing explains, and it decides whether this is the right adapter for you.
Why people buy it
The MX+ earns its price in three ways: it's fast (snappier live data and quicker big scans than budget BLE units), it has a documented sleep mode that drops its draw low enough to leave plugged in long-term, and on several makes it reaches manufacturer buses that cheaper adapters can't — on our bench it's also the unit that unlocks BMW coverage on Android in Fixiom.
The iPhone wrinkle
The MX+ speaks classic Bluetooth, and on iPhone, classic Bluetooth accessories work only through Apple's per-app accessory program — each individual app must integrate that adapter through Apple's framework. The MX+ box says iPhone-compatible, and that's true — for the apps that have done that specific integration. Most third-party scan apps haven't, including Fixiom: the MX+ works with Fixiom on Android only.
This is the single most misunderstood thing about this adapter, and it produces a steady stream of frustrated iPhone owners holding $100 of excellent hardware their favorite app structurally cannot see. If you're on iPhone and want broad app freedom, a Bluetooth LE adapter (Veepeak BLE+ class) is the right buy — BLE is the flavor every iPhone scan app can use.
On Android: excellent
On Android none of that applies — classic Bluetooth is open, and the MX+ is simply one of the best adapters you can attach to a scan app. It's bench-tested with Fixiom on Android: pairing, VIN read, three-mode code scans, live data, and the every-module scan all validated on real vehicles.
Setup with Fixiom (Android)
- Plug into the OBD2 port; ignition on.
- Pair the MX+ in Android's Bluetooth settings first (classic-Bluetooth units, unlike BLE, do use the system pairing).
- Open Fixiom → OBD2 tab → Scan for adapters → tap the MX+.
From there everything in the free scan tool runs — and the MX+'s speed genuinely shows on the every-module scan and dense live-data screens.
Who should buy it
Android owner who scans often, wants speed, BMW coverage, or leave-it-plugged-in convenience: the MX+ is worth every dollar. iPhone owner: buy a BLE adapter instead unless the specific app you plan to live in explicitly integrates the MX+ on iOS. Not sure yet: a $25 BLE unit does 90% of what most people need — you can always upgrade after the cheap adapter proves you'll actually use it.
Common questions
Does the OBDLink MX+ work with iPhone?+
Only inside apps that have individually integrated it through Apple's accessory program. Most third-party scan apps — Fixiom included — have not, so with them the MX+ is Android-only. On iPhone, Bluetooth LE adapters are the class every scan app can use.
Does the MX+ work with Fixiom?+
Yes, on Android — bench-tested on real vehicles: pairing, VIN, three-mode code scans, live data, and the every-module scan. On iPhone it cannot connect to Fixiom; use a Bluetooth LE adapter like the Veepeak BLE+ there.
Is the MX+ worth it over a $25 adapter?+
If you're on Android and scan regularly: it's faster, sleeps properly when left plugged in, and reaches manufacturer buses on several makes (it's the adapter that unlocks BMW coverage in Fixiom on Android). If you scan twice a year, the $25 BLE unit reads the same data — just slower.
Why does the MX+ pair in Android's Bluetooth settings when BLE adapters don't?+
It's a classic-Bluetooth device, and classic Bluetooth uses the system pairing flow. BLE adapters skip it and connect directly inside the app. Pair the MX+ in Settings once, then connect from inside the app.
Related guides
- Adapter buying guide — Which Bluetooth OBD2 adapters actually work — and which can never work.
- Veepeak setup guide — Which Veepeak works on iPhone, how to pair it, and what to do when it won't connect.
- Which app for your adapter? — Free scan tools, coding apps, AI diagnosis — matching the app to the actual job.
Great hardware deserves an app that thinks.
On Android, Fixiom's free-forever scan tool runs the MX+ at full speed — and the AI layer reasons over everything it streams.