Porsche PIWIS 3 Reviews and FAQs

Porsche Piwis 3 with V38.90 software, is dealer lever Porsche diagnostic and repair tool, covers Porsche old and new cars from 1998 to 2020, it covers all functions of Piwis tester 2 , including diagnosis, online programming, IMMO & Key online programming with dealer account and supports newest Porsche model after 2017 which Piwis tester 2 can’t. VXDAS provide Porsche Piwis 3 with V38.90 software installed at Panasonic CF-MX3 Laptop, comes with USB dongle supports update online.

Porsche Piwis 3

Why you or your mechanic need a PIWIS?

A PIWIS is the factory developed diagnostic and repair tool. It stands for Porsche Integrated Workshop Information System. Porsche dealer technicians use this tool to perform a multitude of diagnostic and repair functions on your car.

There are 3 generations of testers, the original which I believe can handle cars up to the 2014 model year, the PIWIS II which handles cars up to and including the 2017 model year and the current PIWIS III which handles all cars including the 2020 model year.

Naturally if your car is under warranty, then you don’t need this tool. Let the dealer handle any issues that come up. However, if you have a Porsche which is off warranty, watch out, your dealer charges crazy high hourly rates, mine is currently at $269 an hour, and also charges you parts at full retail. Go to a dealer for a brake job, and he will quote you $4000. You can do it yourself for $600, $900 with factory parts. Need an O2 sensor changed? There are 4 on a Porsche and the dealer will quote you $1200 for one, and then will recommend that they be changed in pairs so now you are looking at $2,400

Now why do you or your mechanic need one? Well here’s what you can do without one:

1.Change spark plugs and ignition coils. (The engine module is self calibrating and will learn new parts automatically)
2.Change front rotors and pads
3.Change switches,
4.Change washers, wipers window motors, door locks
5.Change most engine sensors
6.Change your own oil (but you won’t be able to reset the service interval)
7.Change differential oil
8.Change battery (But you won’t be able to tell the car you changed it)
9.Change bulbs

Here are some basic things that you can do that require a PIWIS
1.Change the rear rotors
2.Change any suspension parts
3.Change seat motors
4.Change any control modules (There are 27 of them) All need to be coded with the VIN of the car
5.Change the battery and record the change with the gateway module
Reset the service interval

Change the PDK oil (you can actually do the PDK fluid change without the PIWIIS , well a simple fluid change, you might need it if you replace the PDK filter. the reason you might want a PIWIS for the fluid change is to monitor oil temperature. The V8 needs the oil to be a certain temperature for all the oil in the cooler to drain. The v6 wants a certain temperature to be hit behold you check the level in the top up procedure. In both cases you could likely run the car for ten miles to achieve the temperature).

Change headlight components that aren’t bulbs
Change clock spring ( will require codes which only the dealer can get but you can buy from the Chinese)

Most importantly, as many of you have discovered, it is nearly impossible to diagnose repair issues without one. The Durametric device just doesn’t come close to providing the information you need and many of the error code labels it provides are simply wrong and will lead you changing parts that don’t need changing. At $769 which is less than 3 hours labor, you can see everything a dealer can see about your car. I have a 2 and I’m going to a 3. If anyone is interested, I can try to post a video of the PIWIS II. It has a simulation mode for training purposes which is helpful. There are 4 programs in the PIWIS, the diagnostic, which is the main program for service, a wiring diagram program, a fault finding program which I haven’t found to be useful running offline and the multimeter function.
If you can share one with a buddy or some Porsche meetup groups that would be ideal. My recommendation, don’t let anyone do repairs on your car that doesn’t have one.
Here are some basic pictures

Porsche Piwis 3 FAQs

Q: Can V38.90 Software for Porsche Piwis 3 perform all the functions of Porsche Piwis 2?

A: Yes, Porsche Piwis 3 is compatible Porsche Piwis II, for Porsche that means Porsche Piwis Tester3 includes all the functions of Piwis 2.

Q: How to update V38.90 Piwis tester III Software Future?

A: The package comes with Panasonic CF-MX3 laptop , 128G Solid Hard Disk, comes with USB dongle, can update online, if you need to update, just contact seller and send team viewer, they will update it online via team viewer for you.

Q: Can Piwis Tester II update to Porsche Piwis Tester III V38.90?

A: No, they have the different hardware, the Piwis III has the higher demand to the computer resolution.

Q: Can I use my personal computer?

A: No, the computer and the device is bound together. Because The Piwis III V38.90 is bound with the encrypted chip. If you unplug the hard disk and insert into the other computer, then the software will have no nonsense.

Q: Why need Piwis III V38.90?

A: Because Piwis II can’t work with the Porsche after the 2017 year. Only Piwis III V38.90 works with newest Porsche model after 2017 like 2018 Macan

Q: Porsche Piwis 3 programs IMMO & Key online?

A: Yes. It Support.

Q: Does Porsche Piwis 3 support Wifi?

A: Usually, the device is offline version and WIFI is disabled so that you don’t need to activate every 15 days.

Q: Can Porsche Piwis 3 connect to the internet?

A: Yes. It is allowed.

Q: As I’m researching this myself, given that you don’t have a model year that requires it, what is driving you to upgrade from piwis II, to piwis III? Is it just this: “The Porsche PIWIS 3 tester has a built in multimeter and oscilloscope and the cables are included.”, or other factors that you can note here, for reference?

A:I also have a 2018 Macan that requires the piwis3. I hope to help people in my community and I also plan to rebuild another. I’m excited my PIWIS III arrives tomorrow. I will review after I test it out. I have PSM module arriving Saturday that will need the module replacement procedure.

An interesting thing happened to me the other day. I had just received my PIWIS III and was going to use it to change out the PSM module and before I did I had it run a full diagnostic. At the time I didn’t realize that the unit was in development mode. My PIWIS 2 would only show one code, a faulty recirculation servomotor which I have struggled to physically change due to its location. When the diagnostic was complete two things happened; one I realized it was in development mode since all the responses were in German (in development mode the menus can be changed to English but the responses from the modules appear in German) And two there were more error codes. After having Google translate the German responses I discover that the b piller servomotors were mechanically jammed. It also found a fault in the brake light switch which was working properly. I switched the unit to after sales mode( the dealer mode) and those codes weren’t there Then I used the unit to monitor the servomotors in question. What I discovered was that they were indeed not moving from 0 to 100. After finally figuring out where they were located (under the front seats) I pulled one out and took it apart and the motor shaft was seized. Un seizing it didn’t do enough to fix it so I ordered 3(one for the recirc). Anyways the point is that developers mode not only tested the motors it tried to run them from stop to stop which normal mode does not. The brake light switch after checking the voltage while pressing on the switch was showing only 7 volts so it was partially shorted something else missed by the regular mode. If you have mysterious issues with no codes and have access to Porsche tester, try running it in development or engineering mode as it is sometimes called, and see if it reveals any new codes.

Q: Do you know if it is possible to activate the rear DRL and the LED Matrix headlamps with the PIWIS III?

A: activation codes are not included with the tester. You can add them if you have them but this is an online programming function and the dealer must pay Porsche for the options that he installed. When he sends a work order to Porsche he receives the activation codes then enters them into the PIWIS. Now there are some Russians who have hacked porches codes and will sell you an activation code for new options. I haven’t tried them but I did pay $125 for my original activation codes so I code reprogram a pcm and a new clock spring.

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