I was in a similar situation recently but hadn't used either. Got a demo copy of each and had a play. I found the Autodata much more intuitive and user friendly. However the esi did seem to contain more in depth information with regards to things like ABS, SRS service/repair once you worked out how to find it. Both had the everyday stuff. Technical data, service schedules etc. but the autodata was easier to read.
I'm sure the esi is an excellent product but I went for the Autodata as it had the information I wanted, all linked nicely together.

Hope this helps..Phil

What! Are you joking Tony? Were do you get this info from?

JW

Don't seem able to post the link, go to "Diag eqpt", board, type in 'bosch esi' in the search box and look at Rays post on the 13/10/05, there is a contact number but I think the offer ended at end of 2005,

HTH

Tony

uuummm , reminds me of a certain building society ad !

Could I try a demo disc, be interesting to see how it compares with AD,

regards

Tony Bickers

We had this discussion in November last year, about incentives for new customers, all companies do it, let's face it.

Regards, Rob.

Glad you got your disc OK.

I have to agree with you, ESI is not the easiest piece of software to use, especially if you're used to using Autodata.

I think the problem is the fact that ESI is now quite an old 'shell' to the program, with lots of data being added, whereas Autodata started out with a graphical shell & have been able to add to that.

Autodata kind of make it easy by having nice big graphical buttons etc, whereas ESI tends to lend itself to using the F keys a bit more.

What you have to remember is that ESI is the information system which backs up the Bosch KTS systems. When you buy a Bosch KTS system, you get a two day training course included. As a Bosch trainer myself, I can always see that the guys & girls coming in on the course have probably only ever used 5-10% of the functions of the ESI section, as they don't know many bits are there. Over the two days, at half the time is spent going through all the features of ESITronic, now tell me you get that with Autodata.

So as to help you find the information in ESI, I assume that you have already got to grips with looking up the car, then using the left column to look at the parts fitted to the car (EQUIPMENT) the info on fittig times (WORK UNITS) then you come to (SIS/CAS) which is all the information on EMS, ABS, Airbag etc, wiring diagrams for all underbonnet systems are in here, not in Circuit Diagrams!

The (MECHANICAL) section is basically your Autodata info, without the book times (these are in the Work Units) then (CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS) are all the non underbonnet wiring diagrams.

Whilst you are in any of the data in ESI/SIS, then you can press the F keys at the bottom, to bring up such data as vehicle info, straight link to the wiring diagrams, pneumatic/hydraulic diagrams & component locations WITHOUT having to back out of the section you are in & return to it.

Pressing F8 opens up the KTS half of the software which would use the KTS interface to link to the vehicles. You can use this function without KTS connested & it will go to demo mode to show you what you would see if you were to go for KTS, quite useful as part of the demo.

At the top left of the screen is a picture of a pre-engaged starter motor, if you press this you can now enter a part number, either Bosch or others, and it will give you info on the part (if it's in the database) you can then use the link down the left side to see what this part is fitted to, comparisons to manufacturers numbers etc.

Obviously this is a tiny overview of this system, but to be honest it absolutely blows Autodata away for the level of info it has, I use & sell both, so comparison is easy, there is no comparison to ESI.

Play with it as much as you can from the demo disc, I'm sure you'll get used to the non-graphical nature of the system & find it has loads more info than Autodata.

If you need help, please do not hesitate to ring me & I'll try to talk you through it.

Kind regards, Rob.

would love to see a version of Boch esi

brian

I'm sure your Bosch distributor would be pleased to demo it. Bosch were sending out Esi demo discs, I expect they probably still do. Failing that, if you're near Windsor you could look at ours.

Tom W

All the best.

John Goggin.

You are absolutely right, the £100 deal was an excellent way of getting garages involved with ESI, as it has always been assumed that it ONLY goes with using a KTS machine. The reality is far different, with the information system being just as useful to people with non-Bosch diagnostic kit. Indeed in a very uncertain business I can catagorically say that ESI is completely unrivalled in what it covers.

However I would say one thing here, it is not a replacement for Autodata, we have now discovered that even with the M&P discs added it is does not encompass all of what Autodata has to offer, as well as that of the basic ESI package.

My advice to you guys who are thinking of 'swapping' to ESI is this, use both, the small amount extra compared to buying ESI C9 + M&P will pay dividends in the end.

As you quite rightly say, ESI has HUGE amounts of info in it, but many who have never had ANY training on ESI will struggle to find all the info contained within it, another issue is that those who just subscribed to the C4 disc before Christmas will not have got the C Archive information, with all the old microfiche loaded as well.

As a trainer for Bosch I give the 2 day training course on the KTS units. About 60-65% of the course is spent on ESI, as the KTS section is actually far easier to use so requires less training. Therefore at least a day & a bit is spent on ESI alone. This basically means that using ESI is difficult without the training.

But, as ever you can't have something for nothing, so the £100 deal, whilst excellent to get new users on board, does suffer as they couldn't afford to add a day's training as well.

I hope other who were in this boat found my previous post some help as well.

Kind regards, Rob.

Regards
Dave

when using esi you can kinda interface it with autodata. select the vehicle info you want on esi then use the interface option. it will then go to autodata finding the exact info.