OBD-II adapters · OBDLink · iPhone
Does the OBDLink MX+ work with an iPhone?
Yes. The OBDLink MX+ is a classic Bluetooth adapter certified through Apple's MFi program, and its certification names WrenchTime, so the app talks to it through Apple's accessory framework; it has been supported since WrenchTime 6.7 and is confirmed working on a real vehicle. It is the one adapter set up the other way round: pair it once in iPhone Settings > Bluetooth, then link it to a vehicle in the app's Settings > Connections like any other. The OBDLink CX, from the same maker, uses Bluetooth Low Energy instead, so it is not paired in iPhone Settings; it has not been tested on a vehicle yet and is listed without a verdict.
Which OBDLink adapters work with WrenchTime?
The OBDLink MX+ is confirmed working, and the OBDLink CX is expected to work but not yet tested. Both are made by OBD Solutions; they reach the iPhone over two different radios, which is why one is paired in iPhone Settings and the other is not.
The status says what the app did with each adapter, not whether the adapter suits your car: protocol coverage, sleep and wake behavior and a given make's quirks are on the maker's compatibility list, and worth a look before buying. On the app side, any adapter that speaks ELM327 over Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0 or later is expected to work, as is the Apple-certified OBDLink MX+; the ones below are the ones on record.
| Adapter | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OBDLink MX+ (MFi) | Works | Apple-certified (MFi) classic Bluetooth adapter, supported since WrenchTime 6.7. Pair it once in iPhone Settings > Bluetooth, then link it to a vehicle in the app's Settings > Connections like any other adapter. |
| OBDLink CX | Unverified | Bluetooth Low Energy adapter from the maker of the MX+, so nothing to pair in iPhone Settings: it is linked from the app's Settings > Connections. Not yet tested on a real vehicle, so it is listed without a verdict. |
Statuses are copied from WrenchTime's own adapter log as read on : what each device did on a real vehicle, not a maker's claim. A listed adapter is not a recommendation, and no adapter maker sponsors this page.
How do I set up the OBDLink MX+ with WrenchTime?
In two steps, the first of which no other adapter needs. Because the MX+ is a classic Bluetooth accessory certified by Apple, iOS has to know it before an app can use it.
- Pair it in iPhone Settings with the adapter in the port and the ignition on, open Settings > Bluetooth on the iPhone and pair the OBDLink MX+, like a pair of headphones.
- Link it in WrenchTime open Settings > Connections, pick the vehicle, switch to its OBD-II tab and tap the MX+ in the list. From then on, with Connect During Trips on, every trip in that vehicle opens a session by itself.
Why does the MX+ work when other classic Bluetooth adapters do not?
Because iOS hands a classic Bluetooth accessory to an app only when the accessory is certified through Apple's MFi program for that app by name, and the MX+ is certified for WrenchTime. Any other classic Bluetooth adapter, one that pairs from iPhone Settings and is sold for Android, is on a radio WrenchTime cannot reach, and that includes Vgate's vLinker MS while it is still in MFi mode.
Does the OBDLink CX work with an iPhone?
It should, and it has not been tested on a vehicle yet, which is why it is listed without a verdict. The CX uses Bluetooth Low Energy, so unlike the MX+ it is not paired in iPhone Settings: it is linked from the app's Settings > Connections. The app has no profile of its own for it yet, so it may be listed among the other nearby devices rather than the recognized adapters. Pick it there and WrenchTime tries it on the spot, keeping it only if it answers like an OBD-II adapter. If you try one, tell us what you saw and it goes in the log.
Does the MX+ reconnect by itself when the car wakes?
That is not on record yet. Once it is paired in iPhone Settings and linked to a vehicle there is nothing to redo before a drive: with Connect During Trips on, each trip in that vehicle opens its session by itself. Whether a drive that starts with the adapter asleep still gets its readings is the open question, and a session log from a real drive would settle it.
Frequently asked questions
Does WrenchTime support the OBDLink MX+ on iPhone?
Yes, since WrenchTime 6.7. The OBDLink MX+ is Apple-certified (MFi) for WrenchTime by name, so the app talks to it through Apple's accessory framework. It is confirmed working on a real vehicle.
Why do I pair the OBDLink MX+ in iPhone Settings when other adapters are not paired there?
Because the MX+ is a classic Bluetooth accessory, which iOS has to know before an app can use it. Bluetooth Low Energy adapters, such as the Vgate iCar Pro or the OBDLink CX, are found by the app's own scan instead and should not be paired in iPhone Settings.
Does WrenchTime work with the OBDLink CX?
It is expected to, since the CX uses Bluetooth Low Energy, but it has not been tested on a vehicle yet. Link it from Settings > Connections in the app, not from iPhone Settings.
Made for people who would rather know than guess.
Free to download. One vehicle, real features, no ads. Your garage will thank you.
Download WrenchTime on the App Store