A small, low-cost Classic Bluetooth reader sold as fully ELM327 compliant. It turns an Android phone or tablet into a check-engine code reader with live data through apps like Torque and Car Scanner.
Most people who buy a reader like this have one question: why is the check-engine light on, and can I fix it myself? The Panlong Bluetooth scanner answers that for Android owners. Plug it into the OBD-II port, open an app, read the code and its meaning, then decide whether it is a gas cap, a sensor or a trip to the shop.
It reads and clears trouble codes, shows what they mean through the app, turns off the check-engine light once the fault is fixed, and streams live sensor data. That covers the jobs most drivers need between services.
Panlong also says it can reach manufacturer-specific data. How much you see depends heavily on the app and the car, so treat that as a bonus rather than a promise. ABS, airbag and transmission faults usually need a more capable adapter and a brand-specific app.
Coverage runs from 1996 US vehicles and 2000 European and Asian vehicles, for 12V gasoline and light diesel models. The ELM327 car compatibility breakdown goes brand by brand if your car sits near those cut-off years.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Panlong |
| Model | B02 V1.5 |
| Chip | ELM327-compatible, reports version 1.5 |
| Wireless link | Classic Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth name | OBDII |
| Operating systems | Android phones and tablets; Windows also listed |
| iOS | Not supported by this version |
| Protocols | 9 OBD-II protocols |
| Vehicles | 1996+ US, 2000+ EU and Asian 12V gasoline and light diesel |
| Functions | Read and clear codes, code meanings, live sensor data |
| Compatible apps | Torque, DashCommand, Car Scanner ELM OBD2, OBD Fusion, OBD Auto Doctor, Dr. Prius |
| Power | From the OBD-II port |
| Weight | 18.14 g |
| Size | 1.89 × 0.98 × 1.26 in |
| In the box | Panlong OBD2 scanner |
Panlong describes the scanner as fully ELM327 compliant, and the model number ends in V1.5. Both are worth unpacking, because they tell you what the adapter speaks and what kind of chip is inside. In practice this is an ELM327-compatible clone, which is normal at this price and fine for engine diagnostics.
The ELM327 is a chip designed by Elm Electronics that translates OBD-II protocols into simple text commands for apps. Nearly every budget adapter uses a compatible chip that copies its command set. Elm Electronics' own version history does not include a v1.5, so the label comes from clone firmware rather than from Elm.
That is not a reason to avoid the Panlong. Many v1.5 clones handle the standard engine commands well. Where clones fall short is in speed, stability and the advanced commands that coding apps depend on. For reading a code and watching a few gauges, none of that gets in the way.
| ELM327 protocol | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|
| SAE J1850 PWM | Older Fords |
| SAE J1850 VPW | Older GM vehicles |
| ISO 9141-2 | Older European and Asian cars |
| ISO 14230-4 KWP (slow and fast init) | European and Asian cars, early 2000s |
| ISO 15765-4 CAN (four speed and ID variants) | US cars from 2008, most cars since |
Those nine protocols are the standard OBD-II set. What is not on the list are Ford's MS-CAN and GM's single-wire CAN, so FORScan body modules and GM body networks stay out of reach.
For the full story on version numbers and genuine chips, see ELM327 v1.5 vs v2.1 and what ELM327 is.
Panlong's setup notes answer the questions that trip people up most. The scanner appears on your phone as OBDII, and sometimes it does not appear in the Bluetooth list at all. Panlong says that is fine: open the app and let it find the adapter from there.
The two-scanner trap catches people who own more than one adapter. Many cheap readers use the same OBDII name, and a phone can keep trying the old one. Panlong's fix: go to your phone's Bluetooth settings and unpair the old OBDII before using the new scanner.
Panlong suggests trying free app versions first, since plenty of good apps exist. Torque Lite and the free tier of Car Scanner cover codes and live data. The guide to free and paid ELM327 apps compares the options, and how to use an ELM327 covers more first-scan fixes.
At the budget end, Classic Bluetooth readers for Android are near twins. Tell them apart by the help the maker offers, how plainly each one states what it can do, and which phones live in your house. This version of the Panlong is Android-only; Panlong sells a separate BLE version for iPhones.
| Adapter | Link | iPhone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panlong Bluetooth | Classic | No | ELM327 v1.5, nine protocols |
| Veepeak Mini | Classic | No | Clear list of supported and unsupported apps |
| Panlong BLE | Bluetooth | Yes | Panlong's version for iPhone and Android |
| Veepeak OBDCheck BLE | Bluetooth LE | Yes | Adds BimmerCode on 2008+ BMWs |
Panlong does not publish a sleep-current figure for this scanner. Budget readers often stay awake while plugged in, so if the car will sit for more than a few days, unplugging it is the safe habit. At this size it lives happily in the glovebox between uses.
The Panlong and the Veepeak Mini are close rivals. Both are Classic Bluetooth, both are Android-only, and both read generic engine data through the same popular apps. The Veepeak spells out its unsupported apps and functions in more detail; the Panlong is more explicit about its protocol list and pairing quirks. Either is a reasonable first reader.
If you later outgrow a basic reader, the step up is usually a better chip rather than more features on paper. The ELM327 vs OBDLink vs Vgate comparison shows where that step lands.
No. This version supports Android phones and tablets only. Panlong sells a separate BLE version for iPhone.
It is an ELM327-compatible adapter that reports version 1.5. Elm Electronics never released a v1.5 of its own chip, so this is clone firmware, which is normal at this price.
Panlong says that is fine. Open your app and let it find the adapter from inside the app.
Torque, DashCommand, Car Scanner ELM OBD2, OBD Fusion, OBD Auto Doctor and Dr. Prius for Toyota and Lexus hybrids.
No. It covers the nine standard OBD-II protocols, which do not include Ford's MS-CAN.