The iCar2 BLE 4.0 is the budget Bluetooth LE adapter in Vgate's vLinker family: a 15 g dongle for iPhone and Android with a three-colour status light and a 3 mA sleep after half an hour without a connection.
Not every driver needs a coding adapter or a Ford specialist. Many just want to know what the check-engine light means, watch a few gauges on a road trip, and keep a dongle in the car for the next time a warning pops up. The iCar2 BLE 4.0 is aimed squarely at that job.
It is small and light at 15 g, so it sits in the OBD2 port without hanging into your knee. The Bluetooth 4.0 LE radio is the key detail: it lets the iCar2 work with an iPhone as well as Android phones. Classic Bluetooth dongles cannot do that.
With a free or paid app, it covers the usual generic OBD-II list:
vLinker also mentions active tests, where the app sends a command to a module, such as switching a component on. Whether that works depends entirely on the app and your car's make, model and year. Treat it as a bonus, not a reason to buy.
The three-colour status light is a small but welcome touch. A glance tells you whether the dongle has power, is waiting for a phone or is passing data, which saves guesswork when an app will not connect.
For the difference between BLE and Classic Bluetooth in more depth, see the Bluetooth adapter guide.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | vLinker (Vgate) |
| Model | vLinker iCar2 BLE4.0 |
| Link type | Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy |
| iPhone | Yes |
| Android | Yes |
| Windows | Named in vLinker's operating system list |
| OBD protocols | All OBD2 communication protocols; OBD2, EOBD |
| Vehicles | 12V petrol and small diesel up to 6.5 t; not 24V heavy diesel |
| Model years | 1996+ US, 1998+ Canada, petrol 2001+ and diesel 2003/2004+ in Europe |
| Operating current | 46–48 mA |
| Sleep current | 3 mA |
| Sleep trigger | After 30 minutes without a Bluetooth connection |
| Protection | Over-voltage, over-current, over-temperature, battery drain |
| Indicator | Three-colour status light |
| Apps | Car Scanner, OBD Auto Doctor, Torque Lite/Pro (Android), DashCommand (Android), Accurate (iOS) |
| Active tests | Supported where the app, car make, model and year allow |
| Weight | 15 g |
| Colour | Black and orange |
| In the box | Adapter, user manual, packing box |
The iCar2 BLE saves the battery with a simple rule. After 30 minutes without a Bluetooth connection, it drops into sleep mode and draws as little as 3 mA. While awake and working, it draws 46–48 mA.
Those numbers are easy to put in context. Half an hour awake at 48 mA uses about 24 mAh, a tiny amount. Asleep, 3 mA for a week totals around 500 mAh, well within what a healthy battery can spare.
The trigger is worth understanding, though. The iCar2 sleeps when no phone is connected, so an app that keeps reconnecting in the background could keep it awake longer than you expect. Close the app when you park if you plan to leave the dongle in.
Built-in protection covers the rest. Over-voltage, over-current, over-temperature and battery drain protection help the adapter survive a jump-start or a charging-system fault without harming the car.
The ELM327 how-to guide covers the connection steps and the fixes when an app cannot reach the car.
The iCar2 BLE does not come with an app, so the first job is picking one. vLinker names several, and the choice depends on your phone.
| App | Phone | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Car Scanner | iPhone, Android | Free generic data, paid brand-specific add-ons |
| OBD Auto Doctor | iPhone, Android | Clear code reading and readiness screens |
| Torque Lite / Pro | Android | Custom gauges and drive logging |
| DashCommand | Android | Dashboards and performance views |
| Accurate | iPhone | Diagnostics on iOS |
Apps come in free and paid versions. The free tiers cover codes and basic live data on most cars; paid upgrades add enhanced data for particular brands, extra logging or reports.
Only one app can hold the Bluetooth LE connection at a time. If Car Scanner cannot find the iCar2, check that Torque or another OBD2 app is not still running in the background. On Android, the app also needs Bluetooth and location permission to scan for BLE devices, and denying that prompt is a common reason for an empty device list. On an iPhone, allow the app's Bluetooth permission when it asks.
If the app finds the adapter but not the car, start the engine, confirm the protocol is set to automatic and press the dongle firmly into the port. For side-by-side app notes, see the ELM327 app guide.
Vgate sells two BLE lines that often get mixed up. The iCar2 is the lighter, simpler one. The iCar Pro is the long-running favourite, and the iCar Pro 2S is the newest.
| Adapter | Bluetooth | Sleep | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| iCar2 BLE 4.0 | 4.0 LE | 3 mA after 30 minutes idle | Three-colour light, 15 g |
| iCar Pro BLE 4.0 | 4.0 LE | 3 mA, auto-sleep and auto-wake | Firmware updates from a phone app |
| iCar Pro 2S | 5.2 | 3 mA, remote wake on EVs and hybrids | Up to 3 Mbps, 208 CAN filters |
| Veepeak OBDCheck BLE | LE | Not stated | BimmerCode and BimmerLink support |
The iCar Pro BLE 4.0 adds automatic wake-up and firmware updates through Vgate's phone updater, which help an adapter stay compatible as apps change. The 2S adds a faster link and proper EV and hybrid support. The Veepeak is the pick for BMW owners who want BimmerCode.
None of these handles Ford MS-CAN for FORScan or BMW coding as a Vgate-stated feature. For those jobs, look at the vLinker FS, FD+ or BM+. The Vgate vs OBDLink comparison covers the brands side by side.
Yes. It uses Bluetooth 4.0 LE. Connect from inside the app, not from the iPhone's Bluetooth settings.
After 30 minutes without a Bluetooth connection. It then draws as little as 3 mA.
No. Use a free or paid app such as Car Scanner, OBD Auto Doctor, Torque or DashCommand.
On 12V small diesels up to 6.5 t, yes. It is not for 24V heavy-duty diesels such as semis or tractors.
The iCar Pro BLE 4.0 adds automatic wake-up and firmware updates from a phone app. The iCar2 is lighter and simpler.