New ECU / ECU interchangeability?

[Andy1M3]

I've been having some issues with my car starting / running since storing it for the winter, and the shop I've brought it to say the ECU has moisture damage and that is causing the issue. They are willing to try to clean it out, or they've priced out an OEM new ECU for $3500 CAD.

Does anyone have any experience swapping out ECUs? I've found some used ECUs on eBay... some come with immobilizers, some don't. Does a new ECU require new immobilizers? Can I use an ECU from a different year, different body style, different transmission, etc?

Any guidance would be appreciated!

[amg6975]

You need to get it synced with the CAS and key from your car, get the VIN written on it and have the mileage zeroed out. I think this involves taking out your CAS and shipping the whole set up to a tuner/coder that can do it.

[Andy1M3]

Originally Posted by amg6975

You need to get it synced with the CAS and key from your car, get the VIN written on it and have the mileage zeroed out. I think this involves taking out your CAS and shipping the whole set up to a tuner/coder that can do it.

Interesting. I assume you had to do this for your S65 swap. Can you therefore buy an ECU from any model year and body style, as it has to be coded anyways?

[Nickco43]

Originally Posted by Andy1M3

I've been having some issues with my car starting / running since storing it for the winter, and the shop I've brought it to say the ECU has moisture damage and that is causing the issue. They are willing to try to clean it out, or they've priced out an OEM new ECU for $3500 CAD.

Does anyone have any experience swapping out ECUs? I've found some used ECUs on eBay... some come with immobilizers, some don't. Does a new ECU require new immobilizers? Can I use an ECU from a different year, different body style, different transmission, etc?

Any guidance would be appreciated!

If the DME can be opened up and read on a bench, then it can be cloned to a good used one. I never got into DME cloning but I know a guy in Boston who has been doing it for years.

[amg6975]

Originally Posted by Andy1M3

Interesting. I assume you had to do this for your S65 swap. Can you therefore buy an ECU from any model year and body style, as it has to be coded anyways?

I had the whole car so I just pulled the CAS, Key, and DME from the donor and put it in mine. I also used the KOMBI and since it's more than 10 years old the DMV doesn't care about the mileage any more so I left all the mileage as the drivetrain mileage. All I did was have the VIN changed in the DME so the emissions inspection computer didn't get confused.

As far as I know there are no differences between MSS60s in the various body styles.

[amrazM]

you can run an rsa bypass on the mss60 and then flash the new vin to a used dme, although there is a company in Pennsylvania that can supply you a replacement dme with warranty.

[asma123]

Whereabouts in Canada are you?
I’m in Vancouver bc and I work repairing electronics. Microsoldering and stuff. Maybe I can help you but I really need to see the unit

[BPMSport]

We can provide a replacement ecu for a fraction of that.