ecu tied to vin?
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 344
Likes: 5
From: Los Angeles, CA
w202
For C43, the ECU + EIS + key + steering lock release are all paired. You'd have to swap all these into your car in order to work.
Keep in mind that down the line if you ever need to order a new key from the dealer, it won't work.
Keep in mind that down the line if you ever need to order a new key from the dealer, it won't work.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 344
Likes: 5
From: Los Angeles, CA
w202
You can code with Star only an Ecu that's in "virgin state". I understand that an ECU is electronically paired with the car (and automatically locked with it) after 40 car starts after its been programmed with the Star tool.
Once ECU is locked, that's it, there's nothing to do with Star anymore.
All the reading i've done on the subject, it looks like to unlock an ECU (to put it back in virgin state) can be done by de-soldering the actual chip off the board.
The erasing, cloning, programming of the chip must be done with a separate device.
What is the issue with your current ECU?
In the C43 case, the swapping ECUs problem actually lies in the immobilizer chip which is a separate EEPROM on the ECU board.
So, let's say your ECU has issues making the engine not running right, misfires, bad signals, etc... theoretically you could de-solder the immob. eeprom from your old board (the original) and solder it on the new used board. The only thing that both ECUs must be exactly the same (to have same part numbers - all digits must be same)
Once ECU is locked, that's it, there's nothing to do with Star anymore.
All the reading i've done on the subject, it looks like to unlock an ECU (to put it back in virgin state) can be done by de-soldering the actual chip off the board.
The erasing, cloning, programming of the chip must be done with a separate device.
What is the issue with your current ECU?
In the C43 case, the swapping ECUs problem actually lies in the immobilizer chip which is a separate EEPROM on the ECU board.
So, let's say your ECU has issues making the engine not running right, misfires, bad signals, etc... theoretically you could de-solder the immob. eeprom from your old board (the original) and solder it on the new used board. The only thing that both ECUs must be exactly the same (to have same part numbers - all digits must be same)
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 421
05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
Nothing is wrong with mine. I do have an extra one that my friend wanted to borrow because he is having issues with his.
The car missfires above 6k rpm and he says he narrowed it down to the ecu.
The car missfires above 6k rpm and he says he narrowed it down to the ecu.
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