How easy is it to swap ECU's?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 525
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From: Huntington Beach, CA
c63, 11 e350 (DD)
Snaps in and out, less then 2 minutes I'd say.
It's located on the top left (facing the car), under that black plastic piece, it comes off with 2 clips in the back, and one in the front.
bad pic for reference (it's located under that plastic piece all the way on the top left corner [again, when facing the car])
It's located on the top left (facing the car), under that black plastic piece, it comes off with 2 clips in the back, and one in the front.
bad pic for reference (it's located under that plastic piece all the way on the top left corner [again, when facing the car])
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 658
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From: DFW
C63 AMG Coupe P31
when you get under the plastic thing in the top left corner. the silver box (ecu)(about 6 in by 6 in by 2.5 in) has two wire connectors. you have to pull the tabs away from each other and the male/female wire ports will unhook from the ecu. now just pop the ecu out of the rubber grommets.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 658
Likes: 2
From: DFW
C63 AMG Coupe P31
ill ask questions in the tech sections of the amg private lounge forums and someone from amg will give me advice. the last time i had problems with my car i did this and took the info to the service department and they did it and it worked. they ask me how i found that out and i told them. they were clueless that there were forums about tech questions on the internet. im not kidding you.
so.....i inquired a little more to the head service tech. he said that they just hook the car up to a computer and it tells them what to do. i got the impression that if the computer couldnt figure it out, they try to find every excuse in the would for why they cant fix it.
i know i rant all the time on these forums about mercedes service departments but this is just yet another story that happened to me last week. I swear that the guys at my local dealership cant do anything but turn a wrench and the diagnostics computer tells them how to turn it.
end of me ranting
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 658
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From: DFW
C63 AMG Coupe P31
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: San Diego/San Francisco
AMG GLC63. Audi R8
First you can only buy an ECU from MBZ (unless you can find a totalled car someplace).
Second it's not plug and play, only MBZ can mate the ECU to the car.
So they will know somebody has replaced the ECU and then the questions will start if you have a major warranty issue.
Last edited by DuaneC63; Nov 10, 2011 at 02:52 AM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Massachusetts
C63
While I love the concept of having a stock ECU and a Tuned ECU, I think it fails on a few counts:
First you can only buy an ECU from MBZ (unless you can find a totalled car someplace).
Second it's not plug and play, only MBZ can mate the ECU to the car.
So they will know somebody has replaced the ECU and then the questions will start if you have a major warranty issue.
First you can only buy an ECU from MBZ (unless you can find a totalled car someplace).
Second it's not plug and play, only MBZ can mate the ECU to the car.
So they will know somebody has replaced the ECU and then the questions will start if you have a major warranty issue.
exactly.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,974
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From: NY
See Sig
While I love the concept of having a stock ECU and a Tuned ECU, I think it fails on a few counts:
First you can only buy an ECU from MBZ (unless you can find a totalled car someplace).
Second it's not plug and play, only MBZ can mate the ECU to the car.
So they will know somebody has replaced the ECU and then the questions will start if you have a major warranty issue.
First you can only buy an ECU from MBZ (unless you can find a totalled car someplace).
Second it's not plug and play, only MBZ can mate the ECU to the car.
So they will know somebody has replaced the ECU and then the questions will start if you have a major warranty issue.
No more or less than having a tuned ECU. Probably less. There are so many variables. Yes, if you are running a tuned ECU and bring your car to the track and blow it up and then swap the stock ECU back in and bring it to the dealer and say "Duuhhh it broke" They will know the ECU in the car wasnt in the car when the car broke and you will be denied your warranty claim IF the ECU was the cause of the problem.
On the other hand if you want to have some track fun with your car and you dont want to bring your car in for an oil change and have some tech void your warranty because you have a tune on your car then tne 2nd ECU is a good idea.
Third is nice to have the stock map on the car for daily driving and not push the engine over what MB has designed. Running a tune only at the track will add miles to your vehicle due to not pushing it as hard 100% of the time.
Lastly, if you want to void your warranty or have warranty issues modify your exhaust. Every case I have seen on this forum from a denied warranty claim was due to exhaust work not an ECU modification.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,438
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From: Relocated
2010 Irridium Silver MB C63 AMG Sedan
No more or less than having a tuned ECU. Probably less. There are so many variables. Yes, if you are running a tuned ECU and bring your car to the track and blow it up and then swap the stock ECU back in and bring it to the dealer and say "Duuhhh it broke" They will know the ECU in the car wasnt in the car when the car broke and you will be denied your warranty claim IF the ECU was the cause of the problem.
On the other hand if you want to have some track fun with your car and you dont want to bring your car in for an oil change and have some tech void your warranty because you have a tune on your car then tne 2nd ECU is a good idea.
Third is nice to have the stock map on the car for daily driving and not push the engine over what MB has designed. Running a tune only at the track will add miles to your vehicle due to not pushing it as hard 100% of the time.
Lastly, if you want to void your warranty or have warranty issues modify your exhaust. Every case I have seen on this forum from a denied warranty claim was due to exhaust work not an ECU modification.
On the other hand if you want to have some track fun with your car and you dont want to bring your car in for an oil change and have some tech void your warranty because you have a tune on your car then tne 2nd ECU is a good idea.
Third is nice to have the stock map on the car for daily driving and not push the engine over what MB has designed. Running a tune only at the track will add miles to your vehicle due to not pushing it as hard 100% of the time.
Lastly, if you want to void your warranty or have warranty issues modify your exhaust. Every case I have seen on this forum from a denied warranty claim was due to exhaust work not an ECU modification.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,202
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From: Massachusetts
C63
if you are even remotely worried warranty issues don't ever get a tune. I have a tune and am not worried. If things go really really bad the fix will be on my dime. it is what it is.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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2019 GLC63, 2020 M2 Comp, 96 Miata M Edition & 19 Forester
Maybe swapping ECU is not the answer. I'd rather have a device like a mini computer such as the COBB ACCESS SPORT and be able to flash it yourself switching back and fort from stock to not just one tune but several pre programmed ones and since this device goes through your OBD port you can access other datas as well.
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home the point
Better yet, something like a Power Commander that tap into the ECU output. It allows you to change A/F mapping on the fly like professional race vehicles. Not to mention real time read out of sensors data. Restoring to stock is matter of unplugging the PC unit.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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2019 GLC63, 2020 M2 Comp, 96 Miata M Edition & 19 Forester
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home the point
Also it's not just maps, you need a soft key to 'unencrypt' the ECU, which is unique to each vehicle. Bulk of the expense for re-flashing ECU goes toward that.
Last edited by cptdaz; Apr 6, 2012 at 11:40 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 557
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2016 C63S
Maybe swapping ECU is not the answer. I'd rather have a device like a mini computer such as the COBB ACCESS SPORT and be able to flash it yourself switching back and fort from stock to not just one tune but several pre programmed ones and since this device goes through your OBD port you can access other datas as well.
In my very limited and new experience with these cars, I think I remember hearing of a device from Renntech called the RAT, which allowed you do "flash-at-home". I wonder what happened to that, and why?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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C63 AMG
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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2019 GLC63, 2020 M2 Comp, 96 Miata M Edition & 19 Forester
Doesn't sound like it from what I gather on their website. What COBB does is loading A/F maps directly onto the ECU, that takes time (not even sure it can be done when the vehicle is running). PC leaves ECU stock but modified the signal from ECU to throttle body. There's no way COBB system is capable of changing mapping as PC is capable of. I have a setup similar to COBB on my Triumph; I have to 'reflash' the ECU every time I want to test a new A/F setting, it's not 'on-the-fly' per say.
Also it's not just maps, you need a soft key to 'unencrypt' the ECU, which is unique to each vehicle. Bulk of the expense for re-flashing ECU goes toward that.
Also it's not just maps, you need a soft key to 'unencrypt' the ECU, which is unique to each vehicle. Bulk of the expense for re-flashing ECU goes toward that.
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Joined: Dec 2011
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home the point
You're right... not on the fly. It takes me about 1-2 minutes to load maps. And about 3 minutes to totally take off the whole program and vise versa but it is a lot better than what our current tuners offer. Plus the ability to update to new maps from your tuner by way of downloading the file to your PC and moving it to your access port via USB is just nice!
Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 139
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From: Virginia
2010 C350, 2011 BMW 328xi
The tune I had was with tuning USA. The car ran like a champ for 10k miles then began random misfires. Then it started 2 and 5 cylinder misfires. My car started chugging and blowing smoke out of the back.
Mercedes will void te warranty and the tuning shop won't pay for damages. Not happy at all. I am going to get the old ECU and have it reflashed to see if it will work. If so then I will probably sell it.
This is for a C350 btw.
