Possible to install a used ECU?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Houston - Clear Lake
C63 coupe, Z3M Roadster garage queen
Possible to install a used ECU?
My ME (ECU?) appears to be toast. Two dealers have looked at it and both are saying that replacement is the only option. Both have quoted almost $2k to replace it. *$#%$#!
Are used MEs available? If yes, is it a drop-in or does it require dealership support and Star tools?
Does it have to be from a C63 or will any C-class work
Does it have to be from the same model year?
Are used MEs available? If yes, is it a drop-in or does it require dealership support and Star tools?
Does it have to be from a C63 or will any C-class work
Does it have to be from the same model year?
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From: Silicon Valley, CA
C63 AMG, P30
Definitely has to be from a C63. More so, running the correct software version for your car. Also, it's have to be coded, most likey via STAR, to your car's vin.
So no, you cannot go to ebay and purchase a w204 ECU and call it a day.
So no, you cannot go to ebay and purchase a w204 ECU and call it a day.
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c63
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From: Denham Springs,LA
'12 C63 Black Series, '12 ML350 BlueTech
As mr747 mentioned you can clone your OEM ECU. The only company that i know able to do it is weistec. You cannot jut plug and play any random used ECU as each one is VIN coded to their respective car.
My question is if your OEM is toast how will the cloning go? Because as the word says you duplicate from a master file. If the master is dead what will you copy?
My question is if your OEM is toast how will the cloning go? Because as the word says you duplicate from a master file. If the master is dead what will you copy?
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From: Naperville, IL/Chicago
2008 CLK63 Black Series 2012 C63 Black Series 2014 SLS Black Series
Yes, you can use a used ECU as long as it corresponds to your specific make and model. You will need to take it to your dealership to have them sync it with your specific vehicle.
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Joined: Jan 2016
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From: Cape Town
2014 Mercedes C63 AMG 507 Edition
As mr747 mentioned you can clone your OEM ECU. The only company that i know able to do it is weistec. You cannot jut plug and play any random used ECU as each one is VIN coded to their respective car.
My question is if your OEM is toast how will the cloning go? Because as the word says you duplicate from a master file. If the master is dead what will you copy?
My question is if your OEM is toast how will the cloning go? Because as the word says you duplicate from a master file. If the master is dead what will you copy?
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I hope you don't have the same experience about an MB tech telling me I needed a new ECU. MB master technician told me I needed to buy a new ECU for my old R129 SL600. I bought a brand new one from the dealer... didn't fix the problem. Turned out to be a coil pack. I think it was a 1200 mistake or something like that, and that was with my dealer discount lol. This was like 8 or 10 years ago though.
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From: Texas
10 C six trizzle
dealers cant change vin's on used m.e.'s. They can only reflash/code back to stock, be it that the vin already matches the car. Only some aftermarket shops can re-write the vin. Typically they like to have a working ecu to copy all the information off of too. You'll have to call around. Benz did this intentionally to avoid car theft and illegal part outs. Basically the car is a paper weight without a vin specific m.e., vgs (trans module), eis, shifter, steering lock. Theres more parts that are vin coded but those are your primaries to get it moving.
Last edited by roadtalontsi; Jun 18, 2016 at 12:31 PM.
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2012 GL350
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From: Silicon Valley, CA
C63 AMG, P30
dealers cant change vin's on used m.e.'s. They can only reflash/code back to stock, be it that the vin already matches the car. Only some aftermarket shops can re-write the vin. Typically they like to have a working ecu to copy all the information off of too. You'll have to call around. Benz did this intentionally to avoid car theft and illegal part outs. Basically the car is a paper weight without a vin specific m.e., vgs (trans module), eis, shifter, steering lock. Theres more parts that are vin coded but those are your primaries to get it moving.
In the E46 world, swapping in new ECU's is extremely common since the later model years, and especially the CSL ECU variants allow for different capabilities to be added.
It's so common that I personally changed ECU vins etc. I've even used ECU's coded to other cars by bypassing the startup "lock" in the binary.
We just need some computer science folks around here to guide us...
