ECU Generic chip question

[Stigter]

I been searching the forums for hours now (its so late 3:53pm) and can't find the information i need, so...

Is there any difference between ECU revisions in terms of using a
generic chip?

i.e. would a Generic chip once fitted in a ECU with the code:
8D0 907 551 D work if transferred into a 8D0 907 551 C or
will there be issues?

and any benefits between the revisions?


Many thanks

[tdiquattro]

It should fit ok, all of the 551 series ME7.01 ECUs are the same internally,

The end letter just refers to the end of production line software issue- ie the content of the eeprom (chip).

You will need to solder in the header/socket for the chip though.

Cheers

Nigel.

[KayGee]

It should fit ok, all of the 551 series ME7.01 ECUs are the same internally,

I don't believe that is strictly true. You might be OK swapping c, d and e as
C, D and E are all fairly similar, 2 O2 sensors, Bosch MAFs etc... but G and later run Hitachi MAFs. For instance F boxes don't run happily in earlier S4s (they run just not 100%).

IMO you'd be better off getting another ECU with the right version and duplicating the IMMO chip.

Engine code AGB

C bog standard.

D has EGT display via VAG com, which C box doesn't.

E not sure!

Engine code ASJ
F is RS4 ECU, 4 O2 sensors.

Engine code AZB
G 4 O2 sensors, miss fire detection and Hitachi MAF.

[Stigter]

Problem is I have a superchip, including protection board from a w reg (2000) s4. I am guessing its going to be from a 551 D and my car is running a 551 C (1999)
I called my local superchips dealer and he wanted £160 to solder it to my car and to ensure its the right chip. I just need to know if there will be any problems if I do it myself.

[tdiquattro]

I'm as sure as I can be, I know what you are saying KayGee, but that assumes the ECU is swapped as a whole with the original software chip in it - ie the end letter of the vag part number.

What I am saying is once the chip is de-solderd then all the boxes are the same.

In the states plenty of guys have moved the ecus about, the change to Hitachi is coding as is esp/abs, 2 o2 sensors etc so the hardware of the ME701 box is the same.

But saying that for the follow up question, I think he is asking if the code from a 2000 car will work in a 1999 car which I'm pretty sure it wont - so the answer to that question is no.

The answer to the original question is yes, chips can be moved to other boxes and will work.

[Stigter]

Doh.

[hardhitter]

I'm not sure I would want to go to that effort of fitting a superchip to my car. Not saying they are bad, but I never hear good reports and have heard some bad things.

Sorry, thats probably no help to you.

[Stigter]

Its just a generic chip that was going spare, wouldn't want to buy one from a superchip dealer, might have worked out cheaper at this time for stage 1 as the chip was a good price. When the time comes to go to stage 3 then I will opt for some MRC custom mapping treatment.

[S2tuner]

A 551D ECU plugged into a 551C car will throw an airbag controller message error (nothing to do with the airbags and they'll work fine).

551C ECUs can also display EGTs now after I've been spending quite a lot of time recently fixing what the factory should have done properly in the first place on our cars.

551D ECUs can be reprogrammed so they don't throw the airbag code in a 551C car, and the chip from a D ECU can't be soldered into a C ECU and run, totally different memory size.

HTH,

Mihnea

[Stigter]

Is there any sort of relation to the age of the car and the ecu code?
The chip as i said has come from a w reg 2000 s4, guessing at this point that the chip would have been from a 551D. If not would there be any other way to tell?

[S2tuner]

Does it say AM29F400 or AM29F800 on the chip? Second, I don't understand why you're trying to use a Superchip in all honesty...

[Stigter]

Chip shows AM29F800, If I can fit it, I will do some logs with vagcom and see what sort of results it produces.

[KayGee]

TBH I'd pass on the superchip unless you can swap your ECU

[Stigter]

TBH I'd pass on the superchip unless you can swap your ECU

Are you saying it will not work in a 551 C ECU due to the chip reference or just saying not to bother with the superchip?

[KayGee]

It won't work in a C box if it came from a D box. As Mihnea said the eeproms are different sizes.

Also superchips are well not particuarly well rated in S4 land. I think they produce around +40 Bhp. Most other tuners claim and achieve +50Bhp (AMD, MRC, MTM, REVO etc...).

An MRC tune will give you what you want in terms of power delivery to suit your driving style.