I am looking into buying a second ECU for convenience of shipping it in for a chip. I have a 1999 A4 Quattro 1.8T 5 speed. This may a be a stupid question but when it comes to spending money on something I want to be sure I dont buy the wrong thing.


Can any ECU from any AEB engine code fit my car? Im assuming transmission doesnt matter because Its ECU. Does drivetrain matter? Im pretty sure I only need it to have the same engine code but I just want to be 100% sure.


Thanks, Sheasta

 

Any AEB ECU can be re-coded to work in your car, but you'll need a Vag-Com to do it. There are slight differences between 5spd and tip transmissions, FWD and Quattro, etc. The easiest way is to just find one from a car that's identical to yours, but its possible to make just about any AEB ECU work for you with a little tweaking.

 

engine code doesnt matter as much as the par number on the ecu's, which is kinda the same thing. jut make sure the part number are the same.

 

Part number compatibility will likely be the biggest issue (if you have VAG-COM and thus are able to recode the ECU potentially). Chances are your ECU part number is 8D0907557P so look for that. I bought a used ECU (currently in my car) off Ebay for $80 shipped and it currently holds my $600 United Motorsport tune, so this is the way to go!

 

If you don't get the right one, you will throw a CEL until you reprogram with Vag-com. The code will be P1613 (or was it P1631?). I know this, because I bought one that I though was for a 5 speed quattro. Turns out it was actually for a FWD automatic.

Metalman made a DIY on how to reprogram it, which is actually pretty easy to do. But yes, you are most likely looking for a 557 P ECU.

 

Ok well I dont have a vag-com. so one that would work without tweaking is one from a 5 speed quattro from which year range? 1996-1999?

 

96 wont work cause 1.8's werent offered in america till 97. what you need to do is open your ecu boc and look at the part number. i dont know what it should be but im sure the others are corrcect in saying you need a 557 p ecu. out theres only one way to find out for sure and thats opening the box. use a quarter inch ratchet and 8mm or 5/16th socket. theres one in the back thats kinda tough to get out. but once you find out which ecu you have, look for one with that part number AND came out of a quattro/manual. if the seller has vag-com, he can reprogram it to work with your car if it is fwd/auto.

 

Whoops typo. Also thanks guys. I will get on that.


Edit: Is 2000 and 2001 to new because its b5.5? If I send ECU in for a chip can they also change it Quattro/Manual for me? Im sure they have Vag-com at these places.

 

200 and 01 will not work cause its a different system altogether. 97-99 is me 3.5, 00 is me5.3, and 01 is me7.5. if your a computer guy, imagine trying to run a 64 bit operating system on a computer that has 32 bit software installed. it wont work unless you change everything to 64 bit. same thing with ecu's. you can run a newer ecu, but this would mean changing out the harness, some sensors, and edding sensors. it will work, but not easily. as for the tuner changing your ecu to work with quattro manual, just call them. or go to vortex and look for ecu's. many guys there are capabale to coding the ecu for you

 

So this is what I need? :

98 00 VW Passat Audi A4 Quattro 1.8L Turbo AEB MT ECU ECM Computer 8D0 907 557 P | eBay

$30 for ECU sounds really cheap.


Edit: Also which company would you personally use for a chip for a k03/bolt ons only tune? And who has the best prices?