Hi all - whats a fair price to rebuild the ECM/ECU in my 2003 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro?

Let me give you some backstory - I took the car for a trip this labor day weekend, and about 20 miles from home one of my ignition coils blew. I was pretty sure it was the ignition coil because this has happend 2 times previously. Anyhow, I limped it home and drove it to a mechanic today. Unfortunately I just moved to a new state and don't have my normal mechanic to take it to. Anyhow, he said one or two of the coils are bad, but its stemming from a bad ground in the electrical/wiring system. He said he'd replace the bad coils and rewire the car for $300. I thought this was fair, so I left the car with him.

He just called and told me my ECM was damaged. He said he could "re-solder some joints" and repair the ECM. I've never heard of this. He quoted me an additional $500 to do this repair. Is what hes talking about even possible? If so, is it a fair price? Am I better off just buying an ECM from a junkyard and replacing the whole thing?

Need some help ASAP as I'm a little strapped for cash and $800 is a bit pricey for a repair bill right at the moment. And I need my car back.

Thanks guys, you're always helpful!

 

ask him if it drives, and MAKE him show you the parts he needs to solder. Tell him that for $500 you want solid proof as to why he has to take a $10 radio shack tool under the hood of your $40,000+ German Driving Machine and tinker with the brain. Why the hell was he even IN the ECU anyway? I'd get a second and third opinion, and NOT someone he recommends.

 

What the hell? Find a new mechanic. Get your car out of there asap. Do NOT let him solder your ecu. That is unheard of. You can get a used ecu for for a few hundred bucks. But thats 99.9% not likely to be the problem anyways.

 

Another thought is to call your mechanic back where you used to go. Just a thought, whats the word on this?