bmw ecu codes
bmw ecu codes
Author
Discussion

thestig1

Original Poster:

13 posts

196 months

Saturday 19th June 2010
quotequote all
hi just a quick question....

does the ecu that goes in my bmw 318 (96) need to be replaced with an ecu of the exact same code...

thanks

thestig1

Original Poster:

13 posts

196 months

Sunday 20th June 2010
quotequote all
basically my ecu reads 0261203447...if i change the ecu, ews and key, will it still work if the code on the replacement ecu reads 0261203667.....it would really help as i just cant find an ecu with the same code...thanks

TheEnd

15,370 posts

218 months

Sunday 20th June 2010
quotequote all
447 is 8v, 667 is a 16v.

Have you tried swapping the chip?

thestig1

Original Poster:

13 posts

196 months

Sunday 20th June 2010
quotequote all
Ohryt...swapping what chip? And if I find an ecu from a 8v will that then work? The car was bought thru auction with no key...replced the barrel but that didn't work...now I'm gunna swap the whole system ie ews etc but cnt find the correct ecu...

TheEnd

15,370 posts

218 months

Sunday 20th June 2010
quotequote all
ah.. i didn't see the bit about no key at all.

looks like you'll need a matching ecu, EWS box and key.

pity you didn't get a replacement key from BMW

thestig1

Original Poster:

13 posts

196 months

Sunday 20th June 2010
quotequote all
Would BMW be able to give a replacemnt coded chip to go into the new key that I have which would b linked to the old ecu?

TheEnd

15,370 posts

218 months

Sunday 20th June 2010
quotequote all
they won't give just the chip, it's already inside the key when they buy them in.

it might be worthwhile getting an original key and barrel if you still have the other locks. You'd only need the one key then, and everything is back to normal.
failing that, a BMW replacement coded key will contain the correct chip.
you will often see cars with one old chipped one taped onto a replacement.

When you break open the replacement key, you'll see the chip

It'll probably look like one of the rectangles with a corner cut off in the pics above.

All you then need to do is get that chip next to the barrel before you turn the key.
Whether inside any key that works, taped to the side, etc, as long as it gets that chip to talk, it'll "unlock" the ECU.