[gedupont]

I have a 2015 451 with the original ECU and SAM and am having absolutely NO problems with either part.

I had the opportunity to pick-up another 2015 "451" ECU from a damaged car. The ECU was working perfectly before the accident. The Part Number on both my "original" ECU and the "spare" ECU that I purchased are identical as well as other markings on both ECU's.

My "original" ECU was built in March 2015, the "spare" ECU was built in January 2015, and my car was built in May 2015.

I would like to have my VIN programmed into the "spare" ECU that I purchased so that I can use it as a back-up "just-in-case".

Does anyone have availability to a Starr Computer or the mechanism to "clone" my VIN from my "original" ECU into my "spare" ECU?

My three local Mercedes dealers say this cannot be done - but they are more than willing to sell me a "new" ECU ($550) and program that one. I've heard that there are some independents shops out there such as S.O.S. Diagnostics that can do this.

Can anyone on this forum do this or point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
George
2015 Crystal White Coupe
TX
[email protected]

 

[Joemonster]

Did you ever come up with a solution to this. I'm in a similar boat.

 

[gedupont]

I thought that I did. Joseph McClughan at Dynotronics, Inc located down by San Antonio, TX (www.dynotronicstuning.com) said that he could do it and that I did not have to send him my original ECU to use to clone the second one. I did not want to be mailing my original ECU and have it get lost. Thank gawd I didn't mail him both my original and the replacement unit since over two years later Joe has still not cloned my serial number into a replacement ECU I sent him and has NOT returned it to me either after requesting the return by phone and email several times. My guess is that he either lost my replacement unit or burned it up trying. I wouldn't recommend Joe to fix a wheel barrow.

There are two companies who said they could clone a 451 ECU but both want the original and the replacement to do it. S.O.S. Diagnostics in Oregon (S.O.S. Diagnostics - Automotive Programming and Diagnostics) and OE Tuning in California (ECU Tuning | Performance Car Tuning | Custom Dyno Tuning). I used S.O.S. for some work on my Sprinter but my wife had ally stopped in their shop when she was on the west coast with the RV. I just don't feel comfortable with mailing/shipping them my 451 ECU. If it gets lost it's $1500+ for a replacement (if you can find one) and reprogramming by a MB dealer.

 

[Mailman]

Evilution has information on cloning ECUs, SAM, and Instrument Cluster for a small fee (yearly subscription).
Kane points out a specific chip and where the vin is saved on the chip.

A 8pin chip reader/writer is required.

 

[gedupont]

Thank you! Only problem is that the information on Cloning an ECU on Evilution is only applicable to a 450 and a 452 ECU - NOT a 451. From what I gather, you need to take you original ECU into a shop to have it reprogrammed or supply the shop with your original ECU and the replacement unit to "burn" the VIN into the Chip. I have no one within 250 miles who can do this and I'm NOT mailing my one and only original ECU. The chances of it getting lost are too high and it now appears that MB is no longer stocking any replacement ECU's anymore. Wish I was in California to have OE Tuning do mine.