Well been a while since i posted on this site but always seem to come back..

I was driving to work other day and ECL light came on and car stopped running. It started right back up and drove fine the rest of the day. Next day i went to start it and got nothing at all. Had my uncle(mechanic) take a look and he said that ECU has a bad chip in it. What do i do?

Dealer wants 1500 just for a new ECU and then flash it and such... Dont have that kind of money plus have to bring them the car and its over 100 miles away!..

Was thinking I could find a used ECU and match the part number from sum1 selling parts off a mini cooper s. Will this work? if doesnt work dissemble the new one and put chip in the bad one.. idk out of ideas

Thanks

Details..
2002 Mini Cooper S (R53)
Cape Cod, Mass,USA

What are my cheap options on this?

 

ECU's rarely if ever go bad, I would make sure the diagnosis is correct.

But no you can't take parts from a used ECU and make yours work.