On site or ship the ECU? How your tune works with us
Appointment in Stödtlen or ECU by post: how both routes work, what they cost and which one suits your car or motorcycle better.
October 25, 2026 by Leo Efimow
The software for your ECU is written at a computer. To get it into your car or motorcycle, though, someone has to reach the ECU, and with us there are two ways to do that. Either you bring your vehicle to Stödtlen, or you remove the ECU and send it to us. Both routes lead to the same result, and both cost the same. Which one suits you better depends on your vehicle, the distance and your daily routine. Here is how both options work in practice and what to watch out for.
Who actually has to choose
First some context, because not everyone has to decide. BMW (and the Toyota Supra A90 with a BMW engine) is handled remotely: you order online, read your ECU yourself via OBD, upload the file to your customer portal and flash the finished file back yourself. The file is usually ready within 48 hours. The car stays with you the whole time.
There is one exception for some modern BMW ECUs of the Bosch MG1/MD1 generation. Whether you need to send anything depends on the ECU's build date: up to 08/2019 the unlock runs directly over OBD. From 09/2019 it needs an unlock on the bench, so the ECU has to come out once and travel to us. After that, everything runs over OBD again.
For all other car brands and for motorcycles (KTM, Husqvarna and Husaberg with a Keihin ECU) there is no self-flashing. Here you choose during the online booking in the configurator whether you visit us or ship your ECU.
Option 1: On site in Stödtlen
We are at Birkenzeller Str. 23, 73495 Stödtlen, Germany. You pick your preferred date directly in the checkout. We confirm it by email or come back with an alternative if the day is already taken.
On the day you bring your vehicle and we take care of the rest. The procedure is always the same: first the original state of the ECU is read and saved. This original file is the basis of the calibration and at the same time your ticket back if you ever want to return to stock. Then the file is adjusted and written back. Finally we check the fault memory and that the vehicle runs cleanly.
Depending on the ECU this happens via the OBD port, on the removed ECU on the workbench (bench) or with the housing opened in boot mode. Which route is needed is not the tuner's choice but a consequence of the ECU's protection. How long the appointment takes depends on exactly that: OBD access is done faster than an ECU that has to be removed and refitted first.
Advantages on site: you don't have to remove, pack or ship anything. If your vehicle has a particular quirk, we sort it out right at the car. For motorcycles you can also pay cash at the appointment.
Drawback: you have to come to Stödtlen. If you live far away, factor in the drive and a day.
Option 2: Shipping the ECU
When you ship the ECU, you remove it yourself and send it to us insured. We read it, adjust the software, write it back and send the programmed ECU to your delivery address. There you refit it.
For cars the procedure is kept short on purpose, because the ECU sits in very different places depending on the model:
- Remove the ECU: ignition off, disconnect the battery (negative terminal first), unlock and pull off the connector (don't pull on the wires). Where the ECU sits is in the repair manual. If in doubt, ask us first.
- Pack it safely: in an anti-static or waterproof bag, well padded on all sides, with a note showing your order number.
- Ship it insured: with tracking and insurance. You give us the tracking number via the link in your order confirmation.
On a motorcycle the removal is easier, because the Keihin ECU sits under the seat in a rubber holder. The detailed guide with every step is at ship your ECU. By post the whole thing takes about 3–7 days for motorcycles because of shipping both ways and the reprogramming. If you want to pay cash, put the money in a sealed envelope with your order number into the parcel; insured shipping is all the more advisable then.
Advantages of shipping: you save the trip, wherever you live. And you can do the removal whenever it suits you.
Drawback: while the ECU is on the road, your vehicle stands still. Without its engine ECU no engine will start. If you need the car every day, plan for the shipping days or book on site.
Same price, same work
A common question: is shipping cheaper? No. The price is the same for both routes, because the work on the ECU is identical. Read, save, calibrate, write: that happens on our workbench either way.
What the price depends on is something else: the ECU generation, engine power, model year and whether the ECU has to be opened for access. Bench or boot access adds a 50 € surcharge, again for both routes. An example: for the VW Golf 7 GTI with 220 PS and a Simos 18 ECU, Stage 1 starts at 450 €, including the 50 € for opening the ECU. For other brands you pay a one-time fixed price, with no deposit and no second payment.
| On site in Stödtlen | Ship the ECU | |
|---|---|---|
| Removal | done by us | done by you |
| Vehicle | comes to us | stays with you, but can't run without the ECU |
| Duration | one appointment | shipping days both ways, motorcycle approx. 3–7 days |
| Price | same | same |
| Cash (motorcycle) | at the appointment | envelope in the parcel |
Which route suits you?
A simple rule of thumb helps:
- You live within reach, or your ECU is hard to get at? Then the appointment on site is almost always the easier route.
- You do your own wrenching and the ECU is easy to reach, for example under a motorcycle seat? Then shipping is convenient and saves the trip.
- You need the vehicle every day? Then allow for the shipping days or book on site.
- Not sure where the ECU sits? Ask us before removing it. A broken connector costs more time than a short message.
One more point that applies to both routes: we program your own ECU. Exactly the unit that was in the vehicle before goes back in. That means no new pairing with the immobiliser is required.
Legal framework
Whichever route you take: changing the engine software voids the vehicle's operating permit. Our software modifications are intended exclusively for motorsport. What that means in detail is in the motorsport notice.
Conclusion
On site or shipping is not a question of quality but of logistics. The work on the ECU is the same in both cases, and so is the price. On site you skip the removal and packing, by shipping you skip the drive. Once you know which vehicle you have, choose stage and options in the configurator and pick the route that fits your routine right in the booking.