Is there a less costly alternative for getting an ECM for my car? It's looking like the ECM went tits up and I'm not too thrilled at shelling out 1500 bucks for a new computer.

I do know that the car and ECM are matched and that getting one reprogrammed is a crap shoot.

Feeling very very frustrated right now.

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2001 Ford F250 Powerstroke, 2WD with ZF6 manual. B100 and running bypass oil filtration.
1999 Mercedes E300 TD, purchased 4/15.
1989 Chevy Suburban V2500, doing a transplant of a 500in^3 Cadillac V8 into said truck for expedition camping.
Long time biodiesel brewer, fuel filtered to .01 micron.

Talk to Jeff at RocketChip....he can help you out with a reasonably priced used ECM. One guy I know had his ECM completely screwed up by another tuner....Jeff got it all sorted out. He's in Red Lion, PA.

Are you certain yours is shot?

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

First be sure the ECM is bad. Second, to use a ECM from another car we need to know what "car" you are fixing. ( us guessing from a sig does not count )

If the car is a 97 ish MB and has a mechanical key with a chip, you need the key , ECM and the DAS box behind the instrument cluster.

If the car is a 98 and up ish MB with a "smart key", you will need the key , EIS ( Electronic Ignition Switch, this is where you put the key ) and ECM.