MB 280SE ECU bypass/repair
 

Hello!

My mechanic friend and I are restoring an 1980 Mercedes 280SE. Only 22000 km but 10 years left to rot with gasoline in it.

The ECU seems to be faulty. The motor cuts out while running and sometimes wont start.

Ive heard its possible to bypass the ECU effectively taking it out of the car and out of the equation. Is this recomendable? What forseeable consequences are there? How is it done?

Ive also seen a few companies on the web who repair ECUs. Does anyone have experience of this?

Thank you very much for you attention, all help is greatly appreciated!!!

The ECU is Bosch part number 0 265 101 006

Not really related but I was doing a remote start install on a 560SEL. I remove the ECU to run a wire and forgot to hook it back up when I was testing the remote start. After a few times the car started up. LOL. But that was a 89-560SEL, I would wager that the 80-280SE is much different electronically.

ECU
 

In the event that the fuel system is K-Lambda, the "ECU" is the Lambda Control Unit, which delivers a varying frequency pulse to the Frequency Valve. That valve controls flow of return fuel in response to exhaust oxygen content, and hence is a mixture control. Operating without the "ECU" will put the system in an open loop condition, and the mixture will be on the rich side of stochiometric.

I gather that you are outside the US; the US part# is 0 280 800 013.