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VW & Audi Continental Simos ECU Cloning & Immobilizer-Off — Mail-In Bench Service (Simos 6.x through 18.x)

Bolted a used Simos ECU into your Golf, GTI, A3, Passat, or Tiguan and now it cranks forever without starting? Mail in your original plus the donor and we clone the identity and immobilizer across on the bench so the used unit runs plug-and-play — or take the immo-off path instead for a legitimate repair, standalone, or orphaned build.

$250 flatFast TurnaroundFlat-rate return shipping

Sending several modules? Add them all — one box, one return-shipping charge.

Text Before You Buy

Continental / Siemens Simos petrol ECUs across VW, Audi, Škoda, and SEAT — Simos 6.1 / 6.2 / 6.3, Simos 8.1 / 8.5 / 8.51, Simos 10.x, Simos 12.x, and Simos 18.1 / 18.2 / 18.10 (MQB, EA888 Gen3 and EA211), roughly 2000 through 2020. Verified by VIN + module label before you ship.

How It Works

Three simple steps. Hundreds of mail-in jobs completed for shops, locksmiths, and DIY pros.

Continental Simos engine control unit opened on the bench with programming leads attached for a data read
1

Pay & Get Address

Click "Order Now", pay securely online. We email shipping address + instructions within minutes.

Bench software transferring immobilizer and coding data between two VW Audi Simos ECUs
2

Ship Your Module

Pack per the instructions and ship to Arlington. USPS goes to our PO Box; UPS and FedEx must use the street address. Customer pays shipping to us.

Macro view of a Continental Simos 18 MQB engine ECU circuit board and processor
3

Receive in 1-2 Days

Work completed within 24 hours of receipt. Ships back next business day at the return speed you chose at checkout — standard to overnight. Tracking emailed.

What You Get

  • Your original Simos ECU's identity, immobilizer data, coding, and learned adaptations cloned onto your donor — immobilizer fully preserved, existing keys keep working
  • Or, on the immo-off path, the immobilizer requirement removed from the module so it runs on a standalone, orphaned, or swapped platform
  • Donor part-number compatibility verified against your VIN and ECU labels BEFORE you ship or buy anything
  • A full bench read and verify pass of both units before a single byte is written
  • Checksum-correct write with a powered communication test on a stable, regulated bench supply before return
  • Plain install notes — what happens at first key-on, and whether any relearn or adaptation applies at the car
  • Modules returned with tracking, at the return-shipping speed you select and pay for at checkout

Compatibility

Confirm your part matches one of the variants below before ordering. Not sure? Text us a photo and we'll verify.

Two service paths — one flat $250

CLONE — original still powers up: identity, immobilizer data, coding, and adaptations copied to your donor, plug-and-play, immobilizer PRESERVEDIMMO-OFF — the immobilizer requirement removed from the module for a legitimate repair, standalone, orphaned, or swapped platformClone is the default recommendation for a road car that keeps its factory keys and clusterImmo-off is the path when the cluster or key system is gone, damaged, or was never part of the buildBoth paths include a bench read, a verify pass, and a powered communication test before returnYou choose the path with a technician during pre-ship verification — the price does not change

Simos 6.1 / 6.2 / 6.3 — early Continental petrol (~2000–2006)

Simos 6.1 — Audi A4 B6 and A6 C5 four-cylinder petrol applicationsSimos 6.2 — later A4 / A6 1.8T and 2.0 petrol variantsSimos 6.3 — the last of the early family before the 8.x generationAudi A4 B6 / B7 1.8T and 2.0, Audi A6 C5 2.0Selected VW, Škoda, and SEAT cousins sharing the same Continental hardwareThis is the oldest Simos generation we take — send the ECU label photo and we confirm before you buy a donor

Simos 8.1 / 8.5 / 8.51 — mid generation (~2008–2014)

Simos 8.1 — VW and Audi petrol applications of the late-2000sSimos 8.5 — the volume unit of this generation across 1.6 and 2.0 naturally aspirated / MPI enginesSimos 8.51 — the later revision of the 8.5 hardwareVW Golf, Jetta, Passat, Polo, and Tiguan petrol variants of the eraAudi A3 8P and A4 B8 petrol applicationsŠkoda Octavia / Fabia / Superb and SEAT Leon / Ibiza / Altea cousinsExact fitment is decided by the part number on the ECU label, not by the model year

Simos 10.x and 12.x — transitional units

Simos 10.x — the bridge between the 8.x generation and MQB-era hardwareSimos 12.x — later transitional petrol applicationsBoth families are handled the same way on the bench: read, verify, then clone or immo-offLower production volume than 8.x and 18.x, so we always confirm the specific part number firstSend photos of the ECU label and we tell you which path your unit supports before you ship

Simos 18.1 / 18.2 / 18.10 — MQB, EA888 Gen3 & EA211 (~2013–2020)

Simos 18.1 — the common MQB petrol unitSimos 18.2 — the higher-output revision used on performance applicationsSimos 18.10 — later MQB hardware revisionVW Golf Mk7 / Mk7.5, GTI, Golf R, Jetta, Passat B8, Tiguan, Arteon, PoloAudi A3 8V, S3 8V, Q2, Q3, TT Mk3 (EA888 Gen3 2.0 TSI and EA211 1.4 TSI)Škoda Octavia III / Superb III and SEAT Leon III / Ateca cousinsThis generation is the most commonly swapped, and the most commonly bought used without realising the immobilizer will block it

Best for

A used / salvage-yard Simos ECU that cranks the engine but never startsAn original ECU dying of water ingress or corrosion that still powers up — clone it out before it stops responding entirelyA failed ECU replacement quoted at dealer prices with a coding appointment attachedEngine swaps, standalone builds, and orphaned platforms that need the immobilizer requirement removed legitimatelyLocksmiths and independent shops handing off the bench half of a jobAnyone who wants the module ready to run BEFORE it goes into the car

What decides fitment (and how we verify)

The Continental / VAG part number printed on the ECU label — this is the deciding factorSimos generation and hardware revision, which the label also carriesWhether your original still powers up and responds (clone) or does not (immo-off / recovery)Donor must be the same Simos family and a compatible hardware revision — a same-year, same-engine car is not automatically a matchText or email us the VIN plus clear photos of BOTH ECU labels and we confirm the pair before you buy or ship anything

Will This Fix My Problem?

Honest answer: here's exactly what this service fixes — and what it doesn't.

Fixes:

  • ✓Used or salvage-yard Simos ECU installed and the engine cranks but will not start
  • ✓P1570 engine start blocked by immobilizer, or an immobilizer-active message after an ECU swap
  • ✓Original ECU failing from water ingress or corrosion but still responding — cloned out before it dies completely
  • ✓Dealer quotes a new coded ECU plus a programming appointment you would rather not pay for
  • ✓Engine swap or standalone build blocked by an immobilizer that has no cluster or key system left to talk to
  • ✓You need a second-hand Simos unit made genuinely plug-and-play for your exact car

Won't fix:

  • ✗Does NOT include emissions edits of any kind — no DPF, EGR, AdBlue/SCR, catalyst, lambda, or readiness-monitor defeat work. This is a hard company boundary and there are no exceptions, on any platform, for any reason.
  • ✗Does not include the donor ECU — you source a matching used unit and we verify the part number first
  • ✗Does not revive an original that is internally dead, burnt, or will not respond on the bench — that is our ecu-advanced-recovery-service, and if recovery fails we will tell you before any charge for this service
  • ✗Does not cover the Bosch families — MED17 / ME17 immo-off is vw-audi-immo-delete-vin-program, EDC16 diesel is vw-audi-edc16-tdi-immo-delete, EDC17 diesel is vw-audi-edc17-tdi-immo-off-clone, and PCR2.1 is vw-audi-pcr21-immo-off-clone
  • ✗Does not repair or clone the instrument cluster or BCM2 body module — those are vw-audi-cluster-clone and vw-audi-bcm2-clone
  • ✗Does not fix a no-start caused by fuel delivery, ignition, sensors, wiring, grounds, or a weak battery — an ECU clone cannot repair a mechanical or electrical fault
  • ✗Does not bypass proof of ownership — immobilizer work requires it, without exception

Clone or immo-off? Pick the right path before you buy a donor

These are two different answers to the same symptom. Clone is for a road car that keeps its factory cluster and keys: your original still powers up, so we copy its complete identity onto the donor and the car cannot tell the difference — immobilizer intact, keys untouched, nothing to code at install. Immo-off is for the build that has no key system left to satisfy: a swapped chassis, a standalone or orphaned platform, or a repair where the cluster is gone. Immo-off is not a security bypass service, it requires proof of ownership, and it never includes emissions work of any kind. A technician maps your job from the VIN and ECU label before you ship.

Shipping Instructions

These details are also emailed to you the moment your payment clears.

Verify first: text or email us your VIN plus clear photos of your original Simos ECU label and the donor's label — a technician confirms the part numbers are a compatible match, and tells you whether your job is a clone or an immo-off, before you ship or buy anything. Then send the modules to PO Box 120241, Arlington TX 76012 if you ship USPS — or 1009 Oakwood Ln # 120241, Arlington TX 76012 if you ship UPS or FedEx (UPS and FedEx cannot deliver to a PO Box). We read, clone or immo-off, and communication-test on the bench, then ship everything back via the return option you pick at checkout (Standard $24.95, UPS 2-Day $54.95, or UPS overnight $94.95).

What to include in your box

  • Your original Simos ECU (the clone path needs it — as long as it powers up we can usually read it) AND the donor ECU
  • Immo-off jobs: the single module the immobilizer is being removed from
  • Year, make, model, engine code, and transmission (e.g. 2016 VW Golf GTI 2.0 TSI EA888 Gen3)
  • VIN of the vehicle
  • The Continental / VAG part number off BOTH ECU labels — we pre-verify the match
  • Which path you want and why: used-ECU install, failing original, engine swap, standalone build
  • Proof of ownership — title, registration, or bill of sale (required for all immobilizer work)
  • Your name, return address, and an email address or phone number we can reach you at

Ship to

Auto Module Lab

If shipping USPS

PO Box 120241
Arlington, TX 76012

If shipping UPS or FedEx

1009 Oakwood Ln # 120241
Arlington, TX 76012

Both shipping labels — to the lab and back to you — are purchased the moment you order. Your prepaid inbound label (already addressed) arrives by email; the return ships on the speed you chose at checkout.

Need to perform this job remotely?

Get an Auto Module Lab Remote Programming Kit and have our technicians program supported vehicles from your shop — the car stays on your lift and nothing gets posted.

View Programming Kits Request Remote Programming

Buy the interface once — program with us anytime. Supported procedures vary by vehicle, module, OEM software and security requirements.

Frequently Asked

Still have a question? Text us — replies in minutes.

What is a Simos ECU, and how do I know I have one?
Simos is the Continental (formerly Siemens VDO) petrol engine-control family VW Group ran alongside Bosch from roughly 2000 through 2020. The family name and part number are printed on the ECU label — you will see something like Simos 8.5 or Simos 18.1 on the sticker or etched into the housing. Send us a photo of that label plus your VIN and we confirm the exact generation and the service path before you ship or buy a donor.
Why won't a used Simos ECU just work when I plug it in?
Because the immobilizer relationship is stored inside the ECU and still belongs to the donor car. When you install it, the module and the vehicle's immobilizer system fail to agree, so the engine cranks and cranks without ever firing — often with an immobilizer-active warning or a stored P1570. Cloning copies your original's identity onto the donor so the mismatch never happens; immo-off removes the requirement entirely on builds that have no key system to satisfy.
What's the difference between the clone path and the immo-off path?
Clone keeps everything factory: your original still powers up, so we copy its identity, immobilizer data, coding, and adaptations to the donor. The result installs plug-and-play, your existing keys keep working, and the immobilizer stays fully active. Immo-off removes the immobilizer requirement from the module, which is the right answer for a standalone build, a swapped chassis, or an orphaned platform with no cluster or keys left. Both are $250 flat — you pick the path with a technician before you ship.
Do you supply the donor ECU?
No — you source a used donor from eBay, a salvage yard, or a parts recycler, and we verify compatibility before you spend money. Match the Continental / VAG part number on your original's label as closely as you can, then send us photos of both labels plus your VIN. A technician confirms whether the pair will work, free, before you buy or ship.
Which Simos generations do you actually cover?
Simos 6.1 / 6.2 / 6.3 from the early-2000s Audi 1.8T and 2.0 cars, Simos 8.1 / 8.5 / 8.51 from roughly 2008 to 2014, the transitional Simos 10.x and 12.x units, and the MQB-era Simos 18.1 / 18.2 / 18.10 on EA888 Gen3 and EA211 engines — Golf Mk7 and GTI, Audi A3 8V, Passat B8, Tiguan, plus the Škoda and SEAT cousins. The part number on the label always decides, so we verify yours before you ship.
Do you offer DPF, EGR, or AdBlue deletes with this?
No. Auto Module Lab performs no emissions edits of any kind — no DPF, EGR, AdBlue/SCR, catalyst, lambda, or readiness-monitor defeat work — on any platform, for any customer, for any stated reason. This service is strictly immobilizer and identity work: cloning a module so a legitimate replacement runs, or removing an immobilizer requirement from a module for a legitimate repair or standalone build. Please do not ask us to make an exception.
My original Simos ECU is completely dead — what then?
If it will not power up or respond at all on the bench, there is nothing to clone from. That job belongs to our ecu-advanced-recovery-service, which attempts a direct read of dead, burnt, water-damaged, and no-communication modules. Contact us with your VIN, the ECU part number, and what happened to it, and we will tell you honestly whether recovery is realistic before you spend anything.
How much is it and how does the mail-in work?
It is $250 flat for either path. After a technician verifies your VIN and both ECU labels, you mail the module or modules to Auto Module Lab in Arlington, TX — USPS to the PO Box, or UPS/FedEx to the street-addressed form of the same box, since UPS and FedEx cannot deliver to a PO Box. We do the bench work, run a powered communication test, and ship back with tracking at the return speed you pick and pay for at checkout: Standard $24.95, UPS 2-Day $54.95, or UPS overnight $94.95. This is a mail-in bench service only — we do not travel to vehicles.

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Where we serve VW/Audi Simos ECU Clone / Immo-Off

Mail-in means nationwide — we accept modules from all 50 states and DC from our Arlington, Texas lab. See your state, metro, or specific vehicle:

All 51 US states + DC

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Ready to ship?

$250 flat, fast turnaround. Pay now, get the shipping address by email, drop it in the mail. Your module is back on your bench within a week.

(817) 678-3252

Guides from the Lab

Deep-dive technical guides from our bench that cover this service.

VW & Audi Module Cloning: Which Modules Can Be Cloned

Can an Audi module be cloned onto a donor? Here is which VW and Audi ECUs, BCMs, clusters and steering locks clone, which need immo-off, and which do not.

Read the guide