Unlocking ECU through middleman or send it straight to FEMTO

[ntay0407]

I recently installed my catless dp and am now looking to get an MHD OTS tune, mainly to deal with the cel but also get some power gains. I am not sure if I want to use a middleman or send my ecu to femto myself.

I've heard of many people sending their ecu to middleman services such as Visconti or others, where they then send it to Femto. My question is, what is the benefit of this? If I am already taking my ecu out and shipping it out, why wouldn't I just send it straight to Femto to get it unlocked and flash MHD from my phone when I get it back? Essentially, what I'm asking is what exactly is the benefit of using a third party, and if I am comfortable removing my ecu and shipping it, would it be more cost-effective/smarter to send it to femto on my own then flash it on my own via my phone.

Also, additional small question. If I decide to flash the car myself and run an OTS tune for a little. Will I later be able to take my car to a tune shop and get a custom map.

Sponsored

 

[MisterSkiz]

I used https://europerformancecenter.com/ to do mine for me. They literally take your ECU and hand deliver it to the FEMTO folks in Finland.

I preferred this as I always have some stupid crap happen to me, and figured this would safeguard me.

Get a thick box from Home Depot, and then buy some pink foam board and make a box in a box, and then put the ECU in a zip lock bag.

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Insulation-Foam-Board-Insulation/N-5yc1vZbaxx

They will use the same box you send them, to send it back to you.

 

[Rensuhlo]

You leverage the third-party middlemen for peace of mind that your package won't get lost by DHL.

But you pay a premium for this. Its $850ish euros to ship your dme directly to Femto and have it shipped back. Adding an airbag helps alleviate some concern about losing a package.

 

[BMWAF]

They literally take your ECU and hand deliver it to the FEMTO folks in Finland.

I still think this is the most preposterous solution to a first world problem. Literally paying a man (or woman) to hand deliver a relatively inexpensive computer across the world. Absolutely fucking ridiculous.

I am not sure if I want to use a middleman or send my ecu to femto myself.

I'm very much in a similar boat (with a 200 cell CAT because EPA fines here be crazy) and I'm planning to go direct. I don't know what guarantees the middle men provide but I know their prices for packing and shipping are astronomical. If I were going through a third party, I'd want to know exactly what I can expect if my DME is lost. Now, I've never heard of anyone losing a DME going through a third party, but neither have I heard of one being lost by going direct either!

If your DME is lost what is the middle man actually going to do? Will they provide you a new DME? Will it be coded to your car? Will they just payout a stipulated amount of cash? Will it be unlocked? What is their guaranteed timeline to get it all sorted? And who's underwritting them, if anyone? FEMTO will not accept insuance over 40 Euro on your DME's parcel, no matter who sends it.

In the highly unlikely event that your DME is lost you will still be left holding the can. Waiting. Maybe even having to deal with a third party's bullshit excuses. While not ideal, at least if it's on you, you will do whatever it takes to get things sorted as quickly as possible, rather than just waiting on a middle man to get their shit together.

I like to think about it like booking flights and hotels for an holiday: If you are going through a travel agent In 2024, it's less about insurance/conveneince and more about flat out being lazy!

 

[Kennith82]

Literally paying a man (or woman) to hand deliver a relatively inexpensive computer across the world.

I get the sentiment of the earlier days when the Femto unlock process was still really new, and the only way of getting a hold of femto was through their Instagram. It seems a lot more reassuring to send your DME to essentially get hand delivered, than by courier to an address dropped on Instagram and paid on PayPal.

Although now it’s not really the case, and there is a proper rapport and process to getting the unlock done.

 

[BMWAF]

I get the sentiment of the earlier days when the Femto unlock process was still really new, and the only way of getting a hold of femto was through their Instagram. It seems a lot more reassuring to send your DME to essentially get hand delivered, than by courier to an address dropped on Instagram and paid on PayPal.

Although now it’s not really the case, and there is a proper rapport and process to getting the unlock done.

Don't get me wrong, people can do whatever they like. I just think the concept is, like the travel agent example, outdated and kind of silly in 2024.

 

[FLtrackdays]

I like to think about it like booking flights and hotels for an holiday: If you are going through a travel agent In 2024, it's less about insurance/conveneince and more about flat out being lazy!

Nice rant. But this ? is the part I‘d try to do for that kinda coin. The excuse to travel. Pretty cool these guys can do it w/out turning their cars into a brick. I don’t think of it as being lazy. Not all of us have the time, my brotha from the land down under *(damn Men at Work stuck in my mind now, lol)*

And it’s definitely a 1st world problem. That’s why we bought this car. Not for world peace. But for fun & (my) mental health ?

 

[ntay0407]

Okay, would you guys consider not using a middleman to be risky/not worth it. I’m comfortable spending an extra $800, but I don’t mind spending money if it is truly recommended but if there isn’t really a benefit, I also don’t mind spending my extra $800 towards something else.

Also, is euro performance the best middleman or what are some other recommended services?

 

[Rensuhlo]

We cannot tell you to do it one way or the other. That's your decision. Me personally, I am shipping mine directly to Femto right now.

 

[MisterSkiz]

Okay, would you guys consider not using a middleman to be risky/not worth it. I’m comfortable spending an extra $800, but I don’t mind spending money if it is truly recommended but if there isn’t really a benefit, I also don’t mind spending my extra $800 towards something else.

Also, is euro performance the best middleman or what are some other recommended services?

I am not aware of any other company personally going over there and hand delivering it.

I used the middleman approach and would do it again in a heartbeat if I needed to unlock another ECU.

If your ECU is lost, you are going to have the car jacked up, put into neutral manually (unless its a 6spd), thrown on a tow truck, taken to toyota where it will probably sit outside while they wait for a new ECU to be shipped to the dealer for thousands of dollars, and then you will be paying probably another grand for the labor. Total PITA.

 

[BMWAF]

I am not aware of any other company personally going over there and hand delivering it.

I used the middleman approach and would do it again in a heartbeat if I needed to unlock another ECU.

If your ECU is lost, you are going to have the car jacked up, put into neutral manually (unless its a 6spd), thrown on a tow truck, taken to toyota where it will probably sit outside while they wait for a new ECU to be shipped to the dealer for thousands of dollars, and then you will be paying probably another grand for the labor. Total PITA.

And pray tell, what do you think will happen if a third party loses it?

 

[MisterSkiz]

And pray tell, what do you think will happen if a third party loses it?

Same thing as if your uninsured package is lost - you are out of luck.

However, these folks are a vendor on the forum and have a custom foam lined suitcase that they track and it flies with them on the plane - I trust that more than DHL Tracking Number.

 

[sircodemane]

I just went through this process and I personally don't think it's worth paying a third party service. Like stated above, what are they even going to do if your DME does get lost? Probably not much, or at least not enough to get you totally squared back up. That being said, if you do it yourself the process is some what nuanced and can seem daunting. I did it, and now that I've done it once I would have no anxiety about doing it again.

 

[sircodemane]

Adding to this, this post is what gave me the confidence to do it myself:
https://www.supramkv.com/threads/my-diy-femto-experience.22770/

Once you create an account on Femto's website, they also have a very in depth guide on the FAQ.

 

[Alljdmralf85]

I had a great experience doing it myself. I feel it was probably a couple days faster than a middle man, because it didn’t have to ship to the middle man then femto.

Sponsored