My dad is the head electronics tech/engineer for development of rocket motor's for the navy. He gave me solder equipment and taught me how to remove, and replace chips without damaging them or the board. It still didn't matter being that I still destroyed like 10 ECU's learning what I know, but he definitely helped a lot with that.

As far as the rest, trial, error and research. Most assume the means are on the web but I actually had help in high places because the stuff wasn't on the web. Basically through all the ECU work, Karim was working with me. Now he was pretty close-minded and ultimately his idea's didn't work, but it helped me get to the solution. My Unlock files work, and work well. My mapping files are genuine. My supplies are quality. Except for my chip burner but it works pretty damn good anyway .

I guess the answer is, natural talent.

I'm not sure if Brabus, Evotech, Renntech and such gave up because they deemed it a lost cause? But remember that I went to them before hand as well. I had no desire to spend a grand on ECU's learning how to do unlocks, we just got to that point where there wasn't a choice. Well, there still was actually. The guy in Germany that beat me to it, that went to Mercedes directly and spent 15000 euros on the ECU work said MB could do it for 4,000 euros? or 6? I don't remember exactly. Either way, it was WAY too much. Which pushed me to figure it out. Now I offer the job for $1500 so that people don't have to cash their retirement for ECU work on an "impossible" engine swap.