Lightspeed,
I looked in my files that came with my M3W lastnight. The ECU was purchased from G56. I did the programming. The ecu is albe to self learn or, you are able to tune manually by downloading Protune II software from S&S's webiste for free and tune your own engine. It will also self tune in a learning mode. This makes a corrective map as you drive. When you are happy with how it is running you can use this adaptive map to correct the ECU and make the changes it made permanent all via the software. It was very easy to work with. In addition you are able to read trouble codes and everything else that the computer is able to monitor. timing, temps, rpm, speed, idel settings, knock senor settings, O2 lambda voltage, more then you would want to know really. If you are just changing pipes you may not need the new ECU. But i dont know for sure. Mine has pipes, aircleaner and cams. I live in Atlanta and couldnt find a dealer here that would tune it for me. I downloaded the program, read the simple instructions, and let the software do the heavy lifting. If you are thinking about going with a set of cams I have some advise. There are several options available from S&S. Theirs highest performace cams are interferance cams. Meaning that if the timing belt brakes, which it is prone to do, you will hit the pistons against the valves. Their middle of the road cams are non-interferance like the stock ones and will clear the piston if your valve train stops. Hope that my novel here was helpful.