VW 1.8t in a Europa. Megasquirt or stock ECM

As per my earlier thread I've become tired of breaking Renault transaxles. Therefore I took some of the hives advice and picked up a 2003 VW Passat as a drivetrain donor. Since the 2003 1.8t engine came stock with a drive by wire throttle body as well as 170hp the simple option may be to swap it in using the stock ecm. I'm not sure if it'll be that simple though. Will the stock ecm run the engine without all of the inputs connected? I could bypass or at least fake out the security key system but I suspect there's more issues in store for me. Alternatively I can pick up a cable type throttle body from an earlier 1.8t and buy a Megasquirt system. The only issue there is which one to buy. My VW forum search has been informative and frustrating at the same time. I'm turning to the hive once again for advice.

Does it have variable valve timing? If so, you need a higher-end Megasquirt, and there's quite a bit more tuning effort.

I'm not familiar with VW ECUs, but some are possible to reprogram to remove the security features. If that's possible, and the engine isn't significantly fiddled with, I'd try the stock ECU.

What other inputs were you considering leaving disconnected?

I'm also unfamiliar with the VW EFI system.  I know Europas and Megasquirt, however.  I've swapped motors both ways, with MS and with the stock (Toyota) ECU.  It's about the same amount of work either way.  With a factory ECU, you don't have to tune it.  With MS, you don't have to nail every single wire the ECU uses to talk to something else (initial wiring is easier.)  I'm going MS on the 1NZFE + turbo (1NZFTE) I'm putting in an S2, mainly because with the added boost, I need to control the fuel maps.

To me a MS2v3 seems to me to be the best value. If you can find one used they can be a fantastic value but know your source as assembly is key to a good unit.  The newer MS units look really nice but have more tech than most people really need.  Really cool though and I have pondered one for my next build. 

In reply to dean1484 :

Agreed. Unless you're doing something really weird or enjoy wasting money, the MS2v3 is the way to go. Worked great on my car. 

The 1.8t's computer is pretty well hacked and is tunable.  The variable cam timing is only for catalyst warmup, locking it out increases boost response so it's a common thing to disable in software.

If you can make the OE computer work and you already have it then I would at least start there. It costs you nothing.