Well its definitely soldered on. Had another go and a better pic on my phone and an electrical engineer mate had a look, recognised the chip as a dual in line
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_in-line_package
The type most peeps have is probably litterally a socket which BMW probably realised made upgrading the engine tune a bit too easy so pulled the plug on that with a drop of solder.
He suggested I could clip the 28 legs and solder the new chip on top. Or an engineering firm should have a special tool for softening lines of pins solder allowing the chip to be removed.
Pain in the ass, now my under steering cover is loose
Ho hum!
edit: fook is it really a month since I last had a go? lol