This isn't a question rather than I'm posting this as a statement for the internet to have, as my google search for the above title led me to believe that the ECU was located in the passenger side kick panel (it was a post from this forum no less) when in fact the ECU is in the engine bay right behind the battery on the driver side of the engine bay and doesn't require you to take anything off to access it. I had to get the ECU code for my tuner to build the ktuner profile and even he said to find it in the passenger side kick panel. I didn't even have to move anything to get a picture of the ECU code he needed.

In the process of taking the panel off i sort of tore the bottom left of the L-shaped plastic kick panel piece up the plastic a bit (i wasn't exactly gentle either so I'm not blaming anyone but me) i was able to get it mostly flush enough that i think as long as i don't tell anyone its there no one will ever notice it, but wanted to post this so hopefully no one else will do the same as i did!

 

OMG, thank you