Help - Re: Stock Radio Code ?

[KR - 318i]

G'day...

The battery died on my 1997 E36 318i... ... and now when you start it up the Radio says "Code" ... ... I have read the Manual, but it doesnt really tell you how to enter it ... I have two numbers on the top of the radio (I am in Australia, so not sure how many digits my Code is, but it should be the same, no?), a 4 Digit Number and a 5 Digit Number (only problem with this one is, there is a "7" in it, so how do I enter this) , and I know one or the other must be the code (otherwise, gettin the code from the Dealer)... ... My Question ... How do I enter the Code?? Do you just type it in... or do you have to select something and then enter and press a button or anything?? (Caus I have already stuffed it once, and I think if you mess it up 3 times, you have to keep it on for an hour before you can enter again, so I wanna get this right ) !!

Summary: How do you enter the Radio Code...? Just turn it on and type it on, or do you have to Press a Button to like Start/End...?? Please Help??

Any Help Would Be Appreciated... Thanx...

[Fissionx]

OY CRIKES! Your up gum tree eh mate! Ive ben to sidney b4 and loved it . If it has a 7 or above number it in, its not the code. Go to your BMW dealer and ask him for it, only they have it. You'll need proof that u own it and i think maybe your vin, they didn't for me but they may ask u for your vin, so, know where to find that. They also may or may not charge you $15. You don't need the radio, just listen to your engine Yes you just type in the code, there is no start button and u use the CD changer buttons 1-6 to type in the code. Also there is no backspace button so if u **** up you have to start again and if you get it wrong 3x, you have to wait something like 3 hours w/ the radio on b4 you can try again. I learned this the hard way...

[KR - 318i]

Thanx Mate... ...

Hahaha.... .. Yep, I am from Sydney, Australia... ... my Kangaroo was getting a bit old, so couldnt ride that to University anymore, so I got this BMW instead .... hahaha, just kidding !!

Okay... ... Shit.... ... I entered the Code once or twice now, and once was incomplete caus I go "oh shit, that wont work" and another just didnt do anything ... I thought when it says "Code Check" , then you have to drive around for an hour with the Radio on until you can "Re-Enter" (thats what the Manual states)... ... How do you know then, when you can Enter The Code from the start again?? Okay Dokay, thanx for your help, I am hitting up the Dealer this afternoon!!

Cheers..

[buttuh]

The code should be a 5 digit number. At least for the US anyway. If you entered the code wrong the first few times, you'll have to leave your radio on for one hour straight before entering it in again. Yup, that means you'll have to drive around for an hour before entering the correct code again for it to work. If you cheat, the timer resets and you'll have to wait another hour. It's a bitch, I know. Good luck.

[KR - 318i]

Shit...

What do you mean cheat... ...?? Basically, I can just leave the car running right for an hour if it does come to that ... what would cause it to reset the timer, caus that would be a ****in pain in the ass... ... Is there anyway, if I go to a Dealer they can override the Time Period and do the Code, or I seriously have to keep it running for an hour ... ... god damn, this is gonna be a pain in the ass !! How do you know when you have entered incorrectly too many times (ie ... still says "CODE" at the moment, does that message change or does it stay as CODE)??

Oh well... Thanx for the info... ... I hope I havent entered it wrong too many times already... .. that would shit me up the wall !!

Cheers...

[M~BeBoT]

You do not have to drive for an hour you just unplug the battery for an hour plug it back then input the code.

You have the code right?

[buttuh]

Originally posted by M~BeBoT
You do not have to drive for an hour you just unplug the battery for an hour plug it back then input the code.

You have the code right?

I don't see how that would work since you have to leave the radio ON for an hour straight. The radio has to be on and it has to say "CODE" for an hour straight before you can enter the code. I guess this feature is to deter theft from stealing the unit.

[buttuh]

Originally posted by KR - 318i
Shit...

What do you mean cheat... ...?? Basically, I can just leave the car running right for an hour if it does come to that ... what would cause it to reset the timer, caus that would be a ****in pain in the ass... ... Is there anyway, if I go to a Dealer they can override the Time Period and do the Code, or I seriously have to keep it running for an hour ... ... god damn, this is gonna be a pain in the ass !! How do you know when you have entered incorrectly too many times (ie ... still says "CODE" at the moment, does that message change or does it stay as CODE)??

Oh well... Thanx for the info... ... I hope I havent entered it wrong too many times already... .. that would shit me up the wall !!

Cheers...

Hey there,

When this happened to me I went to the dealer to get the code. Funny thing is my code was 11111. The dealer then tried to enter the code for me but it didn't work. They asked me if I had try to enter the code myself and I said yes. That's when they told me about the 1 hour wait. So I had to leave the radio on for an hour straight before entering the code again.

[340V8]

leave the key in on accesories posi.
the before all ignition lights come on.
get the code before hand and puch it in after you left
it on for 1-2 hours.
works.

[Romichael]

just press and hold the M botton on the stereo for few second, and the Ser# will come up on the screen. and then call the BMW dealer and they will tell you hopefully.