RADIO CODE  PROBLEMS?


BMW has, for many years, used radio's with a theft protection feature. This feature is an identification code that is required whenever the radio is disconnected from its power source.

Almost all BMW radio codes consist of 5 digits between the numbers 1 and 6.

If you bought your car new, you would have got a credit card sized identification card, with the radio's serial number and code printed on it.

If you do not have this card, you can have your local dealer supply you with the code. Some dealers charge for this service, some will do it for free. Usually, you will be required to drive the vehicle into the dealership, or at least supply proof of ownership of the vehicle.

If your radio displays the word CODE, you will need to enter this 5 digit security code.

This is done by pressing the radio preset buttons corresponding with the code numbers.

You will hear a beep when the last number of the sequence is entered and the radio will display a frequency. If you hear the beep before the last number, STOP. For some reason a button has been pushed unintentionally, either before you started to enter the code, or perhaps, you pushed one number twice by accident. If you hear this beep prematurely, simply stop and go back to the first number of your code.

You have 3 attempts to use the code before the radio decides you are guessing and locks you out. If this happens, you will need to either remove all power to the radio, or leave the ignition on the first position, which will display CODE in the radio, but not turn on all of the lights in the instrument cluster, for at least one hour. Not for 59 minutes, it must be a full hour.

After this hour, you get 3 more attempts.

Occasionally, a radio will not code up even though the code is correct. In this case, you must leave the ignition on as described above, removing power will not help in this case.