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Thread: Where can I find my BMW Radio Code? Please Help

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    West Virgina (WVU)
    Posts
    67
    My Cars
    1995 325i

    Where can I find my BMW Radio Code? Please Help

    My Battery went dead and now, my radio will not work.
    I have a message on the screen of the radio saying "CODE"


    I have my serial number to my radio, does anyone know who I can call to get the CODE for the radio to work again?

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    465
    My Cars
    98 318ti (RIP), 97 m3, 99 528i
    have to call the dealer ship most will require you to come in and charge you for it.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    VA, USA
    Posts
    98
    My Cars
    bmw 325 ix
    you can buy a tool that finds your stereo's code.. i believe ive seen it listed from anywhere between 29 and 49 dollars, 40 beign the most standard price.

    It might just be cheaper then labor + gas to your "local" bmw dealer

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    54
    My Cars
    1990 525i
    I dont want to be the one that calls out the obvious but did you look through ALL of your papers that came with the car and FOUND NOTHING. Its kinda small abut the size of a business card. Should come with 2.

    If you have to do the dealership thing... Get a hot girl to go with you and do the talking... they probably hook you up.

    Oh and if you enter the code wrong 3 times its got an hour lockout or something retarded. The car has to be either on or ACC for something crazy like 1 hour before you touch it again. Uber German bs im tellin you

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    West Virgina (WVU)
    Posts
    67
    My Cars
    1995 325i
    Hey Guys,

    Thanks for your quick replys.
    I was able to call VoB of Rockville, MD and read them my serial # over the phone.

    They didn't ask for my name, my address, tax, title, anything. They gave me my code number over the phone.

    So if anyone else has this problem, do not pay for service. Pull your radio out and get the serial number.

    Thanks again

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    VA, USA
    Posts
    98
    My Cars
    bmw 325 ix
    good deal. nice to know the dealership didnt try to steal any of your money for the code

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    760
    My Cars
    '97 M3 and '88 Porsche 959 (1:18 scale).
    You are so lucky. When I got my car, the manual included a couple of pieces of paper the size of a business card that contained the secret code. The radio instructions said to keep those codes handy if the power ever got disconnected. As far as I can remember, you have something like 5 minutes to enter the code correctly. As stated above, 3 wrong attempts and you are locked out of the system for an hour. Come to think of it, I "forgot" to tape these cards onto the stock head unit when I donated it to Salvation Army. If the lucky buyer of my head unit has been wondering over the last couple of years how in the hell to make the unit work, all he has to do is read the above and make the call. So thanks for helping me out.
    Kenwood KDC-X890 head unit, Kenwood KDC-C719 CDC, AudioControl EQS 6 ch. EQ, JL Audio 500/1 mono sub amp, Eclipse 3460 4 ch. amp, Focal Polyglass 130V 5.25" components all around, a/d/s/ R10S sub in 1 cf sealed box, XMD1000 direct tuning XM receiver, Bilstein Sport shocks and struts, Eibach 26/22 sway bars, JTD front strut brace, rear shock brace, rear shock mounts, and underpanel, X brace, UUC short shift, hard-wired V1, Bridgestone S03s, 235/40ZR17 and 245/40ZR17 set at 35/37 pounds cold, braided stainless brake lines, ATE blue, Mobil 1, and EBC Green Stuff pads.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    54
    My Cars
    1990 525i
    Laugh, you donated it to salvation army. Good luck for anyone getting it to work... Doesnt BMW not send ground from the spearkers to the head unit. It wouldnt work period had it not been a BMW they installed on.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    107

    can they pull up the code by VIN #?

    if you need the code, can it the dealer tell the code by VIN # instead of having to pull out the stereo and reading the serial #?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    4,319
    My Cars
    TSX
    lucky as hell...my cuz paid 50 bones for that stupid code
    ________
    starcraft ii replay
    Last edited by e36; 02-09-2011 at 10:38 AM.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Dallas
    Posts
    551
    My Cars
    '09 328i Cp/'90 325i
    Call your service advisor, it takes them about 30 seconds to find the code. (If they like ya)

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
    Posts
    2
    My Cars
    89 BMW 75iL, 91BMW 525i
    I have an e32, 750iL, 89'...the dealer I bought it from failed to mention the radio was locked until pick up...I was thinking of switching the Sony head unit from my 91' 525i (which is not mobile) with this pain in the ass...any thoughts?

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Sacramento ca
    Posts
    28
    My Cars
    1995 bmw 740i
    Hi I have a E38 and I'm trying to retrieve the serial number from the back of the radio so I can get the code any help on where it would be on this thing

    Sent from my Z982 using Tapatalk

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Sacramento ca
    Posts
    28
    My Cars
    1995 bmw 740i
    Still having this issue with the code. And I don't see a serial number anywhere on here. Any help

    Sent from my Z982 using Tapatalk

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    West London/Heathrow - UK
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    7,204
    My Cars
    03 530dT - Ex Police Car
    Hi Jsaunders,

    Ask the question in the E38 specific section as the reason is I'm under the impression there's no code required for the OEM E38 audio modules. Those owners in that section will confirm either way.

    Cheers, Dennis!

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Sacramento ca
    Posts
    28
    My Cars
    1995 bmw 740i
    Quote Originally Posted by DennisCooper View Post
    Hi Jsaunders,

    Ask the question in the E38 specific section as the reason is I'm under the impression there's no code required for the OEM E38 audio modules. Those owners in that section will confirm either way.

    Cheers, Dennis!
    So how do I get one. Cause my car isn't starting without it

    Sent from my Z982 using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    West London/Heathrow - UK
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    7,204
    My Cars
    03 530dT - Ex Police Car
    Hi,

    The key points are in the detail ! Do you mean the code in order to start the car via the OBC ? (on board computer)

    If so, this is the car audio section where a 'code' is referring to the one many 90's car audio head units had them for theft prevention purposes and nothing to do with 'starting your car' which is a security feature.

    Head over to the E38 section, mention the year of your car and exactly what is wrong and see what other owners come back with. You could also try a local BMW independent specialist and the local BMW dealer as well

    Cheers, Dennis!

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Southern Indiana
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    2001 Z3 2.5i Roadster
    My 2001 Z3 radio serial number is Y8211996. Soes anyone have the tool to give me the code to re-activate the radio?

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    West London/Heathrow - UK
    Posts
    7,204
    My Cars
    03 530dT - Ex Police Car
    Quote Originally Posted by walterfinn View Post
    My 2001 Z3 radio serial number is Y8211996. Soes anyone have the tool to give me the code to re-activate the radio?
    Speak to your local BMW dealer and try others that might be nearby and a little further away, some may do this free of charge and others might not.

    Cheers, Dennis!

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