Parts mish-mash continues! Radio serial number doesn't match either card in the car!

[Cudabuck]

Geez, thought I was all set for sure, with TWO program identification cards in the car!! One is a credit card type with RadioPass BMW on the corner and says business car radio with model, serial and code, and the other looks like a laminated business card that says "Anti-Theft CD-Ready Radio Program identification Card" with code and serial. I tried both codes, and then pulled the radio since the MID was out for repair also, and low and behold the serial number on the radio is different from BOTH! What's the recommended course of action? I would rather not go aftermarket, but wouldn't be too big of deal if I had to. Once again, thanks everyone!!

[clubE31]

I would try to find the find the radio model that "belong" to the car from factory (with a code). Trying find the radio matching the card....... next to impossible.

[cartoonz]

Or...
You can use the serial number off the actual unit to lookup the proper code.

[Cudabuck]

Thank you both for the reply, I have attempted to look it up. It is a model CM5903, part number 82 11 1 467 696, serial number A50213980. I can't seem to dig up the info that has that model and part number for a search. I'll keep digging today. I appreciate you all!

[David9999999]

In my experience, any BMW dealer can and will look up the radio code for free. Just tell them the radio serial number and they can look up the code.

[olinjohnston]

You told us everything but the serial number...

[mbarrett635]

You told us everything but the serial number...

He did -- its serial number A50213980

I think a couple of the folks here can look it up, but if no-one offers, worst case scenario is the dealer can do it for you, even for a replacement radio as long as it's a BMW radio. Some won't even charge you, although most probably will . . .

[cartoonz]

No, that radio is coded differently.. .there are jumper pads on the main board.
jumpers are labeled 1 through 6
open 2 & 3,
jumper 1,4,5,6
CODE: 22323

[Cudabuck]

Whoa, so that is the actual code? If you were making an example of how the code is determined given where the jumpers are, I am missing it! Either way, thanks a ton! I may or may not be waiting for your clan fiction! Lol

[cartoonz]

under a sticker, there is a hole... you can see the hardcoded (jumpers) 1 through 6
jumper all with solder except 2 & 3 and your code should be 22323

OR...

Take a picture of what your jumpers are already and then be a little more resourceful... there's some mad scientist guys in Poland that can tell you what the code is now for whatever configuration you have from the factory.

[olinjohnston]

He did -- its serial number A50213980

I think a couple of the folks here can look it up, but if no-one offers, worst case scenario is the dealer can do it for you, even for a replacement radio as long as it's a BMW radio. Some won't even charge you, although most probably will . . .

Whoops, sorry.

Try 33412

- - - Updated - - -

Looks like this is an Alpine radio from an E36 probably.

[cartoonz]

Whoops, sorry.
Try 33412
Looks like this is an Alpine radio from an E36 probably.

That won't work on these Olin... this model is old school, hard coded jumpers

[olinjohnston]

That won't work on these Olin... this model is old school, hard coded jumpers

Sure it will, it is just the Alpine version of the radio that looks just like the OE Pioneer one in the US E31. What the heck is a hard coded jumper?

[cartoonz]

BMW ALPINE CM5903 cannot be decoded via Serial Number

as it uses a solder tag system for its code. There are 6 possible jumpers. The code is dependent on which those are. On this model, there is no relationship to the serial.