dealership charge for radio code. is this unreasonable?

[Maudi]

Hello out there. I'm new to BMW and this forum... first post in fact. I picked up a used e36 m3 with a locked radio. I read through the forum and totally understand the rational on not giving out codes so I contacted my local BMW dealer and they told me they charge an $80 fee to provide the code. Ah, really? $80? Is that normal/reasonable?

[DennisCooper]

Hi,

You could try to find an independant car audio electronics repair specialist still capable of doing this kind of service and pay them whatever their charges are as an alternative. I'd say it's normal to charge, yes. Is it reasonable, I'd also say yes as the dealer needs to keep the equipment needed to do this work and given it's much rarer to still see cars needing a code nowadays, they'd like to see a decent return on the time needed to do your job.

Cheers, Dennis!

[Maudi]

Thanks Dennis... I'm just trying to set a baseline on how expensive this car will be. $80 for a radio code kind of blew me away. To be honest, I've poked around a bit at prices for maintenance parts and have been pleasantly surprised. I can see I'll be staying away from the dealers though...

[shogun]

try this online for $15 germanaudiotech bmw-radio-stereo-head-unit-cd-player-decode-code-retrieval-unlock-service https://www.germanaudiotech.com/prod...unlock-service
or download the generator for free https://www.radiocodescalculator.com...rator-unlocks/
or google for: bmw radio code generator

[ross1]

If you provide the RADIO serial #(on the radio chassis), not the car VIN, there are some members here with access to the info. One might oblige.
As far as the fee goes it could be justified if a mechanic needs to remove the radio to view the serial #. A guy working by the hour will expect to be paid. Having said that its usually a five minute job to remove a radio.

[White94RX]

$80 bucks is totally reasonable. That's probably half an hour labor. I would totally expect to get that if the car came to my shop.

Just because you bought the car cheap, doesn't mean it's a cheap car to maintain.

[jclausen]

I'm sorry but when I worked at the dealer and parts I would never change anybody for the code, that's just really lame. The dealer I'm telling you they have no concept of drawing customers in, they just charge to much for stuff and think the indepentent shops are crap. I'd see it every day. Find an independent BMW shop call and ask them or give me the radio code I will call my friend at the dealer. $80.00 dollars I just have to laugh, good job bmw.

[White94RX]

If a customer removes the radio and retrieves the serial number himself, then he is free to call the parts department and ask for the code.

I'm saying is that a half hour is reasonable if I am the one removing the radio to get the serial number and then the code.

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[Newbie Jim]

Anyone know what the radio for a 1999 bmw 323i convertible s/no. AL 6BDU W 04 27131 it's an ALpine radio

- - - Updated - - -

Sry the radio code for that

[DennisCooper]

Anyone know what the radio for a 1999 bmw 323i convertible s/no. AL 6BDU W 04 27131 it's an ALpine radio

- - - Updated - - -

Sry the radio code for that

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ock-Codes-****