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Thread: Radio Code Help!!!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    Costa Rica
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    86 325ia (For Sale), 93 530i

    Radio Code Help!!!

    Hi everybody I own a 325i E30 wich is my little toy and also a 530i e34.

    My mechanic disconnected the battery and when he connected it back of course the radio showed "code". I know that that is normal, the thing is of course that I don´t have the code. It is for my 93 530i that I bought second hand.

    I live in Costa Rica and we only have one dealer in the whole country, so I took the radio apart and took it to the dealer and they told me that I had to pay them around $20, but they also told me it was a waste of money because they were sure they would not get the code for me, so I´m not gonna give them the satisfaction.

    Please if somebody can help me, I know that it is rather easy to get the code, this is all the info that the radio has:


    On one side it has a sticker with this number: PMF0112753

    On the bottom another sticker with:

    BMW
    MODEL KE-91ZBM
    88 88 1 600 235 Version 2
    SPEC NO XH/US
    FCC ID: AJDK002

    Thank you!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
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    Oklahoma City, OK
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    '89 325i
    I don't understand why they told you they can't get you the code! My dealer was able to tell me the code to my radio using the vehicle VIN. Obviously this solution will only work if the radio is original to the car. Not sure about pulling the code using data off stickers on the unit itself though.

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    86 325ia (For Sale), 93 530i
    Well they told me that whenever they need to find out a code they e-mail Germany and they return the code back, but that in the last year Germany has not returned any codes.

    Thanks!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
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    Oklahoma City, OK
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    '89 325i
    I know for a fact that my BMW dealer has access to some sort of database they can pull the information from. I watched them do it for my car. I just had to bring the car in and show proof of ownership.

    Short of buying another unit or trying to call BMW directly (yeah right) it sounds like your local BMW dealer isn't going to be any help. Unless someone else has some useful info!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    san antonio, texas
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    550
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    1986 bmw 325(dead) 1991 318is
    would it be the same for most of them.. i have the booklet that has the code and everything?????

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Costa Rica
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    86 325ia (For Sale), 93 530i
    I am not sure if there is like a common code for the radios, because if you missenter the code 3 times then the message will be ERROR and you will have to wait about an hour to re enter 3 codes maximun again. But thanks, I hope somebody has access to a database and can try the numbers I wrote.

    Thank You

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Los Gatos CA
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    1987 325is, e34, Z3, e39
    The policy in the US seems to be that the parts department will look up the code at no cost if you go directly to the parts department and have the radio serial number and model number. If you don't have those numbers, or don't know about the policy, you will be directed to the service department which will charge you service time to remove the radio, write down the model and serial number, and get the code from the parts department.

    For one of my radios (I don't recall if it was my e30) they were unable to look the number up on-line. They had it a day or two later.

    In general BMW don't seem to have the radio code by VIN -- they don't know which radio serial number is in which car. Or maybe it's just that the dealers swap radios too often to keep track of them by VIN.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    86 325ia (For Sale), 93 530i
    Yes I understand that in the US dealers are much prompt to help you with these issues, but here in my country they just will not unless you buy a $50.000 new (get this) 318! Everything is super expensive here!!! So my old 1993 530i E34 is nothing to them.

    Thanks

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    Costa Rica
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    86 325ia (For Sale), 93 530i
    Got the code from another member, now my radio is working properly and did not have to waste the 10.000 colones ($20) in the dealer.

    Thanks

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
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    Oklahoma City, OK
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    I'm glad to hear that! What a great community we have! :-)

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Chandler, Az 85225
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    My Cars
    91 525i
    I got my code from the dealer but it does not work. I put it in and it just beeps and stays on code.

    Am I doing something wrong?? I have done it MANY times and have never gotter the error it just stays on CODE.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Seatown WA
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    87 330is 87 vert
    you did it to many times,without knowing the code. You have to have the radio on for one whole hour then you can type the code in. So just leave the radio on while your inside for 1 hour then type in the code

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Orange, CA
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    78
    My Cars
    86 325e
    I am having this same problem right now. My dad's store regularly deals with a BMW dealer and we used to be able to get the codes over the phone if we had the radios serial number. Since my car's radio was broken I took the original radio from my old 535i and put it into my 325e. Unfortunately the code card that I got with the 535i did not work. And the dealer has told us that they are no longer allowed to give the codes out over the phone unless you bring in the radio with the original car which I can't really do anymore. Blah.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Huntsville, AL
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    Yep, several.
    Ok, I don't mean to hijack someone's post, but there are already plenty of these code threads. Unfortunately, I also need a radio code.

    Model number: CM5905
    Serial number: K60337788E

    Thanks,
    Matt

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Costa Mesa, CA
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    3
    My Cars
    '98 328IA
    Can someone help me get my code please, this is irritating.

    S/N: AL 6BDU V 10 84863

    Thanks for any help

    -Justin

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Williamsburg VA
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    19
    My Cars
    1989 325iX Sedan
    hey, can someone help me with figuring out where the red and brown plug in this picture go? My radio also displays "code" on the display screen, do i have to take it to a dealership in order for my radio to work?



    if you can help just PM me.
    thanks
    Last edited by JdubDabutch3r; 04-23-2010 at 11:20 PM.

  17. #17
    richardodn's Avatar
    richardodn is offline Old Guy BMW CCA Member
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    @Jdub - answered to the best I can in original thread
    "Howdy, Folks!"

    1986 Delphin 528e - Roof rack equipped lumber hauler.
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  18. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Berkeley, CA
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    2 1987 325i, 430K; 210K
    I've bought several used radios at boneyards over the years and the dealer in B-town has given me the code (free) upon bringing the radio it. Makes you wonder a bit what's the point of having the anti-theft code in the first place - maybe they only do it for older model radios, not sure.

    It always (the new code) worked for me until my most recent one where it wouldn't take the new code for the first several tries. I drove it a while, unhooked and re-hooked the battery and it thenthe code took for some reason.
    cmac

    Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    Atlanta, GA
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    1986 BMW 528i

    86 bmw 528i radio code

    Could somebody help me with the code for my 86 528i please


  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Columbus, In
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    1989 325i Sedan

    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by Ristmar View Post
    Yes I understand that in the US dealers are much prompt to help you with these issues, but here in my country they just will not unless you buy a $50.000 new (get this) 318! Everything is super expensive here!!! So my old 1993 530i E34 is nothing to them.

    Thanks
    This is where you find a way to corner the owner in a social context & find a way to diplomatically point out that his employees aren't inspiring the confidence in his business that you would require before buying a new car. Chances are he's not aware of problems & will expect his people to represent more effectively.

    If I can't stuff young Mr. Johnson up the tailpipe, I don't want it ...

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    kingman,az
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    63
    My Cars
    1989 325
    the code to mine is 44333.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    british columbia
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1985 524td

    radio code help - dealer laughed at me, 1985 524td restoration

    Yup - The dealer laughed at me when i asked for the radio code. He just said no - not a chance!
    So there is my dilemma. I have the model cm5905 serial a51150038b. I thought it was silly to buy a code when i could buy a whole used radio with the code for $20. This is a hobby, not a money pit. Thanks, if anyone can help?

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
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    7
    I know this is an old thread but can anyone PM me a code for model cm5908 s/n a90763806c

    pleaseeeeeeee

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    richmond, VA
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    129
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    Macan
    I know it’s a super old thread but I’ve got an E30 radio and could really use a code
    S/N A90349353B
    5908

    Thanks

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Maryland
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    2
    My Cars
    323is
    Can anyone help me I got a 1998 323is need radio code it's a alpine model C33 DIN US Part # 65.12-8 380 233. Ser# AL 6BDU V11 89061

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