radio unlock

[bmwperson]

Hey, im trying to bruteforce my radio code *hehe*, is the code only digits? and how long is it? 5chars? The bmw dealer wants me to come there and let em take the radio out, then check then unlock it for me, forgot to ask do you guys know how much they charge for something like that?

 

[Tigas Bud]

The code is five digits but brute force will not work without extreme luck. After is it 3,4 or 5, tries the radio will not take a code even if it is the right code until you reset it. Most BMW dealers will find your code for you from the VIN number without cost.

 

[Tigas Bud]

you may want to look at this thread if you've tried three times already
http://www.bmwboard.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1339&highlight=reset+radio+code

 

[carcus]

Just like Tigas Bud said, dealer only thing for the code....just like later moded BMW ignition keys that have the transponder in them. If you get a cool dealer, they will run the VIN, get your code free...others can charge 20-30 bucks for the code. My suggestion, just get a better head unit...or call alot of BMW dealers and hopefully they will do it for free. Some might....but just like the oil change reset....they tend to charge.

 

[Tigas Bud]

I also did read a post once that said that some radios had the code written on the back of them. You could pull it and see? Let us know

 

[carcus]

Not that I recall, that is the serial number. The code is given on a card when you buy the car. Dealer can recall the code by the vin number.

 

[Tigas Bud]

I really think I read that in a post when I was doing net research trying to figure out how to reset the radio to take codes after three tries. As you can imagine there were the replies like how stupid is that putting an anti-theft code on the back of the radio. Kinda makes me want to look...

 

[bmwperson]

i got the code of the radio from my dealer, now it doesnt work, how do i reset my radio so it would take the code?

 

[bmwperson]

i even took out the fuses for the radio for a sec and it didnt work.

 

[bmwperson]

ok, i got it fixed. This time the guy at the service desk was all cool, he gave me the code, didnt ask for any paperwork, then when the code didnt work he double checked it again, it turned out that the radio was locked ( *duh* after my bruteforcing ;> ) so i waited 1h( it had to be turned on for the whole hour, you cant just wait 1h while its on ) and then it accepted the code.

 

[Militant-Grunt]

I Had the same problem with my land rover, every time u would disconnect the battery the radio would reset, I had to go to the dealer to get a new one

 

[carcus]

ok, i got it fixed. This time the guy at the service desk was all cool, he gave me the code, didnt ask for any paperwork, then when the code didnt work he double checked it again, it turned out that the radio was locked ( *duh* after my bruteforcing ;> ) so i waited 1h( it had to be turned on for the whole hour, you cant just wait 1h while its on ) and then it accepted the code.

Glad to hear you got it fixed. Sounds like you have a cool dealer too. I love to hear stories like that.

 

[andreyiv]

Hey, can you give me that dealer's number? I bought a new head unit that has a CD player and I wanted to get the code for the old one in case something happens. I called one dealer they told me that I'd have to pay 75 bucks for the code. I called another one, they told me it's free but I'd have to bring the car in, so I do that and the guy at the desk tells me to wait for the service advisor, when that guy comes, I tell him that the radio is working, I just want to get the code, he tells me it would be 112 bucks, me: "Ok then, what if I disconnect the battery now and connect it again so it will need the code?". He tells me then it would be $112. And I had to drive for more than one hour to get that response, total BS. So now I have no code and don't feel like trying the new radio since it's not a BMW model and the code starts with an 8 but the presets only go up to 6. Anyone knows how to input the code in a Rover radio? Thanks.

 

[bmwperson]

Contact: Marc Zolnierowicz
Department: Service
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 630-718-2862
Fax: 630-717-1092

He was cool, altho he might want to ask you to send some kind of prove that you`re the car owner. He told me how to put the code in my radio when i got my code. If your radio beeps after 4 digits then its proly the one i have, where you just put the code in and it beeps and after that if the code was correct it will show FM and all the good stuff :> PS they will ask you for the serial number from the back of your radio so be prepared they wanted to charge me 55$ just for taking the radio out. BS it took me like 30seconds to check my serial. <proof of BS>60sec*60min/30sec*55$=6600$/hour </proof of BS> DAMN i wanna get paid like that *grin*, anyway good luck.

 

[andreyiv]

Thanks a lot, I'll give him a call as soon as I can. BTW the seller told me how to input the code in the Rover radio. The code consists of 4 digits and you enter the first digit by pressing the 1 preset key the amount of times it says in the code, same goes for the second digit except you enter it with the 2 preset key. After the code is entered you have to press the arrow pointing to the right. I'll try that as soon as I get the BMW code. Militant-Grunt is that the way you entered the code into your radio? Thanks in advance.

 

[Tigas Bud]

andreyiv, in my '94 you just push the button corresponding to the code number, like dialing a five digit phone number on a six button phone.

 

[andreyiv]

I have put in the Rover radio, entered the code (the way I described above) and it works. I also got the serial number of the BMW radio, called Marc at Bill Jacobs BMW and he didn't want to give me the code, he said he will charge me for taking it out, I told him that I have the number already. Then he thought that the radio is stolen so before he could say anything, I told him that I can e-mail the registration and a photo ID. He said ok but fax instead of e-mail. I did that and then he left a message on the answering machine with the code and a thank you for unknown reason. I didn't try the code yet, since the new radio is in allready but I probably will because the rear right speaker doesn't work for some reason, I'll try puting the old one in and see if it works. BTW what does SPEED VOL mean in the radio settings? Is that that function that varies the volume depending on the noise inside the car? Thanks everyone, you all have been very helpfull!

 

[Tigas Bud]

SPEED VOL, Don't have that feature in the BMW but it is a feature in one of our Volvos, it is called ASC in that car and you can toggle it on or off if desired to maintain volume.

 

[andreyiv]

The radio is Rover (not Land Rover, lol). I played with that feature and I found out that the faster you go the louder the music is. I put it on the highest setting and it was very noticable, so then I configured it so that I don't see any difference in the volume of the music no matter how fast I go, I believe that is the point of it. BTW I tried plugging in the old radio and turns out that the code the dealer gave me is correct and there is something wrong with the right rear speaker oer the amp, it's not the new radio. I thought about investigating the problem but I have no reason for it since I knew the speaker wasn't working only because someone was sitting right by it and noticed it, I'm not going to sit there anyway so I don't care. Oh, almost forgot, that dealer was really friendly and if anyone needs a code for their radio, I recommend him.
One more thing and then I'm done. You can get the code free of charge from a dealer that you bought the car from because it's on their file, they only have to input your info and that's all.