PROBLEM: E30 radio locked after battery removal

[Tr79]

Hello Guys, and greetings from Finland!

I would have a strange issue with my E30 cabrio´s BMW radio. It worked out perfectly last summer, but after re-installing the battery after winter season, the radio does not accept the code, and actually it does not accept any buttons it just says "code" in the display. The radio is BMW original, the attached picture is from last summer. I already tried to keep the power on for 30min but no change in the display text.

In my earlier BMWs I have had troubles when the display says "----", but that has been taken care by keeping the power on for 30min or so, and then typing the code after the "----" changes to "code".

I do know the right code for the radio, but for some reason the radio does not allow me to type the code; it just says "code"..

Any tips would be highly welcome!! Summer driving with E30 cabrio is not the same without music on... :(

[E30 Cabrio]

Try waiting an Hour.

That's what I've always done and that has worked for me in the past.

I've even heard some people recommend 1.5 hours.

[BDK]

you have to leave the ignition and radio on for atleast one hour,
meaning either drive around for an hour or go out and turn your ignition as far as it will go without starting the car...
I just went thru this about a week ago...
then try re-entering the code, make sure that you have the correct code though...
you only get 3 tries then it locks again...

[Tr79]

^
^^

Thanks for the quick replies! I´ll give it a try like you said

[Tr79]

Bad news, no luck so far. I drove 1h40min with radio´s power on, but no change: still text "code" in the display and the radio does not respond to any buttons i.e. I cannot type the code. If the text in the display were "----" I would understand that it is locked, but this is weird now..

Any other tips/further guidance would be highly appreciated!

[Potato Head1]

I believe you call you local BMW service department and read them the make # of the radio and they will give you the proper code. You will need to remove the radio to do so. The make # should be on the back of the radio.

[Tr79]

I believe you call you local BMW service department and read them the make # of the radio and they will give you the proper code. You will need to remove the radio to do so. The make # should be on the back of the radio.

Thanks. I do have the right code, but the radio does not respond to any buttons (number buttons or any other buttons) so I cannot type the code although I do have the right code. I could of course contact our local BMW dealer but I am not sure if it would be any added value as I should be able to type the code given in order to utilize that code given.

I have never faced this kind of problem with BMW radios..

[wodcutr]

Maybe you should undo the battery cable again for an hour and see if that does anything. You also might want to see if there is a fuse blown on the back of the unit itself. I know that they have one or two fuses back there that might have blown. You also might want to verify that the code you are inputting is the right code. I know that I have several codes lying around and have gotten them mixed up in the past.

[E30 Cabrio]

Try leaving the key on in the first "On" position for 1 hour, then give it a try.

If that doesn't work, replace the radio.

You can buy a stock one with the code for less then $50.00

[Tr79]

^
^^

Thanks again, I´ll give it a try and if no luck, then replacing the radio. E30 cabrio summer cruising just demands good music in the background, so 50 USD is a small price to pay for that I guess

[eld4au6]

If you cant get it going why not replace it with a aftermarket unit? Better sound, cd, ipod, aux, sat, ect.

[chicozoo17]

A similar thing happened to me. My battery died over the winter and now the radio doesn't even turn on. I've tried leaving the key on in the first "On" position for almost over an hour and nothing happened. And the fuse looks fine. Any thoughts?

[littlehandegan]

I am fighting this issue currently as well.

Did you ever cure this? (I would replace with an aftermarket head unit, but it seems to be an involved process with premium stereo)

[AndrewBird]

Try checking the top of the radio. Sometimes people will write the code there.