BMW 530i, 1995, Anti-Theft Radio Code

[REtzler]

Guys, my car is a 1995 BMW 530i, just under 80,000 miles. My car has the original BMW radio (tape player, no cd player) in it. It has an anti-theft feature that requires a 5 digit code to be entered in order to use the radio. You don't have to enter it every time, only when the battery has been disconnected.

Recently my radio/clock console has been intermittently "going out" (ie. its like the power is off) for a couple of minutes. It always comes back, but then I need to put the code in. If I enter the code incorrectly I get a beeping sound. If I enter the code incorrectly more than once, it is nearly impossible to get the radio to accept the code.

I KNOW I have the right code because I have the wallet card that came with the car. However, even when I enter the code in fast, slow, any-which-way, the radio just continues to say "code" on the display. What advice do you have for me? I tried unplugging the battery to "clear" the radio again, but to no avail. If I can't get it to work and I just replace the whole radio, will I still need the code to operate the new radio? Honestly, I'd be perfectly happy if I could disable the code forever. I don't need to protect a 12 year old cassette tape player when the car is parked almost exclusively in the parking garage at work, and in the garage at home.

Thanks,
Robert

[94_e34_525i]

The code is only on the BMW deck, when you install another after market one you don't need a code. My friend's stock radio was acting weird like that so I gave him my old BMW deck because I replaced mine with a blaupunkt mp46. But the code if put correctly granted if it is the right code, should simply unlock your radio with a beep and thats it. Just put it in. (BTW his car is also a 95 530i thats weird how you have a similar problem, its prolly nothing tho )

[bmwrp8]

if you entered the code incorrectly for i think 3 or 5 times you have to wait for 15 mins.or so before you could enter a code again...your key must be in acc.position for that time in order for your unit to accept the codes again...just dont touch it for around those times...

[ILoveMPower]

If you incorrectly enter the CODE 3 successive times, you have to wait for 1 hour before entering the correct code. I believe the 1 hour is "on-time," meaning the radio must be getting power for 1 hour.

[Ross]

By your post it is clear you are aware a wrong code entry will get a beep.
If you are getting the beep using the code on the card then I'd say the radio was changed at some point. If this is an intermittant problem and you are sure of entering the code correctly then perhaps the buttons are at fault. Did the preselect buttons always work?
The radio has a tag on the back with it's serial #, with that # the dealer can provide you with the proper code.
If nothing else works for you I have a radio w/code I'll sell you cheap.

[bmwrp8]

If you incorrectly enter the CODE 3 successive times, you have to wait for 1 hour before entering the correct code. I believe the 1 hour is "on-time," meaning the radio must be getting power for 1 hour.

whoops...was it 1 hour? i can't really recall...since I spilled soda at my stock radio I changed it