In what manner does anti-theft disable the car?94/540ia

I have a 1994 540ia that won't start, it cranks just fine but wont start.Battery was just replaced.
Does the anti-theft mode allow the motor to crank but not turn over, or does it just disable the whole car from doing anything at all?
Thanks much
Fred/Houston

For your build date (1/94 to 12/94), it's a system called EWS I. With a bit of hunting you should be able to find a PDF that explains how it works (I can't remember the link).

Anyway, if the Digital Motor Electronics (DME) thinks that the car is locked then the DME uses a "Starter Immobilisation Relay" (SIR) to inhibit the starter motor solenoid. The DME also uses the SIR to prevent you from starting the car in P or N.

When the DME receives a high signal from the SIR then, I qoute: "the DME does not activate injector or ignition operation."

So the EWS I not only stops the engine from cranking but also stops the inition/injectors.