radio help (code not working)

[kevind89e34]

hey guys,
i have looked through the past post and didnt find the answer to my question.

i took out my radio the other day to fix the buttons. i traded WB for the fm/am/cd. the fm-am button lost contact inside. so i switched them around.
put radio back in, "code" message in radio window. i put the code in and nothing. i even tried an incorrect code to see. nothing no beeps, no alarms, nothing.

i rechecked all the wires, they are in the right spot. there are two spots, but these are a male on the radio and a male wire from the wiring. i dont see anything that could go in, no other wires etc hanging.

any ideas?
code had worked before, stock radio. 89 e34
thanks
kevin

[632 Regal]

you turned the ignition on and entered the code right away? Maybe double check all the wiring again.

[AeroSmooth]

I had a problem the other day with the radio not accepting the correct code, even though I had not made any other attempts. However, I left the key in the 1 position for a hour, and the code worked the first time after the wait period.

Best of Luck,
Nate

[VentoGT]

Aerosmooth did what the manual says--if you have entered an incorrect code it will lock the system out for an hour--it's tricky because you don't hear or see numbers being put in when you type them with the number buttons, so you may have accidentally put in the wrong code several times. Follow the manual procedure and it should work provided that you do have the correct code.

[kevind89e34]

thanks guys, i just went out disconnected all the wires and will re try. if not i will leave the key (#1) and see if that does the trick.,

vento, you stated that you dont hear any beeps etc? just wonder because the before i took the radio out, it would beep. o well i will give it a shot.
thanks again.

[Ausmpower]

You only get 3 attempts before the radio locks you out......

How many times have you tried????

[joshua43214]

Disconnecting the power from the radio will not restart the code timer. you get 3 tries, then it locks you out. You then have to leave the ignition on and the radio on for 1 hour to reset the timer.

[Ausmpower]

The E46's give you three goes then have to be sent to BMW germany to be reset..... God I love E34's!!!!

[kevind89e34]

i left the car on for 1 hour, (1:05) turned the ignition off, back on, tried the code (1 try) and nothing. again no beeps, pops, explosions. nothing

does anybody have a wiring diagram for this year. bent. only shows (or the one that i have) 92 and up. i have an 89.
thanks for the input
kevin

[Ausmpower]

wait 1 hour then enter the code...... do not turn the ignition off!!

[kevind89e34]

well sh*t, okay, i will do it again after i have a few beers. its past noon.

[Ausmpower]

It's 1:10 am here!!!

[Bill R.]

e46's don't use the code at all, they are on a kbus



The E46's give you three goes then have to be sent to BMW germany to be reset..... God I love E34's!!!!

[Ausmpower]

You are correct!

I'm tired...... try E36!

[kevind89e34]

no go on the key in the ignition for an hour and then trying without turning it off. So obviously something else is going on. any other ideas. besides a screwed up radio

thank you
kevin

[joshua43214]

Blown fuse? start with the basics =)

[Jehu]

I just had to do mine too. I left the car on, position 2 for a bit over an hour with the radio off, programmed it and it worked right away. the 6 CD cahnger in the trunk works fine too. I was giddy when i found it , i didn't know it was there when i bought the car.....:) Its a pretty decent sound system too for stock. I was expecting to have to buy my own but i think i can definitely live with what's in there.

[kevind89e34]

i will try again today. right now my battery is dead.

i checked the fuse on the radio itself, thats okay. i will check others this am.

again, thanks for the help
kevin

[VentoGT]

I would also check with your local stealership to make sure you have the correct code--if it is screwing up like you say it is it may be that the PO had a faulty radio, swapped it out at the dealer, and then didn't put his correct new radio codes in.

[Ross]

Vento GT could be on the right trail. Take the radio back out and use the ## on the radio. The writer at the dealer is usually cooperative, sometimes for a gratuity.

[Ross]

In rereading your OP I see there were no beeps when entering the code. Perhaps when fooling around with the buttons you disabled the numbered buttons. My recollection is the radio always beeps at each entry while entering code. Sounds like the radio doesn't even know you are trying.

[digitaldragon03]

Not to hijack the thread, but its a quick question thats kinda related. Does the stealer charge to give you the radio code?

[kevind89e34]

i am going to take it back out on tuesday and fiddle with it then. i work fri -mon. and dont want to mess with it then. so it will be the mp3 player for now.

vento, before i took the radio out, the code was working. i was fooling around with it one day just to see. plus there are about 4-5 sheets/cards in the glove box with the # on it. i guess the previous owner was paranoid to lose one.

thanks for all the help guys.
kevin
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