Help--Code for standard E34 radio?

Hello all!

I just purchased a 1990 535i from a reputable used dealer in NJ. The car has the standard BMW cassette radio (volume knob, vertical tune/seek slider, six presets and a mode button to vary the bass, treble, balance and fader). Unfortunately, the cassette player will not play any tapes. That didn't bother me too much as I just had a 6-disc CD changer w/FM modulator installed in the trunk.

From the time of purchase, I was concerned because I could not find the radio code in any of the original literature that came with the car (owner's manual, service booklets, radio manual, etc.) I called the used dealer I bought the car from, but he had no clue. The BMW dealer I later visited wanted to charge me $30 to find the code by using the serial number allegedly on the back of the radio.

Today, I pulled the radio out of the dash myself, only to find that the label on its underside, which I figured should contain the serial number, had been mostly torn off! Also, due to an independent issue, I had to install a new battery (power disconnected), so voila!...now my radio doesn't work and just reads "code".

I'm afraid nothing can be done without the radio's serial number. Does anyone have any ideas as for how to track down the code? Is there some kind of database where a VIN could be matched with a radio serial number (assuming it's the original radio)? Can the radio be reset somehow? How much might an OEM replacement cost? Or should I just abandon the idea and buy an aftermarket head unit?

I'll ask a BMW dealer some of these questions tomorrow, but would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks very much.

Dude, you are totally screwed!
On several levels, too!
I recently bought several old radios on eBay. To get the codes, I took them to my dealer here in Santa Fe. One of the older ones was easy; he looked up the serial number on a company web site and told me the code about 10 seconds later.
On another radio (whose serial number was not on the web site), the dealer had to send a fax to BMW NA, who then did some 'research'. About two weeks later, I was given the code. They said they had problems with the people at Alpine answering their fax.
I'm stilling waiting for the third code...and it's been nearly a month.
My dealer didn't charge me anything for this. Your deal is totally screwing you charging for service that is supposed to be provided for FREE!
But if you don't have a serial number, there is nothing they can do. The code is NOT provided in the book that came with your car, 'cause thieves would just steal the radio and the manual.
You could just go on a long trip and randomly hit codes until you get lucky. It's only five digits, and they are only 1-5. That's 3,125 combinations...don't you know any bored teenagers?
Flunky
PS-I take it back, you're not screwed. The serial number is actually etched into the backside of the radio. Here's the serial number from my radio:41213719A. Yours will look like that, although it might have a letter at the front of the number.

Thanks, man. I'm actually here in Maryland, and the dealer I first went to was VOB BMW in Rockville, and their service dept. is known to be filled with arrogant pricks. Today I went to Northwest BMW and the much nicer guy there said that the code should indeed be etched into the radio. I took it out again, but all I saw was a label on the back that said PKA0160489. No "S/N" or anything like that, and it was a white adhesive label. There's nothing on the bottom of the radio except that almost-completely-torn-off sticker, and the back of it has a sort of serrated pattern, where, like I already said there is no serial number. How large is the type? If it's very small, I might be overlooking it or something.

I also called Passport BMW and the guy there said that they can definitely "reset the code" and it costs $42 although "...sometimes they do it for free" (rationalize that?).

The good news is that the backlight for the OBC right next to the radio burned out and I got three new bulbs for it from the dealer for the incredible price of $1.00/ea. I put it back in and it works.

Thanks again for the tips.

please go to bmw diler or call you need vin number
your vin nomber have records in d2b and diler have you vin cod for redio if you still manifacturi

Thanks, each of you. I went to the dealer yesterday with the number, and the service guy said that was definitely the serial #. A sheet printed out that had all the information about the radio on it, including the code. I was charged nothing for the service.

By the way, this was Passport BMW in Marlow Heights (for those of you living in the DC area). My simple request was accomplished quickly, efficiently, and courteously (something I cannot say for VOB in Rockville).