Quickly Unlock and Reset the REGION Code of your BMW Business CD CD53 Radio

This video demonstrates how to reset, code the REGION and calibrate the PLAYBACK features of your BMW Business CD Radio. The unit I'm resetting is a Feb 2006 Alpine BMW Business CD53 Radio BMW Parts Number 65 12 6 961 215 that has MP3, HD Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, and iPod Data/Auxillary Capabilities. This unit was ordered online but came set for another region. If your radio came like this unit did you will need to follow the steps in this video to unlock, reset and code your radio to your region. You can also see hidden information (like the production date and SV number) on the radio as well as set your antenna sensitivity and play around with your DSP settings.

This will work for all year BMW Business CD53 and CD radios found on the 3 series and X3 vehicles as well as other BMW vehicles.

There have been a number of posts on the Service Mode settings. Here is a summary of what I have seen:
AREA - self explanatory (EUR,USA, JAP, etc)
AF - Alternate frequency feature which automatically finds and can switch to a stronger station with same programming. (off, Auto, Autonopi, Man. Not used in USA broadcasts) see:http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...19&postcount=6
SN - serial number
SV - firmware version and date in week-year format
RI - Supposedly revision index, but never seen specifics on it.
GAL - speed dependent volume sensitivity
AM or FM - Displays current frequency and Field strength for signal
DSP 0 V 15 - Identifies presence of DSP (0/1, 0 for E46) and current output volume setting
TP-V Volume offset for traffic alert programming (Not used in USA Area) see: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...50&postcount=2
Pixel Test

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BMW
• Business
• CD53
• CD
• MP3
• Alpine
• DSP
• Region
• E46
• X3
• 330i
• 325i
• 335i
• 328i
• Series
• 65
• 12
• 961
• 215

[hotel150]

Hi, I have a new US Model X3 3.5i. Can the radio be set to European standards or is this not possible? If so, what is the procedure?

Thanks.

[olaf2046]

@hotel150 Why don't you just ask the dealership you bought the car from?!!!

The hell if I just bought a car for over $30,000 I would make damn sure to keep in contact with the seller so I won't have to get answers from random Youtube videos. That said, the new BMWs are like computers with wheels. Everything needs to be programmed and coded at the dealership at your cost.

[hotel150]

@olaf2046

Sorry, I guess I didn't mention I live in Europe and have a US model BMW. The BMW dealerships are German owned and won't touch the US version to change anything. Believe me I've been down that road already with The BMW Group out of Munich and they have their BMW technology locked up. I'm looking for answers, no matter where I get them, You Tube or anywhere else. By the way the car cost $50m.

Thanks for your comments.

[olaf2046]

@hotel150 why did you get a usa model? was it cheaper than the European models? I remember last year when we went to Paris the C300 was 40 euros and in the USA the same model was $35,000.

[JayDee973]

whats rds?

[olaf2046]

@JayDee973 It is the text display you get when listening to a radio station. You usually get the Artist and Song and Rdio Station or Show name.

So while a song is playing it will scroll across the radio screen:

Rick Ross - This Is The Life - Hot 97 - Top 40

Some stations have more info than others. Some stations have no info other than the Program or Station Name

[billyknifehands]

the BMW business stereos kinda really fuckin suck

[mikeecho101]

MW is medium wave.. its the same thing as AM

lots of raions list AM as MW, and vice versa

[63B1stmaint]

ok so if all that is good. how do i inout the radios unlock code into it so the car will start?

[tomjohnoman]

Hey thanks for the video! I am in Canada, and I bought a US car, I wonder what the difference will be if I set it to the Canada setting, which I didn't even know they had.