E53 blank radio
 

Hi there

I've got a 2004 e53 x5 and i changed the battery in the car. After changing it my radio is blank and upon start up it plays for 20 second then dead silent, no lights show up either.
I feel that I need to add a code or something
Any suggestions?

Thank you!

The e53 either has a MID (multi-informational display) or a Nav screen that the information from the radio receiver is displayed.

Please give more info/details as to WHICH set-up you have so that we can help you better.

BTW, there is no "anti-theft" radio code any longer. BMW did away with that type of set-up when they introduced the e38/e39/e46/e53 models. They incorporated model specific & multi-component set-up that reduced the ability to swap components from model to model...thus lessening the market for stolen "radios".

The radio for cars with the MID is incorporated into the in-dash cassette or in-dash CD player. If you have the Nav monitor...then the radio receiver is located in the rear below the cargo floor on the SAVs & Tourings (or side panel on the sedans next to the CD changer).

I have no navi. Just radio and business cd, no cd changer.

Pull your battery and try again. The action your describing is what happens when the mid in the dash is removed. The actual radio is in the trunk. If you are not successful then start looking for blown fuses

Initially i did disconnect the mid which lead to the issue (tried to instal aux port but bought the wrong connection) then changed the battery. I guess the best bet would be fuses but.... the radio does play for 20 sec or so then turn off, cd player functions but no audio. If it was a fuse issue i dont think any of that would function.

If you have the in-dash CD player...the "radio" receiver is actually incorporated into the CD unit...and the thing that controls the radio/audio/clock/obc/phone/etc...is the MID...and the MID is not the radio...its just an input display device that receives info/data from various components based on how the vehicle is optioned. :)

Did you check the fuse for the MID to see if it blew (ditto jgold47) when you disconnected/reconnected the battery? There may be fuses up front (glovebox) and rear (right cargo area). There should be a fuse index in both locations to help find the correct fuse.

I know this because when I sent in my mid to be fixed, I freaked out when the radio started playing.

Sorry about the confusion but yes the MID is non functional. I will check the fuses tomorrow. Thank you
I initially thought the MID contained the radio within it

I'll have to take you at your word then that even though you have the MID set-up that your radio is in the cargo area...but I've never seen that before.

Did you send in the in-dash CD unit (the item below)? Because again, the radio is incorporated into this in-dash unit if you have the MID...you can see where you hook up the antenna on the rear left side in the 2nd pic below :

Mac, what else do you have, besides the radio and the Cd player? do you have a Bluetooth unit? do you have DSP? since the functions of the radio are still present but the audio cuts off, if feels as if the audio is being muted - it can be muted for the BT function...