98 323IS Radio

cwood68 · 06-08-2010, 09:36 AM

I am having trouble with my radio. I thought the radio was not working, but found out the back light was not working. I could not see anything on the screen. I can see code wait on the screen with the help of a flashlight pointed in the right direction. I waited an hour, but it won't reset. I disconnected it completely, but when I reconnect it still has code wait. Any advise on what to do next? It worked when I first bought the car.

Manolito · 06-08-2010, 08:20 PM

You have a couple of things going on.

The dark display can be caused by a couple of things, but the most common cause is cracked solder joints on the surface-mount resistors on the circuit board. It was a bad design and many of them have this failure after about 10 years. I have a '97 in the garage with a dark radio display. I will take pics and post them when I fix it some time this summer. All you need is good eyes and a sharp soldering pencil, which is why I will wait until my daughter comes home this summer and have her do it while I take pictures.

The Code Wait message suggests that someone has been trying to key in the code. After three tries, it locks you out and you have to leave the radio on with the ignition on for an hour or so before it times out and the message changes back to Code and it lets you key in the code. When you say you waited an hour, was the ignition and the radio turned on during that time? Best if you are driving. Not good to leave the ignition on for an hour with the car not running.

I presume that you know the code? If not, you have to pull the radio and give the serial # to your dealer so they can look up your code. Some dealers charge $ for this, but most don't.

cwood68 · 06-09-2010, 08:00 AM

I forgot to leave it on. I got it working yesterday. I would love to learn how to repair it. I am also having problems with the heat/ac controls. These turn of & on without warning. I have seen ads for repairing these. I would rather repair these myself if possible. I don't like the idea of sending these off to someone I don't know. I have the tools, just don't have the experience with BMW parts.

Thanks for your response.

Manolito · 06-09-2010, 08:58 PM

I can help you with the A/C repair now. Google "Frontiernet Farm Boy", or go to

Farm Boy Home

As for the radio, you probably need to buy the special 5-sided allan wrench that removes the screws that hold in the radio. The screws are under the little doors at either end of the radio. I got mine from this guy, but that was many years ago.
radio_removal_tool

You are looking for the tiny rectangular surface mount resistors on the circuit board that have cracked solder joints.

You might be able to see the cracked joints with a magnifying glass. I pulled the radio apart, then plugged it back in and watched the display as I poked at the resistors. I had two or three that were cracked. Then I took a soldering pencil and resoldered them and the radio display has worked since then.

5 years later, that radio now has a bad volume control, and the radio in my other e36 now has a dark display. I doubt that I can fix the volume control. I don't know how digital volume controls work.

cwood68 · 06-10-2010, 06:12 AM

Thanks. I will try this over the weekend.

cwood68 · 06-16-2010, 04:58 AM

I bought the parts to repair the heat/ac controls, but when I tried to remove it from the car I noticed it had what appeared to be an electrical short. I can move the wire connector and it will turn off and on. Does it sound like this repair in the link you sent me will take care of this, or do I have a different issue. I appreciate your help with this.