parents bout 03' x5 today. playing around with it in the garage with mom for 20-25minutes. went to try and program garage door opener so i cleared the codes by holding the 1&3 for 20seconds. couldnt get it after a couple attempts so gave up.

went to get out and figured better start it to charge battery back up. wouldnt turn over and ''code'' screen came up on radio. got charger out and waited lil bit before starting and it still wouldnt start. figured the code was just for the radio lock, but i think it might be for the security system for vehicle.

anyone know about this? everytime power is lost in vehicle u have to enter security code before the computer will even crank the starter?

i feel really bad but how was i to know playing around for only 20mins would kill the battery so fast (headlights were off too).

:rolleyes:embarrasm

To my understanding, the X5 came with an engine immobilization option where you needed a code to start the car. However, you should have to activate this function when you turn the car off. The reprogramming of the garage door opener should not have an affect on this code. Did you ask your parents whether they have engage the immobilization function in the past and if so, what was the code they used to disable it?

I am going to presume you have navigation. According to the manual for the 2004 navigation (hope this is the same), to do an Emergency Deactivation of the code, you need to do the following:

Emergency deactivation
Emergency deactivation can also be
carried out before the three attempts to
start the engine or three incorrect code
entries have been made and the alarm
sounded.
1. Disconnect the battery and wait
about 5 minutes before reconnecting
it; refer to Owner's Manual for Vehicle
2. Turn the ignition key to position 1.
A ten-minute countdown appears on
the screen.
After the ten minutes have elapsed, you
can start the engine.

-Edit- The 2000 navigation manual shows the same procedure, so it is safe to assume 2003 will be the same.

Emergency deactivation
Emergency deactivation can also be
carried out before the three attempts to
start the engine or three incorrect code
entries have been made and the alarm
sounded.
1. Disconnect the battery and wait
about 5 minutes before reconnecting
it; refer to Owner's Manual for Vehicle
2. Turn the ignition key to position 1.
A ten-minute countdown appears on
the screen.
After the ten minutes have elapsed, you
can start the engine.
that was it...sorta
disconnect battery
reconnect (alarm will go off)
lock
unlock
key in ign for ten mins

But that did solve the problem?

And for the smaller problem of the garage door opener, you have to hold 1&3 for 30 seconds to clear the previous codes. It feels like 12 minutes, but it's really only 30 seconds.