MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
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Do you need the radio code for your Mercedes-Benz radio or COMAND navigation? Some Mercedes-Benz radios and infotainment systems use anti-theft protection that may require authorization after power is interrupted or the unit is replaced, which is why the prompt often turns up right after a battery replacement. The exact procedure depends on the radio/head-unit model. Older Mercedes-Benz radios may use a manually entered anti-theft code. Later COMAND and infotainment systems may use electronic authorization or component-specific anti-theft procedures instead. If the unit does not display a traditional CODE prompt, do not assume that a four-digit code is required. Work out which unit you have first: see how to identify a Mercedes COMAND or APS head unit. If you installed a replacement or used head unit, the procedure may be different from simply restoring power to the original radio. Some systems require vehicle-specific coding or electronic authorization.
Follow these steps if you need the Radio Code for your Mercedes-Benz.
- First, take a look at your owner’s manual booklet. The code may be written on a small, business-card-sized slip of paper. Check the original owner’s documentation and any radio/security code card supplied with the vehicle. Some vehicles may not have a separate code card. Also, look at the front few pages and the back pages of the manual. The code may have been written there. If you can’t find the code, proceed to the next step.
- Locate the VIN on your car. On your Mercedes-Benz, you can locate the VIN by opening the driver’s door and looking for a tag like the one below. The VIN is 17 characters long. In the example below, it starts with WDDNG…………
- Use the link below to find a Mercedes-Benz dealer. You can call any of them. If one dealer isn’t helpful, contact the next on the list. You will need to enter a ZIP code to locate a dealer, for example, 90001. Find a Mercedes-Benz Dealer in the USA.
- If the radio code you received from the dealer doesn’t work, and if Mercedes-Benz or the service provider requires the head-unit serial number, check the radio’s display/settings first. If the serial number cannot be retrieved electronically, removal of the unit may be necessary depending on the model. To remove the radio, you will need the radio removal tools shown below. We found these Mercedes-Benz radio removal tools on Amazon for under $10 and free shipping. Once you remove your radio or command, look on the side or back of the radio for the serial code. Call back your dealer and give them the serial code. The code you get from using the serial number should work.
- If you can’t reach a dealer or qualified service provider, email Mercedes-Benz customer service using this contact form and provide the VIN and, if requested, the radio/head-unit serial number and proof of ownership. The information required varies by radio system and market.
Alternatives to get the RADIO CODE
Here are some alternatives to finding the radio code for your Mercedes-Benz. We haven’t used any of these services yet, so we have not independently verified these third-party services. Availability, accuracy, fees, privacy practices, and eligibility requirements may vary. Use caution when providing VINs, serial numbers, or other vehicle information. These are paid services that decode OLDER head units from the unit’s own model or serial number. Neither one handles the electronic authorization that later COMAND and infotainment systems use, so if your car is in that group the dealer route above is the one that applies. Reading the serial number off the unit means getting it out of the dash: see removing the COMAND or stereo head unit.
- Radio-Code.co.uk decodes Alpine and Becker head units from the 14 digit serial number on the unit, for a fee. It does not list COMAND.
- Radio-Code.lt covers the older Audio, Sound, Bose, Classic and Special series and the RA series navigation radios, selected by unit model.
How to enter the radio code video
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