Radio Code? Help! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

KenP · #1 05-04-2003, 05:00 PM

Bought a used 1996 S500 a few months back. In the glove box was the users manual (including the radio manual), but no code for the radio. Went to the local Mercedes dealer (an hour drive away!), gave them the VIN, registration, etc, and the service advisor looked up the radio code on his computer.
Today, I replaced the battery. After reconnecting the battery, the radio asked for the code.
I followed the instructions to the letter... put the key in the Number 1 position, turned on the radio, and entered the 5 digit number. Pushed "SC" to confirm the code ... and, it asked for the code again. After three tries, it displayed "WAIT", which according to the manual means the code I'm using is incorrect.
My guess is that the radio has been replaced sometime in the car's history (I don't have any service records) and the code the dealer gave me was the original.
Does anyone have the ability to look up the code by the serial number?
The radio says BECKER BE1692. Serial is T1053019.
If you can find the code for my radio, please send it to gearhead285@hotmail.com
Thanks, KenP

sura · #2 05-05-2003, 09:58 AM

Ooh, doesn't sound good. You could contact Horst at Harman Becker http://www.harmanbecker.us/ Follow the links to the Becker Board where you can post a question, or give them a call. You may have to send it to them. Good luck.
Ray

KenP · #3 05-07-2003, 08:45 PM

Yep, if you go to the Becker web site, there's a toll free number to their parts department in New Jersey.
Believe it or not, Becker considers the radio code to be a radio "part". They can look it up by radio serial number and the charge is $30.00
Didn't want to pay the 30 bucks, so went back to the Mercedes dealer again... sure enough, they had given me the wrong code. They re-checked, gave me a different number, and now everything works.
Thanks, KenP

haasman · #4 05-12-2003, 02:07 AM

If this helps you or anyone else, I have recently been entering several radio codes in trying to fix some radio problems.

I have found that when pushing the buttons to enter the code, you have to be very deliberate.

Also, you can also push one of the tune buttons instead of the SC. I don't know why but this seems to work better on some radios.

Maybe this will help others.

Haasman

G-Benz · #5 05-12-2003, 12:35 PM

I used to keep this tip secret, but I'm "going public" so to speak...

Do you have a dealer repair invoice from when the PO had the vehicle?

On the invoice header info you should see the initials RSC and 5 numbers beside it. It stands for "Radio Security Code" and as you noted, the dealer has this info in the database. Compare this to what you received when your dealer did the inquiry.

haasman · #6 05-12-2003, 12:39 PM

Good one!

Haasman