Yeah, that would work too. I'll see what I can come up with. One reason I like to participate in these forums is that the questions that come up make me a better technician, makes me find answers to questions I never would have thought of, and some day the info could be very useful. If the radio comes out with the radio "keys", then I'll try swapping radios. If more of the dash has to come off, then it gets too time consuming. In that case, I will research it instead of physically swapping, which I agree would be the most useful test. The thing is, if what they are saying is true about the code/chip, then the radio would have to be on the interior CAN (controlled area network) to get the info from EIS (electronic ignition switch). The radio I believe is on a K-line (dedicated comm line) to the Teleaid system, an also of course the D2B fiber optic line, but I don't believe the radio is on the interior CAN bus. I did review a 2001 info book I have here at home, and on ALL the radio sections for the different model line-ups, for the radio it always states "Anti-theft circuitry". In the case of the C-class, and also S and CL class, I am unaware of any anti-theft feature, at least in terms of needing a radio code to activate the radio or COMAND unit if the unit lost B+ or has otherwise been removed from the vehicle. Could it be (if I am correct in my assumations) that MB has determined, (as I have suspected for quite a while) that thieves who are out to just steal your radio are to stupid to realize that they need a code to reactivate the radio?.....Gilly