Bosch Radio Code Guide

Q: How to Find the Serial Number

There are two main methods, depending on your vehicle: Physical label: Use a pair of DIN extraction keys (available cheaply online) to slide the radio out of its cage. The serial number sticker is on the top, bottom or side casing. On-screen display (VAG RCD/RNS units): Switch the ignition to position II with the radio in SAFE mode. Press and hold preset buttons 1 and 6 simultaneously for two seconds. The serial number scrolls across the display. On some RCD 310 units press 1 and 4 instead.

Q: How to Enter the Code

The entry method differs slightly between platforms: VAG RCD 300 / RCD 310: The display shows SAFE then a four-digit blank. Use preset buttons 1–4 to step through each digit, and the scan/seek button to move to the next position. Press and hold to confirm the final digit. VAG RNS 310 / RNS 510 (touchscreen): A PIN entry keypad appears on the screen. Enter the four digits and tap OK. Peugeot/Citroën RD4: Use preset buttons 1–4 to enter each digit, then press button 6 (or the confirmation b

If your car radio is displaying SAFE, CODE, or a blinking cursor after a battery change or power interruption, and your unit was made by Bosch, this guide explains exactly what to do. Bosch is one of the largest OEM electronics suppliers in the world, manufacturing head units fitted as original equipment in Volkswagen, Škoda, SEAT, Peugeot, Citroën, Nissan, Renault and many others — often under the vehicle brand's own label rather than the Bosch name.

Which Cars Use Bosch OEM Radios?

Bosch supplies head units across a wide range of European vehicle platforms. You are most likely to find a Bosch-built unit in:

Volkswagen — Golf IV–VII, Polo 9N–AW, Passat B6/B7/B8, Touran, Tiguan (RCD 300, RCD 310, RNS 310, RNS 510, Composition range)
Škoda — Octavia I–III, Fabia I–III, Yeti, Kodiaq, Superb III (same VW-platform Bosch units)
SEAT — Ibiza IV–V, Leon II–III, Altea, Arona, Ateca (RCD 200, RCD 310, Discover Media)
Peugeot — 206, 207, 307, 308, sharing the Bosch/Clarion RD4 platform
Citroën — C3 I–III, C4 I–II, DS3 (Bosch/Clarion RD4/RD45/RT6)
Nissan — Qashqai J10/J11, Micra K12/K13, Note E11 (Clarion/Bosch NissanConnect lineage)
Renault — Mégane II/III, Clio III/IV, Captur I (Blaupunkt/Philips/Continental, some Bosch-origin platforms)

Browse the full list of supported vehicles on our radio code brands page.

Serial Number Format

Bosch OEM serial numbers vary by the vehicle platform they are built for:

VAG (VW/Škoda/SEAT): 14-character VWZ serial (e.g. VWZ1Z2Z3456789), sometimes labelled SKZ (Škoda) or SEZ (SEAT/Audi)
Peugeot/Citroën RD4 family: Serial found on a C7 barcode label — an alphanumeric string beginning with the unit part number
Nissan/standalone units: Plain numeric or alphanumeric serial on a white sticker

The serial number is not the same as the part number printed in large text on the unit's top face. Look for a smaller barcode label.

How to Find the Serial Number

There are two main methods, depending on your vehicle:

Physical label: Use a pair of DIN extraction keys (available cheaply online) to slide the radio out of its cage. The serial number sticker is on the top, bottom or side casing.
On-screen display (VAG RCD/RNS units): Switch the ignition to position II with the radio in SAFE mode. Press and hold preset buttons 1 and 6 simultaneously for two seconds. The serial number scrolls across the display. On some RCD 310 units press 1 and 4 instead.

How to Get Your Unlock Code

Once you have the serial number, visit radiocodelookup.com/brands, select your vehicle make, and follow the on-screen steps to retrieve your code. The process typically takes only a few minutes and the code is delivered to your email address.

How to Enter the Code

The entry method differs slightly between platforms:

VAG RCD 300 / RCD 310: The display shows SAFE then a four-digit blank. Use preset buttons 1–4 to step through each digit, and the scan/seek button to move to the next position. Press and hold to confirm the final digit.
VAG RNS 310 / RNS 510 (touchscreen): A PIN entry keypad appears on the screen. Enter the four digits and tap OK.
Peugeot/Citroën RD4: Use preset buttons 1–4 to enter each digit, then press button 6 (or the confirmation button) to confirm.
Nissan/Clarion-Bosch units: Preset buttons 1–4 cycle each digit; press button 5 or the source button to confirm.

Variants and Generations

Platform	Common Model Names	Serial Prefix	Entry Method
VW/Škoda/SEAT (pre-MIB)	RCD 300, RCD 310, RNS 310, RNS 510	VWZ / SKZ / SEZ	Presets 1–4 + scan key
VW/Škoda (MIB2 touchscreen)	Composition Colour, Discover Media, Discover Pro	VWZ	Touchscreen PIN pad
Peugeot/Citroën	RD4, RD45, RT6	C7 barcode	Presets 1–4, confirm 6
Nissan OEM	OEM CD, NissanConnect	Plain serial	Presets 1–4, confirm 5

Troubleshooting

SAFE 1000 / WAIT: On VAG units, if SAFE mode is entered three times incorrectly, the unit shows SAFE 1000. Leave the ignition on (engine off) for approximately one hour. The counter counts down to zero, after which you can try again.
LOCKED / ERR: On some Bosch units for Peugeot or Citroën a temporary lockout activates after several wrong attempts. Switch the ignition off for 30 minutes before retrying.
Code not accepted: Double-check that you are reading the serial — not the part number — from the sticker. VWZ serials are exactly 14 characters.
Touchscreen shows Komponentenschutz: Newer MIB2/MIB3 units may display a component protection screen instead of a PIN prompt. This is a VIN-bound protection requiring dealer reactivation, not a radio code.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Bosch radio say SAFE after I changed the battery?

Bosch OEM units (and the VAG-platform radios they power) store a theft-protection code in volatile memory. Any power interruption — battery replacement, jump-start, or blown fuse — triggers SAFE mode. The radio is not broken; it simply needs the unlock code re-entered.

Where exactly is the Bosch serial number sticker?

On most removed units it is on the top casing, towards the rear. On units that support the button shortcut (VWZ serials), you can display the serial on-screen without removing the radio: press and hold presets 1 and 6 simultaneously (or 1 and 4 on some RCD 310 variants) with the ignition on and the radio in SAFE mode.

My VW Golf radio shows SAFE 0003 — what does that mean?

The number after SAFE indicates how many attempts remain before a time-lock engages. Three means you have three tries left. Use those carefully, or retrieve your code first before attempting entry.

Can I enter the code without removing the radio?

Yes, if the serial can be retrieved via the on-screen method (hold presets 1+6), you never need to pull the unit. Most VAG Bosch units support this. For Peugeot/Citroën RD4 units, the serial display shortcut is activated by pressing presets 1 and 4 during power-up.

Is the Bosch radio code the same as the PIN in my vehicle documents?

Sometimes — older vehicles included a card in the service booklet with a factory-set code. If you have that card, try it first. If not, the serial-based lookup service at radiocodelookup.com calculates the correct current code from your unique serial number.