Mercedes Audio 10, 20 & 30 Radio Code Guide

The Audio 10, Audio 20 and Audio 30 are the classic Mercedes factory radios of the late 1990s and 2000s, built by Becker and Alpine for the A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, Vito and Sprinter. After a battery change they show CODE and wait for five digits — and entering them works differently from most other brands.

Finding the serial number

1. Remove the unit with two or four release keys (model-dependent).
2. Note the serial from the label: Becker-built units start with BE, Alpine-built with AL.
3. Photograph the whole label — the model reference next to the serial helps identify the code system.

Order your Mercedes radio code with that serial.

Entering the code — the Mercedes way

1. Display shows CODE with five dashes.
2. Enter the five digits with the station buttons.
3. Confirm by pressing preset buttons 1 and 3 together — the classic Becker confirmation.

After several wrong attempts the unit shows WAIT and counts down — sometimes up to an hour. Let the timer run out before trying again.

Frequently asked questions

My code has four digits, not five. Is that wrong?

No — older Becker units use four digits, later Audio units five. We supply the code in the length your unit expects.

What does "WAIT 60" mean?

Sixty minutes of lock-out after wrong attempts. Keep the radio powered; the counter must reach zero before input reopens.

Does this also cover the Comand system?

The early Comand 2.0 uses the same Becker code system. Newer Comand APS/NTG systems are vehicle-linked — see our Comand guide for those.