Philips Radio Code Guide

A Philips or Philips/VDO car radio displaying SAFE or a four-digit blank entry screen after a power cut is asking for its theft-protection code. Philips was a major OEM electronics supplier to European car manufacturers throughout the 1990s and 2000s, building radios branded as Philips/VDO, Philips/Becker, or simply carrying the vehicle manufacturer's logo. Once you know the serial number, the unlock process is quick.

Which Vehicles Have Philips OEM Radios?

Philips and its VDO division supplied head units to a broad range of European brands. You are most likely to encounter a Philips-origin unit in:

• Volkswagen — Golf III/IV, Polo 9N, early Passat: models branded as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Frankfurt, Concert (Philips/Blaupunkt era, pre-Bosch dominance)
• Audi — Concert and Symphony units on A3 8L/8P, A4 B5/B6, TT 8N — manufactured by Philips or Philips/Harman
• SEAT — Ibiza IV (6L/6J), Leon II — VWZ-serial Philips/Blaupunkt units
• Škoda — Fabia I (6Y), Octavia I/II — RCD 200 range
• Opel/Vauxhall — Corsa C/D, Astra H/J, Zafira B — CD 30 / CD 300 (Blaupunkt/Philips lineage)
• Peugeot — 206, 207, 307 using the RD3/RD4/RD43 platform (Philips/VDO)
• Citroën — C3 I/II, C4 I — RD4/RD45 (Philips/VDO sourced)
• Renault — Mégane II, Clio III, Twingo II — Philips/VDO/Continental Tuner List and Update List units
• Fiat — Punto II/Evo, Panda II, Seicento — OEM CD units with Philips/Blaupunkt heritage

Check whether your make is supported at radiocodelookup.com/brands.

Serial Number Format

Philips OEM serial number formats depend on which vehicle platform the unit was built for:

• VAG group (VW/Audi/SEAT/Škoda): 14-character serial starting with VWZ, AUZ, SEZ, or SKZ
• Peugeot/Citroën: Serial encoded in the C7 barcode label on the unit casing
• Opel/Vauxhall: Serial beginning with BE or BP on a sticker (Blaupunkt/Philips crossover units)
• Renault: PRE-code (T0 / 2811 prefix) on the label or shown via an on-screen function
• Fiat: Numeric serial on the unit casing sticker

How to Find the Serial Number

1. On-screen shortcut (VAG units): With the radio in SAFE mode and ignition on, press and hold preset buttons 1 and 6 simultaneously for two seconds. The VWZ/AUZ serial scrolls across the display. Some older units need 1 and 4.
2. Physical label: Remove the unit using DIN extraction keys. The serial sticker is typically on the top or side of the casing. On Peugeot/Citroën units the C7 barcode label may be inside the unit slot (visible without full removal).

How to Get Your Code

Visit radiocodelookup.com/brands, choose your vehicle make, enter the serial number, and receive the four- or five-digit unlock code by email.

How to Enter the Code

• VAG RCD/Concert/Symphony: Preset buttons 1–4 cycle each digit; the seek/scan button advances position; hold the last button to confirm.
• Peugeot/Citroën RD3/RD4/RD43: Preset buttons 1–4 for each digit; button 5 or 6 confirms.
• Opel CD 30 / CD 300: Preset buttons 1–4 to cycle digits; press and hold the last button to confirm.
• Renault Update List / Tuner List: Use the steering-wheel controls or preset buttons to navigate the entry menu; confirm with the select button.

Brand / Platform	Typical Radio Model	Serial Format	Code Length
VW/Škoda/SEAT	RCD 200, Concert, Beta	VWZ / SKZ / SEZ (14 chars)	4 digits
Audi	Concert, Symphony	AUZ (14 chars)	4 digits
Peugeot/Citroën	RD3, RD4, RD43	C7 barcode	4 digits
Opel/Vauxhall	CD 30, CD 300	BE / BP prefix	4 digits
Renault	Tuner List, Update List	T0 / 2811 PRE-code	4 digits

Troubleshooting

• SAFE + countdown: After three wrong attempts, most Philips/VDO VAG units lock for one hour. The number shown (e.g. SAFE 0001) counts remaining tries. Wait for the timer, then try with the correct code.
• Display shows nothing after correct entry: On some older Philips units the display blanks briefly then restores — this is normal. Wait 10 seconds before assuming failure.
• Code length mismatch: Some Renault Philips units use a five-digit PRE-code to generate the unlock code; ensure you supply the full code including leading zeros.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Philips VDO the same as Continental VDO?

Yes. Philips sold its automotive electronics division (Philips Car Systems) to Siemens in 1994, which became VDO, and VDO was later acquired by Continental AG in 2007. Units branded Philips/VDO, Siemens/VDO, and Continental/VDO all share overlapping design lineages and serial-number formats.

My Audi Concert says SAFE — is this a Philips unit?

Audi Concert units were manufactured by Philips (earlier generations) or Philips/Harman. The serial prefix is AUZ (14 characters). The unlock procedure is the same: hold presets 1 and 6 to read the serial on-screen, then look up your code.

Where is the serial on a Peugeot 206 RD3 radio?

On the Peugeot/Citroën RD3 the serial is encoded in the C7 barcode sticker on the casing. Pull the unit with DIN keys and read the barcode with a scanner app, or read the alphanumeric string beneath the bars. Some units also reveal the serial by pressing presets 1 and 4 simultaneously during power-up.

Can the Philips radio code be different from the card in my service book?

If the radio was replaced at some point, the new unit may have a different factory code from the one on the card. Always retrieve the code for the actual serial number fitted to your car.

Will my Philips radio lock permanently after too many wrong attempts?

Most Philips/VDO OEM units use a time-based lockout (typically one hour), not a permanent lock. However, a very small number of older standalone units can lock after 10 or more incorrect entries. Retrieve the correct code first to avoid repeated wrong attempts.