About MG radio codes
MGs from the Rover years, such as the MGF, Maestro and Metro, share their Philips radios with Rover. Their serial, on the label or case, starts AR or RG. Radios in MGs built from 2007 by MG Motor are a different design.
How to find your MG radio serial number
The serial isn’t shown on the screen: it is printed on a label on the radio itself. The serial tells us exactly which code your radio needs.
On the label
- Take the radio out.
- Copy the serial from the label: 14 letters and numbers starting AR or RG.
- It is also on the Security Information card, if you have it.
Photograph the label rather than copying it by hand — 0 and O, 1 and I are easy to mix up.
Most radios slide out with a pair of radio removal keys (a few pounds from any car parts shop). Push them into the slots on the front until they click, then ease the radio forward. Some have screws to undo first.
What your serial looks like
-
AR570WX8146086Rover / MG / Mini Philips14 letters and numbers starting AR or RG Instant -
BP3782R3701682Blaupunkt / Bosch14 letters and numbers starting BP, BO or PO Instant
Can’t find it or can’t read it? Send us a photo of the label: £9.99, with a full refund if we can’t find your code.
The radio has to come out to read its label. How to remove a car radio shows which release keys you need and where they go.
Which MG radio do you have?
These are the radios MG fitted we know about, and whether we can unlock them. Not sure which is yours? Type the serial in: the free check works it out for you.
AR570WX8146086
Rover / MG / Mini Philips
Serial: On the label on the radio
InstantGuide
Locked display
CODE ----
Serial BP3782R3701682
Blaupunkt / Bosch
Serial: On the label on the radio
InstantGuide
Popular MG models
Step-by-step help for the MG models people ask us about most:
We also cover:
- Maestro
- Metro
Years: 1985–1999. The serial is what counts, as radios are often swapped between cars.
How to enter your MG radio code
Once you have your code, key it in like this. Your order page shows the same steps next to your code.
- The screen shows CODE (or -C-).
- Press button 1, set the first number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
- Do the same for all 4 numbers. Two beeps mean it worked.
- Buttons 1 to 4 each set one number.
- Hold button 5 (or the tuning knob) to finish.
- Won’t go above 1 for the first number? Use the second code we give you.
If your MG radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE
Each wrong code makes the radio wait longer before the next try, and some radios lock for good after too many. Don’t guess: get the right code first, then follow the steps for your radio.
| Radio | What to do |
|---|---|
| Rover / MG / Mini Philips | Err or WAIT: the wait gets longer each time. Keep the radio switched on. |
| Blaupunkt / Bosch | After a wrong code, most Blaupunkt radios make you wait before the next try, and the wait gets longer each time. Leave the radio switched on until it asks for the code again. |
What LOCKED, WAIT and SAFE mean, and how long to wait →
Why we use your radio’s serial, not your number plate
A radio code belongs to the radio, not the car. A dealer usually looks it up from the MG’s number plate or VIN (the 17-character number in your logbook), which only works if the car still has the radio it left the factory with. Radios are often swapped under warranty, upgraded, or changed by a previous owner.
The serial is printed on the radio itself, so the code matches the radio in front of you. It is also what lets us check for free before you pay. Main dealers often charge £30–£130, and you usually have to book the car in.
What we can and can’t do
We can do
- Philips radios with AR or RG serials
- Blaupunkt CD radios in the later MGF and the TF (serial starting BP)
We can’t do (yet)
- MG Motor (2007 on) radios
- MG ZT radios (Alpine radios)
We always tell you before you pay. Not sure? Send us a photo of the label.
MG radio code questions
Where is the serial on these older radios?
These radios can’t show it on screen. Take the radio out and copy the serial (14 letters and numbers) from the label or the metal case. The original security card also shows it.
Why do you look the code up?
These codes were set by the maker, so they can’t be worked out. We hold millions of them and check yours before you pay.
How much is an MG radio code?
£9.99 per code. The free check comes first, so you only pay once we know we can do it, and you get your money back if the code doesn’t work.
How long does it take?
Most MG codes appear on screen the moment you’ve paid, and we email you a copy. If yours has to be looked up by our team, we email it within 2 hours and tell you before you pay.
What if the code doesn’t work?
Check the serial first: 0 and O, or 1 and I, are easy to mix up. Still stuck? Tell us from your order page and we’ll put it right or refund you in full.
Updated October 2026
