Most codes instant

Rover Philips R-Series radio code from your serial

The R570, R670 and R681 are the Philips-built radios in Rovers, Minis, Metros and MGs of the Austin Rover and Rover Group years — the largest single family in our code lists.

Where do I find it?
Know your radio type? Choose it

Free check · No account needed · Help finding your serial · Send us a photo instead

  • Free check first. See the first number of your code before you pay.
  • Code in seconds. On screen straight away, and by email.
  • Money-back guarantee. If the code doesn’t work, we put it right or refund you.
  • £9.99, one price. Secure checkout, no account needed.
Radios we cover
  • R570
  • R670
  • R681
  • £9.99one price per code
  • Freeserial check before you pay
  • Secondsmost codes appear straight away
  • Money backif the code doesn’t work

Which radio is in your Rover Philips R-Series?

Rover fitted different radios over the years. Find your Philips R-Series’s years below, but go by the serial: radios are often swapped, and the free check reads it for you.

YearsRadiosSerialCode
1985–1999R570, R670, R681 and related chassis Philips-built Rover Group head units 14 characters starting AR or RG Instant

What is printed on the label

People look these up because they are the only numbers on the radio that mean anything. A part number identifies the unit and is the same on every one ever built; the serial is yours alone and is the one we need. They are easy to mix up, so here is what to expect on a Rover Philips R-Series.

Printed on the unitWhat it is
AR570WX8146086The serial. Six characters naming the unit, then eight that are yours.
22DC570/60The Philips chassis number for the R570.
22DC670/60E, 22DC681/60LThe chassis numbers for the R670 and R681.
AR570W, RG594FSix-character precodes. AR is Austin Rover and RG is Rover Group — neither is Alfa Romeo or Renault.

A part number on its own cannot produce a code — every radio of that model shares it. If the number you have is one of the part numbers above, keep looking for the serial: it is the longer one, and usually on a separate line or a barcode label.

How to find your Rover Philips R-Series 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.

Where it is

On the label

  1. Take the radio out.
  2. Copy the serial from the label: 14 letters and numbers starting AR or RG.
  3. It is also on the Security Information card, if you have it.

Take a photo of the label rather than copying it by hand: it’s easy to mix up 0 and O, or 1 and I.

RADIOPush both keys in until they click, then pull the radio forward

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.

Tips for your Rover Philips R-Series

  • The serial is on the label or stamped into the metal case. These never show it on screen.
  • The original security card, if the car still has one, carries the same serial.

What your serial looks like

  • AR570WX8146086 Rover / MG / Mini Philips14 letters and numbers starting AR or RG 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.

How to enter your Rover Philips R-Series radio code

Once you have your code, key it in like this. Your order page shows the same steps next to your code.

Rover / MG / Mini Philips

  1. The screen shows CODE (or -C-).
  2. Press button 1, set the first number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
  3. Do the same for all 4 numbers. Two beeps mean it worked.

If your Rover Philips R-Series 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.

RadioWhat to do
Rover / MG / Mini PhilipsErr or WAIT: the wait gets longer each time. Keep the radio switched on.

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 Rover Philips R-Series’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 number is printed on the radio itself, so the code we give you matches the radio in front of you. It is also how we can check it for free before you pay. Main dealers often charge £30–£130, and you usually have to book the car in.

Rover Philips R-Series radio code questions

Does AR mean Alfa Romeo?

No — it is Austin Rover, and it catches people out constantly. Genuine Alfa Philips units use a different precode entirely.

Is RG Renault?

No, Rover Group. Renault units start RN.

How much is a Rover Philips R-Series 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 Rover Philips R-Series 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.

Another Rover?

See every Rover radio we can unlock on our Rover radio code page, or pick a model: 200, 400, 25, 45.

Updated September 2026