For those of you who removed the stock radio, did you use a Mercedes radio removal key or did you fabricate a set? Naturally local auto stereo stores won't sell them and so far none of the auto parts places have them.

 

i bought my toolsw at Walmart for about 8 bucks. the package had two different sets for radio removal!

 

Thanks for the idea. Got it for $4 and it works like a charm...

 

Can I see a pic of the tool that works to remove the factory radio?

 

Here you go.....

 

I used the Wal-Mart special also...... got the factory radio out easy enough, but now I can't get the dang keys out of the headunit - they're in a box, still stuck together.

 

They are Becker keys and if you email them, they will send out a set for free.

Did it maybe 6 months ago, kind of cool.

 

Mike, did you press the catch down? The catch is what the key is pointing at in the photo, press down and pull key out.

 

i have 2 sets if you want one pm me and ill mail you a set

 

this member wanted the spare set i had and then wants to pass the set to whoever needs it next. sounds like a good idea so they are on their way to him!

 

Oh, geez.......couldn't be more obvious it jumped up and bit me on the butt!

With my head hung in shame and embarrassment I shall go home this afternoon and remove the stuck keys by pressing down on the OBVIOUS little catch on both sides of the radio.

 

Anyone handy with a file can make their own with some .030" to .040" thick steel. Go to the following site and download the photo, print it out at 1:1 (full size) and use it as a template. You might spend a half hour or so making them, how hard can it be?
You only need to make two with the profile shown in the top right (or bottom left) hand corner, the width is .35" and 2" long is just fine.
The photo shows a set of keys with three different styles of key, you only need one style
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/pro...0869001-f.jpeg
If you jamb the key in and it will not come out don't blame me. I made some and they worked fine, I made them from plastic and they lasted about five minutes, but they did work.

 

Will these keys work to remove the stock radio from our crossfires?

Sirius Radio Audi / Mercedes Radio Removal Tool

Thanks for the help

 

Yes they should work

 

They look similar to what I have, however, mine have more of a curve off the pointy end. I expect they will work OK.

 

You can see a photo of the Becker Keys in this thread:

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...sale-more.html

 

You can buy the keys at any walmart 4-6$

 

Ditto on Lakeviews post about Wal-Mart having these radio keys. I got the set that had the european set and the Ford set in the same package, fora pittance. I happen to have a Ford PU truck as wel as the XF so the purchase was better as I got two sets of keys for the stock radios. Already used the XF keys, perfect!

 

Ebay BIN $1:
Mercedes Benz ML CLK SLK AMG Radio Stereo Removal Tool - eBay (item 390275230480 end time Jan-25-11 16:59:24 PST)

 

FWIW, I made my own keys out of a hack saw blade I ground down on my bench grinder. Took about 10 minutes for each "key". The blade is a perfect thickness and of course I ground off the side with the teeth to narrow it down .

Do a search on radio keys until you find the post with a picture of the keys to print out as a guide, break a hacksaw blade in two and grind away. The notch doesn't have to be perfect and be sure to smooth the edges with a file or sand paper.