Audio 50 APS Harman Becker from W204 W212 – how do you recognise a faulty navigation unit?

Here are a few ways to quickly check whether your radio is a Harman Becker Audio 50 APS – see which ones.

Repair of Audio 50 APS

You drive a Mercedes and do not know which navigation version you have? Audio 50 APS, NTG, Comand, or perhaps another one? This article is aimed at W204 and W212 owners and will certainly help you identify the type of audio system. We also include a list of the most common faults in these radios. What should you look out for? – read to the end.

Repair of radios and navigation units in Mercedes cars is our speciality, so we recommend you check:

Checking the Audio APS 50 version

The radio navigations we are writing about today are models made by Harman Becker. Depending on the car version, your front panel may be graphite or have a glossy black finish. Remember: regardless of the car version, the Audio 50 APS branded by Harman Backer does not have an SD card reader.

W204 W212 Audio APS 50 navigation

Audio 50 APS navigation radio part numbers

The fastest and best way to check is simply to remove the main unit and read the part numbers. The rating label is on the right-hand side of the device and contains all the information needed to confirm the version.

Navigations fitted in W204 C-Class

In Mercedes C-Class models – W204 (saloon) and WS204 (estate) – you can find radios with the symbols:

  • 7050, BE7050, W204 HU-MID-DVD (1 CD/DVD drive), (e.g. A2048706894)
  • 7051, BE7051, W204 HU-MID-DVD Changer (CD/DVD changer)
  • 9059, BE9059, W204 HU-MID-DVD-ECE (1 CD/DVD drive), (e.g. A2049069800)
  • 9060, BE9060, W204 HU-MID-DVD Changer-ECE (CD/DVD changer), (e.g. A2048700596)
  • 9075, BE9075, WS204 HU-MID-DVD-ECE (1 CD/DVD drive), (e.g. A2048205497)
  • 9076, BE9076, WS204 HU-MID-DVD-Changer-ECE (CD/DVD changer)

Navigations used in W212 E-Class

The following were fitted in W212 E-Class cars:

  • 9013, BE9013, W212 HU-MID-DVD-ECE (1 CD/DVD drive)
  • 9014, BE9014, W212 HU-MID-DVD Changer-ECE (CD/DVD changer)

Typical Audio 50 APS faults in W204 and W212

Faults in W204/W212 audio systems are repetitive — the navigations are failing to start correctly more and more often. Problems we can help with:

  • It resets periodically. The menu appears and then the system switches off, turns back on after a moment and only the manufacturer logo is visible again.
  • It does not switch on at all. It does not respond at all to turning the key or to manual switching on.
  • It freezes on the logo. After switching on the ignition, the only thing you see is the Mercedes Benz symbol.
  • AntiTheft lock. Your radio has never been replaced and is asking for unlocking? Unfortunately, that is a fault.
Power and system sockets in Audio APS50 from W212

Tomasz Mazurkiewicz is the founder and owner of the OEMatic brand – a workshop specialising in repairing factory car radios, navigation systems and amplifiers. For over 15 years he has worked on OEM electronics, combining day-to-day workshop work in Sochaczew with mail-in service for customers across Poland.

In his published texts, he draws on real jobs – from identifying faults in audio modules and displays, through CAN bus diagnostics, to restoring security codes and soldering SMD components. He writes the way he speaks to customers: directly and with an emphasis on what actually works. Every article on oematic.pl is based on his own experience gained with factory car electronics.


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