For the 1432, you don't need to push the * button. I have entered my own code in my own 1432 a plethora of times, and I have not needed to place my finger anywhere near the mysteriously cryptic * button. Actually, the true function of the * button is unknown. No one knows what the F the * button is for. Perhaps pushing it will visit nuclear devastation upon you. That would not be desirable, and most likely come with deleterious side effects. But, I can confirm that it is not needed to enter in the code. Sorry.
I do vaguely remember, though, if you enter in the wrong code too many times that you will have to LEAVE IT ON for several hours on end for it to heal itself and allow you to enter in the code again. This extract from the manual might help:
View attachment 102123
Let me set things straight here. This information is borne from both personal experience, and from the MB "StarTuned Magazine," -- a publication that is published by MB internally for the benefit of its technicians.
First of all, MB had a bunch of different schemas, and models, and manufacturers of their radios over the years. Not all MB radios were automatically manufactured by Becker. Many if not most were, but there were also other manufacturers; and some of these manufacturers' radio operation processes and schemas were different from the "Becker" way of doing things -- despite the radios looking and operating otherwise similarly.
Second of all, I once owned a 1992 300TE Wagon (my first MB -- yes, I had an M103), and it had a factory MB BE-1432 type (two-piece style) radio. I can very definitively tell you that I used the "Star" button "
*" as the last key entry after the four-digit code, to finalize entry of the code into the system once the power was cut.
If the power was interrupted, and an incorrect code was entered three times, the radio would post a "WAIT" (or "HOLD") moniker on the screen, and make the user wait (with the radio powered up) for 10 minutes (in some radios this was 15 minutes) until the "CODE" moniker re-appeared on screen, and entry could commence. If an incorrect code was entered three more times, the "WAIT/HOLD" moniker would re-appear -- this time for 60 minutes (on some radios; others was 24 hours). After 60 minutes/24 hours, one could again attempt to re-enter codes. On some radios, if three more incorrect codes were entered, the radio would show the "WAIT/HOLD" moniker, and this would last 24 hours before re-entry could again be attempted.
Third of all, there were two different types of radios that were put into MBs during the 1991-1993 "two-piece" years. These were made by Alpine, and by Becker. The Becker units only required a four-digit code to be entered via the keypad, with no "ending" key required, before proceeding to the tuner. The Alpine units required a four-digit code, and then the "
*" button to be pressed afterward, and then the radio would make a "beep" sound and then proceed to the tuner and provide sound.
I hope this helps shed a little more light on the fact that my original post was not incorrect.
Fourth of all, the function of the "
*" key in all two-piecer Becker 1432-style radios was to provide a manual tuning entry mechanism. Meaning, that if you did not want to use the "SEEK" or "SCAN" up and down button-bars, you could hit the "
*" button, and use the numeric buttons to directly enter your desired frequency. So, if I wanted to listen to KITS ("Alt 105") ... formerly "Live 105" in the San Francisco Bay Area, I would hit
*1053 on the two-piece style radio, and I would immediately be taken to that alternative-rock station.
Fifth of all, I have attached information, taken directly from the September, 2004 issue of Mercedes-Benz "StarTuned Magazine," that provides details that they gave to technicians about how to enter codes on certain types of radios used in the 1990s in Mercedes-Benz models.
I hope all of this information is helpful.
Cheers,
Gerry
Process for 1991 Alpine-supplied units
Process for 1994 & 1995 ("Facelift") Alpine and Becker-supplied units
