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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 5ycsDji5S8t3Juf57lfxFA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-010261.txt : 20030606
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-010261.hdr.sgml : 20030606
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030606135329
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-010261
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030430
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KUEHNAU ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202572

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02816
		FILM NUMBER:		03735567

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7401 W WILSON AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7088676777

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			METHODE ELECTRONICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000065270
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC CONNECTORS [3678]
		IRS NUMBER:				362090085
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7401 W WILSON AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7088676777

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7401 WEST WILSON AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60706
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd9956.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-04-30</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000065270</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METHODE ELECTRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>METHA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202572</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KUEHNAU ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Vice President &amp; Controller</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-04-30</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>134</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>9.25</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>8376</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>Held in Methode 401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Option to Purchase</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>10.50</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2002-06-10</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>30000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>10.50</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2006-06-10</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2012-06-10</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Class A Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Shares purchased during the fiscal year with the quarterly dividends received on the Class A common stock held in the Methode 401(k) Plan.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning June 10, 2003.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Robert J. Kuehnau</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-06-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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