WANTED WTB: Hirschmann Antenna

[tomer]

trying to insert pic of my current grommet...

 

[gsxr]

gsxr, I am having trouble loading a pic, but my current antenna is the threaded top, IF that means after you place the grommet onto the mast, there is a funky nut that screws on and fits into the groove (?) of the grommet, to hold grommet against the fender... Then of course the mast once inserted also threads into the antenna.

Yes - USA model years 1992, 1993, and early 1994 have the funky screw-on nut arrangement.

By your post do you mean you would upgrade to the newer style antenna (which does not have the splitter?) and takes the $3 snap on grommet?

Yes, I'd upgrade to a newer style antenna with the $3 grommets (note: you need the upper AND lower portions of the grommet! See link in post #49.) The later antenna still has the splitter.

And then that antenna (whatever the part number?) requires a wiring adapter?

Not a wiring adapter, but a mounting adapter. The old threaded-top antenna is NLA new from Mercedes, and the EPC specifies the new style plus a number of extra parts to make it work (basically the two cheap grommets, and two mounting pieces under the fender). EPC Group 82, subgroup 345.

 

[tomer]

sorry to flog this dead horse...would this work from Amazon? Note there does not appear to be a splitter, do I need that?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G68E4Q/

 

[gsxr]

sorry to flog this dead horse...would this work from Amazon? Note there does not appear to be a splitter, do I need that?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001G68E4Q/

See post #3 above. That is the direct replacement for the threaded-top antenna... not the "upgrade" to the late style. Depends if you want to go the easy route (replace) or the hard route (upgrade).

 

[tomer]

I think I want the easy route (upgrade?) to later style which accepts the inexpensive two part seal...

Would this be it?

http://www.amazon.com/Hirschmann-W0133-1602264-HIR-Power-Antenna/dp/B001G6BZSI/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_4

Note no splitter on this unit, but of course who needs it

 

[gsxr]

I believe this is the correct unit:

http://www.amazon.com/Hirschmann-W0133-1599789-HIR-Power-Antenna/dp/B001G6E6RU/

 

[makemann]

Last week I was listening to Morning Edition intently as I drove into the carwash. Halfway through the carwash, I realized I shouldn't be listening to Morning Edition. Broke the mast.

I'm pretty sure the white plastic toothed cable is broken and still inside the antenna housing. Is it possible to remove that remaining piece and just replace the mast? If so, I'm very confused on which antenna mast I should be getting as a replacement. Would you please provide a part number or link? Or do you recommend I replace the entire antenna?

TIA,
Max
1992 500E

 

[JC220]

My new to me 500E had the mast stuck halfway out. When I took the antenna apart it was well beyond repair. Cracked and corroded inside- junk. I took 2 more OE aerials apart and they were junk too. I guess no surprise for 25+ year old parts.

I replaced it with a complete new Hirschmann unit. Pic attached- it’s a universal type power antenna but it fits just fine to a w124.

I also fitted a new MB body grommet / seal and used the chrome securing ring from the Hirschamann kit. It actually seals better than the OE setup when tightened down. (Perfect snug fit right over the top of the MB seal)

It’s also inexpensive at about £60 for the complete new unit and has the same 4 wired setup. I have these on 2 of my w124’s now and they work flawlessly

 

[gsxr]

I'm pretty sure the white plastic toothed cable is broken and still inside the antenna housing. Is it possible to remove that remaining piece and just replace the mast? If so, I'm very confused on which antenna mast I should be getting as a replacement. Would you please provide a part number or link? Or do you recommend I replace the entire antenna?

TIA,
Max

Max, is your antenna original from 1992? If you're not sure, pull the left trunk carpet and inspect. If it is original... I'd spring for a complete new Hirschmann exact replacement (not the generic), see post #3 and #8 above.

If your antenna has already been replaced with new/reman and you're fairly confident it only needs the mast, see post #10. About $75 or so for a replacement OEM mast.

 

[makemann]

Max, is your antenna original from 1992? If you're not sure, pull the left trunk carpet and inspect. If it is original... I'd spring for a complete new Hirschmann exact replacement (not the generic), see post #3 and #8 above.

If your antenna has already been replaced with new/reman and you're fairly confident it only needs the mast, see post #10. About $75 or so for a replacement OEM mast.

Dave, it is original. Thanks for the links to your photos. I'm going to replace it. Can you share the install instructions? The link on your page gives me an ERROR 403.

http://www.w124performance.com/imag...993/Hirschmann_DRP-7_install_instructions.pdf

 

[gsxr]

Max, thanks for the heads-up... the permissions on that file got hosed up somehow. Fixed now, but the instructions are pretty useless.

Here is a link to the FSM procedure for antenna R&R:
http://www.w124-zone.com/downloads/MB CD/W124/w124CD2/Program/Chassis/82-8105.pdf

Note the early antenna with threaded top has a somewhat fragile grommet, which is $$$ to replace. If yours is cracked, damaged, or gets buggered during R&R you may need to replace that. (Another option would be converting to the late-style, ball-top antenna with "cheap" grommets... but this requires additional parts and isn't straightforward.)

 

[vatc5637]

If your antenna has already been replaced with new/reman and you're fairly confident it only needs the mast, see post #10. About $75 or so for a replacement OEM mast.

+2 on this, make sure you get the genuine MB or Hirschmann branded mast as none of the others will fit properly. While they look ok, any other cheap replacement mast will either be too thick or not have a flush fit. I went through 3 (sourced from eBay, Amazon, among others), before realizing that continuing down that road was pointless. Lesson learned . . .

 

[makemann]

+2 on this, make sure you get the genuine MB or Hirschmann branded mast as none of the others will fit properly. While they look ok, any other cheap replacement mast will either be too thick or not have a flush fit. I went through 3 (sourced from eBay, Amazon, among others), before realizing that continuing down that road was pointless. Lesson learned . . .

Thanks. I'm taking Dave's earlier advice and just buying a new Hirschmann antenna rather than just the mast. The unit is 24 years old and I'm sure it is going to fail as soon as I install the new mast.

 

[Klink]

Last week I was listening to Morning Edition as I drove into the carwash.

You know, you think you know somebody, and then this...

 

[makemann]

You know, you think you know somebody, and then this...

My mast flies my freak flag proudly.


Max

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Klink]

Thanks. I'm taking Dave's earlier advice and just buying a new Hirschmann antenna rather than just the mast. The unit is 24 years old and I'm sure it is going to fail as soon as I install the new mast.

Good call, except for

The car wash usually destroys them pretty comprehensively, usually ripping off or cracking the ball head on the top of the mast tube.
That being said though, if you take it out of the car and take it FULLY apart, almost any part you could need except the mast tube is readily available on the innerwebs...
Fixed billions of them...

 

[Seangbadee]

If your car is a long-term keeper... I would strongly suggest buying a brand new Hirschmann. Yes, I know that is painful at ~$180 from Amazon. I've messed around with trying to fix old/used antennas as the success rate is not good. Old ones often need new masts at $60+ and the control boards are frequent failures ($25-ish used on eBay), and in some cases internal parts break which are not fixable. Unless you have access to a local Pick-n-pull to raid cheap parts to repair old ones, just buy new and sleep better. BT, DT.

http://www.amazon.com/Hirschmann-W0133-1601556-HIR-Power-Antenna/dp/B001G68E4Q/

Photos here... note this is for 1992, 1993, and early 1994 only with the threaded-top antennas:
Index of /images/W124_stereo/Hirschmann/1992-1993

Click here for a photo of the grommet, which is only available from MB as part of a rather expensive ($94 MSRP) kit. Hopefully you can re-use your existing grommet(s).

Just got a hitschmann Auta 6000 KE antenna from a wagon in a JY here in Atlanta, and it's in very good condition. What lubricant can I use for the plastic parts on the inside?
Thanks

 

[gerryvz]

Use Gleitpaste (for the sunroof). I also would recommend NAPA Syl-Glide alternately. Both of them would be excellent for this application.

 

[Seangbadee]

Thanks.
I'll get the syl-glide today.

 

[Seangbadee]

The antenna is now fully functional. It goes on and off with the ignition switch. Is this the normal operation? I was of the opinion that it turned on and off with the radio on/off knob.

 

[gsxr]

The antenna should extend when the radio is turned on, and retract when radio is turned off.

 

[gerryvz]

Dave is correct. The power to the antenna is probably just connected to the wrong lead. The radio (if it's a stock Becker) should have a wire that controls the antenna deployment and retraction.

 

[Seangbadee]

I'll look into this. Thanks for clarifying

 

[Seangbadee]

Switching the radio on/off has no effect on the antenna.
I'll pull the radio out as soon as I get the correct removal tools, and I'll send it for service to get a good cleaning etc.
It sounds pretty good for a stock unit. I opened a brand new Michael Bolton cassette, and the cassette system still works.

 

[036]

Found my old video
That´s how Hirschmann have to function (just switching a radio on and off).
Bought it new for like 130 Euro.

 

[Seangbadee]

Dave is correct. The power to the antenna is probably just connected to the wrong lead. The radio (if it's a stock Becker) should have a wire that controls the antenna deployment and retraction.

I pulled the radio out and it's a Becker 1492. I noticed one loose wire (pic 1).
I traced the wires and the antenna wire is connected to a red lead (positive).
Could it be that the unit was replaced? What am I missing?

 

[gerryvz]

Do some searching on this site and via Google for Becker 1492 wiring diagram.

 

[Seangbadee]

Will do.
Thanks

 

[Seangbadee]

Very strange finding. I disconnected the red power connector and my antenna now works with the radio on/off button. Could this have anything to do with the telephone and antenna?

 

[Seangbadee]

I just discovered some new issues with my radio, antenna, phone and ignition.
After I unplugged the wire in the picture below, I noticed that my radio on/off switch would control the antenna and the radio would go on without ignition on, and everything seemed to work perfectly, or so I thought.
When I started the car this morning, the radio showed 'phone' in the display, and the station went off and on intermittently, showing phone in between.
I plugged the wire back in and the phone notification disapperaed, and the radio played.
When I switched the ignition off, the antenna went down, and the radio would no longer go on.
I unplugged this mysterious red wire and the radio would go on, antenna would go up, without the ignition on. I plugged the wire back in and the radio went off and antenna down.
Is this operation normal for the 1995 with the phone, or have my electricals been "rigged"
Right now, I'm lost!
I went back to the car to check...
Ignition off
Mystery red wire plugged in.
Radio goes on and antenna goes up.
Ignition on
Radio stays on
Antenna stays up
No issues.
Unplugged red wire
Phone shows up on display...

 

[gsxr]

I don't know if this will help at all, but look for a black box in the driver side pocket of the trunk... if you find one, disconnect it. This would be for the factory analog phone, which is useless with current cell towers.

 

[Seangbadee]

I found the black box, removed all connections, removed the box, and re-checked the radio, tape, cd etc ...
Problems solved
The phone no longer interferes with the radio

Can you tell me where this plug/wire would/should go (2nd pic).

 

[gsxr]

First pic is the phone box - good job disconnecting that thing!

Not sure about the second wire. If it's by itself, it MIGHT somehow be related to the phone? The antenna receives a separate signal to extend half-way when the phone is in use.

 

[Seangbadee]

That wire is in the center console area, and goes to the rear of the car in a bundle. I'll tape it up
Thanks a bunch.

 

[Seangbadee]

Could that be a ground for the radio chassis?

 

[gerryvz]

Yes, that is a ground point.

 

[gsxr]

OH! Yes, I think you are correct... I thought it was in the trunk. In the center console area near the radio, that is very likely the radio chassis ground.

 

[Seangbadee]

 

[Seangbadee]

Now to tidy all the loose tape and wires. I'm going to use this product

Amazon.com: Tesa's Most Advanced High Heat Harness Tape 51036 Mercedes, BMW, Audi, VW: Office Products

Buy Tesa's Most Advanced High Heat Harness Tape 51036 Mercedes, BMW, Audi, VW: Duct Tape - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Seangbadee]

The tape came in yesterday and now it's time to tidy up all these wires.

 

[Seangbadee]

I have all my wires re-taped and it's less if a mess than before. I am installing everything back in the console area, but I cannot figure out where this plug goes (see picture).
Does anyone have a clue?