Disconnecting old antenna... install new stealth one?

[Cschilderink]

I don't know if anyone else feels the way I do but I think that the stock antenna mast looks tacky. I want to disconnect the stock antenna and install a wire antenna.
First I need to be informed on how to disconnect the stock antenna.
Secondly I need to find out where to get a wire antenna.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Ashkan's C280]

I would also be interested in this... my motor died or something so it does not work already. but it still makes that noise that it is going up, wire ants rule...

[Dr.Drew]

ok the stock antenna cable on my car 1997 C280 sport runs from the radio down under the carpet on the passanger side, to the trunk then up along the rear deck and to the side where the antenna is located. it a simple screw on style i think it goes into a booster or some box and then it goes to the antenna unit i replaced my antenna cable when i upgraded to the audio 10 because some idiot cut it to install a sony RF cd changer. just take off the driver side rear carpet on the side to get access to the antenna mechanism

how are you going to get rid of the hole? i was thinking of doing something simmilar but it would be to expencive to get the whole 1/4 pannel repainted, i was thinking a little SLK 5 inch non retractable antenna should go over the hole quite nicely

[Cschilderink]

No I just want to disconnect the antenna and leave it there it will just never go up. I also want to get a seperate antenna to replace it that is stealth or invisible like the ones they have in the boxster.

[thmsshaun]

This is something I wanted to do as soon as I got the car. I purchased a small electrical antenna that I have located up on the front screen behind the rear view mirror.

At some point I want to take the old unit out and loose the hole but it is the cost of repainting. I would be interested to know how the slk unit fits / looks though.

[Cschilderink]

This is something I wanted to do as soon as I got the car. I purchased a small electrical antenna that I have located up on the front screen behind the rear view mirror.

How much was that antenna and how did you install it?

[thmsshaun]

Simple to install I will try and post later.

Ran cabling through the top of the roof lining down the indow pillar under the dash to the radio.

There are 3 wires. one for connection to the radio. One earth (Earthed to interior light) and one live taken from the remot out on the headunit.

Cost was about £12GBP I think that works out around $23

[BENS_C36]

Also interested......pics please.....:D

So how can I simply disconnect the antenna mechanism so it doesn't go up? It would still work fine wouldn't it....actually I don't care I hate it.

[Dr.Drew]

http://home.t-online.de/home/320089180517-0002/MercedesSLK.jpg

thats what i would like to do but i need to find an slk antenna for it to work

[thmsshaun]

Now that Slk antenna does look nice.

Its simple enough to stop the antenna going up by just exposing it from the inside and cutting the live feed wire.

You will still pick up Radio where there is a strong signal. But over here in the UK it becomes very restricted so you really would need some sort of alternative in place. However if you got a pair of pliers you could lift the black cap out of the base and you could use it as a manual antenna if you were to go on a long journey perhaps.

Unfortunatley for you guys I have been out tonight so unable to provide pics. Busy weekend so it looks like it could well be Monday now.

[J Irwan]

To disconnect the antenna motor just disconnect one of the plug.

I don't have any pic, but it took me only 2 min to figured that out.
So it's pretty straight forward.

Once you do this then the antenna won't retract. (it stays down).


Cschilderink,
To answer your question on my antenna

I have a Bosch wire antenna that is mounted on the front windshield on next to the A pillar on the driver side (mounted from inside).

I don't have the part number for this Bosch Antenna since I threw the box. ( I bought this a long long time ago).

ITs probably hard to see on this pic,
but you can see that it has a round silver part and then the wires next to the Driver's side A pillar .

http://onfinite.com/libraries/38726/157.jpg

Regardz,

[ShollyC220]

Originally posted by J Irwan
To disconnect the antenna motor just disconnect one of the plug.

I don't have any pic, but it took me only 2 min to figured that out.
So it's pretty straight forward.

Once you do this then the antenna won't retract. (it stays down).



Hey J, do you mean the plug behind the head unit? The one that connects the head unit to the antenna wire? I'd also like to prevent my antenna from going up since I don't listen to the radio anyway, so please let me know if that will do the trick. Thanks

-sholly

[J Irwan]

Originally posted by ShollyC220
Hey J, do you mean the plug behind the head unit? The one that connects the head unit to the antenna wire? I'd also like to prevent my antenna from going up since I don't listen to the radio anyway, so please let me know if that will do the trick. Thanks

-sholly

oops my bad

is the plug that connect it to the Antenna unit.

so it's in the trunk (driver side) , and you need to pull out the trunk line out of the way in order to be able to get to it.


It's a 2 wires connector that powers up the antenna motor.


Regardz,

[BENS_C36]

Thanks for the info J Irwan. :D

[Cschilderink]

Ya thanks J Irwan!
It took my about 15 minutes to figure it out and disconnect it. Just to clarify it is two black wires that connect to a big plastic plug located below the actual large antenna cable.

btw does anyone know where I can get a wire antenna? The reception sucks now that I disconnected my antenna... given that I never listen to the radio I would like to have a wire antenna for those rare occassions where I do.

[stox]

I wonder if the cellular antenna in the rear bumper would work well enough?