I've thought long and hard about posting this but I'm so upset about what I just went through with a Hirschmann antenna that this might be the only way to calm down.

I recently helped a friend of mine locate an '85 300D and I've been working on it for her, doing whateve repairs I can. After running down the list of usual suspects (dead odometer, poor dash lighting, sticky sunroof, A/C, etc) I got to the Hirschmann antenna, which had a broken mast. I ordered a replacement mast on eBay ($35 with shipping), installed it and was disappointed to find that the antenna extended perfectly but refused to retract. I pulled it out again, tinkered with it a bit - using tips from this site - and got it to ALMOST work (sometimes it retracted, sometimes not). After doing some more searching on this site I came across Walter Odemer and his shop in Burbank, CA. He does Becker and Hirschmann repair, so I decided to ship the antenna to him for an estimate. I told my friend I would pay for everything as a birthday gift to her.

A week or so later I call him up (he didn't call me) and I'm told the antenna's been fixed - which surprised me since he never called or e-mailed to discuss what was wrong and how much it might cost to fix. I was aware of the $65 bench fee but beyond that figured it'd be another $50 - $60 for parts. Then I get an e-mail saying the total is $174.17. The Hirschmann needed a new control board, some gears and a new mast - then there's the bench fee and shipping charges. This is where I began to feel stupid, since I regularly see old Hirschmanns and new "universal-fit" models for under $50 on eBay. My friend is using her Mercedes as a daily driver, to commute roughly 15 miles round-trip to work, and certainly doesn't need an immacutely-restored original-equipment antenna - but I figured I'd bite my tongue and consider it a lesson learned.

I check my bank account on-line yesterday and I'm being charged $274.71, not $174.71. Walter got his math wrong. The control board alone was $110, then the bench fee, then the gears, etc. I called and argued with him about it, explaining that he never provided me with an estimate, that a new Hirscshmann from Mercedes would run me roughly $300, that I'd just put in a new mast, that not EVERY Mercedes owner is rich - but he was having none of it. That's when I demanded my parts back (I'll be damned if I'm providing him with parts ON TOP of paying nearly $300!) and he said I could have everything but the control board, since it's a "core exchange" situation. This is another piece of info he never shared, despite the fact I had e-mailed and called BEFORE shipping the antenna off.

Again, I feel incredibly stupid here. If I'd known what I was getting into prior to payment I would've told him to stick the antenna where the sun don't shine (hey, at least it retracts now!) and found a replacement on eBay. There's one on there right now hovering around $45, with zero bids.

I know some of you on this board have had pleasant interactions with Mr. Odemer - and I only wish I could report the same - but to anyone who was thinking of using him: CAVEAT EMPTOR! Make sure you explain to him that you want an ESTIMATE before he proceeds with work, that you will not authorize repairs UNLESS he tells you how much it will cost. My other advice would be to use a credit card in case you need to get your money back. I used a VISA debit card and I'm SOL at this point.

Sorry for the length of this post and I'm sure some of you will write and defend Mr. Odemer and his work. Personally, I'll never deal with him again and would be gratified if my experience spared one of you the same.

__________________
Diesel Fitter
Lily Von Shtupp: 1983 300D w/199k
Communication Breakdown: Chris T.'s new WFMU Podcast

I have an 560sel and the antenna will not work
I need a repair place to send it
I will not use him
It may have cost you but I appreciate the post

Thanks Bryan

I never used Odemeyer but I already knew they were overpriced, some bird must have told me that
Becker NA (in New Jersey?) no longer repairs Hirschmann antennas so who do you go to now?

There are lots of non-Original knock off antennas all over eBay but I will never stoop so low as to use one.

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I just ordered some parts for my antenna from Walter. The price, although high, was reasonable considering NOBODY had what I needed but him. He was nice and gave me a price before I ordered the part. I am happy with his service.

As to the original poster, I think it is low to drag someones name through the mud when it really was your mistake. You gave the man a broken antenna and he returned to you a working antenna. Nothing wrong there. Perhaps in the future you will ask for an estimate before proceeding. Mr Odemer did nothing wrong except a simple math or data entry error on your original bill. I think you owe him an apology...

Unless someone signed off on paying whatever was required to fix the unit the reasonable thing for the repair service to do was to inform the client of the probably amount of the repair costs...at the very least, especially since the repair cost was very close to the cost of a new unit and what I would consider high.

That said, unless you specifically told him you wanted an estimate for the repair work he's not necessarily obligated to provide one, especially if you said fix it.

Although I think there was likely mis-communication here on the part of both I think the client was hurt the most in this case. The business had an obligation, even if voluntary, to inform the client of potential high costs and they didn't, and I feel like the customer was the one who bore the brunt of the pain since it was their bank account that suffered.

It could go either way but I feel more for the person who probably went into this thinking that the repair shop would provide some cost figures and they didn't. I would have been angry too, and I can't say that the post is disingenuous at all, someone had a problem and wanted to pass it on, and I'm happy he did so.

my .02

steve a

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Steve A
92 W140 OM603
97 VW Jetta TDI
90 Passat variant TDI 6 speed MT
94 Chevy K1500 6.5TD
05 E320 CDI
+ others

Repairing the Hirschmann Antennas couldn't be easier. I contacted Hirschmann via email and was sent this email reply. I ordered the repair kit, OEM antenna and cleaning pads from Gary. It was a very easy repair and Gary was a pleasure to work with.

>>Sue is no longer with us and I am helping her replacement, Lisa Moore, with some of the customer inquiries. I’m afraid that we aren’t set up to sell to individuals at this time due to sales tax issues. I would like to refer you to one of our customers that does sell to individuals, his name is Gary Guear and his company is GLG Direct. 770-781-5658

The part numbers you are looking for are:

496-750-400 Repair Kit Auta 6000 KE – IN STOCK (thank you for having that number handy)
820-902-106 Replacement mast for Auta 6000 KE – IN STOCK
820-814-001 Cleaning Tissues – IN STOCK

And then received this email from Gary.

>>Received eBay order/payment for 6000KE Gear Kit (thank you!) but, before I send it I want to check-in with you :

Ruth from Hirschmann mentioned that you might also be interested in a
mast(telescope) and lube/cleaning pack for your 6000KE

The grease is only in stock in Germany and at least 2 weeks out (personally, I dont think its even necessary, if you want to grease the tiny roller (pretty much the only thing that ever needs it) use a little white lithium grease and you'll be good to go

We stock the OEM Hirschmann Mast for $59.95 (Including 1 Lube/Cleaning Pack)and a Aftermarket Version of the same Mast for $14.95 (Including 1 Lube Cleaning Pack)

The OEM Hirschmann mast is tuned to work correctly with your antenna motor/stereo tuner and has a filament running from the second thinnest mast section to the tip of the thinnest black section that aides reception(the little silver dot you see in your existing masts tip is the end of this
filament)

The aftermarket mast relies solely on its 2 thickest metal sections for reception, there is nothing inside the masts thinnest black plastic section...these units provide reception but, maybe ony 75% of the reception the OEM Hirschmann unit provides...if you live/drive close to your radio stations (live in a city etc) the aftermarket unit at 25% of the cost of the OEM is generally fine but, if you live outside of town or take frequent country drives or you just like the idea of doing it "right" you might feel that the OEM mast is worth the additional cost

We only ever list the aftermarket version of this mast on eBay but, we only have 2 in stock and they are backordered so we dont have any ads up for them right now (no problem selling one of the two we have in stock to you)

We dont list the OEM Hirschmann units on eBay, only direct sales

We do have extra telescope lube/cleaning packs for $1 each

Let me know your thoughts and if you would like me to give you a call

Thank you for your business!

Gary

770-781-5658 (USA, GA) 9-9 EST

I guess you might have overpaid, had he used your (E-Bay) mast and it did not work properly you would have complained. Any one who takes on a repair after the customer has been in it, deserves to be paid more. Why did you not get a total antenna from (E-Bay) or go to Pep Boys and squeak about making it fit.
I dont know where you got a $300 price, a mast at MB is over a hundred these days, and they gave me a so called discount

Why bother with (expensive) fixing the OE antenna motor. . . I have NEW Hirschmann motors w/mast for $79 plus S&H.

Mine do not have the height adjustmnet feature, but otherwise are OE Hirschmann units . . .

George Murphy
865-482-9175

Are these TRUE Hirschman manufactured units or do they come packed in rice?
Anziani

is Courtesy Inclined...

Anziani,

Spend a Wee-Bit-O-Time,and see if you can find out who you're asking that question of.

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

OK, I give up, WHO is George Murphy (1 post) and why should I be awed? And why wouldn't I be suspicious of a price of $79 when a new OE unit is pushing $400+. And why is all of the automotive crap in the world made in China?
Inquiring minds want to know?
Anziani
33 47 52 deg N
116 27 41 W

Tnx for the discussion and new sources for repair/replacement. Have added this info to my "hirschmann" page . . . here

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

I have had a lot of experience with Walter back in the 90s when I owned a mercedes repair shop. One thing I do know is that CA consumer affairs requires him to provide you an estimate prior to performing work. If you have any issues, I would contact CA consumer affairs and take it up with them.

As for my experience with Walter Odemer, I remember he used to charge my shop for a "board replacement' for the anti-theft feature of the old 754 becker radios. He would charge anywhere from $250 to $395 depending on his mood. He would actually bill for repairing/replacing of the "anti-theft" board in these radios.

Later on, when the local dealer (Downtown LA Motors) finally came across the reset tool, I felt completely ripped off by this person. To me, it is fraud on his part to be charging to 'repair' the radio and replace parts when all he was doing is performing a reset. He never provided me with any parts by the way.

I would get an estimate in writing before sending anything off to him (I wouldn't myself)