Generic Manual Replacement Antenna for a 300td?
 

The power antenna on my 82 300td is not working. I HATE power antennas. I would like to replace the whole unit with a fixed antenna like on newer cars. A euro or sport in black would be a +

Anyone know of such an animal that bolts up nicely and plugs right in?

erik

If the motor runs you may just need a new mast. Otherwise big chain auto parts stores have fixed replacements.

The W123 wagon has a very unusual antenna mount with an acute angle -- I tried a bunch of auto parts stores and my favorite online antenna shop, www.antennaworld.com, in search of what you seek. I couldn't find a manual replacement anywhere. Perhaps you could find one from a dismantler in Europe...?

Then again, you might try this: take the front cover of the Hirschmann unit off and loosen the big stamped-steel nut so that the clutch slips with minimal resistance. Then reinstall the unit with the motor circuitry unplugged. You should be able to raise and lower the antenna mast manually.

i have
 

what guys in the radio industry call a rubber duckie. it is a black rubber antenna that is fixed and about 16" long. it was about $20 installed. works ok but not great for catching weak signals.

tom w

As a former Car Audio Shop owner I had ran into many customers who were sick of the electric antenna blues (mostly mercedes owners) and I used to install manual retractable antennas for some customers. I always offered rebuilds of Mercedes antennas because the most they ever needed was interior cleaning, lubrication and mast. For a good manual go Hirschman but there are those models sold in auto parts stores that will suffice. The only thing is the size of the base. They basically come in 2 sizes 3/4 inch and 1 inch. Make sure the base is large enough to cover the hole in the fender without having to modify the hole in any way.

I vote remove the antenna and clean it and lubricate. Many of these cars came with a tool for lubricating the antenna, I believe.

Personally, I really like the power antennae. They are cool. Every modern car I've bought has the antenna within the windshield. I liked seeing the old antenna rising up in my left side mirror.

Perhaps the connection from your head unit to the antenna had gone bad, also. That happened to me, I bought an Alpine unit to replace the old one anyway, and voila, the antenna worked again.

Here's a suggestion. The Euro spec W123 wagons had manual hirschmann antennas mounted on the front right fender. If you want an OEM setup bad enough, you could order a front fender and antenna from a Euro W123 wagon that was wrecked in the rear or side, repaint it to your vehicle's color, and have the antenna hole in the rear filled in. But that's quite a bit of trouble.

Wow, man!! I am impressed. It might be easier and less expensive to just sell the car and buy one with a "really super mint" antenna!

But I like the enthusiasm!!!

Remove antenna motor assembly and take off cover.
Screw up antenna to fully extended position.
reinstall antenna assebly. Now you have a fixed fully extended antenna.

I did that for a while before I was able to get a used assembly and mast.

Danny

Reinstalling a power antenna unit with the mast fully extended could prove to be a challenge! :)

That may be true I don't remember. I don't think I fully extended it either I only put it up half way. Fully extended is a little too high for me.
I may even have extended it in place. The point is you can extend the existing non-working antenna and it will stay extended.

Danny

Recycled
 

for customer/new 300TD owner.