Hirschmann Automatic Power Antenna - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ricdoucette · #1 01-23-2008, 01:40 PM

Has anybody checked out the Herchmann replacement antennas on E-Bay
for 40 bucks?? My 92 300te's needs to be replaced and this looks temping. I'd rather replace or repair the original. Any enlightenment out there??

throne7 · #2 01-23-2008, 02:32 PM

I think the problem is that you have to hack up the wiring before everything will work.

donbryce · #3 01-23-2008, 09:01 PM

Not really 'hacking up' IMO. Go here and look at the 'pin seizure' pdf's for these, which are likely similar to the EBay units. http://products.hirschmann.de//index.php?sessiontoken=20071013195317-11111111&manid=4&CFID=&CFTOKEN=&pbparam=tid=980,pid=776,spid=2,maid=26,view=2
I had one in the trunk of my SL when I got it, uninstalled. Took less than 1/2 hour with a multimeter to verify the pins in the harness plug.
All you need is ground (always a brown wire), 12V constant (ignition controlled), and a 12V signal from the radio, when it is turned on (and no 12V when it is turned off, the ''trigger wire').
Find the wires at the plug, and go various routes to connect to the antenna plug, supplied with the Hirschmann (and shown in the pdf schematics).

Mark DiSilvestro · #4 01-24-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricdoucette

Has anybody checked out the Herchmann replacement antennas on E-Bay
for 40 bucks?? My 92 300te's needs to be replaced and this looks temping. I'd rather replace or repair the original. Any enlightenment out there??

Yes, I bought one off E-Bay for my 240D. The Auction listing 'Mercedes Hirshmann' had expired so I bought the one listed for VW - same unit. Came with a bunch of adapters.
Looks kind-of like a small Hirshmann but the Hirshmann logo was cut off the package. There was a Hirshmann sticker on the motor case, nextto the one printed 'Made in China'. Even with the shipping, it was cheaper than the $70 Chinese Harada universal power antenna Pep-Boys sells. (OTOH, Advance Auto sells the same Chinese Harada unit for about $50)
Right now, my '82 240D has some unknown-brand aftermarket antenna, with a broken mast, so buying just a Hirshmann replacement mast wasn't an option.
With all the brand-names made in China these days, I'm fairly (though not completely) certain it's a legitimate Hirshmann. And my rusty 240D doesn't really merit an OE German replacement that might cost more than I paid for the car!

Happy Motoring, Mark