Radio Antenna Drama... what connector?
 

I've finally had enough of the Hirschmann drama. Broken masts, plastic tracks, electrical gremlins, having to wait weeks for parts.

I want to swap to a standard non-moving whip antenna. The kind that are $16 at the local parts stores.

I have brains enough to remove it before hitting an automated wash, and yes I know its not stock.

I really dont care for fanciness anymore. I just want the damn thing to work, and have halfway decent reception outside of town.

Therefore, I need to know where I could find and/or what type of plug is on the stupid thing? The closest I could come up with size and plug wise is a reverse polarity mini-UHF, but the threads are more fine, like an F connector. I've seen adapters for the back side of the head unit, that has a motorola male and a female of whatever MBZ plug... I need basically something similar, but with a motorola female and the female MBZ plug.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Sad to say your best bet might be to pull an entirely new coax with American style connectors from the radio to the antenna location. Not really that hard in a 123.

For future searches, here is my solution.

One of the local car audio shops actually didnt laugh at me when I explained what I was trying to do. I know damn good and well the parts exist, as they have to have these adapters for installing aftermarket head units in our MBZ's. Only catch is the genders are reversed for installing an aftermarket antenna the same way.

Turns out that Metra model #40-VW17 is what specified for installation of an aftermarket head unit in the 80-85 W123/126. They make the same deal, with opposite genders, known as the #40-VW16. I have one of these on order with the local shop, and should have it tomorrow. The 16 has a female motorola on one end, and a male whatever exactly like the connection on the Hirschmann on the other end. Fingers crossed.

I will update the thread again with my findings when I know more.

40-VW17: http://images.sc1.netdna-cdn.com/D/Adapters-40-VW17-detailed-image-1.jpg
40-VW16: http://www.shipsound.com/assets/images/metra/40vw16.jpg

Nothing to add, I just want to be able to find it later! I may go down this route in my W140.

Jim

Apologies for not getting back sooner. I got sidetracked at my side job, and have been pushing 50+hrs at my main job plus 30 on the side. In short, been busy.

I can confirm the #40-VW16 is indeed the perfect connector to get ahold of to replace your finicky Hirschmann mess with a generic whip from your local parts house. I have attached a couple pics... showing my finished product, a generic GM mast from AutoZone ($12), and the connector, which you can see attached to the grey Mercedes antenna cable and with the Motorola female on the other end with my mast plugged in.

Sources:
40-VW16 - Metra VW Antenna Cable Adapter at Abt
Metra Electronics/GM multi application black antenna (AW-GM935B) | Antenna | AutoZone.com

Cheers!