87 SEL - how to adjust initial "up" time
 

Hello

My 87 SEL's antenna only comes up about 3 inches when turned on. I can hit the dash switch and make it go all the way up no problem. Once up, turning the radio or car off, and it fully retracts. is there a time adjustment for the initial power up? Or does anyone know how to make it extend further on the iniial power-up?
Thanks

This should be carefully thought out from the circuit diagram, but this works too...
 

According to the service manual (applies to my 350SE, which originally had a set up like yours I believe), the antenna is supposed to extend 30 CM (about 1 ft), then you adjust from there with the switch. That was somebody's bright idea back in the '80's at MB I guess, and perhaps was useful with the old Beckers in Europe. Who knows.
I re-wired to bypass the switch (or at least so it acts like it's always pressed for full up). Your problem is probably resolvable, but unless you're trying to restore the audio to pristine orginal, why bother? If you have an original Hirschmann antenna, there's a circuit board inside that works with the switch to accomplish this stupid feat. These are no longer available, and very rare, but again, WTF would anyone pay over $100.00 to get the antenna to do this?
When my friend and I did the re-wiring, we just pulled the switch out and with me in the trunk and him in the car, found the right combination to send the power directly to the antenna so it would go all up when the radio was on, and down when off. I have the circuit diagram and could maybe figure out how to do this if I had time, but I don't.
Just pull out the switch, unplug the connector, and remove the connector cover. Then move the wires inside, one at a time, with the radio on/off until you find the combo that works. At worse, you might blow a fuse, but I doubt it if you're careful not to ground any wire external to the plug, or jump them inside it.

Here's the diagram anyway. Hope it helps.:)

Assuming the antenna is all original (sounds like it is) what you need to do is this:
The bottom position of the switch is either "antenna off", or if the antenna is raised, it'll lower it. The top position is antenna to the max height. The "middle" position is this selectable position. i guess especially in FM, the height of the antenna affect reception, sometime max height won't give the best reception. What you do to select this "middle position" is to turn the radio on with the switchin the max height position. When the antenna is at the height you want it to be at, select the middle position on the switch and the antenna should stop. Now just leave the switch in the middle position, and whenever the radio is turned on it should return to the preselected position, until someone messes with the switch again (turns it off or turn it to the Max position again)

Gilly

Gilly
That did not work. I tried what you wrote, and variations of it as well. The antenna only runs for about one second, goes up and down smooth and fast. Any other ideas?
I really don't want to bypass or rig up anything; I want it to work like it is supposed to.
Thanks

Possibly the mast is seized and needs to be replaced. Or else there is a problem with the antenna motor itself.

Gilly