This is actually two unreated questions in one post. While in the trunk attempting to fix the in-op power antenna on my '96 C220 I came across a part that mystifies me. It isn't malfunctioning, I just want to know what it is. It lives forward of the spare wheel well under a large plastic access panel. It is a white box approx. 3 1/2" X 7" with a large wiring harness plugged into it. The strange thing is that it has a w140 part no. (140 820 66 26) and does not show up in any online parts data bases. Also, on the opposite side of that same compartment there are two relays, what are they for?
The second part of this post is that I found the problem to my power antenna, and it is a broken lower nylon gear (where it is supposed to fit into the spring clip upper gear). Are these gears available anywhere or does it require a new $200 antenna for the lack of a $2.00 part?

__________________
1996 SL320 97K miles
1996 C220 130k miles
1992 500SEL 170k miles <---sold
1986 300E 216k miles <---sold

Gentlemen: What worries me the most about my MB is that to save money, MB will slowly strart using Chrysler parts in their cars. If they do I will popably switch to BMW.To mprove MB they will have to stay away from Cheysler. In our culture everyone knows Chysler makes junk. We are already seeing the decline in quality in BM. So they better understand why certain people buy MB.

The box is the control unit for the alarm and infrared locking. The chassis number designation in the first three digets of the part number usually refer to the first chassis to use such a device.

Gears are where you find them, MB is not such a place.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Someone tell me I'm lucky. With close to 200K on my "97 C280, I have never had a service problem. (as in going into a MB dealer) I change tires, battery, wiper blades and thats about all. The car is and runs like new. Does not use oil, leak anything and always gets me to Florida. What else should I be concerned with? BTW the brakes lasted 100K miles before I installed a new set. 45 minutes, $67 bucks. You folks with all your troubles, I would never buy another MB. Stick to Chevy or Ford and just expect problems. MB will be ruined by Chrysler, and MB knows this, but the bottom line is all they are interested in. I agree, they have abandoned their quest for quality. I'll probably go for a BMW when my car finally wares out.