I recently had a situation with my wife's '92 190E 2.3. The power antenna quit working. We were taking the car in for a service anyway so I had them look at the antenna. They told me that the drive belt was broken. "How much for a replacement?" I asked... Not available. You've got to replace the entire unit! $225!!! (This one integrates cell phone AND radio functions)
Then they tell me that they can "make the antenna function manually". I figure, "Why not?! I'll find a belt somewhere, then everything will be OK again." So I tell them OK.
Understand that we bought the car (used) from them and my mother bought a used car from them too! Now I've got a Mercedes too so it's not like we don't spend money there...
I installed the drive belt over the weekend and much to my surprise, they cut off the nylon "rat tail" (the toothed cable that the antenna motor drives up and down) to make it "operate manually".
I went in there today to register my shock and not only did they not want to take responsibility (YOU told us it would be OK) but then they wanted to sell me a new antenna mast AND charge me to install it!!!

I used to think that I had a good relationship with this shop, but I don't know that I'll be able to trust them to "do the right thing" any time soon.

ANY RESPONSES / IDEAS??


THANKS TO MITCHELL HUANG (a list member from British Columbia who had a bad motor but a good belt and sold it to me for $5!) for his help.

------------------
Jay Yambrovich
1989 300 E
1992 190-E 2.3

Is your antennna a Hirshmann? I would assume it is, but you know what they say about assuming... If it is a Hirshmann, you can contact them via e-mail or by telephone. I'm sorry I don't have that information in front of me - but it is on their web site. Just do a search on "Hirshmann".

Someone had put a cheap, poor quality power antenna on my '85 300D Turbo Diesel prior to my purchasing it. I obtained the correct antennna, but had mistakenly purchased what is known in the industry as a "naked" antenna kit (just the basic antenna unit and you're supposed to use your existing Hirshmann mounting pieces [that I didn't have].) I contacted them and they mailed me the mounting kit I needed at no cost. They did this even though I made sure that they knew that the antenna was purchased from a retailer - not directly from them. They were also _very_ helpful in helping me figure out which angle grommet I needed so that the antenna would have the same angle as the factory antenna. Hope this helps!

[This message has been edited by Raven (edited 10-11-2000).]