What to replace radio w/ new one but having trouble finding one with an electric antenna connection. Can anyone help?

Just about every modern head unit has a wire for the antenna and/or power amp. I picked up a $75 Kenwood for my SDL a couple months back that had the antenna/amp wire and it works perfect with the stock power antenna.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Do you mean you can't find a radio with a signal wire for the antenna? I can't think of a modern replacement radio that doesn't have an antenna and/or external amplifier signal. The problem with a late 126 is running an antenna cable from the factory tuner in the trunk to the new radio.

Sixto
83 300SD can be yours
98 E320 wagon

thanks. radio people said no elec ant lead--- did not mention power amp connection

Like Sixto indicates...there will be both, at least in something slightly above an entry level tuner.

Have you picked out one yet? Are you interested in going for some really great sound?

There are suppliers where you can buy components that are much better than the big box store packages for a similar price. If interested I can get you the specs for my recently refreshed SDL system.

The W126 is a little tricky, due to its acoustics, to get really good sound including good solid bass without adding a standard subwoofer, or cutting.

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1986 300SDL 440,xxx

Just about every head unit on the market has a "blue" wire in the harness that is for remote amplifier actuation. That same lead will work for triggering the antenna motor.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

did you install yourself? can I run the speaker leads off the connection on balancing wheel on consul?

I installed my radio myself. It took about 3 hours on a weekend afternoon. I didn't use the internal wiring harness from the car, I pulled my own speaker wires which wasn't difficult. The rear speakers I ran under the carpet along the passenger side door sill and joined up with the wiring harness going through the rear bulkhead under the parcel shelf. Easy to do and no chance of inadvertent damage from rubbing on anything or catching on the seat mechanism.

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

IIRC your '91 has amplifiers by the rear speakers so you can't tap into the wires at the fader switch by the shift lever like you can with earlier 126s.

Sixto
83 300SD can be yours
98 E320 wagon

ok, thanks, will run new wires. Thanks for all the other helpful info. Got a Kenwood KDC-118. when I opened the box the pwr ant/p con was clearly marked. seems like no one knows anything about what they sell anymore. Result of the Marxist Pavlovian conditioning in the school system no doubt.

If you're replacing the original radio, you have no antenna cable in the dash. The antenna connects to the tuner in the trunk. I don't remember if the antenna trigger wire is in the trunk or dash.

Sixto
83 300SD can be yours
98 E320 wagon