Antenna, late (97 up) 129SL--have you...
 

attempted to replace a mast? This is the one that your dealer says is only repairable by replacing the entire antenna assembly. This is the combo cellular/radio antenna that sells new at your MB dealer for $500+.
Any of you guys had experience here? And would one of the old style Hirschman antennas work, since the MB cellular option is now obsolete?
Appreciate any of your opinions/experience...thanks.

Have you tried Phil at Fastlane ? Give him a try.

That would be fine, but....
 

there is not a part in the MBUSA system that meets that description. The entire antenna has a 129 part number, but I'm not going to spend $600 ish bucks on it. I'm really wondering if anyone has experience replacing this antenna with the one that has no cellular function.

Have you tried the recyclers ? Potomac Auto comes to mind.

You can buy a "regular" radio only Heirshmann antenna that will fit. If not from Fastlane ( it's in the on-line catalog at $226 ), then for sure from Becker Audio USA. http://www.beckerautosound.com/

If it is just the mast that is broken, then I believe you can obtain it separately for about $140. Could you describe it please? Is it a three stage mast, with the top stage made of black plastic and the lower two stages in chrome? If so, it is PN MA140 827 00 01 Telescopic Antenna. Check before you buy: don't take my word for it.

I've not seen a combined cellular / radio mast. I have a three seperate ones in mine for telephone, GPS and radio. The normal aerial mast is around £15 from a dealer and are a common failure item.

antenna mast
 

I'm in the middle of it right now- with very little research, I found a DIY article here in the forum. I located a place online, something like antenna masts R us and got one, style A with the blacl plastic tip
Sorry- Working on a 99 SL-
I got the part ( 14.99+5 shipping ) looked like the other mast but has a lond geared plastic tail. Here is the easy part-
Turned the radio on, (car does have a phone in it but don't know if it's connected to the rear antenna? ) , inserted the plastic tail in the mount, turned the radio off and it works ! Sorta. After many attempts it goes down leaving 4" of mast still up.
Let's see, if I cut just under 4" off it will seat. In it goes, all the way down, I've done it ! Wrong ! When it goes up it spins looking for the 4" I cut off ( I think) .
Yet another fine chapter in my " break it to fix it " book.
Something has to work, it's do simple- Hirschman- where do you get those online?
Whew-
Sandy






Hirschman antennas work, since the MB cellular option is now obsolete?
Appreciate any of your opinions/experience...thanks.[/quote]

I had found an online vendor who...
 

claims to have a replacement mast for that antenna. It actually has the original MB part number for the antenna, and they claim it's a replacement mast. Unfortunately, it's in my other computer. I'll find it and we'll try that. Yes, black fiberglass at the top, the traditional stainless steel at the bottom. And yes, I have heard of others using the conventional mast and trimming off the bottom of the cable. Hope we can get a solution to this, car looks immaculate except for a broken antenna mast.

BTW, Becker: note that they no longer...
 

supply replacement Benz antennas. They do have repair kits for many MB part numbers, but not this one.

Any progress ?
 

Just seeing how your progress is coming along- I talked with a guy that seemed to know these, said with my problem, I should take off the cover to the antenna motor and check for a broke piece then get a new antenna mast-
Take off the cover to the antenna motor looks to be a REAL nasty project.
Any clues ?
sj




claims to have a replacement mast for that antenna. It actually has the original MB part number for the antenna, and they claim it's a replacement mast. Unfortunately, it's in my other computer. I'll find it and we'll try that. Yes, black fiberglass at the top, the traditional stainless steel at the bottom. And yes, I have heard of others using the conventional mast and trimming off the bottom of the cable. Hope we can get a solution to this, car looks immaculate except for a broken antenna mast.[/quote]