71 280S-Antenna & Odometer Trouble
 

Hope someone can offer advice.
The antenna extension on my 71 280S was broken off.
When I loosened the assembly on top of the fender, yep, it fell down into the
fender well. [where it yet remains] How do I get it out of there?

Is a special MB part required to fix my antenna, or can a universal extension be
purchased?
Any special info required to replace the original radio, or should a regular "qualified"
person be able to install a new radio and speakers?

The ODOMETER works only occasionally. Will I have to pay major bucks to the
trouble-shooter shop, or is there something I can try to do myself to get it turning again?

Thanks very much.

If it's anything like my 280C, you are going to have to fish it out through the hole.

I had to get a complete antenna assembly - mine did not not have a replaceable mast. If this is the case on yours, you also need to unplug the antenna lead from the radio which probably means taking the passenger side under-dash panel off and maybe pulling the radio out enough to get at the connection.

When I replaced my antenna, it was a true PITA. Hope it's different on yours.

If fishing doesn't work, most of these cars have a removeable steel panel in the front wheel opening for access to the fender cavities behind the wheel.

Happy Motoring, Mark

I forgot about the odometer. You need to remove the speedo and roughen up the shaft that turns with the gear with pliers. If you do a search at www.mercedes-veterans.com, there are a number of posts on the subject.

If I remember correctly, you will have to remove the mud guard in the fender well to fix your antenna. There are 4- 8mm screws which, if the guard has never been removed before, are caked with a tar-like substance you will have to clean off. 1 of the screws is located under the hood on the top side of the fender. Becker of N.A. (www.beckerauto.com) can rebuild your antenna ( if it is still a Hirschmann) and the Becker radio. You can probably get a good radio on ebay for less $. The Hirschmann universal antenna kit works very well and comes with some metal strapping to fasten it as it is smaller. The radio and speakers are very simple if your "system" has not been screwed with. Good luck.

I'm not sure what differences (if any) there are from my '72 220D. When I replaced the antennea, accesss to the mast was from the wheel well. Once I found the machine screws, removal was simple. You will have to remove the passenger kick panel. I just used an aftermarket antennea (Pep Boys), only about $10 to $15, as I recall.

The old radio in the 220D, and the speakers, where terrible. I replaced them with a fairly cheap Kenwood cassette unit, and some speakers that weren't very good. With the racket from a 220D, fine sound is not within the realm of reality. My car only had a single center-dash speaker when I bought the car. I cut out one single speaker access in the hat shelf. I later discovered that there where cutouts for two rear speakers in the hat shelf.