Since I bought my 91 300E 5 weeks ago the first segment (the largest diameter) of the antenna mast has refused to go down and the second segment would not go up - real tacky looking - ruins the lines of the car when it's parked. K, so I removed the whole antenna motor housing lastnight and followed the recomendations I found in the archives with only semi-succesful results. The second segment will raise & lower some of the time but the first segment of the mast refuses to do anything 'cept sit there.

I dismanteled the whole motor assembly and saw that the aluminium guide tube is baddly corroded - so much so that it has a couple of holes in it where it inserts into the plastic motor housing. I bashed the antenna (pionty side down) a few times on the floor to see if that would loosen things up alittle - not a chance, it's stuck real good. Obviously the tube the mast rides in is corroded and fowled also, which means I have to remove the mast, either for cleaning or replacement. I tried wrenching on the chrome nut (found right above the ball gromet) to no avail... what is this thing for? Decrotive? I also noticed that the platic rat tail is somehow affixed to the top-most segment of the antenna, is this removable or permanetly connected? The workshop manual I bought does not go into detail about the inner workings of the antenna, or anything else for that matter. (covers 10 years and 14 models - I feel a CD purchase is in order)

I'm planning on having anouther go at it tonight, possibly with power tools and a bench vice, after I read your replies. If I'm unsuccesfull I'm thinking about epoxying a small flag on a stick into the fender antenna hole.

Cheers for now,
EADG
91 300E