'72 350SL antenna help
 

I have a '72 350SL (r107) & can't find any information on whether the antenna is a power antenna or not. Does anyone have any knowledge of this?
Also, I cannot figure out how to access the antenna unit. On the '72, it is located just in front of the driver's door. "73 it was relocated to the left rear fender and can easily be accessed through the trunk.
How the heck do I get to the antenna on my '72?
Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

I’ve seen them both ways on early cars with antennas in the front fender. It might not be original, so you should just check for yourself. My manual antenna car actually came with a key to grab the antenna to pull it up if it was pressed all the way down and could not be grabbed with your fingers.


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There is probably a panel at the rear of the wheel well. Remove and you should be able to get to the antennae.

my 72 had the auto antenna access under the front fender - drivers side wheel well. It was auto up and down , but had a separate switch under the dash for up and down. I also has the key thing that allowed me to lock it or pull it up

Mine was an early 72 - 672 off the line

Fonzi and Rumb are leading you down the right paths.

The early models had an "anti-theft" top. You use a slotted key to pull up the antennae if it were fully depressed. A small electronics screwdriver works also.

There is a removable panel/splash plate in the inner rear fender-well. Many times the screws have been covered over with either rust proofing or road gunk. Should be two on the bottom of the panel and two on the inboard side of the plate. I believe they are 8MM hex head sheet metal screws.

here is my 72
antenna - front drivers side , all original car

My 72 350SL is also original. It has a fixed antenna driver side front. It is just a thin flexible whip antenna. It's not too handy when fitting the winter cover. I made a hole in the cover, but this year I just loosened the antenna so it would lay against the windshield.

I might have once accessed it from lower side but if I did, I have forgotten how:(

This is all correct. I just removed an antenna from a 70 240d and once this panel behind the right front wheel is removed it is easy to reach up in there.

To expand on this: The antenna wire on mine was wired into the antenna body. Sometimes they unscrew from the antenna body. I had to remove the radio, pull the antenna plug and with the help of a friend slowly pull the wire loose from the body.

The antenna is anchored in by two methods. One is the ferrule on top of the antenna, next to the fender, that must be unscrewed. The next is the base of the antenna which is bolted to the inside of the fender. Once the access panel is removed this lower bolt is easy to get to.

WEAR GLOVES! The inside of the fender will have some sharp spots in it and it is easy to snag your skin on one of these jagged areas. It is not like reaching into a jar of broken glass but the jagged edges are in there.

Once the access panel is removed, the top nut and the bottom bolt are unscrewed, it comes out easily even if you do have to snake the wire out of the car.

By the way.....

Don't feel bad about the antenna being where it is. On the 1973 and 1974 some antennas were used on the rear fender that are unique to those models. Later power antennas will not wire up correctly and you have to find one of these early models.

They are not cheap.

Perhaps a later power antenna could be modified but I am not sure how.

Does anyone know if there was an option code for different types of antenna? I entered all my codes (off original data sheet) into this site https://carclassic.com/w107-decoder-results/ It said that code 515 was for a Becker radio. When I got the car in 1989, the radio had been replaced (but Becker manual was in glove box - I gave it to an owner who had a Becker). Maybe the antenna was also changed? Or perhaps my fixed whip was the basic option?

I checked the general MB option lists and did find this reference. Not sure if it was offered for 107:

251 from 01.04.1964 to 31.05.1977 BECKER RADIO GRAND-PRIX TR WITH REMOTE CONTROL AND AUTOMATIC ANTENNA

534 from 01.01.1963 to 30.11.1990 " ANTENNA, MECHANICALLY OPERATED, WITHOUT RADIO SET"

Maybe a “dealer option” that would not have appeared on a build sheet? Every MB I’ve ever seen has had hirshman antennas unless they were aftermarket. The key for my manual antenna had a little paper hirshman sheet attached to it.

I once had a brochure for the very early 350SL. I seem to recall that it included a list of the options available. Can't find it, although it should be here somewhere.

Mind you, I am quite happy to have the fixed whip antenna. My 300D had a Hirschman. When it stopped working, I bought another one for a low price. It was also a Hirschman. Maybe a Chinese knock-off? I may still have it. I gave up on those electric telescopic units. They would get bent for all sorts of reasons and then would never work unless I replaced the mast. I leave the now slightly curved mast up on 300D. Works fine :)

I prefer the fixed mast type myself. Unfortunately they are a no-go or at least a major PITA if you use a car cover. There's a work around using a grommet but still a pain.

I ended up installing a retractable antennae in the wife's 250C since it is under a car cover 90% of the time.

If you decide to install an electric antennae I'd advise against wiring it for automatic operation if you use a car cover. I've destroyed three or four antennae masts by not remembering to remove the car cover COMPLETELY before starting the car.:o

I assume you guys are familiar with the telescoping manual antennas, the ones that have the “key” to pull it up if you lower it all the way. Those are the absolute best IMO. I am so excited when I get a parts car with one.

My grommet is a slit in the cover :) But could never find it, so now there are about 4 slits :(. Gave up last time, slackened antenna nut and lay mast against the windshield. This just for winter storage in garage. Wouldn't work otherwise.