mbbodytech

The best bet would be to wait till the new MB small colored antenna is available. It is not at the moment, although there are several hundred of each sitting in the parts depots around the country. The "official" reason for delaying this new antenna is that the engineering department is overtaxed at the moment and can't revise all of the work instructions to deal with this change.

As was mentioned earlier, the SIRIUS option from the factory is using this antenna. However, this must have been after they did your car. When I get a chance, I can take a picture of my car which has this antenna, maybe that would help make a decision.

The main problem you have is that the hole is in your decklid. That pretty much precludes using any aftermarket antenna. The benefit you get is that the small factory antenna will retrofit to your decklid no problem. Beside the antenna you will need a splitter as well. Here are the part numbers, for when they are available:

B6 783 0080 Black
B6 783 0081 Pewter
B6 783 0082 Iridium Silver
B6 783 0083 Alabaster White
B6 783 0084 Primed

B6 783 0058 Splitter (necessary to use new antenna)

Hopefully they won't take too long to release these!

lccalvert_1999

Thanks for the great information! If you could please take a picture, I would really appreciate it!

When I meet with the sales manger and factory rep. on Wednesday, I'm hoping to get this resolved. Maybe they could find these parts, paint them to match the brilliant silver, and I could be done with it.

Lee

lccalvert_1999

Just called the parts department and they have the numbers in their system. I asked if they could be ordred, and they stated yes... so, I contacted my rep. and she is going to determine if we can get one ordered and installed.

Crossing my fingers that they can get them, and I can put this mess behind me.

mctwin2kman

Oh I agree rev. If you want to get a repeat customer obviously you do not **** them off. But I know of many dealerships that only give a crap about that one sale, they do not care if you come back and you can tell that by there Service Department. I lived near two of them growing up and they killed my fathers business by over selling, then we had to fix them becuase we were a Dodge dealer and we had an obligation to fix the Chrysler Porducts. Even if we did not sell them. The funny thing is in a few years these idiots forget about there first experience and go right back up to save a few bucks. In the end it is ultimately up to the Purchaser as remember the Sales Persons only job is to Sell!!!! As long as people keep buying from them they will do everything they can to get you in that car! One reason Car Salesman are at the bottom of that 'Who do you like?' list!

mctwin2kman

Just make sure it covers the original hole without leaking!

mbbodytech

The new antenna covers the hole to spare. And there is no chance of leaking, because it has two separate seals.

lccalvert_1999

MBBODYTECH...

Thanks for the information... here is the response from the parts department, maybe you could tell my why they are good parts numbers but not available?

Thanks, Lee

'I just spoke with Linda in the parts department regarding these parts numbers. Although they are good numbers, they do not appear on the available
parts list. Who did you speak with that told you they are available and that this antenna will be compatable with your Sirus installation and model?'

mbbodytech

Hi Lee,

The reason I know is because I work for MBUSA. Like I mentioned earlier, they are being held back for reasons that only the engineering department could explain. There are several hundred of each in the different parts depots, it's just that they don't want to let them out to the dealers yet. I don't know why, and I'm not happy about it either.

The best thing you could do would be to be patient (not easy to do, I know!!) and wait for them to become available. It can't be for too much longer, and for the wait maybe you could get them to take care of the whole thing for free and maybe throw someting else in for the hassle.

Even though this is not anything I have any control over, I do feel bad as a member of our company that this is happening.

NJS430

My dealer got the antenna in for my 2004 S class and showed it to me yesterday. It's 040 black and it looks really good. I think the parts may be available now.

lccalvert_1999

NJS430... I sent a private message, but if you could post the dealership name, that would be great. Also, if you could responsd to the private message with your salesperson, or service manager, I would greatly appreciate it. If my dealership can't get it, I may simply order from another dealer.

Thanks for the great information everyone...

mbbodytech

I checked yesterday and just now, and the parts are available for ordering. I don't know if it will stay that way for very long, since that's how I got my antenna. There was some sort of mistake in the system, and the "block" was lifted for about a day, and I was fortunate enough to get an order in and actually got the part. Then the next day, whoa, the part was blocked again.

Try to get them to order them ASAP, I hope it will work our for you!

lccalvert_1999

If I don't have any luck with the parts department, any change you could help a brother out and order the parts for me? I'm good for it! Also, since I have a brilliant silver car, I assume that I need the primed part... and then get it painted?

Thanks, Lee

.... just ordered the primed receiver and the splitter. Hopefully I made the right choice with the primed unit... the parts department was clueless about what these things were. They also stated that they can't be returned because they are electrical parts??

Hope this works!

Thanks again everyone

mbbodytech

I'm glad that they got it for you, or at least ordered them. Are you going to do the install yourself or have the dealer? If you are going to do it, I can give you some help with it, although it is a quite painless process.

I'm not surprised that the dealer has a "I'll order them for you, but that's it" mentality, but trust me, it will work out fine!

lccalvert_1999

I'm going to have the dealership do the install for me. The receiver will need to be painted anyway, so they can take care of it. I'm going to ask them to cover the costs of the parts and installation... we'll see how that goes. Its funny, Colormatch sent the replacement part yesterday, oh well.

One thing, I want to make sure that the part number is correct... primed. Metallic Silver is my c230K color. Hope I ordered the right part.

Lee

Outland

ROTFLMAO!

FreeStylinSurfe

lccalvert_1999

The part is in... I will post pics after I get the install done on Friday. Still waiting to hear from the dealership as to whether they will cover the cost of replacement.

Lee

mbbodytech

Lee - glad to hear the good news. I'm surprised that they are going to be able to get it painted so quickly. Hopefully the dealer will take care of it. From what I can see the antenna is about $60 and the splitter is about $30 (suggested retail, and we all know what "suggested" means!) and if the technician is doing this for the first time it should take him no more than an hour, and that's a generous estimate.

By the way, between posts yesterday, I ordered a silver antenna and splitter for you, and when I was getting ready to mention it, you had already posted that they ordered one for you. No big deal, though.

One last thing, when you get the car back, there will be a slight impression in the paint in the shape of the old antenna outline. Don't panic, it will go away in a week or so. I know this because I have retrofit 6 new style antennas, and have seen this happen. Trust me, it will go away.

lccalvert_1999

Thanks for all your help. Let me know if I owe you for the parts if you can't return them...

Also, I ordered the primed part and they are going to try to paint it tomorrow. This shouldn't affect the signal right... I mean, since its primed, I assume its meant to be painted

Again, thanks for the help, and let me know if you can't return the parts.

RawAMGpower

Here are pictures of the new antenna. It looks dramatically better then the old one. The pictures actually make it look slightly larger than it really is.

CitronC230K_03

looks awesome!

revstriker

I'm still not liking it. Would be better if they could mount it to the roof somehow. Maybe it looks better in person.

Saprissa

I like my SIRIUS antenna...

can you see it ???


here's a close-up:



Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

RawAMGpower

The only problem with that install is that it is not covered under the factory warranty and you do not get 15 free months of service.

lccalvert_1999

Looks a hell of a lot better than what was there before!

Got a call from the dealership today. They are having a hard time wiring the new receiver to the old one

Apparently, the internal wiring harness is completely different. Service advisor stated that they need to rewire inside the body??? This seems to contradict what others were saying on this forum that the switch is easy to do? Its basically going to take them two days to get this done. Add to the fact that my service advisor is an ******* and I'm sooo done with this dealership...