Installed aftermarket head unit now radio antenna signal is poor.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
C230 SS
Installed aftermarket head unit now radio antenna signal is poor.
Hi guys, 2003 C230 Kompressor sedan. I just installed a Pioneer AVH X2500BT 6.1" screen. I've got the antenna adapter to plug into the aftermarket H/U to fit our MB antenna wire.
Now I noticed that the radio is staticky and not getting good signal.
There are 2 antenna wires from the car I only connected the
Main/big one and left the small one disconnected as there is no where to connect it to the new unit.
What do you think the problem could be? I have to have radio stations...
Thanks !
Now I noticed that the radio is staticky and not getting good signal.
There are 2 antenna wires from the car I only connected the
Main/big one and left the small one disconnected as there is no where to connect it to the new unit.
What do you think the problem could be? I have to have radio stations...
Thanks !
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 968
Likes: 62
From: San Francisco, CA
2005 c230SS
Do you need the aftermarket amplifier on the antenna adapter for the pre-facelift cars?
On my 2005 post-facelift I only needed to make sure the car's antenna amp was connected via the wiring harness to the radio's accessory turn-on wire.
On my 2005 post-facelift I only needed to make sure the car's antenna amp was connected via the wiring harness to the radio's accessory turn-on wire.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
+1 You need to ensure power to the antenna amplifier or reception will be poor. Many threads in the W209 forum in this regard.
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 85
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c230k
I have the same head unit in my car and you just have to hook it up like they are saying. My antenna reception sucked at first, but after doing that it's like it had always been.
If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.
If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
C230 SS
I have the same head unit in my car and you just have to hook it up like they are saying. My antenna reception sucked at first, but after doing that it's like it had always been.
If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.
If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.
The antenna adapter I'm talking about is just an extension to fit for the after market head unit, because MB antenna wire are not deep plug like the usual antenna that plugs in.
Here is the picture of the antenna adapter or extension I have.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 1
From: Portland, Oregon
W203 C320, W208 CLK 320, w209 CLK 500
The wiring harness that goes out of the head unit should have a power output wire as one of the connections. one of the wires that was part of the original wiring harness that plugged into the back of the mercedes head unit was a power source for the antenna, I think it was a yellow and green wire but don't trust me on that. You need to connect that wire into the constant power output on the head unit's harness to provide power to the antenna. Its not that the antenna is not plugged in but that it is not receiving any power. The power is from what I mentioned above and separate from the actual antenna connector.
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 968
Likes: 62
From: San Francisco, CA
2005 c230SS
That adapter should be fine -- the antenna is just a wire and a ground/shield. What you need is to power the antenna amplifier that is embedded somewhere in the car (top of rear window?) from the radio wiring harness.
Check out this thread ... https://mbworld.org/forums/5321968-post11.html ... and there are many others. Maybe it's pin A5?
What wiring harness adapter are you using?
Check out this thread ... https://mbworld.org/forums/5321968-post11.html ... and there are many others. Maybe it's pin A5?
What wiring harness adapter are you using?
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
C230 SS
I have the same head unit in my car and you just have to hook it up like they are saying. My antenna reception sucked at first, but after doing that it's like it had always been.
If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.
If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 968
Likes: 62
From: San Francisco, CA
2005 c230SS
You still haven't clarified if you used a wiring harness adapter that attachess to the plug in the car's wiring harness, or if you are tapping into the wires and bypassing the plug. If you use the plugs and buy an aftermarket adapter cord that is connected to your radio's wiring harness, then your wiring assignment instructions will come from the wiring harness adapter you bought.
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 85
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c230k
And yes I did install a bypass, I used this one -
It works great.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 968
Likes: 62
From: San Francisco, CA
2005 c230SS
I think I used a Scosche wiring harness. However I have the post-facelift model with the single large square plug ... do you have the one with the two smaller plugs?
The radio should have a blue/white antenna and accessory turn-on wire, and either that or 12v switched can be connected to the antenna amplifier wire for the car.
These cars evidently don't have 12v switched coming from the wiring harness (the stock radio must not need it, maybe receives ignition status as a CAN signal?) so most people are getting it by tapping into the cigarette lighter which is close by. And if your cigarette lighter has a light ring around the receptacle, then there is a nighttime illumination wire in the cig lighter wiring harness that could be used for the nighttime illumination trigger wire for the radio if it has one. My AVIC z130BT has teh GPS so the illuminatoni wire allows the display to choose between daytime and nighttime mode.
The radio should have a blue/white antenna and accessory turn-on wire, and either that or 12v switched can be connected to the antenna amplifier wire for the car.
These cars evidently don't have 12v switched coming from the wiring harness (the stock radio must not need it, maybe receives ignition status as a CAN signal?) so most people are getting it by tapping into the cigarette lighter which is close by. And if your cigarette lighter has a light ring around the receptacle, then there is a nighttime illumination wire in the cig lighter wiring harness that could be used for the nighttime illumination trigger wire for the radio if it has one. My AVIC z130BT has teh GPS so the illuminatoni wire allows the display to choose between daytime and nighttime mode.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,152
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From: NJ, NYC
Something Slow
see post #943
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...images-38.html
you need to apply 12v to the FACTORY Power Antenna and yes you can tap the Cigarette Lighter.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...images-38.html
you need to apply 12v to the FACTORY Power Antenna and yes you can tap the Cigarette Lighter.
Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
2007 S550
Anyone have any idea which wire would be used in a 2010 GL or a 2007 sl to power this antenna amplfier?
I put systems in both, and both have horrible reception. Installer was unable to get a harness to tapped into the harness during install. I caller Dealer, Mercedes, and even paid for 24hour access to starTek. Nobody can help me with either vehicle.
Last step is going to put a universal antenna, but I really would prefer not to do that....
Thanks in advance!
I put systems in both, and both have horrible reception. Installer was unable to get a harness to tapped into the harness during install. I caller Dealer, Mercedes, and even paid for 24hour access to starTek. Nobody can help me with either vehicle.
Last step is going to put a universal antenna, but I really would prefer not to do that....
Thanks in advance!
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Murrieta, CA
2007 C-230 Sport AMG pkg
I live 30 miles from San Diego, my path takes me trough rolling hills, these hills are tall enough that stations in SD get very poor reception. Is there anything i can do to the antenna to help. I have a brand new AVX-X2600BT head unit that could not be more perfect but i play the ipod more then i want too, do to the poor reception. Any suggestions appreciated.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2003 Mercedes C240
Antenna booster
Hi guys, 2003 C230 Kompressor sedan. I just installed a Pioneer AVH X2500BT 6.1" screen. I've got the antenna adapter to plug into the aftermarket H/U to fit our MB antenna wire.
Now I noticed that the radio is staticky and not getting good signal.
There are 2 antenna wires from the car I only connected the
Main/big one and left the small one disconnected as there is no where to connect it to the new unit.
What do you think the problem could be? I have to have radio stations...
Thanks !
Now I noticed that the radio is staticky and not getting good signal.
There are 2 antenna wires from the car I only connected the
Main/big one and left the small one disconnected as there is no where to connect it to the new unit.
What do you think the problem could be? I have to have radio stations...
Thanks !
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: South Africa
2002 C200 Kompressor
I've just installed a Sony head unit without the harness (just spliced and joined the wires) and everything works well except the fm radio reception is bad.
I have found the antenna power wire but I have no idea what to do with it. I cut it and it consists of a copper wire in the middle surrounded by a silverish metal wire.
When I connect these wires to the remote out of the head unit it seems to make the reception even worse.
Can somebody please tell me what I should do?
I have found the antenna power wire but I have no idea what to do with it. I cut it and it consists of a copper wire in the middle surrounded by a silverish metal wire.
When I connect these wires to the remote out of the head unit it seems to make the reception even worse.
Can somebody please tell me what I should do?
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
CLS 500
I have the same head unit in my car and you just have to hook it up like they are saying. My antenna reception sucked at first, but after doing that it's like it had always been.
If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.
If you need any help just let me know, I've installed this head unit on 2 different W203s now so I have a pretty good understanding on how all the wiring works.
1 Fiber Optic 2 cables
Yellow/Red ,, Pink and Brown
2nd Plug I believe is Aux ,Bluetooth or something
2 Brown, Pink and Tan
these are my omly wires from the two Head plugs could you tell me which is for antenna
