Broken shark fin
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta GA
2012 Mercedes Benz c300
Broken shark fin
I backed out from my garage and shark fin antenna broke,yes I agree very irresponsible and stupid. However it needs to be fixed. My other half is very a picky engineer and insists of repairing like he repair everything. However there is no information of how to remove and reinstall the antenna. It’s a 2012 Mercedes Benz c300 sport, and it’s the roof shark antenna, Any information, video will be helpful. I have searched sites to find the part as well, and I see eBay has preowned. I am sure I can the part thru authorized sellers.
Last edited by NLA2012; Mar 1, 2019 at 07:50 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,761
Likes: 566
From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
I don't know the exact details, and it is a pain in the butt, but you need to remove the rear dome light and work your way from there before being able to release the antenna.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 130
From: NY
2010 C63 2019 GLA45
Not only are the cables to the shark fin broken, but worse, the roof panel is damaged.
The way this works, is per-se the shark fin is not damaged. If someone was to solder the cables and extend the metal shielding, the antenna may even be re-useable.
But before this can be done, the car has to go to a really good body shop.
they have to remove the antenna, then straighten the roof panel. Once it's straight, the antenna may go back in.
The while plastic piece "inflates" when tightening the screw underneath.
Remove the screw, the white piece comes right out.
Now, if for some reason somebody was to .... cheapen out and just take a hammer in the garage and hit the flared roof hole edges, the antenna would not sit and seal properly and you'd have condensation and rain water slowly seep under the roof.
Now when I write really good bodyshop, i mean someone that can keep the roof panel repair in such way where the re-primed area would remain hidden under the antenna footprint. Otherwise the whole roof would have to be repainted. Don't believe me, ask a bodyshop.
The way this works, is per-se the shark fin is not damaged. If someone was to solder the cables and extend the metal shielding, the antenna may even be re-useable.
But before this can be done, the car has to go to a really good body shop.
they have to remove the antenna, then straighten the roof panel. Once it's straight, the antenna may go back in.
The while plastic piece "inflates" when tightening the screw underneath.
Remove the screw, the white piece comes right out.
Now, if for some reason somebody was to .... cheapen out and just take a hammer in the garage and hit the flared roof hole edges, the antenna would not sit and seal properly and you'd have condensation and rain water slowly seep under the roof.
Now when I write really good bodyshop, i mean someone that can keep the roof panel repair in such way where the re-primed area would remain hidden under the antenna footprint. Otherwise the whole roof would have to be repainted. Don't believe me, ask a bodyshop.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
2013 C300 W204
I feel better that someone else did the exact same thing I just did, except mine happened during a storm and when I began backing out of the garage, I did not notice that the power went out with the door halfway up. Your photo looks exactly like mine, where the antenna sheared right off. I'm told that under the dome light in the back seat, there's a torx bolt that held it in place, so who knows what happened to that. The biggest difference with mine is there is a 3rd wire and that's the one that broke, pretty close to the connection. The center of the wire does not look like stranded metal either, so I'm suspicious if that is my satellite radio wire. I have straight inline crimp connectors, but if that's a piece of fiber, that isn't going to work.
I'm looking for a wiring diagram to identify those 3 wires, but can't find out yet.
I'm looking for a wiring diagram to identify those 3 wires, but can't find out yet.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1
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w204
Exact same thing just happened to me! I back into my garage when I arrive home. Power failure (South Africa's famous 'loadshedding' occurred). Tore the whole thing out. A bang and the thing flew right over the car and landed in the driveway. It had no trace of connecting wires!? Perhaps the first owner had a similar mishap and had it cheaply replaced. since I bought the car three years ago, when I put my phone on charge in the car, the radio signal disappears...
I poked round in the roof lining, nothing, empty space? Very bizarre.
Now, fearfully off to the bodyshop
I poked round in the roof lining, nothing, empty space? Very bizarre.
Now, fearfully off to the bodyshop
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
2013 C300 W204
Exact same thing just happened to me! I back into my garage when I arrive home. Power failure (South Africa's famous 'loadshedding' occurred). Tore the whole thing out. A bang and the thing flew right over the car and landed in the driveway. It had no trace of connecting wires!? Perhaps the first owner had a similar mishap and had it cheaply replaced. since I bought the car three years ago, when I put my phone on charge in the car, the radio signal disappears...
I poked round in the roof lining, nothing, empty space? Very bizarre.
Now, fearfully off to the bodyshop
I poked round in the roof lining, nothing, empty space? Very bizarre.
Now, fearfully off to the bodyshop
I purchased a new one that had the three wires. One for the GPS, one for the Satellite radio, and one for the regular radio, apparently. The wires are about 6 feet long because they go from the center of the roofline, across to the passenger side, then down the headliner behind the back door, further down to the floor between the seat and the door, and then connect to the matching wires that travel to the front of the car. It was a learning experience using the plastic tools to remove headliner pieces and interior trim without causing damage. Then it was a little silicone sealant on the new one and I was back in business.
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
2013 C300 W204
I see other posters suggested a bead of silicone, which I did and it was fine, but then I had other work on the car at a body shop and an experienced tech stripped off all the silicone and told me that the antenna is designed to seal itself as you tighten the bolt from behind the interior light. The rubber gasket should be tight enough to be waterproof. At least that was one man's opinion.
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