DWM

The AM reception is terrible on my 97 E420. I can only get most stations when I am in the center of town. My other vehicle is picking up signals from other states and the E420 can't get the locals.

Any experiences????

e420i_in_NC

Here's a tip... stop listening to AM radio, put away the bell-bottom jeans, and simply admit that Stairway to Heaven isn't that good of a song.


Tee hee... just giving you trouble!

I have no idea what the AM reception on my 97 e420 is.. I listen to XM satellite all the time.

DWM

Knew I'd take some abuse for the AM thing.... I've got it in my ming there's a ground problem since I can occasionally hear "clicking" thru the AM radio when the turn signal is turned on. FM all the way I guess....

BenzE

Don't bash AM radio. Those who would bash it must not need to depend on it for traffic reports throughout the hour.

My 2000 E430 4Matic has terrible AM reception. All of my older Benzes had equally poor reception, and they even had stand-out antennas.

I have had to put down the window to discover what the traffic jam is all about.

The poor AM reception is on my list of things to ask about at the stealership when I go in for B service.

Ray

I'm not sure if this applies to your car but I have heard if you get your windows tinted the metallic in the film ruins AM reception.

Lightman

I"ve heard that the antenna between the roof and headliner sometimes isn't grounded properly and this causes the bad am reception.

paomien

My AM reception is pretty good most the time, but there are days when it's not so good ? (and it's not when it's cloudy or something like that)

How do you like the XM Radio? Did it integrate with your factory headunit well?

e420i_in_NC

XM works terrific. I got the FM modulated Pioneer unit. The headunit sits inside the wood covered area above the ashtray (where my useless analog phone was). So, when I close the flippy thing, it looks like a bone-stock interior. The antenna is that hockey-puck style from Terk -- and it sits INSIDE the car on the rear deck near the brake light. Even with the sunshade pulled up and the tinted windows, the reception is excellent. Crystal clear, all the time (except under huge bridges or tunnels).

"XM, it's the future of radio"

BenzE

Did you have XM installed at the dealer or at a special XM place? I know very little about it but I am very interested. I have no tint, no nothing, and still poor reception. Plus, I drive all over the place, so XM would be great for long trips...

e420i_in_NC

The XM was installed by a high-end car radio shop. I asked lots of really nit-picky questions because I'm deathly afraid of rattles, squeaks, etc. But they did an EXCELLENT job, and it works perfectly. (In fact, my analog phone still works in the armrest -- but the head-unit is sitting in my living room!)

I drive about 200 miles a day (software sales!) and love the XM. I can listen to CNBC to keep up with the markets, BBC for the news, or about 95 other stations. Check out www.xmradio.com.

e420i_in_NC

see attached. (That's my cell phone in the small area to the right of the XM unit)

BenzE

Wow, e420..., you actually drive more than I do! How many miles you got?

I will call around about XM. Squeaks and rattles would definitely be my concern, though I guess if I listen to the radio loud enough...

e420i_in_NC

Not a single rattle in the car! It's as tight as the day it came from the dealer. Just find a good radio shop and make sure they done some MB's before. I was also very concered about that silly antenna being visible to the slugs on the street. Since this shop installed it on the back deck (inside the car), nobody knows I have the XM. Exactly the way I want it.

There's no reason this car shouldn't run 200K miles and still look great and run like a champ.

MARK CUMMINS

I Found The Cure for Poor radio reception ..I REPLACED The radio,amp,coax cable to the Radio,and the Window Still the same..
I Installed a SLK/S Class Rear Bumper ant mod and Its Holds Stations...Wonder Why Benz Cant Fix this...And MB told me Its the TINT