AM Recption - what's with the static?
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e320 wagon 2001
AM Recption - what's with the static?
Dear Forum,
Bought the car (2001 E320 wagon, 4-matic) used and the AM reception has always been horrible. I guess when my wife drove it it didn't matter to me. Now that I've inherited it from my wife, it's driving me crazy. FM - no problem. AM, whether the motor's running or not has all sorts of static noise - it's almost as if the antenna is somehow not connected.
Is there a separate AM and FM antenna? Is reconnecting the AM antenna a driveway-type project (i.e., flashlight, screwdriver, etc.)?
I miss my talk radio. . . .
f-d
Bought the car (2001 E320 wagon, 4-matic) used and the AM reception has always been horrible. I guess when my wife drove it it didn't matter to me. Now that I've inherited it from my wife, it's driving me crazy. FM - no problem. AM, whether the motor's running or not has all sorts of static noise - it's almost as if the antenna is somehow not connected.
Is there a separate AM and FM antenna? Is reconnecting the AM antenna a driveway-type project (i.e., flashlight, screwdriver, etc.)?
I miss my talk radio. . . .
f-d
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: San Diego, CA
2001 E430, Brilliant Silver Metallic / Charcoal
There is some kind of AM signal amplifier / booster that I had replaced, corrected the problem right away.
IIRC, I think the component is located inside the C pillar on the driver's side
IIRC, I think the component is located inside the C pillar on the driver's side
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From: Princeton NJ
2015 E350 4matic Sport and 2011 C300 4matic sport
Imus
I had the same problem when I bought my car used. For a while I drove around with a portable radio which was un-successful long term. I took the car into my independent mechanicc who fixeed the problem in minutes, it had something to do inside the antennae it self. Good luck.
I felt like a goof ball. Just bought my first MB and I have a little radio hanging from the visor...I used to listen to Imus every morning on my way to work. Guess I will not be doing that anymore...
I felt like a goof ball. Just bought my first MB and I have a little radio hanging from the visor...I used to listen to Imus every morning on my way to work. Guess I will not be doing that anymore...
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From: Fl
92 500sel/01 320e wag
The AM is in the side glass. the FM is in the bumper, there is a "combiner" amp in the rear pillar. It either fails, looses ground, the problem is not unique. It depends on how good you are at getting behind the interior panels
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Thread Starter
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e320 wagon 2001
Where's the "rear pillar" and what does a "combiner amp" look like? Is this something that I'd want to replace or just to check on the connections?
Sorry for the stupid-sounding questions. I'm actually pretty good at working on things once I understand what I'm doing - ha.
f-d
Sorry for the stupid-sounding questions. I'm actually pretty good at working on things once I understand what I'm doing - ha.
f-d
Thread Starter
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e320 wagon 2001
Just called the audio store and they say the MB has a "Wave Beam Guide" or some term like that (that's what he said the amp device is called). He said, it's likely on the driver's side of the car to the rear of the back seat door. Wants $75.00 to trouble shoot the job and said that if the WBG needs to be replaced it's not worth it.
f-d
f-d
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
The Mercedes Service DVD for W210 contains at least three Dealer Technical Bulletins regarding radio reception problems.
You can have one, too, by visiting your dealer or by calling 1.800.for.merc.
Of course it covers all other aspects of your car, too, including normal maintenance, electrical troubleshooting, and functional descriptions.
You can have one, too, by visiting your dealer or by calling 1.800.for.merc.
Of course it covers all other aspects of your car, too, including normal maintenance, electrical troubleshooting, and functional descriptions.
Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Hunterdon County
'06 E 350 4matic wagon; '05 E 500 4matic sedan; '09 S550 4matic
splitters, amps, grounds are the things to check. Mine was a splitter. Even fixed AM reception is an adventure. I can pick up some stations 700 miles away at night, I pick up certain NY stations anytime (60-70 miles) and others (Bloomberg, eg) during the day but not after dark. It makes me crazy but prior to getting the problem resolved I needed to be within 10 miles of the transmitter to get any reception at all.
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From: Clifton, NJ
96 and 08 911 turbos
grab from the top, and pull towards you gently but firmly. You will feel the panel pop loose as the clips release. Work your way around the panel releasing all the clips. Once the first one or two are out, its easy.
At that point, you have to slide the panel towards the front of the car, and then you can pull it up and out.
its pretty simple, it only sounds complicated.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 299
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From: Boston, MA
2002 E320 4matic 92K (bought 12/20/06). 2000 E430 4matic (RIP 12/9/06) :(
The Mercedes Service DVD for W210 contains at least three Dealer Technical Bulletins regarding radio reception problems.
You can have one, too, by visiting your dealer or by calling 1.800.for.merc.
Of course it covers all other aspects of your car, too, including normal maintenance, electrical troubleshooting, and functional descriptions.
You can have one, too, by visiting your dealer or by calling 1.800.for.merc.
Of course it covers all other aspects of your car, too, including normal maintenance, electrical troubleshooting, and functional descriptions.
how much is the dvd and is there a website that carries updates of new tsb's that come up?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 299
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From: Boston, MA
2002 E320 4matic 92K (bought 12/20/06). 2000 E430 4matic (RIP 12/9/06) :(
Thread Starter
Junior Member
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e320 wagon 2001
grab from the top, and pull towards you gently but firmly. You will feel the panel pop loose as the clips release. Work your way around the panel releasing all the clips. Once the first one or two are out, its easy.
At that point, you have to slide the panel towards the front of the car, and then you can pull it up and out.
its pretty simple, it only sounds complicated.
At that point, you have to slide the panel towards the front of the car, and then you can pull it up and out.
its pretty simple, it only sounds complicated.
f-d
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e320 wagon 2001
O.K. so I was able to remove the pillar cover that is behind the rear driver's-side passenger seat. I saw nothing that looked like a splitter. I'm wondering whether I need to remove a part of the headliner adjacent to the left rear window (this is a station wagon and the antenna is in the glass of the left rear wagon window - the antenna is fed from the roof)? Further comment?
f-d
f-d
Thread Starter
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e320 wagon 2001
For the W210 wagon, the splitter/amp is in the "d" pillar, which is aft of the side window (i.e., to the driver's side of the tailgate). I'm now wondering how to get behind that (seems like there is a hex screw or two that needs to be removed).
Any further comment (or should I just buy a new radio. . .)?
f-d
Any further comment (or should I just buy a new radio. . .)?
f-d
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e320 wagon 2001
News Update!!!
100 percent of the problem is fixed!! On the driver's side there is a small panel in the headliner (maybe 2 in by 3 in) that's in the cargo area of my 2001E320 wagon. I removed this and there was a wire clip that connected to the feed into my window antenna. I unclipped the connection and reclipped the connection. Voilla! Fixed the AM Reception completly. No $93.00 M-B diagonstic charge. No $210.00 antenna amplifier. No removal of C- or D-piller covers (although I did do that, just didn't get me anywhere).
Now here's the bad part: Will I limit my use of AM talk radio? Ha!
f-d
100 percent of the problem is fixed!! On the driver's side there is a small panel in the headliner (maybe 2 in by 3 in) that's in the cargo area of my 2001E320 wagon. I removed this and there was a wire clip that connected to the feed into my window antenna. I unclipped the connection and reclipped the connection. Voilla! Fixed the AM Reception completly. No $93.00 M-B diagonstic charge. No $210.00 antenna amplifier. No removal of C- or D-piller covers (although I did do that, just didn't get me anywhere).
Now here's the bad part: Will I limit my use of AM talk radio? Ha!
f-d
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 43
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e320 wagon 2001
o.k. the problem returned. So I went to the Mercedes dealer and discussed the problem with a mechanic. He went to my car and banged on the headliner right at the little access panel adjacent to the rear driver's side window (where the antenna is located). Solved the problem, but he says it'll return if I don't replace the antenna amp. Works well for now though. . . .
Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 244
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From: Hunterdon County
'06 E 350 4matic wagon; '05 E 500 4matic sedan; '09 S550 4matic
o.k. the problem returned. So I went to the Mercedes dealer and discussed the problem with a mechanic. He went to my car and banged on the headliner right at the little access panel adjacent to the rear driver's side window (where the antenna is located). Solved the problem, but he says it'll return if I don't replace the antenna amp. Works well for now though. . . .
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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e320 wagon 2001
The clip connects into the amp. You have to remove the interior panel (the larger one to actually get to the amp. The larger interior panel seems to require removal of a few screws and some popping - not likely to be a big deal.
Try the banging method. It's made a WORLD of difference - ha.
f-d
Try the banging method. It's made a WORLD of difference - ha.
f-d
Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 244
Likes: 2
From: Hunterdon County
'06 E 350 4matic wagon; '05 E 500 4matic sedan; '09 S550 4matic
Banged to no avail, however I never lose reception, it just vacilates between so-so and poor. I also live halfway between NYC and Philly so no tramsmitters are very close. When I travel my reception improves a lot. I just listen to a lot of Bloomberg and sports so crappy AM annoys me.
