Lancelot

56K warning, lots pf pics, anyone pressing "QUOTE" will be ritually sacrificed!!!

After owning two W124's (wich have an outside aerial) radio reception was downright bad from the start when we got our W210 (aerial is a part of the rear window heater). I mean barely a few stations at low signal with the same headunit. After reading up here on mbworld.org at least I found the location of the antenna filter/amplifier (hidden in the drivers side C-pillar) I took the unit apart and resoldered every contact on the PCB to no avail. Time for another antenna then! I decided to try a universal amplified window antenna. Everything you need to hook one of them up (switched +12V, ground, and the antenna wire) is already in the C-pillar!

Start with removing the handle above the drivers side passenger door:





Then grab the side trim by the edge and pull toward you over the entire length, it's held on by clips that don't easily break:



Now you can see the antenna filter/amplifier, remove the three connectors: (antenna wire, +12V, and connector from the window)



Unscrew the antenna filter/amplifier and toss it aside:



Here's the new stuff, amplified window antenna and universal antenna plug to replace the threaded-type in the car:


Universal antenna-plug attached, and +12V wire from the window antenna connected:



Everything wrapped up, the white wire is a lengthened ground-wire coming from the window antenna itself:



Radio reception is not yet as good as with a full-size outside aerial, but we can now receive more stations and loud and clear!

rawimpact

Looks like a clean install, what made you pick that antenna?

Zackb911

I never noticed a problem with reception in the US. However I went to Satellite radio (Sirius) and have yet to look back... Good write up though

Lancelot

Mainly cuz I don't wanna drill a hole in the roof or rear fender for an external aerial...