Dad's W210 has radio problems...
 

I posted this over at bnzsport.com but didn't receive any help there so I am hoping you guys might have some advice.



So my Dad took his 2001 E430 into the dealer to see if they could get his radio fixed (it has bad reception). They gave it back saying it was probably the tinting that screwed up the radio antenna on the back windshield. I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions to fixing this (that don't require to take off the tinting).

Also he has one of those weird reception objects on the back of the roof of the car, however I think that is for the SOS and Phone signal that could be integrated into the car. My dad thinks its excessive and doesn't need it so maybe there would be a way to attach a cosmetically pleasing antenna where the SOS transmitter is.

Thanks for any support

never, ever, heard of a window tint screwing up reception. guess you learn something everyday. try a 'hidden' aerial.

http://www.soundlabsgroup.com.au/hir...io_aerials.htm

regards

abtex

First of all the dealer should be able to tell what is wrong with the radio they are the professionals, not give you a "mabey they did something" tint does not hinder your a radio performance, signals travel hundreds of miles through trees, buildings, hills,and etc do they really think that the tint is going to hinder the signal if car is under warranty dealer should fix not point fingers i mean at least diagnoss the freakin problem this thread belongs in the "another reason why the MB dealer sucks"

i hear you there shane. your tinting film would have to be some kind of top secret stealth bomber job which deflects RF waves. Thats about the only way it could munch your reception. As the shane says, waves go through buildings etc without being attenuated.

abtex

Those ariels seem like an expensive fix to a problem the Dealer should have to fix. But thanks for your help guys! I think we will try to be more persistant with the dealer, like you both said, window tinting shouldn't block radio signals unless we have some sort of secret military project instead of window tints :p

Re: Dad's W210 has radio problems...
 

There are antenna amplifiers in the C-pillar that routinely either get 1) disconnected or have bad power connections or 2) just plain go bad. It results in poor reception.

They're not cheap, but it's not too bad to get to if you know how to get the C-pillar paneling out. You may want to ask the dealer to diagnose that. Also point out that the radio worked fine while the tinting was in place, until recently.

-s-

I ge the worst AM reception in Los Angeles on my 2000 E320. I can barely get one station. I can't even get 690 or 1070 at all. Does anyone know how the AM antenna attaches. Does it have a separate jack at the head unit also? thanks.

Thanks for the suggestion Scorchie! I'll ask the dealer about that..

And to Cody, my Dad's car is actually a 2000 upon closer inspection, maybe there is a common problem among 2000 W210s. I'll let you know if Scorchie's C-Pillar suggestion solves any problems. The car is still on Starmark so it's free for them to go digging around for bad connections :D

EDIT: Cody, the reception problem in my dad's car is also just with AM stations, and these are very prominent stations in the Denver area so this could very well be the same problem.

On my car it was a bad radio amplifier. Replaced under warranty.

i have the stock radio on my 430 also..:mumble:damn no cd player...damnit..:mumble: and it has sucked since day one. we took it in when it had warenty they said this is normal. does anyone know the wattage on that radio

What brand of window tint did you Dad get? Though I have never heard anyone having poor radio reception after tinting the rear window... Some window film tints contain lots of micron size metal particles. The metal material is sputtered on to the film surface. This evenly distrubutes the particles to form a reflective barrier. Many cars have embedded rear window radio antennas, maybe this particular film reacted to your Dad's car.

I know, a long shot... Was the radio reception good before the tint?

Thanks let me know. FM works OK. AM pretty much doesn't work at all.

Radios are not covered under StarMark
 

It is my impression from reading my StarMark Warranty that radios, speakers and radio amplifiers are not covered under StarMark. You might want to check this if you are expecting the dealer to fix this free.

Metalic window tint may affect radio reception. MB has a TSB (techical service bulletin.

Steve

Hey u know the radio/cd can be turned on without the key in. Found out today.