PUZZ1

My dealer wasn't sure.

tendons

the sat may be being installed at the factory, or at the dock , or at the dealer. It's surprising that he didn't know that. Check the e55 board or maybe this one for pictures about installing the antennae under the back panel, rather than drilling a hole in the trunk.

scorchie

No satellite radio installations at the factory for US-spec cars not built in the US. No phone or voice control systems installed at the factory for US-spec cars not built in the US, either.

Phone/voice can be installed at either the VPC or the dealer; satellite can be installed at the dealer, but I don't know if they are done at the VPC (I believe they are not).

-s-

rusnakmb

Yes, but it cost $800 installed.

The NAVI is avaliable for dealer install for all 04' model E class.

imthduke

Checked with my dealer and he wants $1200 to install sat. ...Yikes!
Also, they have to drill a hole in the trunk top and put that ugly black antenna there that ruins the looks of the car in my humble but accurate opinion. They wont hear to installing under rear glass like another guy on E55 thread had done. Going to check with other dealers or wait till MB decides because of customer disapproval that there is a better way to locate an antenna.

rusnakmb

Hi,

You can't blame dealership, because that is where MB want dealer to install. Dealer install mean your warranty is still good. I have a client build his annt in the trunk and the reception isn't that great, but it is workable.

airbusman

I installed the Sirius radio in my '04 E-class, and it is under warranty. The antenna is mounted on the boot cover in the cnter as per MB installation instructions. It works great. Never thought I would have pay radio, but with NO COMMERCIALS and the smooth integration into the COMAND system, it is both convenient and easy to use.

I would not install the antenna on the back deck inside, in the winter the electomagnetic interference of the rear window heat may play havoc with the reception of the satellite signal while the window heat was energized.

I did not like the idea of having a hole drilled in the aluminum boot cover, but after installation, it looks great, works great, and have not listened to the regular radio much anymore.

My 2 cents worth.

'04 E320 4matic
'01 E320 4matic
'01 ML320
'99 A170cdi (in London)

W210

Perhaps those with antennas mounted on the back deck inside can press the defrost button and report back to us if such inteference occurs?

airbusman

That is a good idea. I still wanted mine to be as per factory specs, so there would be no question whether it worked optimally or not, and did not want any possiblity to affect the warranty.

BlueMonk

Stupid question but what is the 'boot cover'? Trunk?

scorchie

"Factory specs"??

Installing the antenna on the trunk is definitely not factory specs. No W211s leave the Mercedes factory with that satellite radio antenna mounted on the trunk.

Incidentally, many cars leave the Mercedes factory with GPS antennas mounted under the rear glass.

-s-

airbusman

I know that, you know what I meant, but to keep it clear to others, yes they do not leave the factory that way.

If you look at the "official" install sheets the MB dealer and VPC mechanics use, the installation calls for the antenna mounted on the center of the boot lid, centered on the round hold stamped in the inner layer metal.

I am buying another radio kit for a '05 SLK320 that I am doing another European Delivery on this winter. I do not know where this one is supposed to mounted, probably in the same place in the center of the boot cover.

Ed-

Hmm GPS antennas under the rear glass? on which vehicles? Stuttgart? or all of them?

W210

Boot (UK) = Trunk (US)
Esate (UK) = Wagon (US)
Lorry (UK) = Truck (US)
Rubber (UK) = Eraser (IS)

airbusman

bonnet(UK=hood(US)
***(UK)=cigarette(US)
torch(UK)=flashlight(US)


For a few others in case you hear them...

t-bone

I have my Mercedes-Benz Sirius satellite radio antenna installed underneath the rear deck out of view.

I have not experienced any problems with reception. No problems when I turn on the rear windshield defroster either.

Installing it on the trunk by drilling a hole has NEVER been an option in my mind.

Many others have installed it in the same manner as me and all have been happy.





Maybe someone should make the satellite install information sticky.

W210

Thanks T-bone, I will definitely follow your instructions if I decide to install statellite radio..

airbusman

Hmm... Looks neat. But I still would still mount the antenna exactly where I did.

In MB Star Bulletin P-1-82.60/309 "Model 211.0, Model Year 2004 Satellite Radio Installation", Figure P82.60-4399-01, the illustration shows how the SDARS antenna is to be mounted by the dealer. I want my car to be exactly as MB has specified.

I helped mount another antenna last night on an '04 E55. My friend also wanted to follow the MB Star bulletin.

We are going to mount another SDARS antenna on an '04 E500 wagon (the ceiling liner has to be torn out first. (and then replaced with a new one after the install - any ideas on this one?)

I talked to a Sirius Engineer about this today. According to him, when the antenna is obstructed from the sky, such as when antenna would be in this case by the C pillar when the vehicle C pillar is between the satellite and the antenna on the back deck, the reception will be degraded or none for a moment.

He said the reason why people in large urban areas may not notice this, is because in urban areas or areas where physical structures may obstruct the satellite view, Sirius (as well as XM) uses terrestial repeaters.

Being an engineer myself, (I am not just an Airline Pilot) I looked into this, and the RF interference from the window heat DOES degrade the signal reception slightly.

Hmm, maybe that is why Boeing and aircraft other manufacturers mount the satellite antennas on the surface (very top) of the aircraft body rather than under the composite structures in the wing or the empennage.

BTW, the guy who owns the E55 works at the local airline here, his background is engineering, is an MB club member, also a "car nut" and about as **** as could be with his gas guzzling - over powered - E55 AMG. (had to put that in for you Chris)

You can mount the antenna anyway you choose, but I am going to stick with what the MB Star Bulletin states. A bit of engineering went into this, not just appearance needs, although I would have liked to hide the antenna, I want the satellite reception to be optimal.

Ed