LovinMercedes

I am getting a new SL600 and saw the Sirus factory MB antenna. I also saw the small one that is not OEM.

Some suggest installing the smaller one in the outside vents upfront, but what about water? I do not believe this smaller antenna is waterproof.

Anybody figure this one out? It would be greatly appreciated.

Please let me know and if anyone has pictures, that would also be great.

HELP NEEDED

Juice it

Look up on the SL55 forum, someone just installed one.

redcoupe

You can put the small antenna on the dash in the center up on the windsheild.

Sl500z

As far to the drivers side as possible. Further away from the side of the road where trees might block the signal. I have it and it works great!

LovinMercedes

sl500z, did you have to use the 50 foot extension or was the 21 feet on antenna long enough?

Sl500z

The cable attached was just fine. No extension needed. The first xm tuner however was defective. They could get the stations hsowing up but no volume. A new tuner module solved the problem. Good luck.

LovinMercedes

Did you install XM or the SIRUS which is what Mercedes has?

CASL55

Here's the URL of the thread where I posted pix of my installation under the grate at the back of the hood of my SL55. https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-sl63-amg-sl65-amg-r230/82086-xm-antenna-question.html

I didn't use a small antenna, because the big one fit and I figured it would be at least as good. There is no problem with water, since the antenna that I used is made for external use. You can see the kind of antenna I used in the last picture.

Make sure you strap the antenna to the top grate, the one that moves with the hood, and not the bottom, fixed, grate. The inch or so makes a big difference in reception.

Jim

Sl500z

I used the TERK SIR-MINI antenna. It is for Siruis. And the SIP adapter. Look in the other posts.

LovinMercedes

Can't you mount the antenna to the lower grate that is stationary but put something below it to raise it so you don't have to use the strap?

CASL55

That would work, but you would have to allow tolerance for thermal expansion and contraction as well as vibration that wouldn't let you get the antenna as high as if you just strapped it to the top grate. I don't think you'd want the antenna attached to the bottom grate and in contact with the top grate, as it would then rub against the top grate. The black piece of Panduit is essentially invisible from outside of the car unless you're looking for it.

However, if the tie wrap being visible from the outside bothers you, feel free to shim it up and attach it from the bottom. If you ever figure out a way to automagically switch between two antennas, a la upscale FM radios, let me know; I think that's the way to go.

Jim

LovinMercedes

Where would you put the second antenna?

CASL55

I'd put it under the grate on the other side of the car. That would give it a different view of the sky, or maybe I should say a better view of a different part of the sky. The main blockage to good reception seems to come from the roof, when it's up, and the windshield frame, when it's not. Ideally, you'd put it somewhere in the back of the car, to get the greatest diversity, but with the folding roof, the options are pretty limited in the SL.

Jim

Trimmer2

My Sirius Satellite Radio was installed last week. I waited, and waited for the solution to puting the factory antenna on/through the trunk. My dealer woke up and purchased some Terk mini antennas for their customers from a local high-end electronics/stereo store and mounted it in the center of the dash close to the windshield. So far, I've had very good reception and haven't come across any dead spots driving all around town and in most all directions.

The antenna is about 1.5 x 1.5 inches and I don't really notice it. Looking from outside the car, one can see the antenna and the Sirius Satellite written on it. It's black so it show more against my ash interior. I'm sure with the charcoal or black interior, one would never know it was there.

All in all, I'm very glad I added the service and haven't listened to my local stations since!

StephenK

Could you send me a photo of your antenna installation, I was considering the same kind of installation.

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