Hi,

I usually post over in the W123 forum (since I own 3 of 'em), and work in a Mercedes parts department. I thought y'all might be interested in this little tip. If the rubber tip comes off your roof mounted antenna, instead of buying a whole new cover for +$100, do this.

1.Have your dealer order a Euro antenna tip (part number 202-827-00-31) for about $10.

2.Remove the painted cap from your car (small hex head screw) and slightly ream out the hole with a 15/32" or 1/2" drill bit.

3.Insert the new rubber antenna into the hole. You will have to mark how much excess you have on the inside, and cut it off.

4.Put back in place, and secure with a drop of epoxy or super glue from the inside.

5. Reinstall the cover onto the roof, making sure you get the gasket in place.

We've done dozens of cars like this, and haven't had any problems. It sure makes the customer happy to save $100. Hope this helps somebody out!

Jamie

Hey, Jamie.

Thanks for the tip...mods, let's add this to the sticky thread, what do you think?

And Jamie, you'll be sorry you admitted to working in an MB parts dept, your PM box will fill up in no time.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

Hi Jamie:

Thank You for the advise. I am from San Juan, PR and our local MB Dealer wants to charge $190.00 for the replacement painted cap.

Thank you again,
MMM

 

Hi,

I usually post over in the W123 forum (since I own 3 of 'em), and work in a Mercedes parts department. I thought y'all might be interested in this little tip. If the rubber tip comes off your roof mounted antenna, instead of buying a whole new cover for +$100, do this.

1.Have your dealer order a Euro antenna tip (part number 202-827-00-31) for about $10.

2.Remove the painted cap from your car (small hex head screw) and slightly ream out the hole with a 15/32" or 1/2" drill bit.

3.Insert the new rubber antenna into the hole. You will have to mark how much excess you have on the inside, and cut it off.

4.Put back in place, and secure with a drop of epoxy or super glue from the inside.

5. Reinstall the cover onto the roof, making sure you get the gasket in place.

We've done dozens of cars like this, and haven't had any problems. It sure makes the customer happy to save $100. Hope this helps somebody out!

Jamie

you rock.....it looks great thanks for saving me 110 bucks.....i owe you a drink

 

Hey, folks. About to do this, noticed that mine was broken when I washed the car today. I'll go ahead and snap some pics, post a pictorial DIY to complement Jamiek's great idea. Just waiting for the quote from Duval for this and a few other things.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

greg I broke mine with a car cover, be very very careful when using car covers don't move around. I paid 100 at stealer already painted.

 

greg I broke mine with a car cover, be very very careful when using car covers don't move around. I paid 100 at stealer already painted.

Hey, benzzn55.
I'm not sure how mine broke, I noticed it while washing. I may have been a little heavy-handed with the wash mitt, supposedly they get pretty brittle with age and then break easily.
At any rate, that's why I'm thrilled with JamieK's post. It will take a bit of time and attention to fit the Euro part properly, but it cost a whopping $7 plus shipping at Duval. Leaves me enough for a tank of gas and a dinner date.
I'm sure it will also look a tiny bit different, but that bothers me not at all, and I can document it for others so they see exactly what to do and can save significant bucks as well. Plus we need another simple DIY. (Just glad I'm on the forum so I knew about it.)
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

greg I broke mine with a car cover, be very very careful when using car covers don't move around. I paid 100 at stealer already painted.

What did you do man take it easy You too Greg

 

The next logical step...

in this discussion is to ask about a simple (and inexpensive) fix for the gasket that sits between the painted antenna cap and the roof of the car. Mine is cracked, brittle and little bits of it come off every time I wash the car. Has anyone found a good fix for this?

 

Hey, folks.

Now that the E is back from the body shop and the ugly parking lot dent is gone from the fender, I finally got around to repairing the antenna tip. (To be honest, all this time I've had part of a drinking straw, flattened at the tip, covered in electrical tape with some silicone at the bottom...it worked fine for the interim and didn't look that bad. A friend of mine who knew it was broken thought I'd already fixed it until I told him to take a closer look.)

Okay, while I said I'd take pictures and do a DIY, I didn't plan on doing this today, but I was over at my sister's house for Easter and got into it after washing the car. So I didn't take pictures. That said, I'm not sure exactly what I would take pictures OF (except perhaps the end results). It's pretty self-explanatory, so I'll just expand on Jamie's cursory tip.

Remove your antenna cap and CAREFULLY remove the gasket (as Ed mentions, it's pretty brittle, if you break it I'm not sure that is separately available, but mine is looking a bit peaked so I'll inquire at my stealer) and then remove the bottom piece of your old rubber tip from the inside of the cap.

You'll ultimately need a half-inch drill bit, but I started with a 7/16, then to 15/32 and then I noticed that the bit had moved a bit off-center (which made me glad I started smaller, had I started with the 1/2 I would probably have ruined it). So I used a small blade on a pocketknife to even it out, then used the half-incher. Even that was not quite enough, so the pocketknife finished the job. I also ended up cutting off about 1/4" from the bottom of the new tip where it flares so greatly; otherwise the assembly will not seat properly on the base.

The only real issue is that it is barely too short; in order to reach the next ring/rib (see close up shot) on the new tip you would have to drill bigger, then you'd be off of the top and into the body of the cap, which would ruin the cap. Thus it puts a small bend into the antenna. But since the antenna's usefulness has passed and it's only for show at this point, it's no big deal (plus the little bend shouldn't affect it anyway).

There are two pics so you can see the results, one from a bit farther away and a close up that shows the rings/ribs on the euro design. It's not perfect but for under ten bucks it looks better than an exact replacement -- and it's plainly better than a drinking straw, electrical tape or not.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

I guess, my old-timer (among the W210) does not have such feature, so that I am not benefiting from the great DIY

 

Neither does my '98 E210 wagon - just has the poorly receptive window antenna. Is this replaced well - suggestions?
Also -- if I replace it, can anyone suggest a good refurbisher or replacement cassette radio deck? Might as well Go for the gold...

 

someone has got to ask what about smart keys

 

Ed and others..)
Local STEALER (all caps for a good reason) as well as Duval confirm you can only get the gasket if you buy the replacement cap. 100 or more depending on where you shop.
Nice. Very......nice.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

Antenna FIX

Thanks for the info Just went to the dealer here and picked it up Only took me 10min to fix it NICE!

 

Another Satisfied Customer

Local dealer (Greenville, SC) insisted only whole assembly available at >$100. Asheville NC dealer happily gave me the part for <$9 plus tax. So, shop around. Simple fix - looks great.

Thanks!

 

Local dealer (Greenville, SC) insisted only whole assembly available at >$100. Asheville NC dealer happily gave me the part for <$9 plus tax. So, shop around. Simple fix - looks great.


Thanks!

Glad it helped, Nugent. For others, there really is no need to shop around. Don't go to the dealer and ask for a tip for the 210. It is not separately available and you have to modify the cap because the one in the DIY is not a correct replacement for the 210. After all, the goal of parts folks is to not sell you wrong parts.

That is why the part number you need is in the DIY. So just call the dealer and see if they have that part number in stock, if so go and get it (to save time ask them to put it in will call and you can probably just go to the cashier and they will get it out of W/C for you). If they ask you what it is for just say you don't know, it is just an antenna tip. Some dealers may not stock it, that is why it is smart to call ahead.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

I called and quoted the part number given in the diy to the dealer parts guy. I did not ask for the 210 part. He punched it in his system and started asking for my car color or VIN. I explained it was just a black rubber thing I wanted, but he said I could only get the complete assembly.

The other dealer had a very different reaction to the same part number, he immediately referred to the antenna tip. So I'm confused.

 

What's confusing? The first dealer doesn't want your business . Personally I'd avoid them in the future. I hate dealers like that. On the other hand, it's possible that he is probably one of the ones who doesn't stock it, so he started asking you other questions to try and find an updated number or part for you...or he just wants to soak you for an extra C-note. Either way unless it's really inconvenient I'd avoid that place.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

Thank you JamieK

..and gregs210 for the writeup. I went to the local MB dealer and it has the part in stock ($13). I followed your instructions, drilled the cap opening a little bigger, cut the new part a bit shorter, and put the new part thru. I didn't have to put any glue, the new cap is very tight. It looks awesome, just like your photo.

Thanks,

 

I just put more clear silicone on mine, I need to go and get this part next week.

 

I removed screw and could not remove cap from roof , tried to the point of almost damaging roof sheet metal. Anyone experience this issue? Solution please.

2000 E430 Sport

 

Wet the area around the cap and gasket (and the gasket itself) thoroughly with a rubber/vinyl treatment and let it soak in, hit it again a few times. The little hex-head set screw is all that holds it -- but the gasket can bond to the cap and the roof. If you tear the gasket by horsing it off there you'll have other fish to fry. So let the treatment soak in and then use some dental floss to get under an edge of the gasket and start it working loose and go from there.

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

I was using a side to side motion when I should have been pulling upwards. The metal cone underneath the cap restricts any motion other than up. Now all is well and the replacement antenna rubber tip looks great!

 

I just bought the part from my local stealership, $16. I used a sharp knife to ream the hole out, and the new part fits perfectly:thumbsup:

 

Kool!

I don't have the antenna, but think I'll add one anyway... how much does the base cost?

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

Thanks to all for posting about this. It couldn't be easier and saved me $100.

 

How is the antenna base under the painted cap attached?

Yesterday, washing my car, I noticed that the rubber cover for the rooftop antenna was broken. I called the MB dealer and they said I'd have to buy the painted part with it for $150! Sooo... I checked the DIY sticky and found this thread and will order the euro cover today. Thanks.

My question, though, is the antenna base that the painted plastic cover attaches to is loose on my car and I can't any way to tighten it up. It's loose enought that water could get under the rubber gasket. Do I have to remove the headliner to tighten this up???? Help!

Thanks,
Fred

 

Yesterday, washing my car, I noticed that the rubber cover for the rooftop antenna was broken. I called the MB dealer and they said I'd have to buy the painted part with it for $150! Sooo... I checked the DIY sticky and found this thread and will order the euro cover today. Thanks.

My question, though, is the antenna base that the painted plastic cover attaches to is loose on my car and I can't any way to tighten it up. It's loose enought that water could get under the rubber gasket. Do I have to remove the headliner to tighten this up???? Help!

Thanks,
Fred

Hi, Fred. No, the single hex-head screw holds it in place, then it pretty much just pulls straight up away from the roof. If the screw is tight but the cover is loose, remove the cover and inspect the mounting to see if it is loose. If not you can possibly and carefully bend down the tab into which the mounting screw goes, thus pulling the cap closer.

However, you're not ordering a euro cover, just the euro rubber tip. After you remove your existing cover, you have to remove the bits of your old tip and then modify your cover to accept the euro tip. Scroll back up a few posts and find the additional information I posted after I did mine. Here's the link: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210-e-class/1324049-antenna-fix.html#post2803860

Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg

 

FSM is Factory Service Manual.

I actually got it by calling 1-800-FOR-MERC.

 

Just did this. Excellent. Thank you for the tip!