[stormtigers]

Hi Guys
Often see discussion about antenna masts on the forums.
Help my antenna's jammed or wont work etc etc etc.
Anyone I know there is a plethora of aftermarket stuff out there, aluminium, chrome etc but for the stalwarts I have found a great resource of genuine Hirschmann product in the UK and his prices are great in comparison to the aftermarket US stuff !

Mast, Aerial items in car-masts-uk-shop store on eBay!

Malcom answered my query within an hour regarding a mast for my 300CE. I had searched the Hirschmann site and come up with the wrong antenna based on the Model number I had found on the outside casing.
He pointed out the error and correctly pointed me at the right product which he had on eBay and it cost me the princeley sum of $45 landed !
Now that might seem a bit expensive, not much though as the aluminium or steel ones are all around the $30-$40 price anyway !

So as a suggestion give Malcom a try if your in the market for an antenna mast - the real deal may not be as expensive as you think !
Oh and by the way, a parts supplier here wanted over $100 for a real one !!
Who's laughing now baby.......

"="2"]...This is a brand new GENUINE replacement aerial antenna mast telescope for the Mercedes E Class 123 models (1975 to 1985) and 124 models (1984 to 1995) Coupe, Cabriolet, Cabrio and Convertible models fitted with the Hirschmann 6000 EL and KE and KE-F series electric aerial (power antenna) as original equipment. The aerial is easily identified from outside the car as the tip is mushroom shaped. This aerial was fitted by Mercedes as original equipment at the factory, and as an approved after-market option on most models. This GENUINE Hirschmann mast is all chrome and has the stylised Hirschmann “h04” on the aerial tip (see illustration). It includes the retaining ferule and drive cable.

Will fit 220, 230, 280, 300, 320 CE and Convertible models . This is a genuine Hirschmann mast, manufactured in Europe, by Hirschmann of Germany, as supplied to Mercedes, Jaguar and BMW. It is made from quality chromium plated brass and is not a cheap copy made in China using chromium plated steel[/SIZE].

 

[300e90]

Where exactly is the motor for the antenna located? My antenna functions fine but the switch does not do anything when pressed up or down.

 

[stormtigers]

Where exactly is the motor for the antenna located? My antenna functions fine but the switch does not do anything when pressed up or down.

Well it should be directly below the antenna !
If it's left or right rear guard then pull back the internal panel and in mine it it behind a structural panel attached by one screw to this panel !

 

[LeftCoastGeek]

indeed, the motor is behind the left fender, accessible from the trunk, behind the left side liner. but you don't need to even see the motor to replace the antenna mast as long as the motor runs, and you can get the plastic toothed tail of the old antenna out, the masts are installed from outside the car.

 

[stormtigers]

indeed, the motor is behind the left fender, accessible from the trunk, behind the left side liner. but you don't need to even see the motor to replace the antenna mast as long as the motor runs, and you can get the plastic toothed tail of the old antenna out, the masts are installed from outside the car.

Hey Volvo
Isn't it time you retired that Swedish-come Chinese tank and got yourself into something like a 320CE Cabriolet ?

 

[LeftCoastGeek]

Hey Volvo
Isn't it time you retired that Swedish-come Chinese tank and got yourself into something like a 320CE Cabriolet ?

My Volvo is 100% Swedish(*), and is both pre-Ford and pre-Greenly

about the only benz I'd consider would be a 300TE and around here, every one I've seen has been trashed, or the owner thinks its made from gold-pressed Latinum. or both. The 745 wagon has better payload capacity, and better towing ability (due to its live axle)


(*) ok, it has a Aisen-Warner 71 transmission, made in Japan, and Bosch electrics, mostly made in Germany, and American a/c, and.... but, the car and engine is definately 100% Gothensburg.

 

[stormtigers]

EEEEEKKKKK ! PA ! PA! Get the scattergun - there's a big grey grizzly bear in the chicken shed !

 

[LeftCoastGeek]

i'll tell you another thing. those older RWD volvos are about 20X easier to work on than a benz... and they go 400K+ miles without needing head gaskets if you don't overheat them. they solved the RoHS biodegradable wiring problems by 1987. they stopped using KE-Jet circa 1982 in favor of LH EFI.

 

[sbaert]

I definitely concur on the older Volvos being good, especially the 70s 240 shoebox types.

Didn't think Volvo ever had a wiring issue and 1987 would have been too early for the treehuggers to have enough policitical wrangling power to force manufacturers to use junk for the sake of saving the planet, again for the 213th time.

I came very close to buying a mid-90s 850 T5-R when they were new, although Volvo hasn't made anything worth considering (to me) since then.

I like my Volvos (Amazon, P1800s, 240, 740, 850) like I like my MBs, old & older. And yes, Volvo trumps MB on the utilitarian side of things, especially so the wagons. The truth hurts at times, but cannot be ignored.

 

[LeftCoastGeek]

I definitely concur on the older Volvos being good, especially the 70s 240 shoebox types..

we have a 240 too, a 1987 240GL sedan in refrigerator white... wife is the original owner, it has about 400K miles on it, had never even had the valve cover off until we finally had to replace the camshaft seals earlier this year.

in its lifetime, its had the alternator, water pump (a couple times), radiator replaced, the AW70 transmission was rebuilt at about 300K miles, and... ummm... regular service (timing belts every 80K miles, brakes as needed, that kind of thing). Oh yeah, about 5 years ago I replaced a bunch of the rear suspension bushings and installed overload rear springs as we've used it for towing a hobiecat quite a lot.

oh yeah, its had its antenna mast replaced a couple times, hah hah (topic topic!)

this car survived my wife's daily driving habits for years, then a series of our babysitters, nannies, and au pairs used it, then I drove it for a few years, fixing it up again (radiator, stereo upgrade, full set of custom seat covers), then my son learned to drive in it, and ended up taking it to college for a year or so, now my daughter is taking it as her first car. the 300E 2.6 was offered to her, and she prefers the 240, its more 'hip' she says.

mechanically, the 740/940 is a continuation of the 240, with a TON of engineering improvements. better torque arm design for the rear end, better swing arm designs, better front control arms, bigger/better brakes (especially the turbos), much much better and more sane wiring, better ventilation and a/c, better seats. the 7/9s are only slightly larger than the 240 on the outside, but have significantly more room inside. they have the same B230F (or FT turbo) series "redblock" engines, the same AW series transmissions, the same Dana rear axles.

 

[bsmuwk]

I like my Volvos (Amazon, P1800s, 240, 740, 850) like I like my MBs, old & older. And yes, Volvo trumps MB on the utilitarian side of things, especially so the wagons. The truth hurts at times, but cannot be ignored.

If they weren't so ugly I'm pretty sure I'd be drivin' one.

 

[LeftCoastGeek]

my 16 yr old daughter declared that the 300E 2.6 was an 'old ladies car'. hah! she thinks the 240 is way hipper and retro.

 

[sbaert]

I always had a soft spot for the 780 Bertone coupe. That is a very good looking car IMO for being a Volvo.

 

[LeftCoastGeek]

I owned a new 1989 780 Bertone, in gold, with tan leather interior. gawd that was a sweet car, really nice handling, great brakes, decent power from the 2.8L V6. incredibly smooth and quite too. I nodded off driving home at 3am after a 48 hour project release marathon and ran head on into a cement railroad overpass abuttment. totalled the car but walked away with only minor bruising. In 6 months I put 30,000 miles on that car.

 

[stormtigers]

H I J A C K E R S ! ! ! !

It must be me - everytime I post something and reply to someone with a smart ass comment - the topic get's hijacked !!! but :yelrotflmao:

Anyway a further comment to the TOPIC opf ANTENNA'S .....

It is quite intriguing that when I asked Hirschman about my antenna it drew a blank response because the Part No is not documented as being in their range and they asked for photo's !

I also copied in their response to Malcom who has provided heaps of information - he obviously has a passion for his business.

"...The Hirschmann aerials have part numbers (descriptions) and suffixes:
AUTA 6000 EL was their premium Electric aerial as fitted to Mercedes, BMW Jaguar and Porsche etc between about 1983 and 1993
The correct part number of the aerial is AUTA 6000 EL-F457, but it never appears in a Hirschmann catalogue of that period. The suffix 'F' identifies it as having a rubber grommet type wing fitting and the 457 as containing the wiring and fixing brackets specific to the W124 Saloon series from September 1988 and C124 Coupe series for after-sales installation so the aerial could have been fitted at the factory or by the supplying main dealer. I believe all 3 digit suffixes beginning 4 were Mercedes models.
The same suffix F-457 would also be used for the AUTA 4000 range which was the premium manual aerial. The -457 suffix would not have been used with the AUTA 6000-EL as this was the earlier type of aerial using a bolt-down metal type wing fitting rather than the later rubber push fit type fitting, and not have been used with the later AUTA 6000 KE-F version of the aerial, which used more micro-chip control technology and was more universal in application using separately boxed fitting kits, rather than complete application specific single boxed aerials.
I believe the subsequent Serial No 48 7.01 will identify it's production date in a coded format for warranty purposes. The aerial was made at a time when both Mercedes and Hirschmann products were well engineered and is worth maintaining. ...."
WOW ! Now that's impressive you have to admit.
Being old school in product experience and having all that information.

Yes I know - it's only a damn antenna , but think of it this way, many forum users strongly believe in maintaining the originality of their car.
We now have, as a group, a guy who specialises in one particular original fitment part, is willing to advise and can supply genuine replacement parts for competitive prices !! Gotta Love It !

 

[stormtigers]

SORRY !
You can go back to your Volvo discussion now fellas ! :surrender:

 

[stormtigers]

Guys

Just recycling this post once more.

My new antenna mast arrived from England today.
All I can say is - why buy a slightly cheaper no-name.

This is a genuine Hirschmann Communications Mast AUTA 6000 Type 04.

It feels and looks the real deal (probably because it is ! )
It's actually quite heavy, feels solid and fitment was complete in less than 2 minutes ! The aerial now extends it's proper length and now my radio reception which has been a bit flakey on the way to the golf course should be restored !

I can't stress how inexpensive this was compared to the chrome plated aluminium/chinese made stuff for sale on eBay.

$43 Australian (about $45 US at present) and arrived a week after I paid for it. And it's a genuine part - what more can you ask for !

Give Malcom a go if your mast is stuffed ! He also specialises in the rubber fender grommets etc for antennas.

Mast, Aerial items in car-masts-uk-shop store on eBay!