Aerial

minesapasty

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Hi there, this is my first post on the site, but I have been lurking in the background, reading many different informative items over the past few months.

I have an E200 estate (1998) W??? I haven't worked that bit out yet. The radio reception has always been none existent since I bought the car. Recently, I fitted a new JVC bluetooth head unit, and found that the radio reception on this was the same as the old unit.

Behind the rear view mirror, I have something stuck to the window, it says that it is an aerial. Does anyone know whether this is the aerial for the radio, or is it the sensor for the remote locking etc? If it is the radio aerial, is it a passive aerial, or does it require power? I ask this because there is a loose red wire floating about behind the radio, and I haven't found where it goes to. One of the previous owners seems to have messed about with the electrics with a hammer and chisel, but I am slowly getting it to where it should be. I just miss my Pirate FM, and have regularly chosen to drive my Paj, in preference to the Merc, just so I can listen to it.

Thanks in advance

Tony
 
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turbopete

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your car is a w210. if you look at the vin number it will be wdb then theres 3 numbers. in your case it will be 210. e class with the twin oval lights. as far as im aware all the 210 e class cars have the aerial in the heated rear screen and i believe theres a signal amplifier that fails on them im sure someone will be along shortly with details of location, cost etc
 

bigasotonuk

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Hi,
Welcome to the forum,
On the Saloon E class of this year, the aeriel is in the rear windscreen, if you look at the heating element closely I think you will notice that there is another set of lines there. and there is I believe an aeriel amplifier behind one of the "C" piller trims, not sure on the estate though but I don,t see it's going to be much different.
The unit up by the windscreen is it a squarish box just in front of the rear view mirror? if so this is your rain sensitive wiper control box and if you look at the outside of the windscreen you will see a window in the windscreen upper tint for it.
 

brandwooddixon

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As an estate it's probably an S210, although most will refer to it as a W210 estate.

As others have said there's the antenna amplifier in the near side C-pillar (for saloon) I'm not sure about an estate, but probably ion a similar position.

One thing that people keep forgetting is that the core of the aerial cable is very thin and is prone to break within the black connector that plugs into the back of the radio. It is a simple job to prise open the connector a with a spot of solder fix the break (just don't short to the earth shield or you'll get no reception at all.)

If your reception is better on FM than on AM then this is most likely the cause.

Once you find the amplifier you can short out the core to the shield as the cable connector is a socket and continuity test at the head unit end.
 

television

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It is in C pillar even on the estate. the other thing that can happen is the thin inner core of the plug can break very easily, where it plugs into the radio, on early cars the cable can be damaged under the rear seat
 
OP
M

minesapasty

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  • Thread Starter
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Thanks for the replies....... yes it is the twin light E series, so a W210 it is.

As far as the thin centre wire is concerned on the co-ax...... as I said before, hammer and chisel seems to have been used on the wiring (in places)..... the aerial plug had been cut off, and then refitted by the twist and tape method :mad: some people should just stick to driving their settees and leave stuff that they don't understand, well alone (grump grump)..... I have already fitted a new plug (aerials and satellites are my business), but still no signal, or at least not unless I am in a very strong signal area, then I can hear it a bit.

Unfortunately, I have no wiring diagrams for the motor, and the handbook that came with it, doesn't relate to the car.... I bought the car from a dealer (not MB) and am very pleased with it (on the whole), body wise, it is very clean, engine is sweet as, and relatively low mileage compared to many that I looked at before buying it, but I am now starting to fathom out the stuff that doesn't work....... if the black thing by the mirror is a rain sensor, then that doesn't work either.:rolleyes: There is a black shading on the windscreen where it is.

So it looks like it is time to search for the aerial amp, there's only so many times that you can listen to the kids CD's:rolleyes:

Also have to have a go at the sunroof...... that is being caused by the kinked control cables, and have new ones on order....... just need the sun to return, before I attempt it, with the help of the fantastic post on here:)

Once again thanks for the replies, I will have loads more questions (no doubt), but one step at a time:lol:
 

teddycatkin

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Hi Pasty Hows St Austell nowadays it must be good in all that sunshine ?--last resort and reasonably cheap fix is to fit a new aerial complete --in roof or wing --it may even be a cheaper option ?
 

television

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I will find you the amp refit paper that will help a lot.

As you are in the aerial business, what I do is to tune into a weak station and then say to test the wire from the amp, to the radio, just unplug it from the amp and touch the center pin with a small screwdriver while holding the blade, if it comes alive you know the fault is further back, then do the same on the antenna input, if the result is worse then either there amp is not getting power or it is faulty
 

Blobcat

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It sounds like the thing on the front windscreen is the inside part of a car phone Ae and the external glass mounted Ae has fallen off.
 

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