A208 CLK430 - Poor radio reception, knackered antenna?

[Senator]

The radio reception is a bit patchy on my A208 CLK430 so I decided to start looking into it. There seem to be several complaints on other forums about the radio reception on these cars but I don't believe we just have to put up with that!

My antenna looks like it's seen better days so that's my number one suspect, it may have even been broken but I don't know how long it's supposed to be! Yesterday I tried unscrewing it but it wouldn't budge (I even tried penetrating oil and pliers)! I read up about the amplifier which sits behind the wing (at the base of the antenna) so I've just tried unscrewing that and 'Snap!' the screw broke. I taken it out and it looks like water has got down inside the damaged antenna and into the amplifier, causing corrsion.

I'm assuming the amplifier is knackered. Anyone know how to test it? Should I get a second hand one or will they all be knackered at 20 years old? Why does it even need an antenna amplifier, I don't need GPS etc. just radio?
Any help appreciated!

 

[Deleted member 11979]

I can’t help specifically, but my a208 had the same issue, patchy reception, so I bought a new mast and the reception is now perfectly acceptable, I also struggled to get it off and thought it was going to snap.

I had the same issue with a bmw e46 and a new used amp solved the problem

 

[Senator]

I saw a used assembly (antenna and amplifier) on ebay so decided to give it a go, I should find out in a few days if it's fixed the problem...

 

[Senator]

Fitted the used antenna last week and radio reception has been fine so far, so looks like a good result.

 

[320tclk]

Fitted the used antenna last week and radio reception has been fine so far, so looks like a good result.

Hi Senator,
How did you manage to get the Hirschmann amp off? I had similar problem aerial not unscrewing, then read it could be reverse thread. Still no luck until it came off and snapped the screw!

Now I'm trying to get Hirschmann amp of but torx screw seems to have been rounded, may try and drill it off out but guessing the aerial butt cap is attached some how and will leave a hole in body work, is this correct?

My main aim is to replace with a DAB aerial I think. But don't want to leave a big hole while I wait.

Thanks

 

[Senator]

Hi
The amp is held on with just one screw, which holds the amp onto the underside of the antenna. On mine the screw just snapped when I tried to unscrew it and the amp came out easily. If yours has rounded it will be more tricky! I don't think you could get a drill into position from inside the boot, so perhaps you could try sawing off as much of the antenna base as you can above the bodywork. If you're lucky it might start to fall apart and drop down through the hole, or if not you could then try drilling the screw from above. This would probably damage the amp too but if you're removing it anyway I guess that's not a problem.

The antenna base sits in a square hole in the panel (to stop it rotating), I didn't take a picture of the hole but you can see the square shape on the base of the antenna in my post above.

Good luck!

 

[Senator]

Here's a side-on picture of the base, might help you judge where to drill if you do it from above...?

 

[320tclk]

Hi Senator,
How did you manage to get the Hirschmann amp off? I had similar problem aerial not unscrewing, then read it could be reverse thread. Still no luck until it came off and snapped the screw!

Now I'm trying to get Hirschmann amp of but torx screw seems to have been rounded, may try and drill it off out but guessing the aerial butt cap is attached some how and will leave a hole in body work, is this correct?

My main aim is to replace with a DAB aerial I think. But don't want to leave a big hole while I wait.

Thanks

Thanks for your reply, have tried drilling through top no joy. I'm thinking i might need to reuse the black butt bit as it's slightly angled.

Will try drilling the head off from the amp side, hoping it will then drop off and I can pull the aerial away, that's my thinking anyway

Will try and buy a replacement first just in case the rain returns.

Thanks again.