Replacement power antenna! What?

[blairwag]

Okay. I just finished an hour of re-re-reading all posts with the word ANTENNA. I've been to pagoda113.com and reviewed the ever famous post on the Hirschmann antenna that many have refered to. Still, not the simple answer I'm hoping for.

I've got a 1971 280 SL with Becker Europa radion, and manual telescopic (WISI) antenna. I'd like to replace the manual antenna with a reasonably priced, reasonably authentic (not necesarily exact) looking replacement AUTOMATIC POWER ANTENNA. I've seen the Hirschmann name a lot and a few posts about a Beru.

For those of you who did this job already,
What make and model antenna did you install :?:

The only reference I've seen to a mode is a new Hirschmann universal AUTA 2040.  I'm fine with such a thing, if it installs correctly and works ...without modification to my car!

Please - someone make my life easier - I'm anxious to buy the right antenna the first time, and get it in.  

I know, I can call Ed Ebel at Becker NA, or Walter Odimer Co. or some outfit in Germany. I'm hoping someone can tell me the make and model of a known working unit - and maybe even where to get it. Bigbabbo, or eBay, for Dr. Benz.   I'd just like to know exactly what to ask for.

Thanx, in advance, for reading my rambling, and for any help you can offer  

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
1971 280SL US Automatic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Douglas]

I traded some misc parts with the seller in this acution, so this antenna used to be mine. It would be a good choice. It's from the early to mid-70s and is NOS. It's about as close as you can get without waiting another year for an even older NOS Hirschmann to pop up. The problem is these things are usually unfixable after a certain point, so you're basically looking for the Holy Grail.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2481816679&category=42606

Considering what the new antennas from Hirschmann go for, his Buy it Now price is a bargain in my opinion.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[blairwag]

Yikes, $250.00 UDS for an old antenna that may break down sooner than later doesn't sound so great. If this is my best choice, I'll stick with the manual WISI.

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
1971 280SL US Automatic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Douglas]

William,

To put things into perspective, I recently sold an NOS antenna on ebay that I'd been holding onto for years for $475.

Basically, you want an old Hirschmann with a big old metal motor. Wisi is not correct and is commonly found on cars from the 50s.

If you want to save money and keep it simple, go with a manual Hirschmann. You can still find good used ones if you ask around.

Again though, $250 is not expensive. This is New Old Stock so we're talking about a very limited supply.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[n/a]

I also have a 71 280sl, which is undergoing the final stages of renovation. I have installed a renovated Europa II radio, and have the same problem as you. The radio specialists that are helping me with the install have recommended a replacement antenna that ius similiar to the AUTA 2040, that they say will do the job at under $100. If I get the name soon, I will post it, if not, I will be installing it in a few weeks. I think that the low cost Hirschman AUTA 2040 will work as well, and when it bites the dust, it is cheap enough to throw out and replace without any worries.

[blairwag]

I agree with SD280SL. I'm not necessarily looking for absolute authenticity. I'm looking for a reasonable cost replacement, that will fit, will "bolt in", that will not leak, and is relatively painless to replace once it fails. Going with original NOS which is like a heavy tank, expensive, and difficult to repair and/or replace just isn't my favorite path to take.

I'm told by the previous owner (my Dad), that the WISI antenna is original equipment. Perhaps it was dealer installed.


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
1971 280SL US Automatic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[blairwag]

Has anythingh new been learned by anyone - regarding this thread.  I've got to replace my lame old WISI, and want a power antenna. Can I use a replacement to the original, or must I hunt down some NOS Hirschmann tank?

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
1971 280SL US Automatic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Naj ✝︎]

 

quote:Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!

This must be the right place in this instance [:p]

The 'Beru' is very similar to a Hirschmann and works good for me. Easily available in the UK from various auto houses.
In fact, when a biker broke the mast on my brother's 129, MB could not supply the correct mast for the Hirschmann fitted as original or even a correct complete aerial. A Beru mast just fitted fine.

naj

65 230SL
68 280SL

[jeffc280sl]

I bought an inexpensive Hirschman automatic antenna.  Installed it and hooked it up to a Europa II stereo with Alpine 400 watt amp in the trunk.  Works well.  The most difficult part of the antenna install was making a bracket to mount the new antenna.  My old manual Hirschman was installed with its own mounting bracket which would not work with the auto version.  I compared the angle of the 2 antennas and by positioning, as best I could, the old bracket on the new antenna I was able to make a new bracket with the correct angle which bolted to the new antenna and the same inside fender hole as the old bracket.  Between this mounting and the top fender assembly mounting the auto antenna is solid and works well.  I think the prior owner enlarged the speaker opening in the front drivers side so I was able to see what I was doing.

Jeff C.
1970 280SL 4-speed

[blairwag]

Cool, Naj & Jeff,

Any chance you can supply me with the model name and/or number of the antenna unit you used?

My car was never equipped with a power antenna. I have no idea if there is a bracket to mount to. What does the bracket connect to (where on the car)?


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
1971 280SL US Automatic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[blairwag]

FYI:
As per Naj:   The antenna is Beru model A350.
As per Jeff:  The antenna is HIT AUTA 2040 Hirschmann-Automatic-Antenna.

Thanx guys!  Now I know what to look for.  I'm on the case!


--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Blair Wagner: blairwag@earthlink.net
Education is not always knowing the answer,
...but rather knowing where to look for it!
1971 280SL US Automatic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[n/a]

Blairwag,
I finally found out what antena I put in: Metra PW22 by Harada, It fit perfect, works great, and looks very original.