97 E 320, fm reception good, nothing from AM except noise, I have looked for the antenna in the trunk area but cannot locate, I did find a coaxial type cable lying in the left rear tire area, but I do not know where it goes. any help would be appreciated...

 

I've seen antenna amp located behind left rear trunk liner....above the wheel well. small brick with fins.

 

raymond~

That's not the antenna amp you saw, that is the audio amplifier. This is the antenna amp, it lives in the C-pillar, I'm still figuring out how to install it as I'm typing this. I bought it from my local Mercedes dealership for $80.

I went to my Porsche/Audi/VW dealer to see if there is an equivalent VW part but there isn't. It's specific to Mercedes. The white sticker seen in the picture doesn't hide any other part number, it's only for the Mercedes techs packing the part to see the part number easier. It'snot stamped Bosch, Alpine, Becker or anything else, it's stamped Mercedes Benz.



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tnx n....you're so right!

 

What and where is the C-pillar? myAM reception is terrible. MB replaced this part before when i was under warrenty. thanks

 

Here it is, I'm still trying to figure out how to replace it. The diagram includes other equipment we don't have on our cars, it's a European diagram. Our little friend I colored green for clarification. I'm going to poke around the interior and see if I can find away toinstall the new one.

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The antenna amp isn't exactly located where it is in the diagram. It's roughly in that area but it's actually really close to the window. Here are a few pics. My dealer sold me the wrong part, plus now one of the leads has disconnected from the rear window. I will have to remedy that with a solding iron.

When I have the correct part and after I soldered the lead back in place I'll make a DIY. Pictured are the antenna amp location and the wrong part my dealer sold me.

The problem is that the part that the dealer sold me doesn't snug up against the body of the car like in the picture and the antenna leads aren't long enough, consequently, one of them ripped off the window. FYI - if you ever wondered why some of your rear window elements don't heat up with the rear window defrost is engaged, they are probably your antenna!

If Mercedes doesn't make the original part anymore I may have to get some longer antenna leads (black and blue wires). Even then I'm not sure if it'll fit underneath the upholstery because 210-820-53-89 actually sits perpendicular to the body. Maybe the dealer sold me the wagon part, I don't know. I will know Monday.

Original Part: 210 820 09 89
Wrong Part: 210 820 53 89

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