Gary Quayle

I have the standard 12-15” antenna on top of my GTS. When I drive it to work, I try and use a car cover to keep the sun off the paint and interior. The antenna is in an awkward place for using a car cover. Right now I unscrew the antenna each time I put on the cover.

I noticed the other day on top of a Mercedes a stubby antenna, maybe 3” high. Does anyone have any experience with a short replacement antenna? Does the Mercedes have something else to boost the signal that allows the short antenna to work?

SharkFan

Hey Gary,

This may not have been the case but the XM Sat. Tuner radio units use a short stubby antenna.

Normy

Gary-

In a "previous life", I owned a VW Corrado VR6-

This had a Fuba Betaflex "whip" antenna. Since at the time, I lived in an apartment and had no garage, I usually covered my car when I was away from it.

For the antenna, I simply cut a hole in the cover. Since from previous experience this was a weak point, causing damage to the cover from wind, I did what someone online told me to do- I ironed on a patch that typically was used to repair jeans. I remember these from my youth...

Well, I cut a hole in the patch, and the cover was nearly bulletproof!

-Here is one of the FEW pictures I will post of myself online... this was when I was 14- [1980, holding my Falcon 56 model airplane] my jeans covered with patches!

<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com.upload/me14fa~1.jpg" alt=" - " />

ErnestSw

Gee Normy, you look just like a little red X

Gary Quayle

I have used a patch like grommet in the past on other covers, but the antenna on those cars were located on a fender and it was easier to slip the cover over the antenna. With the antenna on the top it is just a bit awkward.

Maybe what I saw on the Mercedes was for the XM Sat. thanks Dave. I will have to look around and see if I can spot another one and take a closer look.

Normy

<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/me14fa~jpg" alt=" - " />

Normy

Yes I do Ernest only the f*cking picture wont show up! <img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload.Me14fa~1.jpg" alt=" - " />

Robert

Gary,

Be proud of your 12-15 inches ! Personally, I wouldn't want a short stubby little antenna... but then again, that's why I bought the 928... to compensate.

Ah... never mind...

Rob

Eric Dvorak

Come on Normy get it to work, I can't remember what Sears Toughskin jeans look like.

4MIDLIF

This antenna is listed as "not available for sale at this time," but I'd been thinking this might be a good alternative to the FUBA. <a href="http://www.antennaworld.com/eshop/Default.ASP?WCI=ItemDetails&WCE=AW-17C7800" target="_blank">Shorty</a>

I haven't followed up in awhile, so it might be worth a call to them.

Jessa

i think this is the pic:
<img src="http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/me14fa~1.jpg" alt=" - " />

My mom put one of those patches on some cotton sweat pants of mine when I was little. It was so much stronger than the surrounding cloth that the whole path what it was stuck to ripped off one day.

Nicole

I am not sure, if those stubby antennas you see on the Mercedes models are actually radio antennas, or for the OnStar system. If I rmemeber correctly, my Dad's BMTroubleYou 528i uses the heater threads in the rear window as an antenna.