850 sedan power antenna delete w/BMW parts

[slickdizzy]

So the 850 sedans come stock with a power retractable antenna. I know that some people love the novelty of these things, but I've always hated them. They get poor reception, the mechanisms fail, they are super easy to break, etc...

Well a couple months back I went into a car wash with the radio on and the mast got torn clean off. I ended up yanking the whole assembly and sticking a hole plug from Lowe's into the hole on the rear quarter, telling myself I'd figure it out after the car came back from paint.

That time has come, so I did some thinking and eBayed an assortment of parts I was familiar with from my prior Euro E28 project:

• BMW 318ti/Z3 antenna base, mast, and grommet

• Metra 40-VW17 adapter (turns the proprietary connection on the BMW antenna base to a standard Motorola male connection)

I hacked the plug off of the old power antenna mechanism, wired up the power and ground to the BMW antenna base (which is amplified), flipped the BMW grommet upside down and trimmed the top, then pushed the whole assembly through the fender into the Volvo grommet and installed the mast. Problem solved! (I'm going to replace the mast with one from a Honda S2000 which is shorter and car wash safe, just waiting for it to arrive, but at least this lets me put the trunk interior trim back in for now).

I never listen to the radio, but the reception with this new setup is noticeably better than it was with the original power retractable unit, and it takes up significantly less space as well as weighing 2lbs less.

[Clemens]

Interesting solution. But I still loved my power antenna till I bent it in a car park.

[Clemens]

Interesting solution. But I still loved my power antenna till I bent it in a car park.

[slickdizzy]

Interesting solution. But I still loved my power antenna till I bent it in a car park.

My personal opinion is that power antennas should have died with the 1980s, but to each their own! Just feels like a complication of something that should be uncomplicated from my perspective.

[scot850]

I like power antennas as they disappear. I also like that they retract when ignition or radio is turned off. You just have to remember to do that when going into a car wash. Having said that, I mostly drive wagons which have the antennas built into the glass rear side panels.

I do like the mechanical nature of power antennas, but as you say, each to your own. I currently have 3 power antennas spare, 2 Volvo with new masts and serviced and one aftermarket one that has 5 sections v's 3 on the Volvo mast and is a couple of inches shorter. I have no idea what I am going to do with them as I don't have a sedan.

I am still planning on installing a 4th antenna into my speaker/audio test box so I can retract it and not damage it when the kit is stored.

Neil.

[slickdizzy]

Have now installed the S2000 antenna. Very pleased with the result!

[BEJinFbk]

Good Look!

[volvolugnut]

That is a good look. Clean, black, sharp.
vovlolugnut

[Sveedy]

^ Agree. That really works with the black car.