Well, my mast finally gave up. It is fully stuck in the fully down position. I can hear the motor click as it tries to go up or down but the mast is frozen in place. Is there a way I can get it out now? Usually they get stuck halfway and it's pretty easy to pull them out but not now. I tried undoing the nut but it doesn't give me any room to yank it out. Is there a manual crank or anything on the antenna motor? Thanks dudes.
Is it a telescoping mast? You might be able to remove it and repair it. My FC has a telescoping mast that is stuck in the up position (though I think the motor's burnt out, too). Here's an FAQ from Mazdatrix on repairing/replacing it. I don't know how much of this applies to the E30, but I'll post it anyways FWIW:
Thanks for the post, hopefully I won't have to go that far to fix it,.
fastbmw wrote: Well, my mast finally gave up. It is fully stuck in the fully down position.
That's what SHE said!
-Michael Scott
Branch Manager, Dunder Mifflin Scranton PA
But seriously, folks: (I quote from the Bentley 3-Series Service Manual '84 to '90, which is part of Holy Scripture of the Church of the Sacred Cone:)
"1. Turn on the radio to extend the mast as far as possible, then loosen the mast clamping nut shown in Fig 4-15 (shows the hex nut on top of the quarter panel)"
"2. Firmly pull on the antenna mast until the mast and the plastic actuating cable are free of the guide sleeve."
"3. Slide the plastic tip of the new antenna mast into the guide sleeve until it is felt to contact the motor guide roller."
"4. Turn off the radio so that the plastic cable is retracted by the motor, and guide the mast into the sleeve at the same time. Tighten the clamping nut when finished and recheck antenna operation."
Fixed it, nothing works like vice grips and brute force. Now I have to figure out why the antenna won't go up but will go down. Stupid antenna.
I hate my e30 antenna! It has been the single most frustrating part of me owning the car. At the moment, I have unplugged the power with it in the fully up position so I can get the radio 100%. The noise it makes when things get sticky is like nails on a chalkboard.
THe solution is sold at Autozone, Pep Boys, whatever you have near you... its a black rubber 18" fixed radio antenna and its $12. It goes thru car washes and snow brooms w/o breaking, won't leak, won't get stuck and weighs less.
Whoever was responsible for the retracting antenna, the windshield antenna, the hidden wiper, and the flip-up headlight will be 1st against the wall when I am Emperor of Earth.
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