Power antenna failed

I wonder how one gets the power antenna out of the car when th actuator has failed and will not extend the antenna fully. It is a bit more than half way up. The motor runs but the antenna will not move up or down even with some encouragement from myself. It seems like the antenna must be removed before the actuator can be removed from the car.

Bob in Lake Havasu

I just removed mine the other day. You have to remove the driver side panel in your trunk. The actuator is behind the panel. Once the panel is off, disconnect the power plug(be careful), disconnect the ground and the two bolts at the bottom of the actuator. Then pull the actuator down so the neck slides out of the rubber grommet. However, with your antenna stuck half up you have fun getting it all thru the rubber grommet. Most probably what has happened to your actuator is the small drive belt that runs from the electric motor to the gear box has snapped. This thing probably cost .27 cents to make, good luck trying to find one. BMW will tell you to buy a new actuator. I've seen them at Pelican for $85, with a new antenna. I'm too damn cheap, I'm going to find a belt that will work on this,,,,,I hope. Maybe someone else out there has an idea on replacing that little belt.

Could you post a picture of the insides and the belt?
I might find a substitute belt. I can hear the motor running for the time it is supposed to run. The belt must be the part that slips when the antenna is at max position.

Bob in Lake Havasu

It wont let me load the pics,,,,I'll try later. The drive belt measures 5mm wide, 125mm long, and it has 40 teeth. Its made by ISORAN, and the only number on it is "L9"

I was luckey enough to buy a few manual antennas when you could buy them, I think they have gone extinct by now but..... maybe still to be had in Germany. Isn't there a way to manually move these up and down (the electric ones)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/25/2015 09:01PM by rkj.

Maybe if one left a little of the plastic thing with the teeth on it to give it some friction it may stay extended. My thought is that it would not stay up by itself.
I have begun to enjoy the automatic function so may try to repair or replace but am concerned that the antenna will have to be cut off to get the assembly out of the car.

Bob in Lake Havasu

My old antenna stayed extended for the past four yrs that I've owned this car. I was changing it because the old one got snapped off,,,,,vandalism most prob. Anyway, Bob in Everett, I'm not having any luck sending these pics cause they're too big for this site. If you post your email, I'll send them to you that way. I found a blog on a site the other night, I would've saved it, but he talks about how to put a Z-3 fixed antenna on one of our 3 series, along with part #'s. If I find it, I'll post it.

I found the website. Hopefully this helps. I'm thinking I'm going to try this instead of the power antenna.

[www.e30tech.com]

It's not showing the entire address. Just search "power antenna". It's from "twoJ's".

Great article. Thanks for the link. On a weekend soon I will try to get the old one out and see if I can disassemble to the broken belt. I like fixing things.

Bob in Lake Havasu

Don't know if you saw that some time ago I found a source for the belts. With the minimum order and shipping, I wound up buying a handful of them. Still cost me $8 each for a very small item. I have some extras if someone needs one.

Bob in Lake Havasu



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2019 09:50AM by Bob in Everett.