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I never really liked the high pitched sound which comes from the fixed antenna on our 91 during high speed top down driving. A while ago, I heard about people over here in Germany who had installed the antenna from the MB SLK into their MX-5s. So, I tried this out. Went to the friendly MB dealer and ordered parts number 1708200075 (Antenna) and 1708200089 (amplifier) for DM .159,84 = about $ (US) 80. Not cheap ...... The Antenna is basically some long bundled wires with connectors and fastening hardware which does not fit the MX-5 perfectly, of course. I put the antenna into the rear bumper fascia (the fasteners for the wiring loom for the sidelights were used) and routed its connector into the trunk where the aforementioned wires come out. I fitted the very small amplifier into the trunk, got an antenna cable extension from Bosch and connected everything (switched power for the antenna was easily available from my trunk mounted Clearwater audio amplifier). At first, the radio reception was not very good. Then somebody mentioned that the metal fasteners of the antenna, while not used in my installation, still had to be connected to ground to let the antenna work properly. This did the trick. The reception (with the stock Miata radio) is slightly worse than with the fixed antenna mast and about par with the reception of the automatic antenna. The whistling noise while driving top down is a thing of the past now. I am still undecided whether to use the fixed antenna mounting hardware for other purposes (maybe I can get a bolt mounted to a rubber chicken .... Voodoo Bob???) or take it off completely and find a nice plug for the hole where the antenna used to be. In the process, aerodynamic drag was reduced substantially, and the center of gravity was lowered!!! ;-))) (2/00) |
| $80? Cheaper than what Mazda want for the factory electric antenna in the UK......I suppose it retracts fully ok without clearance problems. (2/00) |
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As I read it it doesn't retract as it isn't there, it is run in the bumper is that right? I've rung local MB garage for UK people. More than happy to
supply parts and number are spot on. |
| Well, it does not retract, because once installed (into the inner side of the rear fender), it is and remains fully invisible. (2/00) |