Replacing Antenna Mast Grommet

[1996 328ti]

Use dish washing soap to position the grommet.

The carpet is held in with hooks.

[NuovoTech]

- remove the left rear light cluster
- pull back the carpet in the left rear corner
- bolt the antenna base back to the body

Couple of questions before I tear things apart:

1)Do you mean remove outside lens cluster, or just the inside bulb cluster?

2)Are the carpet hooks re-usable, or should I buy new ones first?

3)Is the antenna base adjustable up/down to match grommet height?

BTW the BMW part # for the grommet is: 65-21-8-362-369 TIA,

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by NuovoTech

Couple of questions before I tear things apart:

1)Do you mean remove outside lens cluster, or just the inside bulb cluster?

2)Are the carpet hooks re-usable, or should I buy new ones first?

3)Is the antenna base adjustable up/down to match grommet height?

BTW the BMW part # for the grommet is: 65-21-8-362-369 TIA,

1) The inside light cluster.
2) They are reusable. The don't pull straight off. IIRC, pull the carpet upwards.
3)No. It is fixed.

[NuovoTech]

Steven - Very usefull info, thanx much!

[Bozola]

I just did this... I removed the grommet by pushing up on it.

I installed the grommet from the top. I hope this fixes the leak.
________
Toyota H engine

[1996 328ti]

I used liquid soap to help position the grommet.

[MacUser]

Since this thread has been revived, I'll share my experience. I had a difficult time installing the new grommet. I tried hitting it repeatedly with my favorite tool ... a hammer ... without luck. I switched to a rubber mallet and it immediately seated in perfect position. The metal hammer seemed to bounce off the rubber grommet, but maybe the rubber mallet "absorbed" some of the recoil and was able to drive the grommet in place.

[cali_guy_559]

Anyone ever just fill it in and have it painted? Just wondering because someone ripped my antenna off, but I don't listen to the radio. Ever. So it would be pointless to stick another one on there. Plus I think it would looks better.

[MacUser]

Originally Posted by cali_guy_559

Anyone ever just fill it in and have it painted? Just wondering because someone ripped my antenna off, but I don't listen to the radio. Ever. So it would be pointless to stick another one on there. Plus I think it would looks better.

I rarely listen to radio, but I've thought about filling it in and putting on a late-model BMW shark fin antennae ... just not sure which one, but I want it to be functional.

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by cali_guy_559

Anyone ever just fill it in and have it painted? Just wondering because someone ripped my antenna off, but I don't listen to the radio. Ever. So it would be pointless to stick another one on there. Plus I think it would looks better.

you could do that, a few people have and the euro-spec ti's didn't even come with an external antenna, looks much smoother

[GoEz]

hey fellas its been a while, thought i'd revive this instead of starting a new thread.

now that we're finally getting some rain here in SoCal (it was 85 a few days ago...) i need to get around to fixing holes, already went to the dealer and replaced those parts that seal the bottom of the windshield where the wiper arms are....now i need to fix this antenna grommet, it always leaves a puddle in that utility slot when it rains.

anyway, i can't unscrew the antenna. here's what it looks like


if i try to turn the top part (red) it spins freely without turning the bottom/base. so then i gripped the bottom (green) with pliers and twisted it and the whole thing turned but never unscrews? am i supposed to loosen that nut? tried wd40 and now the actual antenna spins easily but still can't remove it.

i know i'm going to be kicking myself when someone posts the simple solution. looking forward to it.

[Borg561]

Thread revival again.

I haven't had a chance to really look at it yet, but does anyone have tips for removing the bottom portion of the antenna mast after it has been broken off? Mine sheared off right down by the body this morning when I was brushing the snow off my car. Didn't really have time to do anything except pick up the broken mast and toss it in the car. I can take pics later if it helps.

Also, if anyone has the part numbers for what I'll need handy, I'd appreciate it. I'm assuming grommet and mast, not sure about anything else (car is a '97 with the 10-speaker setup if it makes any difference).

Thanks!
Justin

[1996 328ti]

I was just thinking about the antenna mast grommet.
I'll be replacing mine for the 2nd time.

[J!m]

Originally Posted by cali_guy_559

Anyone ever just fill it in and have it painted? Just wondering because someone ripped my antenna off, but I don't listen to the radio. Ever. So it would be pointless to stick another one on there. Plus I think it would looks better.

I went to the dealer with the hole dimension and got a black rubber plug that fits perfectly... I have had the dash delete plate for years and this completed the job.

[Borg561]

Originally Posted by NuovoTech

3)Is the antenna base adjustable up/down to match grommet height?

BTW the BMW part # for the grommet is: 65-21-8-362-369 TIA,

So I got the remains of my antenna removed from the car and the hole patched up with electrical tape for now (it's supposed to rain tomorrow). It appears that the antenna base is slightly adjustable. If you loosen the bolt that holds the bracket tight around the base (#7 in the realoem diagram), you can move the base up or down, then tighten the bolt down again.

New question. My base had two cables plugging into it, the round one, and a flat spade-like connector below it. I assume one is for the weather band. The Realoem diagram only shows one cable plugging into the base. Is there a different part number for the base with two connectors, or or does the one part (65-21-8-375-159) have both?

Edit: Also, does anyone know how, or if it's even possible, to fit the European rear-window antenna to a US spec car?

Thanks!
Justin