Replacing Antenna Mast Grommet

[DaRvDrUmS]

Originally Posted by Sergey

Here you go:

- unscrew the antenna
- remove the left rear light cluster
- pull back the carpet in the left rear corner
- unbolt the antenna base from the body
- pull down on the antenna base and pull it out of the grommet
- push the old grommet down

- carefully 'screw' the new grommet into the hole from below. start going in at an angle.
- push the antenna base into the new grommet from below
- bolt the antenna base back to the body
- put back the carpet and the light cluster
- screw the antenna back in

Regards,
Sergey.

Thread revisit!

Just did this job and half of this was not necessary.

- Unscrew the antenna from the top (it might be a little stubborn, but it will unscrew).
- Cut the old grommet out with a razor blade (if there is any of it still left, mine had completely deteriorated!). Pull out from the top.
- Install the new grommet by working it in at an angle at first (I used a little Simple Green as a lubricant).
- After working it in as much as you can by hand, tap the rest in with a rubber mallet.
- Reinstall the antenna.
- If you're antenna is anything like mine, the thread wasn't long enough to reattach. I ended up having to trim approx. 1/4" of rubber off the bottom to get it to reach. Fit snug after all said and done.

[killergopher]

Where can I go to purchase the rubber grommet? I washed my car yesterday and the grommet was completely deteriorated.

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by killergopher

Where can I go to purchase the rubber grommet? I washed my car yesterday and the grommet was completely deteriorated.

A BMW dealer?

[kraze]

First, I have a '98 328i convertible, but the grommet set up appears to be the same. The posts here were helpful. Here is what I did. I would not recommend trimming any antenna rubber--should not be necessary and may result in water infiltration.

1. Open trunk and remove the passenger side brake light cluster cover by twisting the knob and gently working the cover off.
2. Remove the gray plastic expander pin that holds the trunk carpet over the passenger side trunk extending to behind the gas cap. It is near the top of the trunk near the trunk gasket. Insert a flat blade behind the pin head and pull out about 3/8"; then pull the whole pin out.
3. Pull back the carpeting from the area under the antenna in the trunk; no need to remove. Just pull down from under stops. Not much force required.
4. Unscrew the antenna counter clockwise.
5. Remove the 10mm nut holding the antenna bracket located below and behind the antenna toward the wheel well.
6. Pull the entire bracket assembly downward and it should pop out of the grommet fairly easily.
7. Remove remains of old gasket by pushing in or out of body hole.
8. Take new grommet (I got mine at bavauto.com) and lubricate the bottom half to go into the hole with plumbing silicone, pure silicone spray or dish detergent. The latter may cause more rapid deterioration of grommet.
9. Twist into hole until it pops into the groove in the grommet for the body metal. Should take very little force. The tall side should face away from the car.
10. Lubricate the little ball on antenna bracket assembly. Push the ball up into the grommet and out the other side. I do not believe one can get the bracket back on the bolt mount without pushing up and all the way out.
11. Line up the groove on the antenna bracket with the mounting bolt and pull the ball back down into the grommet and the bracket slot down over the bolt at the same time. This may require moderate force.
12. Replace the antenna connection terminal over the bolt and replace the nut; tighten.
13. Replace carpeting, pushpin, and brake light assembly cover.
14. Replace antenna.

Whole process should take less than 15 minutes.