Replace the roof aerial

[tgo_dc]

Hi all,

First time poster, long time Golf MK5 owner.

I have a red MK5 golf.

I'm looking to replace the roof aerial and was thinking of a "shark" type aerial similar to what you see on most BMWs.

Does anyone know where I could pick up a red one online that matches the car colour? Or if there are other styles I could consider?

Thanks!

[richard@thebrae]

Depending on the year and spec of your car you may have an amplified "beesting" antenna, where the amp is in the base on the roof, this is for your FM/AM signal.
Replacing it with a sharks fin antenna will probably seriously degrade your signal to the H/U.
Most cars with sharkfin antenna have their FM antenna in the rear screen or side windows in the back.
You can get lots of them on ebay and you can spray paint them easily.
Do not trust 3rd party units that say they are amplified as you will just be throwing your money away. They do not work.

[tgo_dc]

Depending on the year and spec of your car you may have an amplified "beesting" antenna, where the amp is in the base on the roof, this is for your FM/AM signal.
Replacing it with a sharks fin antenna will probably seriously degrade your signal to the H/U.
Most cars with sharkfin antenna have their FM antenna in the rear screen or side windows in the back.
You can get lots of them on ebay and you can spray paint them easily.
Do not trust 3rd party units that say they are amplified as you will just be throwing your money away. They do not work.

Thanks. I just bought this. Not bad to test it out for around a tenner.

Genuine Replacement CAR Roof Shark FIN Aerial Antenna Mast VW Golf MK4 MK5 | eBay

[richard@thebrae]

No harm in giving it a go, but two things 1)you will need a power supply up to the sharksfin (oem unit the power comes up the antenna lead) and 2) the connector will need a iso to fakra adapter

[tgo_dc]

No harm in giving it a go, but two things 1)you will need a power supply up to the sharksfin (oem unit the power comes up the antenna lead) and 2) the connector will need a iso to fakra adapter

Eeeek.

Is getting a power supply to it a major job? Could I somehow use the existing power from the current aerial?

Is this the adapter needed?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vokswagen-...8AAOSwgQ9VzIb2

[richard@thebrae]

TBH I do not know if you can tap off the current lead, and you could accidently damage the HU while experimenting not worth the risk in my opinion.
To provide a supply look at getting it off the live side of the rear interior light, but fit an inline fuse where you can get at if required (behind the light unit) this supply might be constant live and you might need to swop it to an ignition controlled feed at the fuse box. Perhaps someone else can provide advice here.

[KeithS]

Just get a replacement aerial for the golf on ebay. Costs very little and just unscrew the old one and screw in the new one. If you want, spray it red!

[andrewpain]

Just get a replacement aerial for the golf on ebay. Costs very little and just unscrew the old one and screw in the new one. If you want, spray it red!

think I paid about £2 for a replacement stick aerial for my daughter's GT Sport. took 30 seconds. Shark's fin type WAY too much hassle