Interior/Exterior Interior and exterior modifications for Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Interior/Exterior Can't get my stock antenna off!

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Old Apr 28, 2012 | 05:10 PM
  #1  
RitzCarlton's Avatar
RitzCarlton
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From: Colorado
Can't get my stock antenna off!

I don't like the long antennas so I ordered an Alta shorty for my 2003 S. I got it in the mail today and went to unscrew the stock antenna and it will not come off! Any ideas would be appreciated! I just want to get this thing off.
 
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Old Apr 28, 2012 | 11:51 PM
  #2  
MiniKar's Avatar
MiniKar
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From: Nevada
Spray some WD40 around the base where the antenna un-screws.

Since you don't care about the stock antenna, use some channel locks and clamp down on it near the bottom, and turn it counter clock wise.

It should come off .............................................. Good Luck
 
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Old Apr 29, 2012 | 08:53 AM
  #3  
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iceckid
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From: Or?
Just keep turning counter clockwise, itll come off.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2012 | 04:29 PM
  #4  
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vkash1208
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
What you're going to need is an acetylene torch, welding mask, and gloves. Start at the bottom of the antenna and work your way up. Wait! uhh..just unscrew it.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2012 | 06:12 PM
  #5  
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RitzCarlton
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I sprayed some WD40 on it and unscrewed it for like 5 minutes and nothing happened, it just keeps twisting.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2012 | 09:11 PM
  #6  
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RitzCarlton
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I'm going to pick up some PB Blaster tomorrow afternoon and see if that helps at all.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2012 | 09:46 PM
  #7  
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iceckid
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From: Or?
Originally Posted by RitzCarlton
I sprayed some WD40 on it and unscrewed it for like 5 minutes and nothing happened, it just keeps twisting.
It just keeps twisting? It sounds like it stripped off inside your antenna. Maybe give it a solid yank and see if it pulls out and then use vice grips on the remaining threaded piece.

You may want to remove the entire assembly if your ambitious. Then you can pull, pry, and twist without worrying about your roof.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2012 | 11:14 PM
  #8  
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MiniKar
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From: Nevada
I just looked at my Stock antenna that I had removed. About 1 to 1 1/2 inches up from the base is where the metal inside the rubber stops.

It sounds like the metal inside the rubber part of the antenna is no longer bonded together and that is why its just spinning and not coming off.

If this was my problem, I would cut off the antenna about 2 inches up from the base. Now use a very sharp knife and carefully cut off the rubber all around until you can see the metal base inside the antenna. The metal base has the treaded part that screws into the roof.

I would now use channel locks or vice grips and turn the metal base of the antenna counter clock-wise.

It should come off !
 

Last edited by MiniKar; Apr 29, 2012 at 11:24 PM.
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Old Apr 30, 2012 | 08:51 PM
  #9  
RitzCarlton's Avatar
RitzCarlton
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Ok well I went down to the metal in the base of the antenna and tried twisting the metal and still it just keeps twisting like before, nothing happens. So I'm pretty sure something is messed up in the threads or there is just some major witchcraft going on in there. Is there directions on how to remove the entire antenna assembly? This is getting pretty frustrating.
 
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Old May 1, 2012 | 12:10 AM
  #10  
MiniKar's Avatar
MiniKar
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From: Nevada
OK, it sounds like the fault exists within the antenna base, on or inside the roof.

Go to this site: http://mini.sewellparts.com/oem-catalog/R53-2006.html
Once there go to: Audio Navigation & Electronics
Then scroll down until you find 650779 SINGLE PARTS F ANTENNA
or 651507 SINGLE PARTS F ANTENNA

It must be one or the other I hope; at least your getting closer to getting it fixed !

This site gives NAM members a good discount once you register.

Good luck
 
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Old Dec 8, 2020 | 06:07 AM
  #11  
Bharat Suvarna's Avatar
Bharat Suvarna
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Originally Posted by vkash1208
What you're going to need is an acetylene torch, welding mask, and gloves. Start at the bottom of the antenna and work your way up. Wait! uhh..just unscrew it.
Hi,

I have similar problem where a stubby antenna is stuck on the mini aerial base. I tried use a grip tool and unscrewing and found it is turning but wont come of the antenna base. Now it isnt very lose. Will applying heat healp to release it or at this point the whole base needs replaced?

thanks
 
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Old Jun 14, 2023 | 11:08 AM
  #12  
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IanB
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2014 Mustang, same issue

So I have a fix for this, after reading the thread there is ertainly great advice but not quite amalgamated into an easy solution.

So here goes...

The issue with my mustang was the thread part in the antenna was no longer fixed to the rubber mast. first i placed a foam pad over the antenna and base followed by a rubber mat to protect from any slips/damage. I cut the antenna off about 2" above the bass then carefully cut away the rubber to reveal the screw. Using grips, it simply unscrewed. It may have been possible to grip the antenna low down with a vice grip so the thread was gripped by the mast but I'd taken another route. Hope this helps.
 
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