How to install a Fuba BetaFlex-D Antenna in your MKIII Jetta (Courtesy Dan J Reed)
1. Obtain a Fuba BetaFlex-D Antenna. I'd recommend Pottermans ( or Antennaworld ( Should be part Both places are around $60 + shipping at the time of this writing. Or you can be like me and score yourself one off of eBay for a mere $17.53
Make sure you get part number 17237. You may see cheaper parts out there labeled as BetaFlex-D, but if it's not that number it probably doesn't come with the cable (The most expensive part)
2. Clean your roof. There's nothing worse than a filthy work area.
3. Dropping the rear of the headliner. Contrary to popular belief, the headliner is not the worst part of this install. The secret is not taking the whole thing down.
First, remove the Center High Mounted Stop Light light array. There are press tabs on either side, press them in and pull it toward the front of the car. Disconnect the connector going into the top of it.
Next, remove the C pillar trim. First, remove the upper portion of the B pillar trim on the side you wish to run the antenna wire down. Read note below on picking a side. Pry gently on the sides of the trim while pulling down, it will slide down the seat belt and sit there. Remove the screw holding the C pillar trimpeice in, then pull down on the trim all along the top side of the rear door. Once you have the trim pulled off to behind the rear door, pull the trim away from the top of the C pillar. It's held in with a large clip, but it will come off. This trim is tough stuff, so if you don't get out of control it will come out. Finally, remove the plastic peice going across the roofline at the rear of the headliner. It just pulls off. Remove the Grab handle above the door and the headliner should be free on that one corner.
(Note on choosing a side: If you have a high powered audio system, choose the side that is opposite your power feed for your amplifiers. This will minimize the chance for noise introduction.)
4. Measuring the spot. I cannot stress enough how vital it is to measure twice and cut once. In fact, measure 3 times. The instructions said to measure 12CM in from the edge of the roof, which works out to be about 4.75 inches. I measured a friends car and his was about 6.5 inches in. Make a mark on the roof at about the centerline. I used a sharpie, the excess came off quite easily. Now measure your roof width. I measured between the inner edges of the weatherstripping on each side. Divide that by half and that is your center. Intersect the center of this with your first mark and this is your mounting position. Now, measure it again. (For God's sake! You are going to be DRILLING A HOLE IN YOUR ROOF )
5. Drilling the hole. You will need a small drill bit (1/4") and a larger drill bit, preferably 15MM. You will probalby also need a drill with a 1/2" chuck to accomodate the larger bit. Now unless you can get your hands on some metric bits, you won't find a 15MM bit. The closest thing is a 5/8, which is 15.9MM. This is what I used. Take the smaller drillbit and drill a pilot hole. Get as centered as you can with that hole. Now, using your larger bit, drill the hole all the way through. Metal shavings will go everywhere while you drill so you may want to have a helper hold the hose of the Shop-Vac by the hole while drilling so all the shavings will get sucked up. Also, make sure you don't drill through your headliner at this time. Use a a helper or a Coke can (Not Pepsi or any Pepsi product.) to hold the headliner away from the roof
5. Mounting the antenna. This part is pretty simple. You have a hole in your roof, and something to fill it with . Use the included sealing grease to make a small ring around the hole. Then take the antenna basae and put it into the gasket, then put both of those through the hole. The gasket won't fit all the way around the lip of the base right now, but it will when you tighten the nut. Put some more of the sealing grease on the collar of the nut. Now, put the nut over the two cables coming out of the antenna base and thread it onto the antenna. It says 17MM in the included paper, but mine turned out to be a 19MM. Get it snug and then attach the mast to the antenna base. Walk a few feet behind the car and look at the antenna and make sure it's aligned properly (Not tilting to the left or right.) Once you do this, have a helper hold the antenna base in place while you tighten the nut. Don't overtighten it, just use your judgement. Too tight and you might leave a dent in the roofline.
6. Running the cable. It's probalby easier to run the cable from the roof to the radio than the other way around. This way you know for sure if you will need an extension (I did.) Connect the power and antenna signal leads to the antenna base. Run the cable down the C pillar into the trunk above the strut tower and pull most of the slack through. (Leave a little slack to allow for the trim to be moved back into position.) Run the cable behind the trim that is on the wheel arch and then through the wiring looms inside the door sils. Get it as close to the radio as possible. My cable stopped about where the drivers side heater vent was so I had to run to RadioShack and get an extension. Plug this in to your head unit. If you are running the stock head unit, you will need an adaptor to go from the standard Motorola plug to the German standard HU plug, available from the above dealers.
6. Hooking it up and testing it out. Now figure out where you are going to get power for the antenna amplifier. A simple fuse tap will work. The antenna only draws 30mA of current, so the smallest fuse you can find will work. My head unit harness had a Power Antenna lead on it, so I connected the power lead to that. Once everything is connected, test it out. If you get absolutely nothing on AM, your antenna is most likely not getting power. If you get anything whatsoever on AM, it's working.
7. Reassemble your car.
8. Remove your antenna mast from the front fender, then remove the antenna base. I'll find the procedure and post that tomorrow. Get a fender plug from the dealer I'll post the part number tomorrow too. I'm tired now.
9. Enjoy your Fuba antenna. Not only does it look cool, but it's one of the most advanced automotive antennas on the market!
I'd probably wait a day or so after installing this to test weather or not it's waterproof.
(Not form me... forgot where I got it from..)