MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 02:03:16 pm

Title: Shark fins . . .
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 02:03:16 pm
Apart from SWMBOs, I don't really see many Mk5s, of any flavour, with a shark fin aerial.

Discuss . . .
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: 08micsta on October 31, 2008, 02:09:51 pm
Perhaps its cos the roof  lining is such a pain to remove? I read a thread about it and its quite a job.

To be fair I think the Beesting arial finishes the car off. I sharfin would make the car look too rounded.

Mike
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 02:17:56 pm
The shark fin on SWMBOs is factory fitted.  Anyway, the roof lining is easy to remove.

And beestings are more prone to vandalism, and create extra drag - which is why many manufacturers now use shark fins, or integrate the aerial in the heated rear or side windows.
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: 08micsta on October 31, 2008, 02:25:42 pm
Extra drag? Really? I didnt realise something as thin as half a cm could do that?

I checked the options for our GTi the other day when finding out about the washers and never saw a sharkfin option so not sure.

Mike
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 02:46:59 pm
Extra drag? Really? I didnt realise something as thin as half a cm could do that?

Yup, anything in the airflow can create extra drag.  Windscreen wipers, window seals, door handles, even bonnet emblems such as the Mercedes three pointed star can cause drag.  And don't forget the base of the bee sting - much more than half a centimetre!

I checked the options for our GTi the other day when finding out about the washers and never saw a sharkfin option so not sure.

That is the concern.  The "shark fin" itself was never was an option.  I just think it depended on what other equipment you have fitted - such as SatNav or GSM prep.  SWMBOs just has the factory SatNav, but has the shark fin, as well as the aerial elements in the rear screen.  Yet my RS4 has the same spec (factory fit SatNav, no GSM), yet has no external antenna at all.  Even if I had TV prep, it still uses the "diversity" antenna embedded in the rear screen.

So I just wondered why some peeps had bee stings, and few had a shark fin?
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: The wheel man on October 31, 2008, 03:24:38 pm
I diddnt have the OEM sat nav fitted as standard but i did have the Phone prep and i do have the shark fin ariel.  Do you think that the year of the vehicle had anything to do with it??  Mine is a 55 plate..
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: SteveP on October 31, 2008, 03:34:57 pm
There is also two types of the shark fin aerial, the older fin only type (like your's T_T) and the newer combined shark-fin and bee-sting type that is fitted to newer cars like mine.  :smiley:
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 03:48:26 pm
I diddnt have the OEM sat nav fitted as standard but i did have the Phone prep and i do have the shark fin ariel.  Do you think that the year of the vehicle had anything to do with it??  Mine is a 55 plate..

Yeah, ETKA shows two types of fin, one for GPS only, and another for GPS and GSM.  And mine is a 56 plate, model year 2007.
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 03:50:21 pm
There is also two types of the shark fin aerial, the older fin only type (like your's T_T) and the newer combined shark-fin and bee-sting type that is fitted to newer cars like mine.  :smiley:

I ain't seen a combined fin and sting?  :surprised:

I do know that on the Audi shark fins, the GPS only ones have a very slim "base", whereas the GSM and GPS fins have a much wider base at the front of the vertical fin.  :confused:
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: neg on October 31, 2008, 05:59:30 pm
Vtec has a combined one - I noticed it last Saturday.
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: 182_blue on October 31, 2008, 06:01:10 pm
like this TT
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fvwnavi.com%2Fforums%2Fattachment.php%3Fattachmentid%3D376%26amp%3Bstc%3D1%26amp%3Bd%3D1203278123&hash=00bcf9aa98b762415aea5281fa03b5504ca60ad5)
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 06:17:23 pm
Ahh, thanks for the pic.  Guess I'd better post a pic of the other type too!
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: SteveP on October 31, 2008, 06:20:40 pm
Also cars with the dual fin/sting aerial also have the rear window diversity aerial too.

The only reason I found this out was when my dealer replaced the rear screen on mine they managed to disconnect it which was then found as a fault with VAG COM by VrStu, they have since resolved this and the receiption is the best I have every had on a FM radio.  :smiley:


Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: v2brett on October 31, 2008, 06:41:18 pm
heres a pic of my shark fin guys
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fw199%2Fv2brett%2Fpicture7009.jpg&hash=f26275fd7bdf16c67dc5b57722249cd7163b43fd)
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: vRStu on October 31, 2008, 07:44:44 pm
I looked up the prices of them a while ago and was quite surprised at home cheap they were.
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 07:50:52 pm
Also cars with the dual fin/sting aerial also have the rear window diversity aerial too.

I am aware that all rear screens for all Mk5 Golfs have the antenna embedded in the heated rear screen elements, but I thought that only those without the beesting had the additional aerial amplifiers hidden behind the tailgate trim.  I reckon factory Golfs with just the povery spec RCD300 (with its single tuner) don't get the aerial amps, whereas the factory fit RCD500 and the RNS MFD2 along with the later touch-screen versions - which have twin FM tuners, get the two rear hatch diversity amps.

Still can't see how a non GPS and non GSM would have a plain bee sting, and diversity amps too though!

The only reason I found this out was when my dealer replaced the rear screen on mine they managed to disconnect it which was then found as a fault with VAG COM by VrStu, they have since resolved this and the receiption is the best I have every had on a FM radio.  :smiley:

Does yours have factory fit sat nav and/or factory fit GSM prep?
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: Teutonic_Tamer on October 31, 2008, 07:51:43 pm
heres a pic of my shark fin guys
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fw199%2Fv2brett%2Fpicture7009.jpg&hash=f26275fd7bdf16c67dc5b57722249cd7163b43fd)

Have you painted yours, because mine is matt black?  :confused:
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: vRStu on October 31, 2008, 07:53:31 pm
Yes they can be painted Sean, mine is white to match the rest of the car.

I toyed with getting one for the Octy and painting it race blue.
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: SteveP on October 31, 2008, 07:57:19 pm

The only reason I found this out was when my dealer replaced the rear screen on mine they managed to disconnect it which was then found as a fault with VAG COM by VrStu, they have since resolved this and the receiption is the best I have every had on a FM radio.  :smiley:

Does yours have factory fit sat nav and/or factory fit GSM prep?

Factory fitted RNS-510 touch screen nav.

My previous GTI (an early 05 plate) had no beesting or fin, that came with the RCD300 single CD so presume that had the rear screen diversity antenna.
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: v2brett on October 31, 2008, 08:10:58 pm
heres a pic of my shark fin guys
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fw199%2Fv2brett%2Fpicture7009.jpg&hash=f26275fd7bdf16c67dc5b57722249cd7163b43fd)

Have you painted yours, because mine is matt black?  :confused:
yeah mate its been painted by the previous owner, sorry i cant help with removal etc
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: WhiteGTI on October 31, 2008, 08:12:22 pm
I looked up the prices of them a while ago and was quite surprised at home cheap they were.

Where can I buy one from, and how easy is it to fit???

Thanks Stu. :happy2:
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: 182_blue on October 31, 2008, 08:18:05 pm
I looked up the prices of them a while ago and was quite surprised at home cheap they were.

Where can I buy one from, and how easy is it to fit???

Thanks Stu. :happy2:

this will give you an idea http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3508
Title: Re: Shark fins . . .
Post by: WhiteGTI on October 31, 2008, 08:23:38 pm
I looked up the prices of them a while ago and was quite surprised at home cheap they were.

Where can I buy one from, and how easy is it to fit???

Thanks Stu. :happy2:

this will give you an idea http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3508

Legend! Thanks 182!  :drinking: