Bee Sting ariel conversion

[vanish]

'Ello!
My early mk3 has a nasty wing mounted ariel that has now decided to cease up and will not retract. As it now needs replacing I was wondering if I should attempt a bee sting conversion. Anyone's got any advice? Would I need to remove the headlining or can the wire be run under the carpet?

As ever, all help greatly appreciated,
Vanish 

[VeeDubGTI16v]

its a bit easier if you run it from the centre of the roof straight to the side of the car, down the side to the boot floor and then along the floor, i done my beestings like that.  just take your time making sure where you drill is in the centre, and in the mk2 (dunno about mk3) theres a bit of double skin near where you want to drill, so have a look at the roof from inside first

[vanish]

Cheers, I'll probably have a stab at it once the weather's not so winter-like! Aint got a garage and don't fancy my chances using my drill outside in the rain! One more question, I'm assuming there's some kinda rubber gromit that I can purchase to plug up the old hole or do I have to pay a trip to a bodyshop to get it filled and repainted? 

[...joe]

you could use a grommit but if/when i ditch my old wing aerial i think i'd rather it was welded up.

[vanish]

Yeah so would I Joe. I will be booking it into a bodyshop at some point as I've got some rust bubbling up just above the windscreen and  I'm planning to remove my plaggy arch trims and I know there's rust round the arches too but it's a case of when I can afford it! Looks like a gromit will have to do as a short term temporary solution for now.

[...joe]

yeah i know what you mean, when i single wipered mine i said i'd get the holes welded up but as we speak there is still a grommit!

[VeeDubGTI16v]

bodywork is expencive

[golf1.8t]

if you drill the hole your self for the bee sting the way to line it up is get some masking tape the thin stuff from the out side ov line it up with the square bit on the rear view mirror an stick it down pull the tape all the waty to the boot make sure it stright stick it down then stick another bit across the bit you just stuck forming a cross then drill bang in the middle of were the tape crosses and run the wire across the roof and down the door pillar thats how i did mine if that helps

[richellis]

move the headlining out of the way, or you'll drill a hole in it! sounds obvious! Trust me :embarassed:

[...joe]

tell me you didn't do what i think you did?! sorry but thats kinda funny!