Used Mercedes-Benz GLS Aerial

Yes, the GLS does have an aerial — typically a short fin-style shark-fin aerial mounted on the roof, which handles radio, GPS, and in some cases DAB signals. It is a genuine fitment across all GLS variants regardless of engine or drivetrain. When sourcing a used one, you are most likely looking for the complete shark-fin assembly including the base and internal antenna elements.

The X166 GLS ran from 2016 to 2019 and the X167 generation launched from 2020 onwards, and these two generations use different body shells with different roof profiles and mounting points. The shark-fin aerial base and fixing arrangement changed between generations, so an X166 unit is very unlikely to be a direct swap onto an X167 without modification. Confirm the exact part number with the breaker against your registration before purchasing.

No — the aerial on the GLS is not engine-specific and the same unit should be fitted regardless of whether your car has a petrol, diesel, or hybrid engine. What matters is the generation of the vehicle (X166 or X167) as this determines the roof profile and connector type. Focus your search on matching the generation rather than the engine variant.

Trim level does not affect the aerial itself, so a unit from an entry-level GLS should be physically the same as one from an AMG Line or AMG 63 car of the same generation. However, be aware that higher-spec cars may have additional internal antenna elements within the same shark-fin housing to support extra features such as DAB or enhanced satellite navigation, so there may be cosmetic or connector differences. Ask the breaker to confirm the part number matches yours before buying.

The GLS X166 and the GLE W166 were built on the same platform and were sold concurrently, so the roof-mounted shark-fin aerial can potentially interchange between these two models. That said, small differences in connector wiring or frequency tuning may exist depending on specification, so this is worth confirming with the breaker against both registrations rather than assuming a straight swap.

Check that the aerial is from the same generation as your car — X166 for 2016–2019 or X167 for 2020 onwards — as the mounting and connectors differ between generations. Ask the breaker whether the unit includes all internal antenna elements and the wiring pigtail, as some listings may only include the outer fin cover. Confirming the part number against your registration with the breaker is the safest way to avoid buying something that does not plug straight in.