My "town" horn works, but my "country" horn does not. Upper ring inop, lower ring operable.

I'm kind of alternating between doing massively costly repairs for the good of the car, and massively costly repairs just for the joy of fixing little aesthetic things.

Today's triumphs, thanks to my wonderful mechanic, were a new fuel sending unit so the gas gauge was less of a guessing game AND new rheostat and bulbs, so evening driving doesn't require the rear light.

Oh yeah, and unless you are really interested, a bunch of other practical, slightly depressing and potentially really exspensive repair and diagnostics...

Oh well - its only money and another sweet MB is rescued and on the road!

But back to the horn. Horn unit? Do I need to peruse my manuals or does someone here have wisdom regarding horns...? I think that my other car is in the same boat, so I don't think its a horn donor.


Thanks!

Ann

72 280 SEL 4.5 Brunhilda
72 280 SEL 4.5 Henrietta - future parts car...

I have never heard of a 108 having a country horn, particularly that is activated by hitting the top of the horn ring. I believe it is usually a switch that is by the floor shifter, but it was a rare option. The two horns you see on the horn are the high and the low tones. Every car has two horns, but they are activated simultaneously to produce that lovely pitched beep.

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Maserati Quattroporte, the highway or country horn was a driven by a miniature air compressor with two trumpets. I've still got one of those from a '64 Fiat 2300 Familiare (Wonderful Station Wagon for its era!) under my workbench somewhere but it may be rusted up because it hasn't tooted for a couple of decades. If that's what you find you need, PM me.

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Numen tibi adsit!

I saw that switch on an '85 500SEL I was test driving once. I had never noticed it before. In this case it was inoperable. What is it for?

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

They also came on older Fiat 124 Spiders, up until around 1976 or so I think. (My 82 has electric horns.) They're pretty easy to find. I had one or two around from parts cars for a while.

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kalpol
79 280SE
82 Fiat Spider 2000
81 Fiat Brava
04 BMW R1150RT
96 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Thanks David...

I've carried that bit of misinformation around now for about 15 years. I could swear I'd seen it in the owners manual on my first 108. So I looked at the owners manual that came with this car (original!) and it says nothing about the horn.

Still, I have a car with one wimpy horn.

I suppose like the clock, dashlights, fuel tank sensor, glove box mechanism and other assorted bits - these are things sacrificed to age.

But - I'm surrounded by entirely clueless people who are frighteningly bad drivers. I've got my third tail light - but I'd like better audio warning.

I use horn on my daily driver pretty frequently to point out to people that the lane they are changing into, is occupied by myself. And I'm a pretty laid back driver.

Anyone have a working second horn to sell?

Other than Fimum's Maserati Quattroporte horn - which sounds cool, if it works!

Thanks guys...

Ann

Are you SURE that only one of the two work? This car's horn has a very unique tone. And yes, only the bottom ring blows the horns. Both at the same time.

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Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

I'll check again when it comes home from the mechanic Wednesday. I seem to remember someone else's on a 280 SE being far louder. And it sounds wimpy, not properly authoritative.

But - LOL - its the least of my problems right now.

Ann

Ann

What you want is a train horn that you can hook up. An MG forum member installed on and he says it will stop traffic.

I check in on him every now and then. I always worry about him getting shot.

All the best

Al

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With best regards

Al

Hey Al,

The guy who installed the really bumpin' stereo, component speakers, subwoofer and acres of dynamat in my Focus sells and installs those train horns for a car!

I thought about it, but wouldn't some Teutonic Engineering Goddess send a lightening strike at me?

Ann

If in Germany you don't use the horn unless its a real emergency, else you will get lots of stares. Or so a German told me (I've not been there!)
My '72 220 has a set of boat horns behind the grille, fed by a 110 psi air tank (12V compressor on it) it makes people really take notice but not nearly as loud and distinctive as a train horn. Have you seen what a real train horn requires for air flow? Its massive, they use a half inch pipe for the air supply!
I heistate to use my air horn because I saw an older lady panic when I honked it one time, I think she hit her head on the roof of her car!

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

Find if it's the high or low that doesn't work. They typically crop up on eBay from time to time, or request the one you need in our parts forum here!

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Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

Ah yes, as a Californian transplanted to Atlanta, via New England, I've seen some driving that would amaze you.

In Atlanta, no one uses turn signals. You might have to put down the phone or your wine cooler. You also don't let people in on a merge, and those lights they have at freeway entrances to let people on in an orderly fashion? Well we have one in downtown Atlanta - and I've been honked at repeatadly while waiting on the red.

In Atlanta, you can buy a car, let your insurance expire or give it to someone who has no legal license and drive around with a cardboard sign where the plate goes that says TAG APPLIED FOR. That way, when you hit and run someone, you can just leave.

Needless to say, when I drive - I am very careful and assume nothing about anyone else on the road - like they have a clue. A horn is important when someone has a cellphone held up to their ear and they are drifting in your lane. The louder, the better.

Ann