Ok, I admit it. I like a loud, low sounding horn. My horn sounds like an older Honda Civic or Herbie. I think my 8 cylinder gas guzzling machine needs something better

Does anybody 1)
know if this is supposed to sound like this? and 2) has anyone replaced their horn for something a bit less euro sounding and more meaty?

There are two horns in the front by the electric radiator fan. Before I started messing around with these, I was wondering if anybody any advice or experience here.

Any help is appreciated.

As a side horn note, my horn was recently "stuck" in the on position. Careful analysis revealed that three small (I mean SMALL) rubber plugs in the steering column/horn swtich area had deteriorated and the electrical connection they were meant to prevent was being made. Luckily three peices of electricians tape solved the problem indirectly and the horn works better than it did before. Talk about a stupid design! This is about as stupid as I've seen.

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Thomas Viano
'72 280 SE 4.5, over 100,000 miles

These horns aren't whimpy cadillac/citation horns; they speak with authority. The two horns are set to different pitches. When the horn sounds whimpy, it's either because one of the two horns has died, or there is something keeping them from vibrating correctly.


There are several other horn setups in the 60s model cars...

The 300sel cars have 3 horns, not two.

The older 111 sedans have bigger horns; but I'm not sure they're louder. I put a pair of 220S horns in my chevy suburban, right at chest level behind the grill. I hit the horns with somebody standing about 5 feet away once and the poor guy jumped with fright. I try not to do that now.

There were an optional set of fanfair horns that turn up on ebay ocassionally. I'm told that these little chrome suckers are quite impressive. I got a pair 2 years back, but haven't installed them yet. The car they are destined for is not quite worthy yet.

Lastly, the 600 has one really impressive setup. There's a trumpet stuck under the hood. Well, it's just an air horn, but what humongous horn.

-CTH

__________________
- cth350@gmail.com
http://www.111lakeside.com/

tviano,

If one of the horns is out you will get the sound of Herbie. To test the horns remove the leads from them and then run a Positive and Negative lead to the terminals on the horn. You should be able to find out very quickly which one is out. If they all work check the wiring to them.

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Eric, 1983 500 SL

I too was tormented by my 280SE 4.5's wimpy horns.

I replaced them with Stebel Dual Trumpet Air Horns . In my case, the Stebel Junior 2 trumpet set up. They do have a slight "Euro" tone to them (Euro car afterall) but they are very loud, 108db. You can use them exclusivly or instal them with the included switch / relay so you can retain your stock horns as well and use either or. I just hooked them up directly and disconnected the stock units. Easy installation. Bolted up nicely just below the radiator, no drilling. I set them horizontally pointing slightly down to avoid smashing them on steep driveways etc. The little compressor fits nicely next to the coil in the engine bay.

Go nuts and get the Valkyrie Air Horns at 114db!



S