560SL Horn

[xke190sl]

The horn on my 88 560SL makes a dull "bull-frog" sound;it doesn't have that crisp clean sound. I have: 1. Replaced both horns; 2. Cleaned all the two wire contacts on each horn and ran 2 new grounds on the chassis (from each horn) with NO improvement. I am wondering if their is a horn relay? ANY ideas appreciated!

Richard

[nobby]

Originally Posted by xke190sl

The horn on my 88 560SL makes a dull "bull-frog" sound;it doesn't have that crisp clean sound. I have: 1. Replaced both horns; 2. Cleaned all the two wire contacts on each horn and ran 2 new grounds on the chassis (from each horn) with NO improvement. I am wondering if their is a horn relay? ANY ideas appreciated!

Richard

Did you bench test the horns first?
Maybe the steering wheel contacts are gummed up.

[abiby]

Originally Posted by nobby

Did you bench test the horns first?
Maybe the steering wheel contacts are gummed up.

^+1 on bench testing, and if it has a horn relay, it wouldn't be wheel ring contacts, but...

Exactly what is that crisp clear sound you're wanting?

My horn, like a couple of other SLs I've heard, sounds like Herbie the Love Bug.

[nobby]

Originally Posted by abiby

My horn, like a couple of other SLs I've heard, sounds like Herbie the Love Bug.

Mine too.

Pretty undignified for a Benz if you ask me.

Should sound more like the Queen Mary leaving the dockside.

[rowdie]

Started to make a comment but this site is soooooo f#$#ing slooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww it was not worth the effort

[RadioTek]

Maybe........

Chevy Silverado "2012" | Super Bowl XLVI Ads | Chevrolet Commercial - YouTube

Pay attention at the end.

[Walrus]

Originally Posted by rowdie

Started to make a comment but this site is soooooo f#$#ing slooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww it was not worth the effort

No problems here... I have had the fortune to miss the site problems you have spoken of recently. Don't know why...

[coleyjf]

Originally Posted by xke190sl

The horn on my 88 560SL makes a dull "bull-frog" sound;it doesn't have that crisp clean sound. I have: 1. Replaced both horns; 2. Cleaned all the two wire contacts on each horn and ran 2 new grounds on the chassis (from each horn) with NO improvement. I am wondering if their is a horn relay? ANY ideas appreciated!

Richard

I know what you mean! One of the first things I did when I got my 300SL was to fit a couple of Fiamme air horns just inside the front grill. No additional relays fitted - I just paralleled the Fiamme air pump across the existing horn wiring.

It has the added benefit that if you just "blip" the horn, only the original "frog" horns operate, but if you really want to let someone know that you're there and keep it on a second longer the pump pulls in and you get a great sound

Even in the over regulated UK I've had no problems with car tests etc. as it's just one "blaaarreee!" rather than the (illegal in the UK) dee -dah - dee - dah type

cheers

Jim

[meltedpanda]

my sl's horn is actually embarassing . My vintage Bmer has a great horn, perhaps you could find something you like from another car/brand and replace

[cbdo]

MB's been claimed to be pretty picky about who they'll sell the parts to, but I do remember when Road & Track tested the 600 sedan in the 60's they specifically mentioned the road horn; the sentence "It sounds like a rhinoceros in labor and is the only thing we've ever found that will scare a New York cabbie" has stayed in my memory ever since, unlike useful things such as whether I need to pick up milk on the way home.
FWIW, my 560 had a mild-sounding European sort of bleat--definitely not intimidating.