Interior/Exterior Interior and exterior modifications for Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Interior/Exterior NEW compact Italian air horns for MINI Coopers

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  #26  
Old 04-11-2009, 07:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Bigshot
Why not just replace the stock horns?

Much better location.

Simple, there isnt enough space for this horn. You could fit some Hella electrics in there if you wanted to I bet though.
 
  #27  
Old 04-12-2009, 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Some Guy
Simple, there isnt enough space for this horn. You could fit some Hella electrics in there if you wanted to I bet though.
I was looking at those as well because they are same size as OEM, but from what I have read about them, they are not much better than stock.
 
  #28  
Old 04-13-2009, 07:15 AM
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It looked like there was plenty of room when I saw the bumper off......

Even saw a small trumpet set-up installed in the OEM location.
 
  #29  
Old 04-15-2009, 08:36 AM
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I have the trumpet setup in the OE location - it works but is tight. This would never fit there. I'd wonder about the heat in back of the engine though - would your unit fit in the little well near the ABS distribution block? The sound would come out the grate at the base of the windscreen.

Here's my location with the compressor and Hella horns. I do like your compact unit better, much less of a PITA to install too!

Don't forget - if you burn out a bulb you don't want to have to pull the bumper cover to get at it, either...



 
  #30  
Old 04-15-2009, 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by DixonL2
I have the trumpet setup in the OE location - it works but is tight. This would never fit there. I'd wonder about the heat in back of the engine though - would your unit fit in the little well near the ABS distribution block? The sound would come out the grate at the base of the windscreen.
Thats what I did, it fits pretty well.
 
  #31  
Old 04-21-2009, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by some guy
simple, there isnt enough space for this horn. You could fit some hella electrics in there if you wanted to i bet though.
i
 

Last edited by -=gRaY rAvEn=-; 12-14-2017 at 07:37 AM.
  #32  
Old 04-21-2009, 02:33 PM
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Oh, trust me - my horns were in the ABS box and not facing upward. PLENTY of sound will escape! Yowtch! I put 'em up front because it's closer the the person/car that I want to hear it, and it's more stealthy.
 
  #33  
Old 04-21-2009, 07:20 PM
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I had the same red horn installed in my S2000. I love that horn ! I was actually wondering if anyone had installed it in a MINI, and now i know

I was also thinking of installing it in the oem location behind the bumper. Maybe even buy two, one for each oem location and double the sound. I suppose a direct connect in the oem locations would eliminate the use of the relay ?
 
  #34  
Old 04-21-2009, 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by PortMCS
I had the same red horn installed in my S2000. I love that horn ! I was actually wondering if anyone had installed it in a MINI, and now i know

I was also thinking of installing it in the oem location behind the bumper. Maybe even buy two, one for each oem location and double the sound. I suppose a direct connect in the oem locations would eliminate the use of the relay ?
If
 

Last edited by -=gRaY rAvEn=-; 12-14-2017 at 07:38 AM.
  #35  
Old 04-21-2009, 07:31 PM
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Oh yea, good point !

so what power-lead" goes to the compressor ? Have a pic by any chance ?
 

Last edited by -=gRaY rAvEn=-; 12-14-2017 at 07:38 AM.
  #36  
Old 04-21-2009, 08:47 PM
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Here's what I did: I mounted a relay near the fuse box, in that compartment in front of the driver, underhood. Run a jumper wire from the OE horn plug to a relay to act as a signal wire. Ground the relay. Run power from the + terminal in the engine compartment to the relay, using the relay as a switch, and then from the relay to the compressor. I located my compressor in the ABS box, as shown.
 
  #37  
Old 04-21-2009, 08:57 PM
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Using Dixon's method described above, the connections to the relay terminals are:

Terminal 85 - ground
Terminal 86 - jumper wire to OEM horn wiring
Terminal 30 - "+" jump-start terminal under the hood
Terminal 87 - Compressor power wire.

(You could also reverse the above connections to terminals 85 and 86. Those are just the terminals for the relay's solenoid, and polarity doesn't matter, as long as one is grounded and the other gets +12V from the OEM horn wiring.)
 
  #38  
Old 04-22-2009, 07:07 AM
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Thanks! Also, the jumper to the horn wiring needs to go to the switched 12v+ horn wire (it's the not-brown one, use your circuit tester to be sure).
 
  #39  
Old 06-14-2009, 02:54 PM
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Raven: PM sent (help!)
 
  #40  
Old 06-14-2009, 05:05 PM
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PM back at ya!

PM SENT.....
 
  #41  
Old 06-14-2009, 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by DixonL2
Thanks! Also, the jumper to the horn wiring needs to go to the switched 12v+ horn wire (it's the not-brown one, use your circuit tester to be sure).
Should be red with blue stripe
 
  #42  
Old 06-15-2009, 01:29 PM
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SUCCESS! This horn ROCKS!
 
  #43  
Old 07-23-2010, 12:19 PM
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I wish I had 10% the know-how of you all. This all sounds like Japanese to me

 
  #44  
Old 07-23-2010, 12:52 PM
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I wonder if his vanity plate is IAMLOCO?

We have a PhillyMINI Member that has a Harley Davidson air horn in hers.

Bob
 
  #45  
Old 07-23-2010, 01:13 PM
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  #46  
Old 07-23-2010, 02:22 PM
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I would like to complain to whomever resurrected this thread. Now I am out $50.99 and have to do work on the car. Thanks

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/77839.do?


I can't wait
 
  #47  
Old 07-23-2010, 04:09 PM
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Started a horn thread in my other forum but didn't get any feed of any1 installing something aftermarket.
The shop dog used my horn as a chew toy & so this is where I ended up.
-=gRay rAvEn=- I won't use your name but I just might have to now stop by your house!
BTW- thanx again for the bag. Will be selling my old one soon.. .
 
  #48  
Old 07-23-2010, 04:18 PM
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Question- I'm guessing the horn is above legal decibel level. Looking to obviously replace OEM & not mount it in bumper because of the new project design. Any feed back you can give ?? ?
 
  #49  
Old 07-23-2010, 08:00 PM
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First of all: Anyone who compares a Stebel Nautilus (or other identical versions) to a locomotive horn, has either never heard a locomotive horn from even a moderate distance, or has a hugely creative imagination.

Second: These horns are next to useless if not wired with a relay. They'll sound like they're supposed to, but they won't be loud...maybe even worse than stock. Not to mention, you could be blowing fuses and melting wires.

Third: Ya gotta actually like the way these airhorns sound, if you're ever going to appreciate them as any kind of an improvement. IMHO, I don't like them on cars...I find the melodic sound to be too pleasant and polite (when I use my horn, politeness by that time, has usually been negotiated away). While I find them to be out of character for cars, I do really like them on bikes!

Fourth: I prefer Hella Supertones, mounted in the stock locations. They are louder than the Nautilus, they draw less power, they're more reliable (no air/compressor), and they sound like real horns...not like a chihuahua with the taco-farts.
 
  #50  
Old 07-23-2010, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by ellcapitan
...Fourth: I prefer Hella Supertones, mounted in the stock locations. They are louder than the Nautilus, they draw less power, they're more reliable (no air/compressor), and they sound like real horns...not like a chihuahua with the taco-farts.
Do they require the relay or can they just replace the stock horns next time I find myself in Service Mode?

Rich
 


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