Is there an easy way to replace the horns? Is removal of the bumper required? For some reason my wife's 06 goes thru horns (this is the third one since acquiring the car- I tried the overuse discussioin and ended up on the couch ). Technically, this one will be under warranty but i though a little upgrade would help- (http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...hella+horns.do).

I picked up two sets of the horns for pennies (NIB no less) so I will start with my wifes replacement and if I like them will put a set on mine...

Ok, that was a little long winded- but the question is, do I need to remove the bumper?

 

Yes.

 

My 06 has been replaced twice, original lasted 2years, 2nd one lasted 2 weeks! Current one 1 onth and holding, I thought my trouble was lack of use

 

Those are the exact horns I used when my stockers went bad. Yes, you have to remove the bumper apron.

 

http://www.sunshineminis.org/forums/...ic.php?t=20588

 

Hmm a lot of subaru guys mount the hella supertones behind their grill and it looks mean. I wonder if we have enough space to do that?

 

My factory horn also failed. I purchased a set of the Hella Supertones after hearing them on a few people's Subies that I autox with. They sound nothing like an air horn, but definitely get a lot more attention than honking with the lame factory horn.

It's not difficult to remove the front bumper so don't get discouraged.

And some advice on installing the Hella Supertone horns; the connector clips aren't the same as on the factory horn so you have to be a bit creative with the wiring. I didn't want to splice into any wires on the wiring harness so I rigged it my own custom way.

1. I used a couple connecting clips like thes: LINK
2. I inserted a small piece of speaker wire into one end of the clip and soldered the other end to the factory Y shaped connecting clip for a solid connection.

Kurvhuger how'd you install yours?

BTW, I'm a fan of Griots products, but I don't recommend buying the Hella Supertone horns from them. There are several other sites that carry the exact same horn for about $50 shipped.

 

Cooper99 did you use the supplied relay or just use creative engineering to connect to the stock wires? I am planning to do the install this weekend and welcome any advice (i.e. which wire to use and which one not to use).

I have some spare wire around the garage, liquid electrical tape and various splicing mechanisms.... not sure I have a soldering iron that works.

 

These Hellas will fit behind the bumper?

 

I snipped off the factory connector, leaving just enough wire on the plug side to be able to reuse them if I ever choose to do so, and then....well, see below....



Assuming the kit they sell hasn't been changed since I installed mine, you'll have a small problem with the supplied bracket, but it's very easily overcome. The end of the plate/bracket that bolts to the mount (left end in the pic) is too long. That is, there's too much bracket on the end extending past the bolt hole. As you can see in the pic, there's only just so much room for it in the mount. I measured, cut the excess of with a hacksaw, cleaned it up with a file. I then did a test fit and (because I'm a bit OC about these things) touched up the cut with some black enamel before installing.

It's close, but yes.

 

the factory horns are wired with a relay so you are safe to put any reasonable horn in place of the stock units. (according to the Haynes wiring diagrams anyway). The brown wires in the stock are the grounds.

 

COOL......time for some new horns!

 

I think you might get a little more attention with these than the stockers.

 

Actually the kit must have changed a bit because my mounting brackets are a bronze-ish color. The brackets were just a hair too wide to squeeze in that slit where the factory horns were, but I just screwed them down extra tight at a slight angle and they seem to be secured tight.

I didn't think about it, but you could probably take the mounting brackets off the oem horns and simply put them on the Hella's. ??? Either way, its not a problem.

 

I believe it, that bracket is meant to be universal. I did a few searches and saw pics of at least three slightly different looking brackets currently selling with the same kit. I think it's pretty typical of people to mount them in non-stock locations where that kind of bracket can change shape/size and make no difference. The only reason it matters here is the stock mount on the MINI is a particular shape, but you can make it work one way or another with very little effort. If you're up to pulling the bumper apron you can make these things work.

It's worth it though because these horns fit in the stock locations and they sound great!

 

I purchase on ebay Audi A4 horns wich are the same for $25 used, my mech created the wiring cause the plug is not the same and is good as new. MINI horns are $50 each and i could not find any used.

 

You could go with a set of these...

 

well on mine, the horn hasn't failed (yet) but it takes a lot of force/pressure to make it go off....is that normal? Or that a good sign it's about to fail?

 

siick! i def need to replace my horn. I am fed up with retarded californian drivers who stop in the middle of the road for no reason.