e500 horn...too wimpy?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Hollywood, FL
2007 CLS550 Designo; 2009 Mini Cooper; 2011 BMW 335d
e500 horn...too wimpy?
I have had recently 3 close encounters where 2 have been near accidents and one a collision ocurred. In all instances, I could see it coming and honked the hell out of the horn, but the other drivers didn't hear the horn. The one accident, I was impacted on my driver's door by a lady coming out of a parking spot, and she admitted not hearing it (I had it pressed for like 10 seconds straight!). Is the horn too wimpy? I think so, at least for the size and power of the car.
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
The W211's horn seems to me (admittedly, only from hearing it when inside the car) loud enough for its intended purpose. If the other driver is deef, or engrossed in their phone call, or has the windows closed and their music turned up to "11", a semi's airhorn wouldn't be enough to get their attention. I used to lean on the horn when somebody was backing towards me obliviously, but after some scary close calls, I now concentrate on taking evasive action if at all possible.
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From: THE NAPA VALLEY, CA
Build date 2-04 E500
I've seen guys install air horns on their harleys for the same reasons... As DWP says if they are too busy yapping the the phone or listening to loud music or my I add watching their damned DVD's while in motion there isn't much you can do but keep an eye out. I'm constantly fighting these people on the roads and have to be especially carefull on my scoot now a days...
Seems to be getting worse day by day... As far as the loudness of the horn??? I feel its about as loud as any other out there...
Seems to be getting worse day by day... As far as the loudness of the horn??? I feel its about as loud as any other out there...
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
I got the dealer to change my horn once but they wouldn't do it the second time. They just compare my horn to another and say they are the same. It's so embarrasing to have German cars with crappy horns while even the cheapest American cars have really fine ones.
I need to do something about it but don't know what I can replace it with.
BTW, the horn in my 300E was terrible for about 12 years but after I took it to a dealer to have some work done, it now sounds great. I guess they adjusted it. So far as I know the new (cost reduced) horns can't be adjusted.
I need to do something about it but don't know what I can replace it with.
BTW, the horn in my 300E was terrible for about 12 years but after I took it to a dealer to have some work done, it now sounds great. I guess they adjusted it. So far as I know the new (cost reduced) horns can't be adjusted.
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From: London UK
Install a Locomotive Horn... Accomplice8 installed one in his E55 check the link below
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...highlight=horn
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...highlight=horn
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Hasn't anybody noticed that the horn does not sound the instant the button is pressed. Its almost as if pushing the horn button is sending a signal to a computer to sound the horn, and the momentary delay is th amount of time the communication & response takes.
Try it. Just momentarily tap the horn. Many times the tap will be so short that the horn never even sounds. In American cars, pressing the horn button completes the horn circuit and immediately sounds the horn.
(Also if you are sitting in your car with the ignition off & someone is going to back into your car, you can't sound the horn without turning the ignition to the run position and then pressing the horn button... and it had better not be a quick tap or you're dead.)
Try it. Just momentarily tap the horn. Many times the tap will be so short that the horn never even sounds. In American cars, pressing the horn button completes the horn circuit and immediately sounds the horn.
(Also if you are sitting in your car with the ignition off & someone is going to back into your car, you can't sound the horn without turning the ignition to the run position and then pressing the horn button... and it had better not be a quick tap or you're dead.)
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
I remember back in the day when an MB, even an SEL had a little "Bneep" sounding VW Bug horn.. so I'm quite happy with this more "American" sounding horn..
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From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
Originally Posted by Barry45RPM
Hasn't anybody noticed that the horn does not sound the instant the button is pressed. Its almost as if pushing the horn button is sending a signal to a computer to sound the horn, and the momentary delay is th amount of time the communication & response takes.
Try it. Just momentarily tap the horn. Many times the tap will be so short that the horn never even sounds. In American cars, pressing the horn button completes the horn circuit and immediately sounds the horn.
(Also if you are sitting in your car with the ignition off & someone is going to back into your car, you can't sound the horn without turning the ignition to the run position and then pressing the horn button... and it had better not be a quick tap or you're dead.)
Try it. Just momentarily tap the horn. Many times the tap will be so short that the horn never even sounds. In American cars, pressing the horn button completes the horn circuit and immediately sounds the horn.
(Also if you are sitting in your car with the ignition off & someone is going to back into your car, you can't sound the horn without turning the ignition to the run position and then pressing the horn button... and it had better not be a quick tap or you're dead.)
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Not horn-y enough for you???
Originally Posted by locomercedes
I have had recently 3 close encounters where 2 have been near accidents and one a collision ocurred. In all instances, I could see it coming and honked the hell out of the horn, but the other drivers didn't hear the horn. The one accident, I was impacted on my driver's door by a lady coming out of a parking spot, and she admitted not hearing it (I had it pressed for like 10 seconds straight!). Is the horn too wimpy? I think so, at least for the size and power of the car.
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From: Chicago
Mercedes
Originally Posted by CE750
I remember back in the day when an MB, even an SEL had a little "Bneep" sounding VW Bug horn.. so I'm quite happy with this more "American" sounding horn..
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From: Sacramento
'08 AM Vantage V8 - '03 E500
I haven't looked for the horns under the hood, but assuming they aren't somewhere under the plastic shroud, wouldn't a horn transplant be a fairly easy swap for anyone who is dissatisfied with the OEM horns? There must be all kinds of aftermarket horns out there, from horns that simulate a locomotive to roach coach horns that play La Cucaracha ....
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From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by CE750
I remember back in the day when an MB, even an SEL had a little "Bneep" sounding VW Bug horn.. so I'm quite happy with this more "American" sounding horn..
This was a toggle switch that worked great! I personally remember playing with it when I was 12 years old!
As per the tone of the horn, I think that it is fine and comparable to the other German cars I have had. The problem is that the horn is designed to send the sound signal forward and not back and to the sides. So this is probably why the lady backing up did not even hear it. This is a problem with all cars now. The 300 E had a great horn from day one, but it sucked if you had to stop someone from backing up into your side. The horn was right behind the grill facing forward.
Steve
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From: FL410
'05 E320 CDI, '08 BMW X5 4.8i, '11 Duramax 2500HD
Originally Posted by pasto27774
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Originally Posted by CE750
I wonder if those are real airhorns or recordings.. cause a real airhorn needs a good sized airsupply, and is seriously loud when your near it.. as I learned when I wen on a SD45 ride a while back!
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2012 CLS63, 2015 GL63
Yes, the E horns suck
I installed these (see below link), not too loud, but definitely do the job and seem consistent with the cars personality (so to speak). Look at the "Hella Supersonic Horn Set", only $69.95. Not an air horn.
http://shop.autobahnpower.com/main.a...and+Headlights
That video is a hoot.
http://shop.autobahnpower.com/main.a...and+Headlights
That video is a hoot.
