MS3 Horn

[MS3-510]

Hi everyone

I purchased my 2008.5 MS3 about 2 weeks ago and just recently noticed how "wimpy" the horn sounds after some jerk cut me off during my morning commute. What have you guys done to improve the tone? Any suggestions as far an inexpesive upgrade?

[Mz3Hatch]

Yeah, the horn is whimpy but what would you expect? I don't use my horn, I tell them they are #1 and then use every bit of power my car has and get away from the situation. However, if you want to change it, something I've dont to a few cars which is quite fun, i bought an airhorn kit and installed it. Did it to my gf's cobalt ss and it was loud as hell. They run like 20-50 bucks at Pep Boys or Autozone. Install is easy too.

[Hank3]

Yes - it's a pretty easy upgrade that costs under $20 from your local Autozone or Pep Boys. You can do a search to find the "How-To." Mine cost $15.

Here's one:

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123699055

[ElGaspo]

local auto parts store, like already suggested, or for a wider range [but more $] try http://www.wolo-mfg.com/

most ppl say our horn is high-pitched, so they supplement it w/ a low-pitch one. i got "the loud one" and hooked it in series w/ the existing horn. i just get tired of ppl cutting me off, moving in my lane, and then slowing down.

i didn't really think i'd have a chance to test it out in anger, but sure enough, 2 days after the install, i was on the exit ramp and a woman in a Honda hatch drifted late onto the ramp and cut me off. since it was a hatch i had a good view of the driver's head. she literally JUMPED out of her seat (boom08). guess she's not going to be doing that again...hopefully, anyway...

[Mz3Hatch]

Loud horns are so much fun when people don't expect them! Idiot motorists usually get the hint when they hear something that sounds like a truck behind them! If only i can figure out how to hook up true truck air horns and fit them in my grill with the full size compressor ........ (evil)

[MS3-510]

lol - good stuff.

thanks for everyones suggestions, i'll be visiting my local autozone for a horn. i read the how-to and it doesn't look difficult at all to install.

[sleeper3]

my horn stopped working a couple of months ago (shrug)

[Mr_Boom]

I think its evil to sell a car with a horn so wimpy in the state of SC, which easily has the worst drivers in the southeast.

So instead of honking the horn I just wave while mouthing some choice language. That one throws them for a loop.

[dunnhopen]

what about Hella Supertone Horns?

[Hank3]

Hellas are nice, but will cost you around $60 - $70, and it takes a little more wiring and mounting. The $15 low-pitched horn you can get locally is a good solution that's easy to mount and wire. Depends on what you want :)

[MikeHTally]

WOLO horns work pretty well. Certainly enough to wake up most o' those sleeping DAs.

[Moultese]

God I our horns. I really want an AH-OOOOOOO-GAH horn.

[AMS38U]

i had a train horn on my protege5 now that was fun

[builthatch]

what about Hella Supertone Horns?

they are what i have. they are awesome ; )

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w152/builthatch/IMG_1563.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w152/builthatch/IMG_1565.jpg
wire jumpers i had to make...
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w152/builthatch/IMG_1560.jpg

[Nliiitend1]

^^^I had a set of those bitches on one of my old cars...very European sounding (and LOUD to boot)!

For the MS3, I just added a low-tone horn to the existing stock horn (the mod was a bit of an afterthought that I performed when I had the bumper off for something else) and for what I spent (less than $20) I've been very pleased.

[J-Villa]

Eh', When people say my horn is wimp, I ask them if they have ever heard the horn on a Ferrari...


If I had more money, I'd go down to the local train horn shop that does all the Jaguar player's trucks and have them wire up 2 short train horns in the engine bay or under the side's. Trainhorns are what's up in Jacksonville.

[Hank3]

^^^I had a set of those bitches on one of my old cars...very European sounding (and LOUD to boot)!

For the MS3, I just added a low-tone horn to the existing stock horn (the mod was a bit of an afterthought that I performed when I had the bumper off for something else) and for what I spent (less than $20) I've been very pleased.

Ditto. I had a set of the Supertones on my Subie and really loved them. Were very loud and distinct. Just didn't feel like spending that much $$$ and wiring them on the Speed3. Been happy with my $15 cheapie from Advance Discount Auto (thumb)

[builthatch]

^^^I had a set of those bitches on one of my old cars...very European sounding (and LOUD to boot)!

For the MS3, I just added a low-tone horn to the existing stock horn (the mod was a bit of an afterthought that I performed when I had the bumper off for something else) and for what I spent (less than $20) I've been very pleased.

i agree that you made a good move; the supplemental low tone seems to work well. i happened to have these for another vehicle and decided to put em on the 3.

[Psycho_Maz]

I put the low tone autozone horn in today. Very easy and sounds like a real horn now.

[dizzin9]

I put the low tone autozone horn in today. Very easy and sounds like a real horn now.

you have a sound clip? did you just took out the OEM, or you put it along side the OEM? i have the same horn but i'm too lazy to install it (sssh)

[Psycho_Maz]

you have a sound clip? did you just took out the OEM, or you put it along side the OEM? i have the same horn but i'm too lazy to install it (sssh)

I just mounted it in the hole just above the stock horn. So, I have two horns. There is a threaded hole where the autozone low tone fiam horn fits perfect. I screwed it in there. there is a sound clip in the How To section for the same horn.

[khoney]

This reminded me of some fool I saw in a jacked-up pickup that had installed a train horn. Yes, I'm talking about a commercial freight train. Of course, he thought it was hilarious to drive by someone and let her rip. It was funny the first time I heard it - after about the 4th time, I decided he was quite the a**hole.

Oops - just scrolled back up and saw J-Villa's post. Guess that makes the Jaguars a bunch of a-holes too (we don't have a pro football team here, so I think I'm safe in saying that :D)

[ElGaspo]

i was on a 3-lane street, in the middle one, had cars to the L and R. was following a rental [shoulda been my 1st clue to find another lane]. there's a steady green stoplight- rental car stops as if he was colorblind and seeing red. i couldn't believe my eyes...

guy decides he's lost so instead of pulling over he just stops and blocks traffic. would you believe that even after laying on the double loud horns for a good 10 secs he wouldn't budge? "By god, i'm good & lost and i'm a-staying put until i figure out where i am!" un-fucking-believable! (gun)

[J-Villa]

i was on a 3-lane street, in the middle one, had cars to the L and R. was following a rental [shoulda been my 1st clue to find another lane]. there's a steady green stoplight- rental car stops as if he was colorblind and seeing red. i couldn't believe my eyes...

guy decides he's lost so instead of pulling over he just stops and blocks traffic. would you believe that even after laying on the double loud horns for a good 10 secs he wouldn't budge? "By god, i'm good & lost and i'm a-staying put until i figure out where i am!" un-fucking-believable! (gun)

welcome to daily driving in Jax. Thats why we need train horns down here and not those silly hella horns. haha

[02stang951]

Hi everyone

I purchased my 2008.5 MS3 about 2 weeks ago and just recently noticed how "wimpy" the horn sounds after some jerk cut me off during my morning commute. What have you guys done to improve the tone? Any suggestions as far an inexpesive upgrade?
haha i noticed it when i cam back from the dealer and hit the lock button twice i was so disappointing i guess its not a big deal but still prob the wost car horn i have ever had lol

[screaminMS]

i usually just blow off at people. got a turbo xs RFL. lol. its gets there attention real quick and you get that WTF face lmao.

[dkswim]

i have the hella supertown knock offs mounted in the same stealth mounting as pictured by builthatch. very european would love to have slightly lower sound but they are loud

[bluelion]

i swapped out my high pitch tone with a low pitch tone from a mazda 6 at the junkyard...spent $5.... although it's a low pitch, it's still a lil wimpy for me, but DEFINITELY better than the high pitch it came with. maybe one day i'll go with a dual tone....

[Sport6]

i swapped out my high pitch tone with a low pitch tone from a mazda 6 at the junkyard...spent $5.... although it's a low pitch, it's still a lil wimpy for me, but DEFINITELY better than the high pitch it came with. maybe one day i'll go with a dual tone....

Hmmmm good idea... I had a 6 and it had a way better horn.

[pcpower]

lol, hilarious stuff in this thread.

since getting my ms3 a few weeks ago, I have also noticed the wimpiness of the horn. good to hear there are a bunch of options out there to go about fixing it.

then again, I also agree that the horn is very rarely necessary, so it's not a huge deal.

I just need a friggn dual missile launcher attached my vehicle and I will be good 2 go.

::goes to play halo wars::

[bluelion]

Hmmmm good idea... I had a 6 and it had a way better horn.

well, the 6 has a low tone horn and a high tone horn. the 3 just has a high tone horn.....i just didn't want to do any kinda splicing to put both horns from the 6. so i just went with the low tone.


lol, hilarious stuff in this thread.

since getting my ms3 a few weeks ago, I have also noticed the wimpiness of the horn. good to hear there are a bunch of options out there to go about fixing it.

then again, I also agree that the horn is very rarely necessary, so it's not a huge deal.

I just need a friggn dual missile launcher attached my vehicle and I will be good 2 go.

::goes to play halo wars::

i don't think it's so much that we "use" it....i personally hated walking away from the car and hitting the key fob twice and hearing that girly horn beep......

[Sport6]

well, the 6 has a low tone horn and a high tone horn. the 3 just has a high tone horn.....i just didn't want to do any kinda splicing to put both horns from the 6. so i just went with the low tone.



i don't think it's so much that we "use" it....i personally hated walking away from the car and hitting the key fob twice and hearing that girly horn beep......

Any video of what just the low tone horn sounds like?

[prmspen]

Anyone who says they don't use their horn much obviously doesn't live in Portland, OR. You'd be surprised how often hippies need to be reminded that green means go.

[Nliiitend1]

Anyone who says they don't use their horn much obviously doesn't live in Portland, OR. You'd be surprised how often hippies need to be reminded that green means go.


(lol2)

I used to have a similar mentality about horn usage (the "why would anyone care about what their horn sounds like??" mentality) until I moved from Central IL to Chicago...I used my horn a LOT when living downtown. You'd never be able to get by without one. The best was when I had the compact air horn on my Focus...Jaywalking pedestrians be damned!@!! (thumb)

[ElGaspo]

You'd be surprised how often hippies need to be reminded that green means go.

Ha! Or live in Orlando - you'd be surprised how many times tourists do the unthinkable, like bolting from 1 lane to another, cut you off, stop in front of a green light, go the wrong way down a one-way street, pull out of an intersection and then slam on the brakes w/ no traffic coming, signal R and keep going straight....(chair)

[bluelion]

Any video of what just the low tone horn sounds like?

sure don't.... but i'll see what i can do tomorrow morning when i get off work, if i remember. but, imagine the stock horn, just a couple tones/pitches lower.

[AMP678]

Has anyone installed a intercom system/horn? how much do they run?

[MikeHTally]

Do you mean paging? "Intercom" refers to inter-communications, meaning the other driver could talk to you. All you need for that is a CB and a paging horn. Oh, BTW -- don't expect them to hear you with the windows closed and other ambient noise.

[Saskatchewan17]

I just youtubed hella supertones. I think they sound like crap! The low tone horn add on is much better sounding IMO.

[karl hungus]

don't settle for just the low tone. still ghey. les told me even a nutless monkey can splice the low tone fiamm and screw it into the unused bracket.

http://blog.superu.ca/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/article-0-0253b5e500000578-28_468x389.jpg

http://www.vimeo.com/2862361

[AMP678]

Do you mean paging? "Intercom" refers to inter-communications, meaning the other driver could talk to you. All you need for that is a CB and a paging horn. Oh, BTW -- don't expect them to hear you with the windows closed and other ambient noise.
oh sorry. i meant where you have a microphone and can yell at people from the safety of your mazda.

[karl hungus]

oh sorry. i meant where you have a microphone and can yell at people from the safety of your mazda.

mr. microphone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqZQmS8KeLM

[Saskatchewan17]

don't settle for just the low tone. still ghey. les told me even a nutless monkey can splice the low tone fiamm and screw it into the unused bracket.


But the hellas are too high pitched and just sound crappy to me.

[AMP678]

no not mr microphone either, even though it looks like fun.

I saw it on somebody's jeep and he had some sort of speaker on the outside of the jeep then he would talk to people as they walked by.

[karl hungus]

no not mr microphone either, even though it looks like fun.

I saw it on somebody's jeep and he had some sort of speaker on the outside of the jeep then he would talk to people as they walked by.

old dodge monaco had the intercom option.

http://420.thrashbarg.net/bluesmobile_speaker_1974_dodge_monaco.jpg

[AMP678]

practical!