Should I or shouldn't I...

[nelsonjlee]

:blink: <-this is how I feel right now thinking about doing air horns to my '03 mcs...

The main thing that's stopping me...the good old NCDMV/NCDOT inspection handbook...I spoke with someone who used to be an inspector and he told me that it wouldn't be worth the hassle and risk of not passing the NC inspection because the horn would be too loud.

So, I'm looking for a little bit of feedback from those of you who may have put in air horns in your mini...did you have any regrets, issues, problems with inspections, etc.

Thanks!

[Thom]

Look for an air horn that is for a motorcycle they're pretty compact and might bolt onto the stock location then maybe a switcherooooo before inspection is in order? I haven't gone this route because I feel the horn is quite beefy compared to some of the Asian auto's out there.

Something like this...
http://www.ridesafer.com/Stebel_Nautilus_Compact_Air_Horn_p/h0014-cah.htm
or

http://www.ridesafer.com/Fiamm_Dual_AM_80_High_Performance_Trumpet_Horns_Ki_p/h0011.htm

[nelsonjlee]

Thom,

Thanks for the reply back...now that's something I hadn't thought of...a motorcycle air horn! The air horns I was looking at, I've installed before in a car I owned a long time ago...I love the...um...clarity and distinctive output the (car) air horns have. But if it's going to create a nightmare every time I've got to get the car inspected, I might skip the car air horn and opt for the motorcycle one!

Have a great day!

Nelson

[BThayer23]

Send a PM to BlimeyCabrio. He's got a set on his car.

[nelsonjlee]

Thanks Ben...will do.

Nelson

[maacodale]

We had a gathering last night at a local drive in. Some kid in a lowered mini truck rode by and blasted his train horn. I mean an actual train horn! One of our members literally jumped so bad she threw her drink in the air. Truth be known, I jumped too. But it was funny as anything. BTW, I now want a set of train horns!

[N2MINI]

Could always have a separate button for the air horn, and mount the horns under the rear of the car. No inspections worries then..

[Thom]

We had a gathering last night at a local drive in. Some kid in a lowered mini truck rode by and blasted his train horn. I mean an actual train horn! One of our members literally jumped so bad she threw her drink in the air. Truth be known, I jumped too. But it was funny as anything. BTW, I now want a set of train horns!

My uncle has a set of airhorns on his Harley Ultra Classic. They work great in the tunnels on the BRP. LOL

[ohbuga]

I have some HELLA mini air horns they work great and are small enough to fit easy.

[nelsonjlee]

Bryan/Kim,

That's another great suggestion... ;)

Nelson

[nelsonjlee]

UPDATE: I finally installed the air horns in my mcs…and I LOVE it!!! :D

Here’s what I did:
· After removing the bumper cover and bumper, I removed the stock low tone horn…it wasn’t working anyway
· Using the existing bracket, I mounted my 2 air horns to it (and it’s a very tight fit!)
· Using the existing wiring for the low tone horn, I spliced in to it and extended the wiring by about 12 inches, adding wire connectors to the ends
· I swapped out the stock 15 amp fuse and replaced it with a 20 amp fuse
· Initially, I mounted the compressor so it sat right in front of the air horns…only to realize that once I started to put the bumper, bumper cover back on and reconnect the turn signal lights, that I had a problem! The turn signal housing was bumping up again the compressor, which only left me with one option…move the compressor…the closest available spot was next to the engine mount…it’s mounted there now temporarily…I’ve got to decide if that’s where I’d like for it to stay longer term...it doesn't look too bad and more importantly it is away from any engine block heat
· So aside from that, the air horns are in and operational! :D

Note: I left my high tone horn in place and spliced in to the wiring to extend it…I did this to make sure I can pass an inspection in the future. ;D

[Agnt006]

so you now have three horns on your Mini?? lol.. classic.

[nelsonjlee]

Melissa...well all 3 horns are operational...but not all at the same time...I've got the option to use the (2) air horns or the stock horn. :D