Changin' the Horn Sound

[Chimera]

not sure if this is the right section (please move if it's not)

so i totally love my new 2010 mazda3, but i HATE the horn sound! it sounds really weak and definitely not masculine enough.

so i'm asking: can you change the horn sound (i'm pretty sure you can) and how does one go about changing it?

[Donutz]

Yep you can. You will of course need to buy parts. There are a number of options. If you search you can find a few threads about different horns. Currently I have the Hella dual tones; someone did an upgrade which I believe can be bought at cdn tire. Essentially it's pnp into your stock horn power wire and location.

[Aitch]

I'm one of those who bought the Fiamm El Grande (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoParts/CarHorns/PRD~0202005P/El%2BGrande%2BTwin%2BRed%2BElectric%2BHorns.jsp) horns from Canadian Tire. Don't let the name throw you off, they have a great sound (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdItf-fljnY). $38, you can mount them in the stock location if you wish or put them in the front grill instead.

[CFX]

Go to your Mazda dealership and purchase a OEM Mazda6 horn.
That's what I plan on doing in the near future.

[mazdabetty]

I think there's a few threads about people changing their horns... mainly "hella horns".. Do a search you should get some info that way..... I'm too lazy to do it. lol

[Chimera]

did a quick search, quite a bit of info floating around the forum.

not really a fan of the Hella Horns, i think the El Grande sounds better. not sure what the OEM Mazda6 sound like though

any idea how much buying the horns will be? I found the El Grande for about $40 bucks at CanTire, but how much is it to install, considering it's like $100 per hour at CanTire to get something done.

Any reliable places?

[Donutz]

DIY. It is really easy. YOTR posted a how to for his Hella install, which can be used for the El Grande install. Just mount the horn and plug it in. The toughest part is removing the bumper, and this is more time consuming than it is difficult (quite a few screws).

[WeatherB]

Look around the forums, a couple of members (me included) have installed a low-pitch Fiamm horn to complement the high-pitch that is included with the Mazdas.

I think it sounds good and will only run you about $30 from Canadian tire.

[Hives]

I wanted to change my horn, but I don't really use it anyway, so imma keep that money in my wallet lol

[Aitch]

I use mine SOOO much more now that it sounds like a real horn.

[marvin24k]

I use mine SOOO much more now that it sounds like a real horn.

lol. I avoid using mine for that reason. when I have to used it i wished i had something better. As soon a we get some nice weather i'll be putting in the FIAMM horns.

[-dougall-]

i hate the horn sound... too girly.................. so i just put in a train horn instead..... full size, full compressor....... makes people think 2wice about cutting me off again

[m3m]

I changed my horn last month. sounds much better now..
I picked up these from canadian tire
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoParts/CarHorns/PRD~0202036P/Trumpet%2BHorns.jsp

[distr0]

i hate the horn sound... too girly.................. so i just put in a train horn instead..... full size, full compressor....... makes people think 2wice about cutting me off again

are you referring to this (http://www.hornblasters.com/) beauty. Definitely need to check out the videos, they are so funny!

[-dougall-]

its not a hornblasters kit, its a home made one, its alittle less DB's then a train but a whole shit load more than a truck.......

[McGuyver_3]

go to crappy tire pick up the oem low tone horn and add it on to the high tone already in the car. Did that to my 2010 already and my 05 wheni had it. sounds amazing

[smokie]

I switched out my oem horn for one high and one low tone Fiamm Freeway Blasters at Crappy Tire. Works good.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4/Auto/AutoParts/CarHorns/PRD~0202038P/Freeway%2BBlaster%2BHorns.jsp

[Chimera]

does anyone have a walk through or could link the instructions with horn changing? i can't seem to find it on the search.

[mzkaye729]

does anyone have a walk through or could link the instructions with horn changing? i can't seem to find it on the search.

It's in the How-To section of the forum. You can use this Hella Horn install guide by YOTR to install the Fiamm ones from CT:

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=355350&postcount=1

[Nextmod]

Hella on special - http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=35529&highlight=Hella

[Chester_Lampwick]

I don't know why nobody has mentioned Princess Auto. You can get an air horn kit there for $50 including compressor relay and two chromed horns. Regular horns are also a little cheaper than CT.

[Chester_Lampwick]

http://www.princessauto.com/truck-trailer/truck-accessories/miscellaneous-truck/8010341-dual-trumpet-air-horn?keyword=horn

[unizzle]

I don't know why nobody has mentioned Princess Auto. You can get an air horn kit there for $50 including compressor relay and two chromed horns. Regular horns are also a little cheaper than CT.

probably because everyone has Hella Horns and had good reviews on it. IMO i would buy it just for having the look of the 2 red circles in an open mouth grill. the group buy is only like $10-20 more expensive i think its worth it !

[Nextmod]

check the Hella GB =)
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=35529&highlight=Hella

[MazdaTree]

I just picked up a set of Hella Supertones from Budds BMW for $64 + tax.

[blackaccord]

^^thats all the way in Hamilton no?

[MajesticBlueNTO]

^^thats all the way in Hamilton no?

there's one in Oakville as well:

Budd's BMW
2454 South Service Road West
Oakville, ON L6L 5M9
(905) 845-3577

[MazdaTree]

no. Oakville.
pretty good price too considering some sponsors non-gb price is $95.
cheaper than any gb ;)

[MajesticBlueNTO]

i cant find a cheaper price anywhere else. so you should jump on this deal


I just picked up a set of Hella Supertones from Budds BMW for $64 + tax.

that's cheaper than the cheapest price on the GB!

[blackaccord]

honestly....what is $4 + tax. unless you live near oakville/hamilton

if you are worried about that $4 difference...you really shouldnt be upgrading your horn

[MajesticBlueNTO]

honestly....what is $4 + tax. unless you live near oakville/hamilton

if you are worried about that $4 difference...you really shouldnt be upgrading your horn

that's a pretty contradictory statement since you did join that group buy to save money; and, by your words, you really shouldn't be upgrading your horn then :loco

[blackaccord]

i joined the groupbuy to save the $30+
not just $4

[MajesticBlueNTO]

i joined the groupbuy to save the $30+
not just $4

did you really save $30+? or did you spend $4 more than regular price at another retailer?

[DARK3]

Get the Ferrari horn.

[azn_outlaw]

now if I can only find the specs of how loud the hella horn is compared this one which looks to be loud

at 3 feet 106 DB

the horn I am talkin about is here and yes its for a boat....hahahaha

http://www.boatersland.com/afi10098.html

[baymoe]

That's a sweet deal at Budds. Even better than the groupbuy price.

[fini]

now if I can only find the specs of how loud the hella horn is compared this one which looks to be loud

at 3 feet 106 DB

the horn I am talkin about is here and yes its for a boat....hahahaha

http://www.boatersland.com/afi10098.html

alright, bring the two over to me and i'll measure it with my sound level meter... we'll settle this. hahahaha.....

[wildfrisco]

did a quick search, quite a bit of info floating around the forum.

not really a fan of the Hella Horns, i think the El Grande sounds better. not sure what the OEM Mazda6 sound like though

any idea how much buying the horns will be? I found the El Grande for about $40 bucks at CanTire, but how much is it to install, considering it's like $100 per hour at CanTire to get something done.

Any reliable places?

Yeah not a fan of Hella (and Stebel) either. Fiamm Freeway Blasters work well. Another option if you want to spend the least to have a nice horn sound, get this:

http://www.fiammamerica.com/Product.asp?ProductID=156

Available on Amazon.

I have four Fiamm horns on my 3 (2 high, 2 low) with a separate wiring harness, relay, and fuse. Didn't even cut or splice into any factory wiring. There is a how-to on another M3 forum.

[el_rodento]

I have four Fiamm horns on my 3 (2 high, 2 low)

Holy crap! I recently installed the low tone FIAMM you linked to in your post so I have the 2 horns running. Now I'm wondering how much louder your 4-horn assembly is. Is it significantly louder than the 2-horn assembly? Where did you find room to mount it?

[1nmhbacky]

I just picked up a set of Hella Supertones from Budds BMW for $64 + tax.


Where exactly did you buy it for 64 bucks?
let me know
thanks,

[MajesticBlueNTO]

I just picked up a set of Hella Supertones from Budds BMW for $64 + tax.


there's one in Oakville as well:

Budd's BMW
2454 South Service Road West
Oakville, ON L6L 5M9
(905) 845-3577


Where exactly did you buy it for 64 bucks?
let me know
thanks,

says right in the post you quoted

[Harbour Rat]

so i'm asking: can you change the horn sound (i'm pretty sure you can) and how does one go about changing it?

Princess Auto can hook you up with the correct horn (http://www.princessauto.com/vmchk/truck-trailer/truck-accessories/truckmiscellaneous/8237802-oogah-horn).

[mazdaskit]

or you can get hellas at peters for 75 cash

[wildfrisco]

Holy crap! I recently installed the low tone FIAMM you linked to in your post so I have the 2 horns running. Now I'm wondering how much louder your 4-horn assembly is. Is it significantly louder than the 2-horn assembly? Where did you find room to mount it?

To answer your question I think it was slightly louder, but sounded like two cars honking at once (if you hold the horn down for at least a few seconds). Since then I've removed two of the redundant FIAMMs and installed a pair of PIAA's for 405 hz (FIAMM low), 485 hz (factory/FIAMM high), 500 hz (PIAA) and 600 hz (PIAA). Videos:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_rewuy7BjQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY2VKrhBhf4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF47nGHFPkA

[Rob23]

those sound too close to stock, when i blast my supertone hellas it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand. they're a nasty noise.

[wildfrisco]

those sound too close to stock, when i blast my supertone hellas it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand. they're a nasty noise.

You mean with the Fiamm low tone and PIAAs are like stock? Not even close. BTW the Hella Supertones (like the Stebels) sound artificial/electronic.

[Rob23]

You mean with the Fiamm low tone and PIAAs are like stock? Not even close. BTW the Hella Supertones (like the Stebels) sound artificial/electronic.

second time around they do sound loud, probably even louder in person. when i first heard the hellas i didn't like them but after hearing them a few times i realized that thats the point. they sound nasty and if anyone is blasting music or something in they're car, the hellas will pierce through it.
out of curiosity have you compared your horns with a mazda3 that has hellas? would be interesting to hear the differences in person.

[wildfrisco]

second time around they do sound loud, probably even louder in person. when i first heard the hellas i didn't like them but after hearing them a few times i realized that thats the point. they sound nasty and if anyone is blasting music or something in they're car, the hellas will pierce through it.
out of curiosity have you compared your horns with a mazda3 that has hellas? would be interesting to hear the differences in person.

Negative. But here are some Hella Supertones. Sorry but when I heard these they made me giggle like a school girl:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XLULsqTIpA

And I might not be done with my current horn combo. Might add some different frequency disc horns to my current trumpet horns.

[RBoy8]

Compressor + train horn. Nuff said :chuckle


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0R-x6drURM

[mazdilla]

Go to your Mazda dealership and purchase a OEM Mazda6 horn.
That's what I plan on doing in the near future.


Make sure it's a 2004 Mazda 6 dual horn assembly ($37). It doesn't sound like some real loud Italian traffic jam, but it sure is a t*tty popper!

That's what I did.

[Jackal]

I asked Dan to install my Mitsuba Proud Horns. Not super loud at 113 db with two tones but I like the sound. How loud are the stock ones?