Hella Horn Install on the z4m coupe

p1nk50ck · 10-30-2013, 11:24 AM

I felt the stock horns were weak, and I've been happy with hella horns in the past.

The installation was fairly straight forward. I removed the front bumper, and found that the stock horns were installed under each of the headlights next to the brake ducts. (sorry, never got a pic of that).

I relocated the hella horns to just behind the grille. there are two diagonal brackets in front of the radiator that worked perfectly as mounting points.

I decided not to use the relay that came with the hella horns after reading some reviews stating that they weren't necessary. However, it is a good idea to keep an extra horn fuse handy (i still need to buy one, i don't know the exact wattage yet).

basically, i unclipped the old horns, took the braket off (you will have to loosen your headlight bolts to get enough clearance to remove the brackets.

then i cut the wire where the factory clips were (to connect to the stock horns). i spliced in longer wires on each side, and wrapped them in electrical tape to keep them from being messy, as well as to give them a bit of weather proofing.

i used zip ties to route them towards the front grille area, and connected them to the newly mounted hella horns. and clipped off the excess wire.

after testing to make sure they worked, i put the bumper back on. i'll try to get a sound clip so that you can hear what they sound like, but for now, here's a few pics of the process:

lemme know if you have any questions.

3002 tii · 10-30-2013, 01:01 PM

these pics are so big i feel like i was there during the install

p1nk50ck · 10-30-2013, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3002 Tii

these pics are so big i feel like i was there during the install

lol... sorry. i didn't expect them to be that big. they're iphone pics after all... lemme see if i can resize them

R0ME0 · 10-30-2013, 04:27 PM

pics of after the install as well plz! Thanks!

drbvac · 10-30-2013, 06:19 PM

Can U upload a sound clip to this thread - what do they usually cost ?

And - I gotta ask - why didn't you move your bumper out of the way??

p1nk50ck · 10-30-2013, 10:37 PM

i got the horns on amazon for around $45.

I'll try to get a better front pic, this will have to do for now. (i got a flat tire / sidewall tear on friday night, and it was a pretty crappy time to find out that i don't have a mobility kit in the trunk)

i know some people are against the red horns, but it doesn't show through that much. the bumper covers them up unless you're looking for them.

during the install, i didn't move the bumper because i couldn't figure out how to disconnect the headlight washer sprayer. i disconnected the hose, but then washer fluid kept leaking everywhere, so i just plugged it back in and left it where it was :-/ moving the bumper out of the way would have probably made things a lot easier/faster. install wasn't hard at all. just time consuming because i work slowly, and was also kinda poking around and exploring while the front was off.

ZStig · 10-30-2013, 10:42 PM

I see a lot of subaru people installing hella horns in that location. nice way to block some of the cold air entering your radiator

p1nk50ck · 10-30-2013, 10:54 PM

yeah, this mod is pretty popular with the subaru crowd. regardless, the stock horns were too quiet for my tastes, and this helped to resolve that problem.

p1nk50ck · 11-11-2013, 10:47 PM

Sorry for the delay.

Here's a quick video clip so you can hear what they sound like:

Beedub · 11-13-2013, 06:15 AM

my stockers are loud as fuck!

elerner61 · 11-15-2013, 09:53 AM

Glad you like them, but...IMHO if you're going to do horns a pair of nice air horns are it! When I had Miatas I used a set of FIAMMs (packaged by a company called Crazy Red Italian, still $49) that were rather compact, loud and sounded like I was in one of Enzo's best!

I needed that horn (Miata's really are small when you put them next to just about anything else). I'm tempted to do a set on the Z, I just don't use the horn enough nowadays.

pokeybritches · 11-19-2013, 09:57 PM

I'm interested. One of my brake cooling ducts got munched by a tire, and the horn went with it. I'm interested in other options. My horn sounds very "Italian" (clown car) now with only one side working. Usually I just rev the engine and it gets the job done.

elerner61 · 11-20-2013, 12:56 PM

I found this for you: http://www.amazon.com/HELLA-00300165...pr_product_top

From a number of reviews of the FIAMM horns, their compressors don't seem to last very long. The Hellas got decent reviews.

Could mount the two horns together like in this picture:

p1nk50ck · 11-20-2013, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

I'm interested. One of my brake cooling ducts got munched by a tire, and the horn went with it. I'm interested in other options. My horn sounds very "Italian" (clown car) now with only one side working. Usually I just rev the engine and it gets the job done.

since you're local, i can help you with the install, and if you want to hear it in person.

10-30-2013, 11:24 AM	#1
p1nk50ck HNIC 31 Rep 177 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Arlington, VA iTrader: (0)	Hella Horn Install on the z4m coupe I felt the stock horns were weak, and I've been happy with hella horns in the past. The installation was fairly straight forward. I removed the front bumper, and found that the stock horns were installed under each of the headlights next to the brake ducts. (sorry, never got a pic of that). I relocated the hella horns to just behind the grille. there are two diagonal brackets in front of the radiator that worked perfectly as mounting points. I decided not to use the relay that came with the hella horns after reading some reviews stating that they weren't necessary. However, it is a good idea to keep an extra horn fuse handy (i still need to buy one, i don't know the exact wattage yet). basically, i unclipped the old horns, took the braket off (you will have to loosen your headlight bolts to get enough clearance to remove the brackets. then i cut the wire where the factory clips were (to connect to the stock horns). i spliced in longer wires on each side, and wrapped them in electrical tape to keep them from being messy, as well as to give them a bit of weather proofing. i used zip ties to route them towards the front grille area, and connected them to the newly mounted hella horns. and clipped off the excess wire. after testing to make sure they worked, i put the bumper back on. i'll try to get a sound clip so that you can hear what they sound like, but for now, here's a few pics of the process: lemme know if you have any questions.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-30-2013, 01:01 PM	#2
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2286 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.24]	these pics are so big i feel like i was there during the install __________________ Follow for latest mods
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-30-2013, 04:27 PM	#4
R0ME0 "The Midas Touch" 521 Rep 1,055 Posts Drives: F87 LBB ///M2 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (14) Garage List 2017 M2 [10.00] 2008 Z4M - SOLD [0.00]	pics of after the install as well plz! Thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-30-2013, 06:19 PM	#5
drbvac First Lieutenant 23 Rep 347 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW M COUPE Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Charlottetown PEI, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 Royal Enfield c-5 [0.00] 2006 BMW M Coupe [0.00]	Can U upload a sound clip to this thread - what do they usually cost ? And - I gotta ask - why didn't you move your bumper out of the way?? __________________ 2006 M COUPE - 380 total production, 1 of 40Imola Red produced for NA , ESS 455 Supercharger, Speedhut Gauges, VPM CLS wheels, 19" Hancooks, Stromung Exhaust, Carbon fibre accessories and black and white badging,
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-30-2013, 10:37 PM	#6
p1nk50ck HNIC 31 Rep 177 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Arlington, VA iTrader: (0)	i got the horns on amazon for around $45. I'll try to get a better front pic, this will have to do for now. (i got a flat tire / sidewall tear on friday night, and it was a pretty crappy time to find out that i don't have a mobility kit in the trunk) i know some people are against the red horns, but it doesn't show through that much. the bumper covers them up unless you're looking for them. during the install, i didn't move the bumper because i couldn't figure out how to disconnect the headlight washer sprayer. i disconnected the hose, but then washer fluid kept leaking everywhere, so i just plugged it back in and left it where it was :-/ moving the bumper out of the way would have probably made things a lot easier/faster. install wasn't hard at all. just time consuming because i work slowly, and was also kinda poking around and exploring while the front was off.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-30-2013, 10:42 PM	#7
ZStig instagram 997turbotom 279 Rep 7,377 Posts Drives: Interlagos Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delray Beach, FL iTrader: (4)	I see a lot of subaru people installing hella horns in that location. nice way to block some of the cold air entering your radiator __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-30-2013, 10:54 PM	#8
p1nk50ck HNIC 31 Rep 177 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Arlington, VA iTrader: (0)	yeah, this mod is pretty popular with the subaru crowd. regardless, the stock horns were too quiet for my tastes, and this helped to resolve that problem.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-11-2013, 10:47 PM	#9
p1nk50ck HNIC 31 Rep 177 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Arlington, VA iTrader: (0)	Sorry for the delay. Here's a quick video clip so you can hear what they sound like:
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-13-2013, 06:15 AM	#10
Beedub Major General 423 Rep 5,329 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M roadster vt2-500 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	my stockers are loud as fuck! __________________ Z4MR VT2 - Clubsport build. Multi award winning Detailing \| Wrap \| PPF specialists UK based - www.topwrapz.com
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-15-2013, 09:53 AM	#11
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	Glad you like them, but...IMHO if you're going to do horns a pair of nice air horns are it! When I had Miatas I used a set of FIAMMs (packaged by a company called Crazy Red Italian, still $49) that were rather compact, loud and sounded like I was in one of Enzo's best! I needed that horn (Miata's really are small when you put them next to just about anything else). I'm tempted to do a set on the Z, I just don't use the horn enough nowadays.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-19-2013, 09:57 PM	#12
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	I'm interested. One of my brake cooling ducts got munched by a tire, and the horn went with it. I'm interested in other options. My horn sounds very "Italian" (clown car) now with only one side working. Usually I just rev the engine and it gets the job done. __________________ VF Engineering Z4 3.0i, ESS Z4M, G-Power Z4M, 996 Turbo
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-20-2013, 12:56 PM	#13
elerner61 Major 157 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mount Kisco, NY iTrader: (0)	I found this for you: http://www.amazon.com/HELLA-00300165...pr_product_top From a number of reviews of the FIAMM horns, their compressors don't seem to last very long. The Hellas got decent reviews. Could mount the two horns together like in this picture:
	Appreciate 0 Quote