OEM horns died...AGAIN!

The fact there's a relay says at least one thing is different, and that makes me wonder what else might have changed, though I also wonder whether maybe that's a better kit than the one I got. Mine works great though without a separate relay so who knows?

As to the sound, that's one of those subjective things that's hard to characterize. I definitely wouldn't characterize mine as tinny. I just checked out the sound clip at the Griot's Garage though (scroll down to "product information" and "honk the horn") and if that's the sort of thing you're finding elsewhere I can understand why you'd be wary. That clip makes them sound like crap! NOTHING like mine sound. I honestly can't figure out why Griot's would put up that clip because I can't imagine anyone buying them after listening to it. I suppose they might have changed the horns and now they sound like that but I doubt it.

Mine have a hard edge to the sound but that's pretty much it on as far as anything sounding tinny, and apparently it's intentional. Hella's description fits pretty well: "Disc horns make a relatively hard sound which is radiated mainly forwards. This achieves good penetration of the traffic noise over a great distance. The sound pattern works best as a set with one high tone horn and one low tone horn."

Are they louder than the OEM? Yes. Can't say how much though. Like many who've commented, I rarely use my horns. I didn't know one of mine was gone until I honked one day and it sounded weak...didn't know the other one was gone until I tried to honk much later and got nothing at all. So, I didn't get around to hearing the Hellas until well after I had both stockers working, plus it's been years since I made the switch. I remember thinking the Hellas would definitely attract more attention but can't make a relative comparison. If I run across another Mk1 MINI in the next few days I'll see if I can get the owner to let me park next to him so we can compare.

 

:lol: Yup, that's a sure sign of desperation! :lol:

I know what it's like though. When I was shopping for speakers for my home music system I couldn't find locally most of the models I wanted to listen to before choosing so I bought a bunch of them to try out side by side (used, so cheap, off craigslist & ebay) before making up my mind. Then I started selling them off...that's a work in progress.

Back to the Hella sound, I've listened to sound clips the last couple days and I don't get it. They sound tinny to me too. Either they changed the design, the audio/video captures don't do them justice, or they really sound that way when you're out in front of a car with them installed. Maybe what I hear from beside the car when I reach in and push the horn button isn't what you hear from some distance out front of the car? (grasping at straws to understand the odd sounds I'm hearing online)

 

I remember, I lived in the Hampton Roads area for almost 4 years. My commute was about 20 miles each way from the north end of Newport News (north of Fort Eustis) to Langley AFB.