Horn

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
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Vic-Z3
Joined: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 19:28
Posts: 915

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Redditch
Contact:

Horn

Post by Vic-Z3 »

Hi chaps

My Horn/(s) is/are dead, I require to replace it/them.
I have checked all electrics and they are fine.
The question is which one/s and where to get it/them ...... :?:

Thank you
----------------- BMW Z3 Das Beste Auto -----------------

Mein altes Auto riecht nach Nudeln, hat dieses Auto eine Wurst Geruch.
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colb
Joined: Sat 05 May, 2012 22:46
Posts: 690

  Z3 roadster 1.8 TU
Location: Newport South Wales UK

Re: Horn

Post by colb »

Are they the snail shaped horns?
Inside is a metal plate that vibrates when activated to produce the noise, the plate may be corroded, try spraying some wd40 down them and try sounding them after they have had a while for the wd40 to loosen off the plate. If that doesn't get them working try Spurs fan on here no doubt he has a box full from his breaking.

A flat shaped horn was fitted to earlier models, they work on the same principle so if you have these give them the same wd40 treatment.
Colb
1999 BMW 1.8 Z3
2003 BMW 2.5 Z4
1998 Honda Deauville NT650V
Vic-Z3
Joined: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 19:28
Posts: 915

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Redditch
Contact:

Re: Horn

Post by Vic-Z3 »

Hi
Not the snail type.
Cant see if there is one or two horns.
Defo the one is a flat type.
I have sprayed it liberally with Gt85.
Still silent .................. :(

Calling Spurs Fan are you receiving over ........... :wink:
----------------- BMW Z3 Das Beste Auto -----------------

Mein altes Auto riecht nach Nudeln, hat dieses Auto eine Wurst Geruch.
Vic-Z3
Joined: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 19:28
Posts: 915

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Redditch
Contact:

Re: Horn

Post by Vic-Z3 »

Turns out it was a single horn of the snail type ....... :oops:
----------------- BMW Z3 Das Beste Auto -----------------

Mein altes Auto riecht nach Nudeln, hat dieses Auto eine Wurst Geruch.
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Robert T
Site Admin
Joined: Mon 12 Jun, 2006 10:35
Posts: 10170

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Re: Horn

Post by Robert T »

I thought there were two horns, with different frequencies, ~400Hz and ~500Hz. See: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=61_0956

The ETM shows a left horn and a right horn and the component location chart shows Front LH Wheel Well and Front RH Wheel Well with a picture showing it located close to the foglight.

Cheers R.
Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
Posts: 907

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Houghton-Le-Spring

Re: Horn

Post by Fender2004 »

Agree with Robert T mine has two horns one either side at the front
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Vic-Z3
Joined: Fri 11 Jun, 2010 19:28
Posts: 915

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: Redditch
Contact:

Re: Horn

Post by Vic-Z3 »

Either side eh ......... I will investigate some more .....
----------------- BMW Z3 Das Beste Auto -----------------

Mein altes Auto riecht nach Nudeln, hat dieses Auto eine Wurst Geruch.
richardar
Joined: Tue 23 Oct, 2018 14:54
Posts: 1

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Horn

Post by richardar »

Neither horn works. Both fuses are OK, as is the relay. I cannot get at the horns to test them. Is it reasonable to suppose the horns have failed or are there any other tests I could do before buying replacements?
mrscalex
Joined: Fri 13 Mar, 2015 09:14
Posts: 910

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Horn

Post by mrscalex »

If both horns failed at the same time and the fuses/relay are okay then it may be the steering wheel slip ring.

That's the ring behind the horn push with the rotatable electrics to fire the airbag and work the horn push.
ImageImage
2001 Z3 2.2 Topaz Blue (Trudy) - Keeper rebuilt from a write-off
2002 Z3 2.2 Titan Silver (Cookies) - Keeper rebuilt having been bought with a seized engine
2002 Z3 3.0 Sapphire Black (Peanut) - Keeper awaiting rebuilding having been bought as an abandoned project
Plus Willy, Kodak & Maycee - All 2.2 Sport projects. Yes, 6 is a lot of Z3s :)
Always happy to try and help with spares :)
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
Posts: 6436

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

Re: Horn

Post by Southernboy »

The wires from the steering push pad to operate the horns go through the slip ring and emerge to be connected under the steering column ajacent to the indicator lever. There are 2 sets of wires housed onto the same base plate clip. One lot is for the steering / diver airbag, and is a larger yellow connector, the small flat connector white & black is the horn connector. You can use a multi meter to test if you have a circuit from the push pad through the slip ring to that connector. If you don't then you have a connectivity issue from behind the airbag through the slip ring. If you do have a circuit, then you need to test for a circuit at the wires which directly connect to the horns. Again, you can use a multi meter at the connecting wires at the horns whilst someone depresses the push pad in the car. To access the horns, jack the car up at the front, use jack stands to support the car and get under the car. You might need to remove the splash shield first, but that is easily done with a screw driver.
If all is well and you have a circuit in the loom from the steering wheel to the wires connecting to the horns, then you will know the horns are dead. I think it very unlikely that both should decide to pack up at the same time, although they might well not have. You may have been blowing somewhat "one sided" without noticing... You can test each horn with the multi meter for a circuit too. By this time you should have isolated the break in communication and can approach it with more accuracy.
"Normal is overrated"
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