my 1985 500sel has 2 horns and i was wondering is this on every mercedes

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1985 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1989 chrysler
leabaron 130k
1990 380sl (hopefully)

Yup. it's that European thing. Toot Toot
:D :D :D

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
1987 BMW 325

I bet you have a switch on the dash for high and low tones too, don't you?

yes thats what im talkin about


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1985 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1989 chrysler
leabaron 130k
1990 380sl (hopefully)

City horn/Country horn. Most deer just arch an eyebrow at the City horn, whereas the Country horn blows them off the road due to the resultant vibration. Seriously.

WHAT are you guys talkin' about? I never noticed two horns on my car...and where is this switch???

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-= 1995 Mercedes-Benz E420 (W124 - Black Pearl/Black) =-

the new ones may not have it it is on the consle and has a byclicle shape horn on the switch on mine

DuckMuck, Benzman has a W126 500SEL euro with a rocker switch on the upper console second one from the left. I have a feeling that this little gadget was only for the Europeans to enjoy. ;)

-Larry

mines second from the right

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1985 euro 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1989 chrysler
leabaron 130k
1990 320sl (hopefully)

I've got the two-horn city/country rocker switch on my US 1989 560SEL, right there on the console just in front of the gear stick.

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Al Spalmacin
1989 560SEL
1989 190E 2.6

Any of us poor saps with "old" 300D-T's got this switch??

what do you mean poor saps be proud to have a mb


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1985 euro 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1989 chrysler
leabaron 130k
1990 320sl (hopefully)

Can anyone provide a picture of this horn switch to me? I have a Euro 500SEL as well and do not know of this switch. Also, there is a dial clustered with the power windows switches. There is no mention of it in any booklet. Is that the horn switch? Thanks

The dial clustered with the power window switches balances the sound system between te front and rear speakers on my W126.

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Jason Priest
1986 420SEL

Hey Hawkpfc,

Post your email and I will send you a pic of the switch. I have it on my '84 500SEL Euro.

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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

[This message has been edited by fz500sel (edited 08-15-2000).]

In the US on 560SEL's had city/country horns.

For everyone interested in the two-tone horn:

The "Dual Tone Horns" (as oficially known by M.B.) was an extra (one more in the unlimited list of extras offered in Europe) that you could order for any Mercedes-Benz passenger car including W123, W126, W124, W140 and W107 (except the W201 -190's-).

The extra could be ordered by asking your salesperson to have your car fitted with code 45/2 (452). A sure way to know if your car if equipped with this extra, check on the engine plate in front of the radiator where all extras as listed. Look for code 452. In 1985 the extra costed D.M. 240, in 1989 it went up to D.M. 270.

In the U.S., as far as I know, only the 560SEL (W126) came standard with this feature. It was not available to other models.

Some people get confused about the terms, since ALL Mercedes-Benz are fitted with a "Two-Tone Horn", which provides a High and Low tone. Most European and Japanese offerings come equipped with only one horn, which gives that annoying sound. The "two-tone" horns on all Mercedes-Benz are quite strong and tasteful.

On the other hand, the "Dual Tone Horns", as specified by code 452 provides a "City sound" and what M.B. calls a "Highway sound". The city horn is more "ear-friendly" for around town use, and the Highway horn is a very high-pitch sound that is very effective at high speeds (highly recommended for Europe) and, as said by one member before, to scare animals fron the road.

The "City horn" sound is provided by a high and low tone electric horns (2) which are very similar to the standard issue sound on all M.B. cars. The "Highway sound" is provided by a pair of big "air horns", similar to the ones used by trucks.

The driver could switch between the desired two type sounds by a control on the main panel (at the center, above the a/c controls) Usually, if a car was heavely equipped with extras, and the upper row of switches was full, M.B. would move the swicht down to the center console near the gearshift lever. In some W140s the switch was located between the power windows cluster.

The horns were usually supplied by Bosch. Although Hella also provided the extra for some models. In the case of a wreck, as it happens with the headlight assembly, it is more expensive to replace the Hella's the the Bosch's, although they provide the same function.

The extra could be post-factory fitted by any authorized M.B. dealer, of course at a much higher premium. M.B. even provides an specific kit with all the horns and the center console switch to be installed. I don't think the U.S. dealers handle this kit by the way.

I hope this information was useful.

A. Rosich
E320T 1995
S320 1998

[This message has been edited by A. Rosich (edited 08-15-2000).]

[This message has been edited by A. Rosich (edited 08-15-2000).]

here is a picture from one in a 560SEL

boy this is one old thread

when i first started reading this post i thought you guys were having good ol' time with benzman.imagine my surprise when it turns out to be real!and my wife thinks i waste too much time on this forum

Here is the Two-Tone Horn switch installed in a variety of central consoles:

I always thought that when you went over a certain speed, the horns would switch off from city to highway automatically. I could be totally wrong -- Mike

My 1994 Euro C180 has this nasty sounding horn which is like a buzzer more than a horn. It is just not loud enough and if I find it too soft sounding, who will hear it in an emergency when I am trying to attract their attention? Can I just change this to a louder after market horn? Or do I have to take a OEM and rewire it? This horn has only 1 tone. Wish I could put in a dual tone switchable horn as I do go onto the country roads occassionally and do want to be heard although the kangaroos here probably don't bother about horns even with big ears, they just hop across your path regardless.

Can't see any reason you couldn't fit a louder aftermarket one. If it blows the fuse, you may have problems though.

N.B. If it makes you feel better, 190Es have a really loud, aggressive horn :p :D

later!

Russ

I am pretty sure this is what Mercedes refers to as the "Fanfair" horn. Ring a bell with anyone, as far as what's mentioned in the owners manual?
I also recall seeing some Mercedes bulletins (pretty old ones, probably as old as some of the members here, like early 80's or possibly late 70's) where New York City had enacted some ordinances concerning how many decibels car horns could have. Possibly some Mercedes had horns that were louder than what was allowed and had to be changed. OR it may have something to do with the Fanfair horns?

Gilly

My old '66 Maserati Quattroporte and my '64 Fiat 2300 Familiare (wagon) were both set up from the factories so that if you pushed the regular horn ring or buttons, the FIAMM air horns let out a mighty blast, but if you pushed in on the end of the turn signal stalk, there came forth a mild "beep, beep" very similar to the Plymouth Road Runners of the late '60s.

My Dad has a 71 280 SE coupe with the "dual" horns. Not a toggle switch but just to the right of the steering column a push-pull knob...switches from those Hella-type horns to the bell horns (chromed as well).

Funny this thread appears. I just purchased the daul horn setup from a BMW 7 series. This will hopefully solve the anemic sound that my 380sl produces.

BTW, they're FIAMs which may be available at JC Whitney for cheap. I'll have to compare the frequencies off the units.