(Update) New Air Horn on my X5 - Video and Pictures

[bimmerFanatic]

With all the horn talk on the forum, I decided to install a Wolo Air Horn. I chose the Bad Boy all in one compact horn since I wasn’t sure of the space allowance. It has an air compressor and two horns.

Bumper removal of this 2004 was a PITA because the instructions on the front page point to two 2 screws that don’t exist on mine so I spent quite some time searching for them. Once I decided that the instructions were wrong, it took a lot of pulling before the bumper slid off.

While there was space to fit the Wolo horn on the driver side, I couldn’t find any easy mount points without removing the old horns. Since the passenger side had a good screw hole available, I used a mounting bracket that I found in my garage (didn’t come with the Wolo horn). I spliced power off one of the horns and sent the wires to the passenger side.

So I was able to keep my OEM horns!

The 4 horns are definitely much louder than the original setup. They are by no means a train horn but for $40 and an easy install it was quite worth it.

Here is the .wmv video This link is also below all the pics.

Now don’t even think about cutting me off...

[NINCHS]

creative, and nice work with the mounting bracket. I never really use my horn so it would be a bit worthless for me.

[trueX5er]

wow, cool. I know somebody who installed the horn from his Ferrari Mondial into his GMC Suburban, and put the Surburban's horn in the Ferrari...it was so cool.

[ncx]

Cool. I think they will hear you now!

[2002Silver4.6is]

This is from mounting instructions for PIaa horns. Note number 3:

1. Do not remove or alter the screw or the bracket on the backside of the horns. Doing so may alter their performance or may disable them.
2. Install the horns so the open end with the cover points down.
3. Do not install and wire the PIAA car horns so they work with the factory installed horns. Doing so may overload the circuit or may not pass local noise regulations.

I guess if you start blowing horn fuses you will have to disconnect the stock horns.

[NINCHS]

Originally Posted by 2002Silver4.6is

This is from mounting instructions for PIaa horns. Note number 3:

1. Do not remove or alter the screw or the bracket on the backside of the horns. Doing so may alter their performance or may disable them.
2. Install the horns so the open end with the cover points down.
3. Do not install and wire the PIAA car horns so they work with the factory installed horns. Doing so may overload the circuit or may not pass local noise regulations.

I guess if you start blowing horn fuses you will have to disconnect the stock horns.

Ouch taking that bumper off again?? PITA if you ask me

[supersteve]

You could have just gone through the wheel well. Much easier to pull the wheel well liner back to get to the horns than the entire bumper.

[///Manuel]

"it took a lot of pulling before the bumper slid off."
I was in the same exact boat.

[bimmerFanatic]

You could have just gone through the wheel well.

Thanks Supersteve! If I would have known that, I would have definitely gone that route.

In hind sight, I don't regret taking the bumper off as it allowed me to find the mount point on the other side and send the wires through the bumper.

[bimmerFanatic]

Do not install and wire the PIAA car horns so they work with the factory installed horns. Doing so may overload the circuit

I'm banking on the X5 electrical system to be more robust than the average car. I'll update if I fry something,