Aftermarket Horn

[celticus]

One more thing , Does removing the charcoal canister void the warranty? I am thinking of taking the bike back in for it's 12000 mile check up.
Mark

[stogiepuffer]

That's whta I was wondering and if you really do need a relay if your are using the Stebel horn by itself, just curious...

[celticus]

I came to the decision that I am putting a relay on need it or not.
Mark

[deilenberger]

One more thing , Does removing the charcoal canister void the warranty? I am thinking of taking the bike back in for it's 12000 mile check up.
Mark

I have no idea. You'd best ask your dealer. In general - unless the warranty claim in question can be directly attributed to some modification you did - no.. doesn't mean that a crappy or unfriendly dealer won't give you grief about it.

[Caol]

I just got my bike out of storage on Thursday (and of course in snowed on Friday! ). While it was in storage I had my favourite tech install a few things here and there, including the Stebel Compact Air Horn.
Now, I'm not sure how he did this as I didn't see any KY Jelly residue and I'm sure there was a skinned knuckle, or two, involved. But he found room at the front of the tank to slide the beast in. Installed with a relay and a power feed from the Centech AP-1 under the seat.

This image is from the left side of the bike, with the wheel turned to the right.


I'll get some more pics once the sun comes back!


By the way, did I mention: This thing is LOUD!

[deilenberger]

Indeed - looks good. No charcoal canister so there is actually plenty of room in front of the shock. He used the same bracket I used to mount my second FIAMM horn. It's one of the brackets used in the US for the charcoal canister.

[mogu83]

That's whta I was wondering and if you really do need a relay if your are using the Stebel horn by itself, just curious...

Did anyone come up with an answer for this? Has someone actually hooked up a Stebel horn without a relay?

[NeilS]

According to the Twisted Throttle website, the Stebel horn draws 18 amps peak. That means it needs a relay--and at least 14 gauge wiring--for best results.

[parkec]

Looking for an update...boy o boy I would a new farkle

I stopped by my dealer Tuesday and inquired about installing "an aftermarket horn" . I was immediately pointed toward the Stebel, then I mentioned CanBus and was immediately referred to service where I was shuffled amongst the "experts". THE true expert fresh from his latest BMW Service School looked engrossed in somebody's bike so I didn't interupt him...

[thepeacebullgrunt]

What in the way to install the horn, auxiliary lights, path blazer, photonblaster, alarm or any kind of add-on can legally allow BMW dealers to break the warranty if no wires has been cut ?


Should we remove by our self most of the electrical accessories before any visit to the BMW mechanic ? 6000miles, 12000miles etc etc...

[NeilS]

In order for a manufacturer to deny warranty coverage due to a user modification, the modification must have something to do with the part or system that failed. For example, if you install auxiliary lights and you tap into the headlight circuit because you want your new lights to come on with the headlight, and then your headlight stops working, BMW could deny warranty coverage. On the other hand, if your clutch starts slipping, you're still covered for that problem.

[deilenberger]

In order for a manufacturer to deny warranty coverage due to a user modification, the modification must have something to do with the part or system that failed. For example, if you install auxiliary lights and you tap into the headlight circuit because you want your new lights to come on with the headlight, and then your headlight stops working, BMW could deny warranty coverage. On the other hand, if your clutch starts slipping, you're still covered for that problem.

Almost correct. The manufacturer can DENY coverage for anything they want - then it's up to you to hire an attorney and take them to court in an attempt to make them cover the warranty under Magnuson-Moss.

As someone said somewhere - standing in the service department yelling "Manguson-Moss, Magnuson-Moss" and waving a printed out copy from the web really won't get you much more than guffaws from the service personal. BMW can, and has denied coverage for owner modifications (especially in the car side - M3's in particular since kids like to "mod" them in ways that effect reliability) - and sometimes the owner wins, lots of times, it's not worth the cost of pursuing it.

Your best bet is to keep a great relationship with your dealer's service department. A 6 pack of German beer at Christmas is a good way to start..

[TT RDHS]

...and sometimes the owner wins, lots of times, it's not worth the cost of pursuing it.

Your best bet is to keep a great relationship with your dealer's service department. A 6 pack of German beer at Christmas is a good way to start..

Sound advise...

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Yes ! Thanks for your answers...

Or another solution is to make the whole add-on installation easy and fast enough to remove then re-install. That way at any major BMW servicing the bike will appear "untouched"

I should confess that beside the economic and time consuming dimension of this solution I still prefer the Beer-Sausages-Pretzels diplomatic option.

I am concerned by this issue because prior to order all my accessories I had the plan to buy an extended warranty during the first year of ownership. And I do not want to take any type of risk trough my BMW mechanic reports that could compromise my eligibility for an extended warranty.

[NeilS]

Don,

You and I have come down on opposite sides of this issue in the past, so I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about this.

It does amuse me, however, that you think you have to bribe a dealer's service department in order to get them to act reasonably and do their jobs. Do you do this with all the businesses you patronize, or do you feel a need to be especially submissive when it comes to The Master Race?

I certainly don't advocate standing in the service bay and waving Magnuson-Moss. But I believe a customer--any customer, whether he brings a six-pack or not--deserves to be treated with fairness and respect. Laws like M-M were enacted because some companies lost sight of that and needed an official reminder.

I deliberately chose an example in my post that was not a gray area, but clearly illustrated a situation where coverage could/should not be denied. If I were ever in a situation like my headlight/clutch scenario, I'd actually enjoy pursuing a lawsuit. Mmmm, treble damages!

With apologies to the owner of the thread I'm stealing...

[deilenberger]

Don,

You and I have come down on opposite sides of this issue in the past, so I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about this.

I does amuse me, however, that you think you have to bribe a dealer's service department in order to get them to act reasonably and do their jobs. Do you do this with all the business you patronize, or do you feel a need to be especially submissive when it comes to The Master Race?

Neil - I find this reference (Master Race) offensive. Really offensive.

I don't think I want to continue to agree or disagree with you in any manner or way. Consider any conversations I might have with you done and over with. I'm glad you're amused - I'm not at all.

[celticus]

The term "The Master Race" has even been used in comedy. In the play meant to fail "Springtime For Hitler" in Mel Brook's "The Producers". The play "Springtime For Hitler" contained a song by the same name. Dancing Nazis and large German women with pretzel and beer foam pasties. Very funny since 1968. So absurd it is hilarious. You can find it on You Tube.
Mel Brooks was a genius.

Mark

[mogu83]

Don,
I've been checking on my list of people allowed to take offense and I'm sorry to inform you that you don't qualify. There is no listing for people that trace their ancestry to a non Spanish speaking, Caucasian, Christian (Lutheran North/Catholic South) country. Also living in New Jersey negates your right to take offense to anything said about you.
My grandmother (One of the Master Race) went to her grave with the firm (Teutonic) conviction that Hitler really wasn't such a bad person.

As I've posted before, everyone has the right to post their opinion on the internet, I agree with most of both yours and Neils views of the warranty issue. I'm sure many on the list find both views interesting and informative. That fact that someone takes issue with a persons post just shows that people are reading the post, and that's why we post in the first place --- isn't it. As far as THE MASTER RACE --- your kidding - right?

Are you going to the Polar Bear?

_________________________________________

[red baron]

In my case I went the save yet more expensive route and my dealer installed horns of the LT, which are a lot better than the stock version.
Peter

[celticus]

HMMM, Back to horns like the header says huh?
What did the LT horns run you approximatly?
Did they install a relay?
I showed off my dual horns for a young lady at The Winter Rally this year and "It sounds like Armageddon" was her comment.

Mark