Bing Bong a Dong!

Discussion in 'How To' started by snotty, Feb 24, 2021.

  1. No, not the Yugoslavian entry in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. It's the sound we want from our Bay lights on warning, if fitted (or added if not).

    The stock US-style electromechanical buzzer sounds awful, and warning "relays" fitted to earlier Golfs and like (which are still around on eBay) just sound like a badly-programmed Sinclair ZX81.

    We want a nice, sonorous "Bong!", as on modern VWs. Unfortunately, bonging duties are performed by a tone generator built into the dash, so not an option.

    Enter the BMW Auxiliary Bonging Unit, built into the footwell of various Bimmers from a decade or two ago, to support - I believe - various options like reversing sensors. BMW part number 8360995. There seem to be various versions, but the one with the green base gives you the range of pinging and bonging, to use as you wish. Also seem to sound better. Loads on eBay for a tenner or less.

    All tones apart from T5 are triggered by taking the appropriate contact pin low (to earth). T2's the easiest for triggering from a low-going door switch. It's quite pleasant, and runs continuously. T5's actually mellower, but needs to be triggered by a positive level on the pin, so some transistor-age necessary to flip the door switch signal upside down. If you've got a modern ignition switch with stuff like key-in-switch outputs, with a few trannies an a bit of diode logic, you could have a whole warning symphony going.

    I was lucky enough to get the original connectors with mine, but easy to solder leads on. Needs an unswitched +12 supply, but only consumes about 0.5mA when it's idle. Be warned: these are bigger than you think, as they've actually got a real loudspeaker in, rather than a piezo transducer. Compare with the "relay" in the background.

    a newy bonger front 6s.jpg

    a newy bonger rear 6s.jpg

    Here's a Japanese fellow demonstrating what's available.

     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2021
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  2. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    I threw one of those away about ten years ago. :(
     
  3. You’ll be bong-less!
     
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  4. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Does it talk to you?
     
    PanZer likes this.
  5. Hasn’t said a word so far...
     
  6. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    The first car that talked to me was a surprise. I soon switched that off!
     
    PanZer likes this.
  7. Talking dashes came and went, thankfully.
     
  8. Wife's hippy father had a couple of bongs... oh hang on that might be something different.
     
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  9. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    You threw a BMW away :eek:

    On a plus, I saw one on't M1 yesterday with the optional indicators fitted :D
     
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  10. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    Just a little bit of it; when I fitted the towing kit the ‘bing bong’ was replaced. It was on my 1994 525ix, not many made RHD, I had the saloon version with a manual box. No aircon and not even a radio as standard even though it was SE spec. It did have indicators, just pull the stalk and those four headlights got the plebs out of the BMW lane. Possibly the best family car I’ve had. https://www.carfolio.com/bmw-525ix-24v-170412
     
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  11. Did you manage to get this wired in as a 'Lights On' warning when you turn the ignition off but still have your headlights on? I'd love to know how you wired it into your T2
     
  12. I did, and it works really well. Lights on, door open and keys out, and it makes a pleasing bonging noise.

    I'll do an update, if I can find the scribbles showing how I wired it.
     
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  13. Thanks snotty :thumbsup: looking forward to seeing the scribbles :D
     
  14. Barry Haynes

    Barry Haynes I dance in leopard skin mankini’s

    You haven’t still got them have you ?
    Asking for a friend :rolleyes:
     
  15. Can your ignition switch detect when the key's in the switch?
     
    Betty the Bay likes this.
  16. No I don't think so - ours is 'early' late bay from March 1973
     
  17. EggBoxes

    EggBoxes Supporter

    Ah, prize has to go to Montego vandaplus with voice announcements, ahead of its time - hero to zero
     
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  18. CollyP

    CollyP Moderator

    “Your lights are on; please turn them off before your neighbours realise you bought a Montego”
     
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  19. "In 2,000 miles, every Lucas component in your car will pack up. Have a nice day."
     
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  20. Here you go. As you haven't got a key switch, much easier. Connect bonger as shown. Bit brutal for a bit of electronics that should be powered all the time, then triggered, but it doesn't seem to mind. Connect T2 to -ve or T5 to +ve for alternative bongs. Connections are marked on back of unit. All the tones are -ve triggered, apart from T5.

    a newy3 bonger 1 6s.jpg

    Mine was a bit more convoluted, as I have relay driven by the "key in" switch to power the radio, plus my alarm was getting confused by a current path that made it think the door was always open :rolleyes:

    a newy3 bonger 2 6s.jpg

    <edit> Sorry, meant T5, not T4
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2022

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