SRowell's Saab 9-3 Aero 2.8 V6 Turbo

[Eeyore]

Update! I was worried that the coil packs were playing up as I was getting an engine management light. I went and met Tom who met me half way to his in order to read the code. Very grateful for coming out mate.

Overboost. Apparently you can have too much boost... Quick bit of research and brought up that this is usually solved by the boost control solenoid/valve being replaced. Niall and Grant and co looked over the engine at Ace and couldnt find any leaking vacuum hoses. Just a noisy injector.

I ordered a new BCV and went for the cheapest on ebay. £17 not £26 and it arrived and it was a genuine GM item in a sealed and holographed box. Took 5 minutes to swap it over and its back to full performance! Worry over!



Next thing to do will be to put some reflective tape over the water reservoir as these love to crack as they are located above the turbo. Also need to get a tow bar fitted! Looking to get the detachable swan neck type so I can remove it and look good.

I also found when I went to cancel the 1.8 insurance that I had 5 years NCB not 4. So ive updated that in my policy. Changed it for free and Ive got a £42 refund coming my way which means insurance is £550 fully copy for the year. Epic!

[procta]

did you have two car policies?

[Grant]

Glad that solenoid got it sorted mate. You can sleep again at night now! haha

[Eeyore]

did you have two car policies?

yep. Sorted now. I followed all the questions correctly when i took out the saab insurance so shouldnt be any issues. They have overlapped by 3 weeks. Flux wanted £1300 to insure the saab so I took out a new policy with hastings direct.

Glad that solenoid got it sorted mate. You can sleep again at night now! haha

Yes! So relieved!

[procta]

can you not have kept a policy on the second car? just to keep the no claims going? That's what I have done with the rover, even though its been off the road best part of the insurance year.

[Eeyore]

I only renewed it in december.

[7057sam]

Good to see it's sorted

Hopefully get some hassle free miles out of it.

[Eeyore]

Update! This arrived in the post this morning. Only ordered it 20 hours ago!



The problem with the saab is that all the audio is coded to the car and its all GM fibreoptic magic which essentially means its impossible to replace the head unit etc. What this pack has is a bluetooth adapter which then plugs into the aux. It got a cigarrette lighter adapter to power it including USB output as part of that.





The bluetooth adapter is also a button. I havent stuck this on yet as I need to remove the CD player to fix one of the gears inside. Single press to play/pause music and double press to skip chat. Press it to answer calls as well. Took an hour or so to take apart all of the saab plastics as there is so much and there is so much hiding under there. Works perfectly. Just need to look into a ground loop isolator now to stop the humming.

[7057sam]

Looks cool

Will this be the first mod of many

[Eeyore]

Looks cool

Will this be the first mod of many

Its the first improvement... money is going on many things. All this needs to be is reliable... once the 306 is sorted then maybe this will get a remap...

[adam b]

I can recommend noobtune mapping - our 9-5 aero is a bit mental now. Doesn't feel a big car at all, certainly better in most respects than my v70 p2 T5.

Only annoyance is you can't turn off the esp completely which you could in the T5. Much quicker without I suspect.

[swampy]

Same leather seats as my 9-3 ttid

As said they are very comfy

Keep looking at temaos but not sure it needs it.

Mines an 08 plate and set me back 6k but had just had the belts and pump done

[kingy]

cba to read the whole thread but like your choice of car mate. PLUS that v6 roarrr is so addictive. fancy a race then lol.

[Eeyore]

Update. Needed a tow bar for towing the boat about. Had to pick up the boat at 6am. Started fitting the towbar at 3pm and finished at 7.30. Many hours. Easily spent 2.5 hours trying to remove the rear bumper. It is very difficult to find guides for even simple things like removing the rear bumper. Anyway eventually I got that off and the rest was a doddle but not after cutting my hand open. Classic slipping with a screwdriver and catching my hand on the sharp boot edge.





Cutting the bumper was also an issue as the instructions lied and its currently touching the tow bar so Ill have to get the dremel out and cut even more out! Electrics were super easy as I opted to get the plug and play kit.




Anyway its a nice swan neck towbar not the flange type I had on the 306. Its removable with two bolts If I ever want to hide it. Cost me £180 for the full kit instead of the £440 I was quoted to have it fitted at a specialist.

[1616six]

Same GM kit I had for my Vectra, so easy to install!

I opted to pay £40 to have the BM ones done at a specialist, fitted the bar myself.

What a pain having to remove the rear bumper though!

Good job though

[procta]

What are the bits like for this then srowell? As I don't think there is a Saab dealer anymore, as such with these.

[1616six]

What are the bits like for this then srowell? As I don't think there is a Saab dealer anymore, as such with these.

It's a vectra estate underneath so parts are easily available for them.

[procta]

What are the bits like for this then srowell? As I don't think there is a Saab dealer anymore, as such with these.

It's a vectra estate underneath so parts are easily available for them.

I thought that some of the saab stuff was odd ball? compared to the vauxhall as Clarkson had said top gear.  

[Niall]

Yeah Saab parts still exist. Saab still exist to sell most Saab parts but the more people think they arent available the better because the cheaper the cars!

[bashbarnard]

Also Sam if you want anything i know the guy that runs Suffolk Saab. He can get hold of most stuff.

[td_dan]

Bagnall saab in birmingham are good if you ever need anything

[procta]

has the market dropped for these then? as i remember these were fetching good money, in car auctions.

[Eeyore]

Well... i paid £3100 for a 2.8 V6 turbo in aero spec in very good condition... So.... yeh a lot of car for the money!

[welshpug]

I could buy an 02 9-3 Aero on 101k for £450 if I really wanted, not sure I do though

[Grant]

Well... i paid £3100 for a 2.8 V6 turbo in aero spec in very good condition... So.... yeh a lot of car for the money!

I could buy an 02 9-3 Aero on 101k for £450 if I really wanted, not sure I do though

Having been in Sam's car a few times, it's a hell of a lot of car for the money.

Its a good example too, in good condition in and out.


Yes you could buy a 13 year old 9-3 aero for £450, but it would be as rough as a dogs arse wearing sandpaper knickers. Trust me. I've looked myself

At the cars, not dogs wearing knickers. Just to clarify.

[ozonehostile]

Glad to see I wasn't the only person on the forum suffering dodgy boost electrovalves haha

[welshpug]

this one isn't quite that bad...

nearly but not quite

[Toms306]

Agreed with Grant here, really is a hell of a lot of car for the money!

[PUGNUT_XS]

Very nice car

Wonder if that V6 turbo would go in a 306 LOL

[Eeyore]

Well not much has happened as this is just a reliable daily. Just need to keep it ticking over. I have had a bit of fun in it and its a good feeling to know that you have more power than the majority of things on the road. Super easy to drive and isnt too bad when youre feeling spirited. Its done 119k as of yesterday. Its got a bit of a thud when you move off and the steering often feels slightly disconnected and/or notchy. Im putting this down to engine mounts and suspension top mounts. Will be keeping an eye on those but first priority is servicing it.

Bought all the stuff to service this and its slowly turning up.

Front Pads - £25.34
Rear Pads - £25.31
Air Filter - £9.07
Oil Filter - £15.06
Cabin Filter - £5.52
Fuel Filter - £7.68
Shell Helix Ultra 5W30 5L - £35.99 x2
NGK Iridium LFR8AIX Spark Plugs x6 - £45

Still waiting for the Spark Plugs to arrive from America as they were £15 more expensive in the UK and thats including postage and customs duty! These spark plugs are a grade cooler than usual and are gapped correctly for the Stage 1A remap which Ill hopefully get in a few months. Cant do the oil change yet as I havent got the sump plug washers yet. Checked the brake pads but turns out there is plenty left on there so no need to change.

Air Filter Swapped:


Cabin Filter Swapped: