JZW Stage 5 Saab 9-3 v6 Aero
Discussion
Full fat stage 5 map & 3 bar sensor back on. I forgot how bonkers this thing was 
Quaife had a good work out earlier 
Still has a touch of throttle cut but not as bad, new coils have made a nice difference. Pulls really hard now. Nice to have the extra oomph back higher up.
I think I'll still go for the fuel pump though so I know it's done & running right.
Quaife had a good work out earlier Still has a touch of throttle cut but not as bad, new coils have made a nice difference. Pulls really hard now. Nice to have the extra oomph back higher up.I think I'll still go for the fuel pump though so I know it's done & running right.
Was hoping (praying as I've got a spare upstairs!) it was just the turbo grenading itself out the exhaust, but the amount of oil it's lost I think it's thrown a rod. Must have ran lean, few quick misfires & detonated 
Felt like rocks were getting thrown through the exhaust.
I'll have a better idea tomorrow but it's not looking good
Felt like rocks were getting thrown through the exhaust.
I'll have a better idea tomorrow but it's not looking good
HybridAero said:
Sorry to hear Dai, is it worth/possible upgrading the rods and pistons next time if it is the rod?
Yeah feeling pretty depressed here! Nah I won't bother mate, it needed a few quid spent on it before this happened like a new fuel pump - £500 dash gauge cluster & reprogram £250-350 and a respray £2k+ easily a few thousand but the plan was to keep it a long time so didn't mind doing these jobs over time. f
king gutted!!! I'll get an endoscope and take a look when the plugs are out and a better look around the engine as it's so tight there to see anything.
99% sure it's thrown a rod though. I'll send the pics to the garage then so they'll have a better idea and see if it's worth getting it transported to them. If it's fubard I'll strip as much as I can over the next couple months and get it to them over summer to get the box & clutch off (Quaife!)
I've been fancying a nice Vectra VXR for ages anyway! Most of the upgrade bits will fit, either that or go for a 08/09 v6 aero wagon next year and swap everything over.
It's got around 700 quids worth in bushes on there alone so I've got to try & get these off
Mikeeb said:
Why not just pick up another engine for it?
It's an option, the Vectra vxr shares the same engine, seen a few used ones from £500ish but I've done this before with a previous car and the 2nd engine was also shagged and we didn't know until it was all in and fired up. Not sure how much labours involved with fitting a new motor in these though? A new Saab b284 is around £4.5k so that's out!
TheAngryDog said:
bugger Thats a massive shame
If you bought a VXR, I assume you wouldn't tune it the same, as you'd run the same risk of it putting a leg out of bed?
Yep massive shame. I'm gutted!!! Thats a massive shame If you bought a VXR, I assume you wouldn't tune it the same, as you'd run the same risk of it putting a leg out of bed?
I'd still go for the 20T but use a different mapper, probably Rabbid.
JZW hammers the torque on these plus it's never been right since day one if I'm honest, I think the 20T JZW tune is around 440bhp & 540ft/lbs. Tbh it was quick enough at stage 1 with 320/420 odd. It's just the 15t runs out of puff early.
All I can really remove myself for the VXR is the 3" Downpipe & Midpipe, 550 injectors & intercooler. Will have to go to the garage to get the other bits off like the box/clutch & bushes. Transmission upgrades came in close to £3k alone with all the smaller bits plus what labour costed, so want to keep these. I think the bushes came in around £1,200 with the labour
Easiest option is to get the bits off and transfer the lot to another 9-3 Aero but won't be for a while yet. Can pick the older v6 for £3k now and a nice facelift for £5k....but I'm skint at the moment so stuck!
Andy665 said:
Without wishing to be appear as a vulture if you decide to break it I will take the Maptun strut brace from you as I have just acquired a v6 with a Stage 1 map
Oooof straight in for the kill!! 
Sure I'll let you know if I sell mate. It doesn't do a hell of a lot on its own though, just cuts down in a few creaks from the dash. Much better to get the car in for a decent wheel alignment imo
if it was me i would get a banger and park the saab up and give it some time, don't be too hasty give it a few weeks before deciding what to do, even park it up out the way to please the misses. you can rent garages out now they might even let you park it up and work on it when you can.
The Spruce goose said:
if it was me i would get a banger and park the saab up and give it some time, don't be too hasty give it a few weeks before deciding what to do, even park it up out the way to please the misses. you can rent garages out now they might even let you park it up and work on it when you can.
I logged back in to type something similar.Don't be rushed into making a decision about the car.
Ouch. Sorry to hear it's gone pop.
Doesn't help matters, but my VXR was running lean with the JZW Stage3 'FullPower' loaded, but when I raised this with him it was dismissed and wasn't really dealt with and I ended up running the 'Soft' map instead which was showing as healthy on the dyno...
Doesn't help matters, but my VXR was running lean with the JZW Stage3 'FullPower' loaded, but when I raised this with him it was dismissed and wasn't really dealt with and I ended up running the 'Soft' map instead which was showing as healthy on the dyno...
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