SAAB and oil changes.

[happybiker]

I've just enquired about a used 9-3 aero which has a Hirsch upgrade from new. (230 bhp) The seller says it's only had 3 services since October 06: pdi, 27k, 47k, and 60k.

I think the schedule is more like annual or 12k, should I stay clear? Is the turbo/engine at risk because of the lack if fresh oil? It seems nice otherwise...

[HustleRussell]

If it was my car, I would've serviced it twice as frequently. Steer clear IMO.

[themanwithnoname]

Avoid like the plague, the B207/8 engines need regular servicing.

I used to do 3-5000 mile services on my old B207 engined 9-3 depending on the type of driving I was doing.

[E30M3SE]

IIRC intervals are 2years or 18K miles on those, or whichever occurs first on those but that looks to be over anyway.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Jesus Christ, why do people spend 30k on a car and then baulk at the cost of 5L of oil!?

Mobil 1 every 6000 miles.

NCoT (185000 mile 900 turbo on original turbo with 6k miles Mobil 1 changes)

[paul1087]

these need fully synth. approx every 6k regardless of manufacturers recommend intervals.

There are plenty of good cheap saabs about! Don't buy something which hasn't been serviced!

[Prof Beard]

Regardless of official intervals, I always have a "minor service" annually "whether it needs it or not" - cars like fresh oil.

[Disco You]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Jesus Christ, why do people spend 30k on a car and then baulk at the cost of 5L of oil!?

Mobil 1 every 6000 miles.

NCoT (185000 mile 900 turbo on original turbo with 6k miles Mobil 1 changes)

What's the cost of double(+) the amount of oil changes compared to a new turbo?

[NiceCupOfTea]

It will become academic when you have to take a huge hit at trade-in time because it's got no service history!

[Disco You]

Depends on whether you changed it yourself or not I guess. If you did it yourself and so don't have all the precious stamps then I doubt it'd be worth much more.

And anyway, the general car buying populous doesn't service their cars, so why would they care if it isn't serviced as it should be. They'd probably just see FSH in the advert and ask no more!

[confused_buyer]

IIRC the 93 has a service reminder / countdown thing on the trip computer. The intervals average out about 20k on most examples.

They could probably do with them more often but that's the manufacturer spec.

The service interal for the Vectra which uses a very similar engine is 20k/2 years.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Well just get it serviced to the intervals then! Nobody's going to be upset to see you've done extra oil changes yourself!

[confused_buyer]

Disco You said:

What's the cost of double(+) the amount of oil changes compared to a new turbo?

The cost of a new turbo is nothing to most of the owners as it will only be the third or fourth when it has 100k on the clock who will be benefiting from extra servicing.

[CurvaParabolica]

I have a 9-3 with the same mod and it needs oil top ups every few months with a complete change once a year.

[happybiker]

I know, it's amazing how people neglect their cars, and it's the guy who pushes it to higher mileage that will take the hit. How hard it's it to do an oil change? I think I'll avoid this, pity as it looks nice otherwise...

[confused_buyer]

happybiker said:

I know, it's amazing how people neglect their cars, and it's the guy who pushes it to higher mileage that will take the hit. How hard it's it to do an oil change? I think I'll avoid this, pity as it looks nice otherwise...

Well, to be fair, they're following pretty close to the manufacturer's servicing schedule so not "neglecting" it that much.

You're not going to find many cars which are serviced more than that schedule, particularly when a car is newish and in the main dealer network for servicing.

[happybiker]

Oh that's the other thing, the stamps in the book aren't even from a dealer, they are from a random garage.

[NiceCupOfTea]

If it's a Saab specialist it's probably better than a main dealer, if a random then who knows what oil they've used...