Saab 9-3 1.9TTiD Aero
Discussion
So Saturday saw me pick up my new car that will replace the A6 when it finally goes back to LEX Autolease in July. Car ownership scheme at work is now frankly complete s
te now so I opted out and took the money 
I didnt really bother with any before pics wanted to get cracking on making Des (thats what the wife decided is his name!) like new again.
First step was to do all the door shuts and engine bay so douced them all with a strong mix of AG Powemax 3 and cranked the hot washer up to silly temps and turned down the pressure so its was pretty much super hot steam coming out....which removed all the skanky white grease round the hinges etc.
Next step was to cover it with Fall-Off...really cant say how bloody good this product is....i was shocked actually at the amount of contamination on the body work....within minutes of spraying it on the car was bleeding all over!
Let this work for 15mins then washed it all off then proceeded to foam the car all over with a strong mix of AG Clean All through the foam lance....let this dwell for further 15 mins then washed it off. The finally washed it with my Dooka Wash mitt and a strong bucked of CG Citrus Wash Clear to remove all traces of any wax etc. Moved on to claying after this and used my CarChem purple aggressive clay an the clay lube. TBH I always use the aggressive one as its a no messing way of 100% removing all the surface contaminates and you are going to be correcting the car after so its a no brainer.
Waxtec Fall Off in action
Here are some pictures after decontamination, clay and strip wash etc
Wheeled the beast into the workshop and started the correction process which was to take most of the day....did a full 2 stage correction with Scholl S3 Gold on their blue heavy cut pad followed up by S30 on the Black waffle finishing pad...pretty much 100% correction achieved too couple of really deep chips/scratches that just couldn't be removed. Really REALLY love the Scholl polishes....what you would need 3 products and 4 pads to finish a car you can use 2 polishes and pads and get a near on perfect finish....I used to use 3M pads with it and was impressed but when you use the Scholl pads and polishes together wowsers!
Water from cleaning interior used AG Clean all then dressed with the Code Clean Matt interior dressing
So after the correction process i was desperate to get the LSP added (last night), Now i have been doing some personal research into a lot of these new coatings on the market and as most of you know I really am not a fan....I dont like the chemicals the use....and some of them leave me cold thinking of the health implications, so after hours of research I found a coating product that is water based and pretty much non-toxic (although I still wore gloves to apply it). It comes in 3 parts and step one is a base layer then step 2 is a top coat and it can be left there but there is a final coat that can be applied, this one is alcohol based but still pretty much non hazardous. None of the products have any noxious smells either. They need a clear 18h to cure off ideally in the warm or at minimum in the dry.
Cleaned and applied the same to the wheels one by one so coated the wheel barrels and faces twice.
Very impressed with the final finish and will be keeping an eye on the durability....mind you the cost of the products are a fraction of that of some of the others on the market currently....even when you factor in shipping and dutys!!!
I wont be sharing the name either....not just yet anyhow
And here are the finished photos!!
Enjoy
Des all finished and ready to go home
te now so I opted out and took the money I didnt really bother with any before pics wanted to get cracking on making Des (thats what the wife decided is his name!) like new again.
First step was to do all the door shuts and engine bay so douced them all with a strong mix of AG Powemax 3 and cranked the hot washer up to silly temps and turned down the pressure so its was pretty much super hot steam coming out....which removed all the skanky white grease round the hinges etc.
Next step was to cover it with Fall-Off...really cant say how bloody good this product is....i was shocked actually at the amount of contamination on the body work....within minutes of spraying it on the car was bleeding all over!
Let this work for 15mins then washed it all off then proceeded to foam the car all over with a strong mix of AG Clean All through the foam lance....let this dwell for further 15 mins then washed it off. The finally washed it with my Dooka Wash mitt and a strong bucked of CG Citrus Wash Clear to remove all traces of any wax etc. Moved on to claying after this and used my CarChem purple aggressive clay an the clay lube. TBH I always use the aggressive one as its a no messing way of 100% removing all the surface contaminates and you are going to be correcting the car after so its a no brainer.
Waxtec Fall Off in action
Here are some pictures after decontamination, clay and strip wash etc
Wheeled the beast into the workshop and started the correction process which was to take most of the day....did a full 2 stage correction with Scholl S3 Gold on their blue heavy cut pad followed up by S30 on the Black waffle finishing pad...pretty much 100% correction achieved too couple of really deep chips/scratches that just couldn't be removed. Really REALLY love the Scholl polishes....what you would need 3 products and 4 pads to finish a car you can use 2 polishes and pads and get a near on perfect finish....I used to use 3M pads with it and was impressed but when you use the Scholl pads and polishes together wowsers!
Water from cleaning interior used AG Clean all then dressed with the Code Clean Matt interior dressing
So after the correction process i was desperate to get the LSP added (last night), Now i have been doing some personal research into a lot of these new coatings on the market and as most of you know I really am not a fan....I dont like the chemicals the use....and some of them leave me cold thinking of the health implications, so after hours of research I found a coating product that is water based and pretty much non-toxic (although I still wore gloves to apply it). It comes in 3 parts and step one is a base layer then step 2 is a top coat and it can be left there but there is a final coat that can be applied, this one is alcohol based but still pretty much non hazardous. None of the products have any noxious smells either. They need a clear 18h to cure off ideally in the warm or at minimum in the dry.
Cleaned and applied the same to the wheels one by one so coated the wheel barrels and faces twice.
Very impressed with the final finish and will be keeping an eye on the durability....mind you the cost of the products are a fraction of that of some of the others on the market currently....even when you factor in shipping and dutys!!!
I wont be sharing the name either....not just yet anyhow
And here are the finished photos!!
Enjoy
Des all finished and ready to go home
Very nice, looks great on those wheels!
I'd be interested in the mpg figures as well. I've got a 56 reg 93 estate with the 1.9 150bhp engine, it's also an auto and over 18,000 miles it's only averaged 40mpg which I think is a bit crap, have often wondered what adding an extra turbo would do to the economy.
Considering I bought mine as a cheap bit of motoring whilst we bought a bigger house I've got strangely attached to it...
I'd be interested in the mpg figures as well. I've got a 56 reg 93 estate with the 1.9 150bhp engine, it's also an auto and over 18,000 miles it's only averaged 40mpg which I think is a bit crap, have often wondered what adding an extra turbo would do to the economy.
Considering I bought mine as a cheap bit of motoring whilst we bought a bigger house I've got strangely attached to it...
Edited by Maty on Sunday 1st June 21:45
Good effort!
Top tip: Mind your thumb in the handbrake. You will catch it in the holder several times!
(From a previous owner of a Cadillac BLS, very much the same car with different panels/badges!)
And how'd you do the engine bay? A pressure washer/steam mix on the engine doesn't sound too wise but you seem to know what you're doing... have I misunderstood that one?
Top tip: Mind your thumb in the handbrake. You will catch it in the holder several times!
(From a previous owner of a Cadillac BLS, very much the same car with different panels/badges!)
And how'd you do the engine bay? A pressure washer/steam mix on the engine doesn't sound too wise but you seem to know what you're doing... have I misunderstood that one?
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Sunday 1st June 23:01
blearyeyedboy said:
Good effort!
Top tip: Mind your thumb in the handbrake. You will catch it in the holder several times!
(From a previous owner of a Cadillac BLS, very much the same car with different panels/badges!)
And how'd you do the engine bay? A pressure washer/steam mix on the engine doesn't sound too wise but you seem to know what you're doing... have I misunderstood that one?
Yep the BLS came off the same line in the Saab factroy Top tip: Mind your thumb in the handbrake. You will catch it in the holder several times!
(From a previous owner of a Cadillac BLS, very much the same car with different panels/badges!)
And how'd you do the engine bay? A pressure washer/steam mix on the engine doesn't sound too wise but you seem to know what you're doing... have I misunderstood that one?
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Sunday 1st June 23:01
I did the engine bay with a hot pressure washer with the pressure turned down. Its alwasy got an element of risk but you just have to be careful and not go too mental close to sensors/ecu's etc.
Not something I would suggest people do unless they have experience could get messy and expensive otherwise
Maty said:
Very nice, looks great on those wheels!
I'd be interested in the mpg figures as well. I've got a 56 reg 93 estate with the 1.9 150bhp engine, it's also an auto and over 18,000 miles it's only averaged 40mpg which I think is a bit crap, have often wondered what adding an extra turbo would do to the economy.
Considering I bought mine as a cheap bit of motoring whilst we bought a bigger house I've got strangely attached to it...
Well if the onboard computer is anything to go by the indicated average MPG on this mornings trip to work (43 odd miles) cruise set at 65mph when possible was a mamouth 62.1mpg.....will know the real figure when I empty the tank and have to refil. So far not looking bad when you consider its twin turbo, 180bhp and auto in comparison to my Eco-fluffy A6 2.0TDIe which would struggle to do 50mpg on the same run!I'd be interested in the mpg figures as well. I've got a 56 reg 93 estate with the 1.9 150bhp engine, it's also an auto and over 18,000 miles it's only averaged 40mpg which I think is a bit crap, have often wondered what adding an extra turbo would do to the economy.
Considering I bought mine as a cheap bit of motoring whilst we bought a bigger house I've got strangely attached to it...
Edited by Maty on Sunday 1st June 21:45
nick_mcuk said:
Yep the BLS came off the same line in the Saab factroy
I did the engine bay with a hot pressure washer with the pressure turned down. Its alwasy got an element of risk but you just have to be careful and not go too mental close to sensors/ecu's etc.
Not something I would suggest people do unless they have experience could get messy and expensive otherwise
Ta muchly! I did the engine bay with a hot pressure washer with the pressure turned down. Its alwasy got an element of risk but you just have to be careful and not go too mental close to sensors/ecu's etc.
Not something I would suggest people do unless they have experience could get messy and expensive otherwise
I got on pretty well with my BLS but I found Saab were unwilling to supply parts for a few months. A Cadillac dealer was stripping down a demonstrator car to supply spares for several customers, including mine- otherwise I'd still have it but I think it was too much of a pain in the backside trying to fix small faults. There's sufficient support now for 9-3's that I don't think you'll have that problem.I'm thinking of giving the engine bay in my Octavia a refresh but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try steaming it. I might try a degreaser by hand on the engine cover and leave it at that. You've done a great job on yours!
blearyeyedboy said:
Ta muchly! I got on pretty well with my BLS but I found Saab were unwilling to supply parts for a few months. A Cadillac dealer was stripping down a demonstrator car to supply spares for several customers, including mine- otherwise I'd still have it but I think it was too much of a pain in the backside trying to fix small faults. There's sufficient support now for 9-3's that I don't think you'll have that problem.
I'm thinking of giving the engine bay in my Octavia a refresh but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try steaming it. I might try a degreaser by hand on the engine cover and leave it at that. You've done a great job on yours!
Ian Allen Saab are an authorised Caddy dealer as well....the seem to be able to get pretty much anything....since most of the 9-3 used GM parts...just better manufactured than the Vauxhall Vectra like lower arms on the suspension etc Managed to inspect this in the flesh as i awaited recovery of the wifes one when I got taken out last September by one of our lover eastern European truck drivers. I got on pretty well with my BLS but I found Saab were unwilling to supply parts for a few months. A Cadillac dealer was stripping down a demonstrator car to supply spares for several customers, including mine- otherwise I'd still have it but I think it was too much of a pain in the backside trying to fix small faults. There's sufficient support now for 9-3's that I don't think you'll have that problem.I'm thinking of giving the engine bay in my Octavia a refresh but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try steaming it. I might try a degreaser by hand on the engine cover and leave it at that. You've done a great job on yours!
^ It's true now- parts supplies are fine. At the time of GM/Saab's divorce though, it was rubbish.
Still, my BLS got sold off about 4 years back. The Octavia's more fun around B Roads and on balance I prefer it, but I do miss the Saabillac's ability to swallow 800 miles in a day and still leaving me feeling fresh and comfortable.
Still, my BLS got sold off about 4 years back. The Octavia's more fun around B Roads and on balance I prefer it, but I do miss the Saabillac's ability to swallow 800 miles in a day and still leaving me feeling fresh and comfortable.
blearyeyedboy said:
^ It's true now- parts supplies are fine. At the time of GM/Saab's divorce though, it was rubbish.
Still, my BLS got sold off about 4 years back. The Octavia's more fun around B Roads and on balance I prefer it, but I do miss the Saabillac's ability to swallow 800 miles in a day and still leaving me feeling fresh and comfortable.
I had a 9-3 for two years and you are right, they do eat up the miles really well. The cruise control is pretty good too. It was certainly smoother than the system on my Civic Type R which is what I bought after the Saab.Still, my BLS got sold off about 4 years back. The Octavia's more fun around B Roads and on balance I prefer it, but I do miss the Saabillac's ability to swallow 800 miles in a day and still leaving me feeling fresh and comfortable.
I still think that shape is one of the best looking saloons of its era.
Barchettaman said:
Top work Nick, as always.
That shape has aged really, really well, and the wheels set it off superbly.
Cheers
Barchettaman
Thanks Dude....you know me cant stand a dirty car!! That shape has aged really, really well, and the wheels set it off superbly.
Cheers
Barchettaman
I really love the wheels now....was a bit on the fence at the start but they really make the car look angry
It drives better than my A6 and is tonnes quieter to...says alot for Audi build quality now eh!?
woody2846 said:
Looks very nice! Just shows how crap my cleaner is though!
The wheels do make the car! Now for a Hirsch upgrade eh!
He does an ok job....just no detailer.The wheels do make the car! Now for a Hirsch upgrade eh!
Needs some better products too....AutoSmart are so dated get using AutoGlym :P
If you ever need a car properly detailed you know where to call
Thanks once again for sorting me out a cracking deal love the car....and yes Hirsch upgrae is needed you just need to get me a stonking price!!
So a couple of you were asking about MPG on the TTID....well I filled it up this evening had 30 miles left on the D.T.E. trip.
I was doing really well driving it fairly steady that was until last night when I was forced to take the back roads home from work cos the M25 was FUBAR due to an accident....it all started off so well then it went down hill fast! Sports mode on and manual mode on the gearbox selected (using the buttons on the steering wheel to change) and the wheels got driven off it.
So the average MPG on this tank was 42.somethingMPG took 55 odd litres to fill and did 520 miles.
I just cant resist the urge to go loonie with the twin turbos....jesus its quick down the lanes
I was doing really well driving it fairly steady that was until last night when I was forced to take the back roads home from work cos the M25 was FUBAR due to an accident....it all started off so well then it went down hill fast! Sports mode on and manual mode on the gearbox selected (using the buttons on the steering wheel to change) and the wheels got driven off it.
So the average MPG on this tank was 42.somethingMPG took 55 odd litres to fill and did 520 miles.
I just cant resist the urge to go loonie with the twin turbos....jesus its quick down the lanes
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