2002 Saab 9-5 aero shed.
Discussion
So my first reader's car thread.
Summer comes & goes. The lease ends on my 275 Cup-S. I need another car. After the lease collection guy put the wind up me I decided I needed as little stress as possible in my life!
So how the hell do I end up with a Saab 9-5 with essentially no service history & 7 weeks MOT?
The car was local, petrol, manual & vaguely interesting. Was up for 1200, paid 900
Apparently breather hoses had been sorted & a sump drop had occurred somewhere in the past. Tyres were not your usual ditch finders, but replacements weren't far off the horizon.
Ran it for a few months with no issues before sticking it in for a fresh MOT & oil change. £180 later & we have a new MOT, drop links & a couple of bulbs. Result.
Fast forward a week & the car has new front tyres. Then it begins. Temp gauge plays silly buggers. New thermostat & temp sender ordered along with an engine torque bush. £52 later & they arrive. Local mechanic fits & clears codes & we are away.
Car running fine, mpg has taken a hit though
Car booked in with Mat Smith for a full alignment & advice on what I can do to sort the vague steering.
Air filter on order thanks to ECP, £9.
Things on my to do list; driver's heated seat doesn't work. Wheels could do with a refurb.
Pics to follow.
Summer comes & goes. The lease ends on my 275 Cup-S. I need another car. After the lease collection guy put the wind up me I decided I needed as little stress as possible in my life!
So how the hell do I end up with a Saab 9-5 with essentially no service history & 7 weeks MOT?
The car was local, petrol, manual & vaguely interesting. Was up for 1200, paid 900
Apparently breather hoses had been sorted & a sump drop had occurred somewhere in the past. Tyres were not your usual ditch finders, but replacements weren't far off the horizon.
Ran it for a few months with no issues before sticking it in for a fresh MOT & oil change. £180 later & we have a new MOT, drop links & a couple of bulbs. Result.
Fast forward a week & the car has new front tyres. Then it begins. Temp gauge plays silly buggers. New thermostat & temp sender ordered along with an engine torque bush. £52 later & they arrive. Local mechanic fits & clears codes & we are away.
Car running fine, mpg has taken a hit though
Car booked in with Mat Smith for a full alignment & advice on what I can do to sort the vague steering.
Air filter on order thanks to ECP, £9.
Things on my to do list; driver's heated seat doesn't work. Wheels could do with a refurb.
Pics to follow.
They are very comfortable and capable cars 
Get used to needing front tyres, they can be quite heavy on them.
I would suggest fitting the rears to the front and the new tyres on the rear. Repeat each time.
The heated seat is likely to be a break in the heating element in the base. I believe repair kits /replacements are available, although it may be easier to pick up a seat from a breaker.
Vague steering doesn't have to be a trait. When the droplinks were done, did you use the Meyle HD version? The standard ones tend to not last half as long.
The 9-5 also tends to be quite hard on its bushes, which can often lead to excessive torque steer and vague feeling - check the front and rear wishbone bushes. If they are worn, polyurethane may be to your liking, and if so I would strongly suggest buying them already fitted to a new wishbone........ unless you have a large hydraulic press. The subframe bushes are also likely past their best, and clonks will probably be the bushes on the lower engine mounting rod.
The anti roll bar bushes are probably well past their best, but one side is a pig to do with the subframe in place.
If you happen to need the subframe lowering for the bushes, I would also suggest loosening and then tightening the fill and drain plugs for the gearbox oil, even if you are not changing it, much easier with lots of access.
Pay close attention to the metal pipes for the oil cooler and power steering cooler at the front. They rot from the outside and will either leave you stranded or cost an engine.
The cars respond well to a drop of shell v-power and I am told Karl of Noobtune works wonders with the power.
Mine is quick enough in standard tune for now, and I am finding the brakes can be a little wanting, so I am going to upgrade.
Get used to needing front tyres, they can be quite heavy on them.
I would suggest fitting the rears to the front and the new tyres on the rear. Repeat each time.
The heated seat is likely to be a break in the heating element in the base. I believe repair kits /replacements are available, although it may be easier to pick up a seat from a breaker.
Vague steering doesn't have to be a trait. When the droplinks were done, did you use the Meyle HD version? The standard ones tend to not last half as long.
The 9-5 also tends to be quite hard on its bushes, which can often lead to excessive torque steer and vague feeling - check the front and rear wishbone bushes. If they are worn, polyurethane may be to your liking, and if so I would strongly suggest buying them already fitted to a new wishbone........ unless you have a large hydraulic press. The subframe bushes are also likely past their best, and clonks will probably be the bushes on the lower engine mounting rod.
The anti roll bar bushes are probably well past their best, but one side is a pig to do with the subframe in place.
If you happen to need the subframe lowering for the bushes, I would also suggest loosening and then tightening the fill and drain plugs for the gearbox oil, even if you are not changing it, much easier with lots of access.
Pay close attention to the metal pipes for the oil cooler and power steering cooler at the front. They rot from the outside and will either leave you stranded or cost an engine.
The cars respond well to a drop of shell v-power and I am told Karl of Noobtune works wonders with the power.
Mine is quick enough in standard tune for now, and I am finding the brakes can be a little wanting, so I am going to upgrade.
Edited by McVities on Saturday 1st December 12:54
A good clean definitely in order.Bluehawk said:
Are you a true Pher until you've had an MX5 or Saab Aero?
The Saab 95 aero offers best pounds per bhp. I actually thought it was too fast as it just becomes boring going faster than everyone else and is a big car so more GT and I live in the sticks. It does attract a lot of phers.Thesprucegoose said:
Bluehawk said:
Are you a true Pher until you've had an MX5 or Saab Aero?
The Saab 95 aero offers best pounds per bhp. I actually thought it was too fast as it just becomes boring going faster than everyone else and is a big car so more GT and I live in the sticks. It does attract a lot of phers.I prefer my pumas or clio 182's for the b roads around here , my old aero just felt to big in the tree lined lanes around here.
Final part of the way into work is single track roads. It's not the width of the car but the length that I keep having to make adjustments for mentally. Have to keep reminding myself there's another couple of feet back there. It's definitely not as nimble as the Megane.
Anyone replaced their subframe bushes? If so what did you go for in the end? I am hearing contradictory things about upgrading to powerflex.
Anyone replaced their subframe bushes? If so what did you go for in the end? I am hearing contradictory things about upgrading to powerflex.
baptistsan said:
Final part of the way into work is single track roads. It's not the width of the car but the length that I keep having to make adjustments for mentally. Have to keep reminding myself there's another couple of feet back there. It's definitely not as nimble as the Megane.
Anyone replaced their subframe bushes? If so what did you go for in the end? I am hearing contradictory things about upgrading to powerflex.
I was using mine on exmoor and found although it was fast by the time i'd come out of a corner and the turbo spooled up and launched me i was back on the breaks for the next corner , where as the hot hatches we're ideal you just kept it in 3rd gear pretty much the whole time .Anyone replaced their subframe bushes? If so what did you go for in the end? I am hearing contradictory things about upgrading to powerflex.
For the money though these saab's are so comfy and i'd have another if i needed a bigger car and a bargain came my way.
Re your bushes i'd just go for standard oem agaiin , if poweflex make it hard and non compliant i think you'd ruin the handling .
Oh and nobody else has mentioned it , check out nob tune for remaping .
The powerflex bushes are not too bad at all.
I have both ends of the engine support rod done, the subframe with purple, the front and rear bushes of the wishbones in purple and the ARB with black.
This is coupled with B8 dampers and Abbott racing springs.
There is a little more NVH, just a smidge of buzz over very small bumps or rough surfaces, but I don't find this intrusive or a problem.
Standard rubber will last well and give a bit more comfort, but may allow a smidge more flex.
As for country lanes, the car is very grippy and composed with the right tyres and can carry quite a surprising amount of speed through the bends. The only let down is the amount of body roll....... ideally some uprated SAS anti roll bars would help, but these are no longer made.
I would strongly suggest another sump drop and uprated brakes before you take it near a track. It's good for the road but it's weight is very quickly exposed on a race track.
I have both ends of the engine support rod done, the subframe with purple, the front and rear bushes of the wishbones in purple and the ARB with black.
This is coupled with B8 dampers and Abbott racing springs.
There is a little more NVH, just a smidge of buzz over very small bumps or rough surfaces, but I don't find this intrusive or a problem.
Standard rubber will last well and give a bit more comfort, but may allow a smidge more flex.
As for country lanes, the car is very grippy and composed with the right tyres and can carry quite a surprising amount of speed through the bends. The only let down is the amount of body roll....... ideally some uprated SAS anti roll bars would help, but these are no longer made.
I would strongly suggest another sump drop and uprated brakes before you take it near a track. It's good for the road but it's weight is very quickly exposed on a race track.
There should be OEM rubber on PFS, however for my genuine bits I tend to buy direct from either BillJ at Saabits or Martin at Jamsaab.
Other sellers with access to the Orio parts network exist.
I would suggest you avoid the PFS poly, they are cheap and allegedly don't last compared to rubber or powerflex.
You will also find www.uksaabs.co.uk a very useful source of technical information.
Other sellers with access to the Orio parts network exist.
I would suggest you avoid the PFS poly, they are cheap and allegedly don't last compared to rubber or powerflex.
You will also find www.uksaabs.co.uk a very useful source of technical information.
Edited by McVities on Sunday 9th December 23:42
Alignment done. Rear camber requires shims and the hub taking apart apparently. So that has been left alone for now.
Confirmed that subframe bushes and wishbone bushes would benefit from being changed in the not too distant future. Going to go with oe rubber bushes for the subframe and powerflex bushes in the wishbones.
Confirmed that subframe bushes and wishbone bushes would benefit from being changed in the not too distant future. Going to go with oe rubber bushes for the subframe and powerflex bushes in the wishbones.
baptistsan said:
Alignment done. Rear camber requires shims and the hub taking apart apparently. So that has been left alone for now.
Confirmed that subframe bushes and wishbone bushes would benefit from being changed in the not too distant future. Going to go with oe rubber bushes for the subframe and powerflex bushes in the wishbones.
I did the subframe bushes on my 9-5 (not an aero) estate last year. Replaced the OE rubber with some poly ones. Confirmed that subframe bushes and wishbone bushes would benefit from being changed in the not too distant future. Going to go with oe rubber bushes for the subframe and powerflex bushes in the wishbones.
The subframe has to come right out, and it was a pretty fiddly job (bolting the steering rack back on was an absolute swine of a job)
I didn't notice that the poly bushes were any more buzzy or harsh than the rubber ones.
I had a 2005 Saab 9-5 Aero Estate. Bougt with 201k on the clock and sold with 208k on it 18 months later. It was a very very good car.
Rear leg room wasn't great, but it was very comfortable and 50-70 was where it was pretty good. 0-60 was quite poor at something like 8 seconds.
Wasn't too bad on fuel considering its size. Think mine did around 28mpg.
My car came with a stack load of receipts and I didn't actually loose too much when I sold it either. Fond memories of that car.
Rear leg room wasn't great, but it was very comfortable and 50-70 was where it was pretty good. 0-60 was quite poor at something like 8 seconds.
Wasn't too bad on fuel considering its size. Think mine did around 28mpg.
My car came with a stack load of receipts and I didn't actually loose too much when I sold it either. Fond memories of that car.
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