Saab 9-3 V6 Estate
Discussion
After a long (very long!) 4 years I’m back in a V6 SAAB!
Been looking for months, was tempted to get a 2010 White XWD saloon last year but with COVID & work commitments I couldn’t get to it (Scotland) really liked that but wasn’t to be, so after months of looking this popped up on eBay last week.
Popped to collect it Thursday, after a right ball ache trying to tax it online I just managed to catch the post office. DVLA’s website didn’t want to play.
It’s a 55 plate Auto in Fusion Blue, low miles for the age 88k. Fairly decent condition for the age but does have a nasty scuff on the rear bumper & side sill. Needs sorting. Pretty sure it’s been mapped but nothing to confirm this, does pull harder than my old manual though! Goes alright tbf!! But handles (and stops) like a boat at the moment!
Got some plans for it, mainly swapping everything off the old car but going for a Billet 20T this time & Aura custom map (last V6 was a JZW stage 5 & blew up for those who don’t know) so there’s a big box of bits to refit.
I’ve just ordered the following to fit this week, wanted to sort the handing & brakes out before adding more power. Did it arse about face last time and almost put it on its roof when the brakes died!
Brakes:
EBC Yellow Stuff Pads
EBC USR discs
HEL Lines (got)
RBF600 fluid
Rears are standard v6, fronts are 345mm calipers & carriers from the Vectra VXR
Suspension:
Stance coilovers, again Vectra C, fronts are a straight swap, rears aren’t so I’ve bought Koni FSD shocks for here and use the stance springs. Not going mega low but always fancied coilovers. Last car had Eibach/B8’s these were good but I’ve had this combo on the last 3 cars so fancied a change.
Getting an oil change & mini service next week for peace of mind (engines silky smooth but you never know!)
It’s got some crappy 225/45/18 tyres on there, changing these for 235/40/18 PS4s when I’m home next.
Refit the powerflex black bushes off the old car, practically brand new!
Refit strut brace & lower brace, R&D drop links (think that’s it)
Then get it to a suspension specialist and set up right.
^^^^Once that’s done and handing nice I’ll start on the power side! I think I just need a bigger IC, 20T & map
Been looking for months, was tempted to get a 2010 White XWD saloon last year but with COVID & work commitments I couldn’t get to it (Scotland) really liked that but wasn’t to be, so after months of looking this popped up on eBay last week.
Popped to collect it Thursday, after a right ball ache trying to tax it online I just managed to catch the post office. DVLA’s website didn’t want to play.
It’s a 55 plate Auto in Fusion Blue, low miles for the age 88k. Fairly decent condition for the age but does have a nasty scuff on the rear bumper & side sill. Needs sorting. Pretty sure it’s been mapped but nothing to confirm this, does pull harder than my old manual though! Goes alright tbf!! But handles (and stops) like a boat at the moment!
Got some plans for it, mainly swapping everything off the old car but going for a Billet 20T this time & Aura custom map (last V6 was a JZW stage 5 & blew up for those who don’t know) so there’s a big box of bits to refit.
I’ve just ordered the following to fit this week, wanted to sort the handing & brakes out before adding more power. Did it arse about face last time and almost put it on its roof when the brakes died!
Brakes:
EBC Yellow Stuff Pads
EBC USR discs
HEL Lines (got)
RBF600 fluid
Rears are standard v6, fronts are 345mm calipers & carriers from the Vectra VXR
Suspension:
Stance coilovers, again Vectra C, fronts are a straight swap, rears aren’t so I’ve bought Koni FSD shocks for here and use the stance springs. Not going mega low but always fancied coilovers. Last car had Eibach/B8’s these were good but I’ve had this combo on the last 3 cars so fancied a change.
Getting an oil change & mini service next week for peace of mind (engines silky smooth but you never know!)
It’s got some crappy 225/45/18 tyres on there, changing these for 235/40/18 PS4s when I’m home next.
Refit the powerflex black bushes off the old car, practically brand new!
Refit strut brace & lower brace, R&D drop links (think that’s it)
Then get it to a suspension specialist and set up right.
^^^^Once that’s done and handing nice I’ll start on the power side! I think I just need a bigger IC, 20T & map
Edited by griffin dai on Saturday 10th July 19:59
Lovely. I was watching that same car as I'm half-heartedly looking for a replacement for our MG ZTT at the moment. That seller has had many Saabs for sale, often V6s. I assume he gets them cheap and fixes them up but they all appear quite tidy.
Looking forward to your updates re mods etc!
Looking forward to your updates re mods etc!
r44flyer said:
Lovely. I was watching that same car as I'm half-heartedly looking for a replacement for our MG ZTT at the moment. That seller has had many Saabs for sale, often V6s. I assume he gets them cheap and fixes them up but they all appear quite tidy.
Looking forward to your updates re mods etc!
Did you bid on it at all? I think quite a few were after it, was £3,100 when I viewed it with 3 day’s to go. Tbh I did pay a little more than I wanted but he wouldn’t come any lower. Needs a couple cosmetic things sorted and a really good clean, first time I’ve collected a car this dirty tbh! But overall happy. Looking forward to your updates re mods etc!
Drives differently to my old v6 saloon, not sure if it’s because it’s an auto or being a wagon but feels more lardy and more of a cruiser. Could chuck the saloon around more. Autos nice though haven’t had one in 12 years.
Edited by griffin dai on Saturday 10th July 22:19
Cars booked in for the suspension & brake upgrades plus oil change & polly engine mount. Just need to order a few more suspension parts to freshen it all up. All my powerflex black bushes got scrapped with the car…£600+ gone there!!
New PS4s all round then off for a wheel alignment & set the coilovers up. Not sure if I’ll go all polybush again I’ll see how this goes first!
Had a play around with the audio side over the weekend, ask any 9-3 owner…the standard systems seriously crap and difficult to upgrade, the AUX although handy can be hit & miss and crackle/cut out.
My old CD’s are long gone so all my music is with Amazon HD (excellent SQ, huge library and well worth the money, actually prefer it to Tidal & Qobuz)
I’m still going for a single din swap & active set up with the Pioneer P99RS & run an independent system, just adding decent 6.5” mids in the front doors, tweets in the dash & small sub in the boot, couple amps and that’s done, but for now I’ve just added a Echo Auto and this has come in really handy, all voice activated like the other echo’s, great sound, works fantastic with Amazon music and Waze works a treat.
Also tried a 1more Bluetooth adapter that came free with my earphones, that plugs into the cars Aux and lives in the centre console tucked out of the way, made a nice difference to the sound quality, pretty sure it upscales the audio because it’s noticeable vs AUX only. Then tried an Audioquest Dragonfly DAC through the Aux again. Works great but none of the steering wheel controls work bar volume plus you need the iPhones camera kit to connect it to the DAC and then connect the DAC to Aux cable so it’s a bit bulky and fills up the cubby hole. But for a quick/cheapish upgrade for now it’s good.
New PS4s all round then off for a wheel alignment & set the coilovers up. Not sure if I’ll go all polybush again I’ll see how this goes first!
Had a play around with the audio side over the weekend, ask any 9-3 owner…the standard systems seriously crap and difficult to upgrade, the AUX although handy can be hit & miss and crackle/cut out.
My old CD’s are long gone so all my music is with Amazon HD (excellent SQ, huge library and well worth the money, actually prefer it to Tidal & Qobuz)
I’m still going for a single din swap & active set up with the Pioneer P99RS & run an independent system, just adding decent 6.5” mids in the front doors, tweets in the dash & small sub in the boot, couple amps and that’s done, but for now I’ve just added a Echo Auto and this has come in really handy, all voice activated like the other echo’s, great sound, works fantastic with Amazon music and Waze works a treat.
Also tried a 1more Bluetooth adapter that came free with my earphones, that plugs into the cars Aux and lives in the centre console tucked out of the way, made a nice difference to the sound quality, pretty sure it upscales the audio because it’s noticeable vs AUX only. Then tried an Audioquest Dragonfly DAC through the Aux again. Works great but none of the steering wheel controls work bar volume plus you need the iPhones camera kit to connect it to the DAC and then connect the DAC to Aux cable so it’s a bit bulky and fills up the cubby hole. But for a quick/cheapish upgrade for now it’s good.
Cars with the garage now for the brake/suspension upgrades.
Also added to the list: new top mounts & bearing kit, inner track rods & track rod ends. Just needs new tyres & setting up. Should feel like a different car when I get it back. Then I can crack on with making it a tad quicker
Does pull pretty hard as it is though!
Annoyingly (as in seriously pissed off here because I asked the seller 4 or 5 times if this was ok and he assured me it was!!!!!)
Got the same temp gauge fault I had with the old one, just doesn’t reset after switching off and the gauge rockets past the redline. Had to disconnect the battery for 15 mins earlier and it was back to normal again but needs sorting next month. Mega pain in the ass on these, happens to a lot of them.
Also added to the list: new top mounts & bearing kit, inner track rods & track rod ends. Just needs new tyres & setting up. Should feel like a different car when I get it back. Then I can crack on with making it a tad quicker
Does pull pretty hard as it is though!Annoyingly (as in seriously pissed off here because I asked the seller 4 or 5 times if this was ok and he assured me it was!!!!!)
Got the same temp gauge fault I had with the old one, just doesn’t reset after switching off and the gauge rockets past the redline. Had to disconnect the battery for 15 mins earlier and it was back to normal again but needs sorting next month. Mega pain in the ass on these, happens to a lot of them. Shadow R1 said:
Great to see a thread up on the car. 
Look forward to updates on this one.
Progress will be a little slower than I wanted but I’ll get there in the end! Should be a fair bit quicker than the old one with the 20T & auto box, just won’t handle as well (can’t have it all I suppose) Look forward to updates on this one.
Well this is turning into an expensive month!
The brake & suspension works done, just waiting on the PS4S tyres they should have arrived today from camskill.
There were a couple issues that needed sorting though, rear banana arms needed replacing, plus the rear suspension mounts were cracked so have been replaced, also needed a little bit of welding. Full coolant flush, new rear wiper & rear number plate bulb was out. All 4 tyres were shot (they’re crap anyway!!) so figured I’d best replace these while it’s there.
Couple more issues that need addressing this month (none cheap!)
Brake lines are corroded so couldn’t fit my HEL lines as they’d have to break them to swap the lines over, sounds an expensive job so that’s one for next pay day.
And the instrument cluster needs swapping out or fixing.
So list below of what’s done so I can keep track of it all!
Tyres:
235/40/18 PS4S
Brakes:
345mm calipers/carriers
345mm EBC USR discs
EBC Yellow Stuff front & rear pads
HEL lines (tbc)
Suspension:
Stance Coilovers
Koni rear shocks
Powerflex yellow engine mount
R&D Droplinks
New Strut Top Mount & Bearing kit
New track rod ends
New inner track rods
Rear strut mounts
Rear banana arms
Maptun strut brace
3 Point Subframe Brace
Engine:
Oil change
Coolant change
To do list!
Fix instrument cluster
New brake lines
Fit HEL lines
Sort bumper scuff
Wheel refurb
Fit BSR filter
Change Cabin filter
Upgrade list:
20T turbo
Bigger intercooler
Fit 3” system
Fit 550’s
6 x NGK LFR7AiX Plugs
6 x Bosch 112 coils
Upgrade Actuator
Upgrade Recirc Valve
Aura Map
So still a fair bit to do!
The brake & suspension works done, just waiting on the PS4S tyres they should have arrived today from camskill.
There were a couple issues that needed sorting though, rear banana arms needed replacing, plus the rear suspension mounts were cracked so have been replaced, also needed a little bit of welding. Full coolant flush, new rear wiper & rear number plate bulb was out. All 4 tyres were shot (they’re crap anyway!!) so figured I’d best replace these while it’s there.
Couple more issues that need addressing this month (none cheap!)
Brake lines are corroded so couldn’t fit my HEL lines as they’d have to break them to swap the lines over, sounds an expensive job so that’s one for next pay day.
And the instrument cluster needs swapping out or fixing.
So list below of what’s done so I can keep track of it all!
Tyres:
235/40/18 PS4S
Brakes:
345mm calipers/carriers
345mm EBC USR discs
EBC Yellow Stuff front & rear pads
HEL lines (tbc)
Suspension:
Stance Coilovers
Koni rear shocks
Powerflex yellow engine mount
R&D Droplinks
New Strut Top Mount & Bearing kit
New track rod ends
New inner track rods
Rear strut mounts
Rear banana arms
Maptun strut brace
3 Point Subframe Brace
Engine:
Oil change
Coolant change
To do list!
Fix instrument cluster
New brake lines
Fit HEL lines
Sort bumper scuff
Wheel refurb
Fit BSR filter
Change Cabin filter
Upgrade list:
20T turbo
Bigger intercooler
Fit 3” system
Fit 550’s
6 x NGK LFR7AiX Plugs
6 x Bosch 112 coils
Upgrade Actuator
Upgrade Recirc Valve
Aura Map
So still a fair bit to do!
That's quite a list, but when adding the power like you are doing. It needs the rest of the car to be up to it.
http://www.bba-reman.com/gb/catalogue/parts/931/
They fixed a dash cluster on my Volvo, poss could help with yours.
Keep us updated.
http://www.bba-reman.com/gb/catalogue/parts/931/
They fixed a dash cluster on my Volvo, poss could help with yours.
Keep us updated.
king tractor 
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff