Saab 9-5 2.0t auto saloon 2001
Discussion
Bought my winter barge on Monday - £1,500. It had to be big & comfy, automatic for my commute, not too thirsty, but also be a bit quirky or fun. Couldn't face a diesel Mondeo even though it is the sensible choice.
I could have got a cheaper one, but it has full service history and only 2 previous owners. 110k miles and a pretty clean MOT history. New MOT done 3 days before I collected it.
I could have got a cheaper one, but it has full service history and only 2 previous owners. 110k miles and a pretty clean MOT history. New MOT done 3 days before I collected it.
I found a set of 17 inch wheels & tyres on a well known online auction site not too far from me and agreed a bargain price with the seller (top bloke and welder/fabricator who was breaking another 9-5) - £90!
Looks much better on these - although I may have to do something about the rusty looking wheel bolts.
Note - it is sitting a little high here as I had just lowered it off the jack and the shocks hadn't settled.
Looks much better on these - although I may have to do something about the rusty looking wheel bolts.
Note - it is sitting a little high here as I had just lowered it off the jack and the shocks hadn't settled.
Edited by DanG355 on Monday 24th September 09:24
There are a few cosmetic things to tidy up - a cracked front fog light, cracked rear light and the shark fin aerial is peeling so I've ordered replacement parts for these.
I've heard it's also worth getting the sump dropped and clearing out any sludge because if these engines are not run on synthetic oil the sludge can build up causing oil starvation. It's therefore off to Abbot Racing (not far from me) for this to be done on Tuesday. Popped in there to book it in and they are great guys with a wealth of knowledge and great racing history. They also diagnosed and fixed a small air leak while I was there.
Having browsed a few Saab forums the same chip tuner kept coming up, very highly recommended and has been going for several years with lots of happy customers - Noobtune. After exchanging emails with Karl I have ordered a Stage 1 ECU for a very good price - probably cheaper than any other tuner. It takes the figures up considerably - from 150bhp and 177lb/ft to circa 220bhp and 265lb/ft!! The low pressure Saab turbo engines are very conservative from the factory.
I've heard it's also worth getting the sump dropped and clearing out any sludge because if these engines are not run on synthetic oil the sludge can build up causing oil starvation. It's therefore off to Abbot Racing (not far from me) for this to be done on Tuesday. Popped in there to book it in and they are great guys with a wealth of knowledge and great racing history. They also diagnosed and fixed a small air leak while I was there.
Having browsed a few Saab forums the same chip tuner kept coming up, very highly recommended and has been going for several years with lots of happy customers - Noobtune. After exchanging emails with Karl I have ordered a Stage 1 ECU for a very good price - probably cheaper than any other tuner. It takes the figures up considerably - from 150bhp and 177lb/ft to circa 220bhp and 265lb/ft!! The low pressure Saab turbo engines are very conservative from the factory.
DanG355 said:
There are a few cosmetic things to tidy up - a cracked front fog light, cracked rear light and the shark fin aerial is peeling so I've ordered replacement parts for these.
I've heard it's also worth getting the sump dropped and clearing out any sludge because if these engines are not run on synthetic oil the sludge can build up causing oil starvation. It's therefore off to Abbot Racing (not far from me) for this to be done on Tuesday. Popped in there to book it in and they are great guys with a wealth of knowledge and great racing history. They also diagnosed and fixed a small air leak while I was there.
Having browsed a few Saab forums the same chip tuner kept coming up, very highly recommended and has been going for several years with lots of happy customers - Noobtune. After exchanging emails with Karl I have ordered a Stage 1 ECU for a very good price - probably cheaper than any other tuner. It takes the figures up considerably - from 150bhp and 177lb/ft to circa 220bhp and 265lb/ft!! The low pressure Saab turbo engines are very conservative from the factory.
You're definitely doing the right thing getting the sump dropped - the 2.0 was never specced to run on the correct oil so if it's had its oil changed by someone who didn't know any better there could be all manner of gunk in there.I've heard it's also worth getting the sump dropped and clearing out any sludge because if these engines are not run on synthetic oil the sludge can build up causing oil starvation. It's therefore off to Abbot Racing (not far from me) for this to be done on Tuesday. Popped in there to book it in and they are great guys with a wealth of knowledge and great racing history. They also diagnosed and fixed a small air leak while I was there.
Having browsed a few Saab forums the same chip tuner kept coming up, very highly recommended and has been going for several years with lots of happy customers - Noobtune. After exchanging emails with Karl I have ordered a Stage 1 ECU for a very good price - probably cheaper than any other tuner. It takes the figures up considerably - from 150bhp and 177lb/ft to circa 220bhp and 265lb/ft!! The low pressure Saab turbo engines are very conservative from the factory.
Good call on the chip as well, I'm gonna get mine done soon (Aero HOT from 250bhp to 275 and up to a stonking 350Nm)!
DanG355 said:
There are a few cosmetic things to tidy up - a cracked front fog light, cracked rear light and the shark fin aerial is peeling so I've ordered replacement parts for these.
I've heard it's also worth getting the sump dropped and clearing out any sludge because if these engines are not run on synthetic oil the sludge can build up causing oil starvation. It's therefore off to Abbot Racing (not far from me) for this to be done on Tuesday. Popped in there to book it in and they are great guys with a wealth of knowledge and great racing history. They also diagnosed and fixed a small air leak while I was there.
Having browsed a few Saab forums the same chip tuner kept coming up, very highly recommended and has been going for several years with lots of happy customers - Noobtune. After exchanging emails with Karl I have ordered a Stage 1 ECU for a very good price - probably cheaper than any other tuner. It takes the figures up considerably - from 150bhp and 177lb/ft to circa 220bhp and 265lb/ft!! The low pressure Saab turbo engines are very conservative from the factory.
Well worth getting the Noobtune from Karl, it makes a heck of a difference to the way the car drives. It's still no raucous rare, but the mid range surge is vastly improved making overtaking much quicker. And it doesn't affect fuel consumption either (as long as you don't spend all your time nudging the redline)I've heard it's also worth getting the sump dropped and clearing out any sludge because if these engines are not run on synthetic oil the sludge can build up causing oil starvation. It's therefore off to Abbot Racing (not far from me) for this to be done on Tuesday. Popped in there to book it in and they are great guys with a wealth of knowledge and great racing history. They also diagnosed and fixed a small air leak while I was there.
Having browsed a few Saab forums the same chip tuner kept coming up, very highly recommended and has been going for several years with lots of happy customers - Noobtune. After exchanging emails with Karl I have ordered a Stage 1 ECU for a very good price - probably cheaper than any other tuner. It takes the figures up considerably - from 150bhp and 177lb/ft to circa 220bhp and 265lb/ft!! The low pressure Saab turbo engines are very conservative from the factory.
GeordieInExile - I reckon your torque will be higher than that - or do you mean lb/ft? Once you start though it may be addictive and not much more cost for you to go Stage 2/3...
Karl certainly has good feedback on the forums going back to about 2012 and I didn't find any horror stories. I did consider other tuners but everyone recommended Karl and I was pleasantly surprised at the price and he was very helpful with a guide on how to replace the ECU.
I noticed mine was registered 01/11/01 and the VIN confirms it as a 2002MY car - 5 speed auto means slightly better performance than the older 4 speed auto. Now I am getting more familiar with Saabs I notice it has different rear lights and there are probably other differences to the earlier cars as well.
Early things I've noticed are that it seems much bigger when looking at it from the outside than it does when driving it - possibly as a lot of the length is hung out at the back. The seats are the most comfortable I've ever had in a car - even better than the excellent seats in our XC90. Fuel economy is averaging around the 28MPG mark but I have not done as many miles on the dual carriageway as I normally do so I expect to see this get to 30MPG and possibly more.
I have been using a Boxster as a daily driver for the last 2 years (2001 2.7 manual) and that is now in semi-retirement as a weekend and occasional commuter car - did 15,000 miles in it last year. The Saab parts are certainly cheaper than the Boxster and time will tell if the Saab is as easy to work on. Access underneath the car will certainly be easier and I can fit a trolley jack under the Saab!
9-3 Aero is a good car - I believe it has the better turbo so a Stage 1 would take it to 250bhp.
I’m in Thorrington so about 20mins from Abbot Racing. Had a good look around their workshop and had some great Saab’s there including a well modified 9-3 estate from Scotland.
I’ve never really looked at Saab’s much until now but when I put what features I wanted into a search on AT several came up. Then I looked at the forums and the reliability and tuneability and was impressed.
I’m in Thorrington so about 20mins from Abbot Racing. Had a good look around their workshop and had some great Saab’s there including a well modified 9-3 estate from Scotland.
I’ve never really looked at Saab’s much until now but when I put what features I wanted into a search on AT several came up. Then I looked at the forums and the reliability and tuneability and was impressed.
You can do either. I am not sending mine away, I'm getting a tuned replacement ECU posted to me. I had to remove the ECU connector to access the immobiliser code on mine stamped under the connector - took about 10mins to access - as this is needed to code the tuned ECU.
If you return your original ECU then you get a £20 refund.
If you return your original ECU then you get a £20 refund.
To distract me from fitting the new ECU I looked for some new bonnet and boot badges as the old ones are faded - a common issue on a Saab.
I wanted something a little different that would go with the black bodywork. I saw some nice ones with the Saab fighter jet on them but turns out they were just stickers that go on the existing badges. Settled on these badges - one bonnet and one boot and ordered them online.
I wanted something a little different that would go with the black bodywork. I saw some nice ones with the Saab fighter jet on them but turns out they were just stickers that go on the existing badges. Settled on these badges - one bonnet and one boot and ordered them online.
I sorted a few of the cosmetic issues on the car today. One of the rear lights had a crack that had tape across it so I fitted one I bought from ebay.
Before:
After:
A very easy job. Just open the bulb access in the boot, remove the bulb holder, remove the 3 retaining nuts and the light unit pulled free. A bonus was finding the ebay light still had all the bulbs in it so now I have a set of spares.
Before:
After:
A very easy job. Just open the bulb access in the boot, remove the bulb holder, remove the 3 retaining nuts and the light unit pulled free. A bonus was finding the ebay light still had all the bulbs in it so now I have a set of spares.
Next was the front fog light which was smashed. The first 3 nuts came off easily when accessed from under the car but the last one was not so easy as it was tucked up behind a hose and due to the bolt it was attached to spinning around when I turned the nut, I decided to remove the end of the grille next to the fog light to access it (after I had grabbed the broken fog light glass and cut my thumb while reaching out from under the car...). This made the job a lot easier and a bit of WD40 later the last nut was off and I could remove the light.
Refitting the new one was much easier and went straight on.
Refitting the new one was much easier and went straight on.
The drivers side sun visor had the cover missing from the vanity mirror - a common problem with 9-5's and I found the mirror distracting while driving. I did flip it up and use the second visor but wanted to have the mirror as well so ordered a single visor with mirror and cover from ebay - I didn't notice it was a single visor until it arrived but never had the need for the second visor so was happy to use it. 3 star head screws removed and the old one came off. Unplug the wires, plug in the new one and reattach the 3 star head screws and it was done.
Last job of the day was to fit the new shark fin antenna cover. Replacing the whole thing is a PITA as you have to lover the roof headlining so I found a neat solution online - peel the old cracked rubber off and stick on a hollow cover.
Very easy job and I'm happy with the result for less than a tenner. The first picture below is not my car as I forgot to take one, but it was a sorry state of cracked and peeling rubber and now is a shiny black one that matches the paintwork.
Very easy job and I'm happy with the result for less than a tenner. The first picture below is not my car as I forgot to take one, but it was a sorry state of cracked and peeling rubber and now is a shiny black one that matches the paintwork.
Now waiting for the new badges and wheel bolts to arrive and then the cosmetics will be done. It is supposed to be a winter barge so don't want to become too precious about it!
Only a few days now until the sump clean and oil service are done and then I can fit the Noobtune Stage 1 and see what all the fuss is about...
Only a few days now until the sump clean and oil service are done and then I can fit the Noobtune Stage 1 and see what all the fuss is about...
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