Saab 9-3 Aero 1.9 TTiD Convertible

[Phil-E]

Hi folks,

 

As some of you may know I recently purchased a new car.

 

It's a 2008 Saab 9-3 1.9 TTiD Aero Convertible 6 speed auto.

 

I thought I would start a project thread as quite a few people seem to like them and the general opinion seems to be that it's a car that many people have always admired and thought about owning (myself included... remembering seeing the adverts for them on the TV with that bright yellow/green one).

 

So it's not perfect... hence the project thread. We got it for a fair price considering it's mechanical condition (very good) and taking into account the few cosmetic things that need sorting.

 

 

The spec:

 

1.9 TTiD engine. 180bhp and 295lb-ft/400nm of torque. This thing really flies!

 

6 speed auto gearbox (torque converter. Sport mode and manual mode with steering wheel paddles). Very impressed so far. Generally very smooth but not as quick as DSG and also not as seamless sometimes. But better at setting off on hills!

 

Fully electric roof (can also be lowered from the key fob)

 

Heated leather seats

 

Multi-function steering wheel

 

SID (Saab Information Display- in the dash. Basically the trip computer with some other functions and accessible settings)

 

Dual-zone climate control (pretty clever how it adjusts and turns the A/C off when the roof goes down)

 

Xenons (my first car with factory xenons and very impressed so far)

 

Pioneer AVIC-F77DAB appradio/sat-nav. Very impressive bit of kit. Receipt in the paperwork from last year... over £1,200.00 for this fitting!

 

Bluetooth

 

Reversing camera

 

Parking sensors

 

 

The good:

 

Decent mileage. Not too high and not too low. 73,000 miles.

 

Just had the cambelt done (not now due for 80,000 miles or 8 years!)

 

DPF has been gutted and remapped out! Yay!

 

Recently had a new EGR just before the DPF was "fixed".

 

Recent new battery.

 

Just had a service.

 

Just flown through MOT (all previous MOTs passed without any advisories)

 

 

The bad:

 

Some wear on the drivers leather side bolster. Usual place they wear when getting in and out.

 

Couple of spots of rust coming through on the edges of both doors where they seem to rub on the rubber seal.

 

Scuff on rear bumper under tailgate. Showing black through so will need to be filled with paint and sanded.

 

It's had an aftermarket stereo fitted and the trim around it doesn't sit flush which is annoying me!

 

The aftermarket stereo "hisses" through the front dash speakers. I've googled this and it seems the output of the stereo has been connected to the amplifier in the car so it's amplifying an already amplified output. I need to connect to the pre-out and make a new loom for this.

 

There's some wear on a couple of the switches inside where the black has rubbed off slightly. Hoping to just touch up with paint or permanent marker pen!

 

Exhausts need tackling with some metal polish.

 

It needs a damn good wash and getting into all the nooks and crannies under the rubber seals etc!

 

 

Just a couple of pictures to wet your appetite:

 

 

 

Hoping to get chance in a couple of week to get the machine polisher on it and get it looks spot on as there's a few scuffs here and there that look like they'll buff out.

[mdk1]

Looks very nice.

[VRS Mike]

very nice!

[Phil-E]

Been out in the Octavia this morning... god it suddenly feels very slow!

 

Taken everything out of the Skoda now and need to wire up the dash cam in the Saab. Time to try and figure out where the fuse box is etc.

[Phil-E]

So I noticed that all the windows were hazy as if there was like wax or grease on them. Tried with autoglym fast glass and no luck. It also didn't budge with repeated use of the wipers.

I then realised it was localised around the soft top. It appears that whoever last treated the soft top took no care in either avoiding the windows or cleaning it off afterwards and it had dried on. Some elbow grease and window polish later and they're like new again!

I've also re-treated the softop with some autoglym protector and got lovely beading on the roof now.

You can tell there is no DPF as 100 miles later after getting the exhausts sparkling with metal polish they're filthy again!

Edited 19 August, 2016 by Phil-E

[Phil-E]

The fabric headlining on the inside of the soft-top hasn't been cleaned for a while then:

 

 

Looking a bit brighter now but will need another going over as still a few spots of muck and a couple of water stains round the rear window (I assume from condensation).

[Phil-E]

Couple more things done today.

Some caps for the wheel bolts:

Then tackled the wear on the seat. It's not perfect but will do for now:

[Phil-E]

Gave it a good going over this afternoon. Washed, polished and waxed. Now just need to find an excuse to drive it!

[Adam_]

Excuse? Sun's out and you've got a drop top. Get that medallion on and go cruising.

[Phil-E]

Just been out for a spin to try out our new ebay purchase. A brand new genuine wind deflector. No more messed up hair do with roof down!

Edited 19 August, 2016 by Phil-E

[Phil-E]

Stereo is fixed!

They had done as I thought. Used a standard loom which connects the amplified speaker outputs to the pre-amp input on the boot amplifier so it was hissing and very loud!

Sound quality is very good now. Very happy.

[Phil-E]

Bought an auto dimming mirror off ebay for £20. The "Auto" writing has some glue over it and it looks a little smudged but apart from that it's all good for £20.

 

Puts VAG to shame as although the car never came from the Factory with one there was a connector right there to just plug it straight in! 5 mins and it was fitted and works like factory (switches off in reverse etc). It also has the wiring to the doors if I want to fit the auto dimming side mirrors too.

 

Edited 31 August, 2016 by Phil-E

[Wardy]

Very nice Phil.

 

Glad you're sorted with a wind deflector as well. Impressive how much difference they make, especially in a bigger 4dr convertible like yours

[Phil-E]

Yes it makes a massive difference. Well worth it. Very quick to dismantle again and as it's the genuine one it folds in half whereas the aftermarket ones just fold down and not in half:

 

 

It's not a patch on our relatives Mercedes E class convertible though. That has the built in wind deflector at the back along with a wind deflector above the windscreen that pushes the air away. Also has the "air scarf" warm air blown round your neck... But we did look at them and it would have cost over double the cost of the Saab!

 

Just got a little issue to sort where it takes a couple of extra cranks to start and idles a little lumpy for a few seconds if it's been stood a while. Apparently the return fuel pipes perish and let air in. Seems that pretty much everyone on the Saab forums has this at some point. Will get some silicone hose and replace them and that should sort it.

[Phil-E]

So been out at the car this morning sorting out those leak off pipes.

Popped into the halfords the other day and the had a diesel leak off pipe kit labeled for Vauxhall so it seems common enough for halfords to sell a kit. I say kit but it was basically braided rubber hose rated for diesel use that matched the internal diameter of the original hose.

Fitted new pipe and was surprised that there was zero diesel sat in the pipes. I was expecting there to be fuel sat in them which maybe is an indication that they were in fact allowing air in.

Turned the ignition on and let the lift pump prime (heard some gargling) and turned it over and it fired very quickly. Then left it a few hours and again fired right up. So hopefully sorted!

I love a simple fix.

Going to Germany in it in less than two weeks so we'll see what she makes of being let of her lead on the autobahn!

[Wardy]

Sounds good. Hope that sorts it Phil.

[Phil-E]

Trip to Germany went well. Had the roof down as much as possible and only had to make a quick dash to the hard shoulder to put the rood up once on the way back when it started pouring it down out of nowhere!

 

One issue cropped up though... wheel wobble at 70mph+ which went away over 110mph.

 

Further investigations into the wheels confirm they are in fact from the newest 9-5- this one:

 

 

Which is a different wheel fitment (5x120 vs 5x112) so it has adapters fitted. The problem there is the bolts are slightly too long in some of the holes meaning the wheels are not being pulled flush (risk of coming loose or causing wobble as we have).

 

Add on top of that the questionable MOT pass next time with them sticking out a little, small tyre walls leading to crashing over bumps and the stupid (£600) cost to replace the cheapo and dangerous budget tyres I have ordered a brand new set of Saab alloys off ebay and will be fitting new tyres. With selling these and the savings on the tyres we will have saved about £125 (plus £200+ every tyre change in the future).

 

I've ordered these:

 

They're 17" which is what came on the car originally (since the tyre pressure sticker in the glove box only has once size of 235/45/17 on).

 

With the larger profile (45 vs 35) the diameter is marginally smaller in the arch (less than 1%) so not going to look too different.

 

I've also noticed now the weather is getting cooler just how quick this thing warms up! I measured 0.5 miles the other morning till warm air was coming from the vents. The Octavia needed several miles.

Edited 18 October, 2016 by Phil-E

[mikey vrs]

Bet it will ride much better on those alloys,it doesnt look quite right on those 19"s. 

[samuir1974]

Very nice indeed Phil - always liked the look of these..... enjoy!

[Phil-E]

Bet it will ride much better on those alloys,it doesnt look quite right on those 19"s. 

 

Yes hoping so. After doing some reading and watching some videos on wheel adapters/spacers I just don't want them anyway.

 

It does look pretty cool to be fair but it's pretty obvious they're not the standard wheels as the fronts produce slightly past the wheel arches. In fact if you look straight onto the front of the car they stick out loads past the bumper.

 

I much prefer OEM rather than bodging/adapting stuff that wasn't designed to fit in the first place.

 

I've already found a buyer for the 19s luckily as they're fairly sought after.

[Wardy]

Much better Phil. As they should be, and as you say - without adaptors which I don't agree with either

[skomaz]

 

I've also noticed now the weather is getting cooler just how quick this thing warms up! I measured 0.5 miles the other morning till warm air was coming from the vents. The Octavia needed several miles.

 

Does it have an auxiliary PTC heater?  The Civic does but it tends to be more lukewarm than hot...

[Phil-E]

Does it have an auxiliary PTC heater?  The Civic does but it tends to be more lukewarm than hot...

 

That was my initial thought but I've checked and it doesn't. The earlier models all got them and then they dropped it on the facelift (2008) RHD as the steering column was in the way.

 

So no idea how it manages to warm up so quickly. It could be that it's the auto gearbox as it doesn't lock-up from cold to get itself warmed up quicker and does had a radiator on the front of the car.

[Phil-E]

New wheels and tyres fitted.

Looking good I think:

They were loads lighter than the old wheels and no more silly adapters.

Haven't even driven it yet so no idea how different it will feel to drive.

Edited 23 October, 2016 by Phil-E

[Phil-E]

Wow!

What a difference tyres make!

Just been out after checking the pressures.

It's completely transformed the car.

Quieter, smoother, nicer ride and the wheel wobble has completely vanished.

My suspected wheel bearing failing has also fixed itself so it must have been the tyres droning.

Grip even on the new tyres is very good too but obviously have taken it very steady.

The D.T.E (distance to empty) has also shot up. It rarely goes above 500 miles even with a full tank and a steady drive and it's now estimating 540 with 50 already driven.

They are Pirelli P7 Cinturato Blue and so far I'm very impressed.