I really enjoyed my Saab ownership experience. Great community and I miss my car dearly. I had an '06 9-3 Aero SportCombi 6AT (dark silver w/ cream interior). It was a peach and was extremely fun, reliable and capable. That car just ate up the highway miles like it was nothing. Got it from the original owner w/ 180k miles. It was the coolest and rarest car I've ever owned. I hope she's doing ok out there!
3:29 Just after watching this video, I spoke w/another Saaber in my town (w/a blue Viggen himself) who happened to mention that Orio is manufacturing new subframes for the NG 9-3 like you said here. Maybe a Swede can weigh in on this, but it’s a good sign overall that our Saabs will continue to receive ongoing parts and support.🇸🇪
I live in Europe, but I really enjoy your videos. I jumped the ship and got a 2004 Saab 9-3 with the 1.8i engine, which is basically an Opel Ecotec unit. (Z18XE) I realized that being an Opel engine it is very easy to get parts and also all the tutorials for the Opel version apply to the Saab as well. I really love my car and will start upgrading a few things in the future. 😃
That's the most reliable gasoline engine you could get to NG9-3 if you remember to replace the timing belt, water pump and tensioners within suggested intervals. We have NG9-5 TTiD and NG9-3CV TiD. I used to drive with bioethanol but it became too expensive. The service guy of our SAABs suggested diesels so first I bought NG9-5 TTiD and then NG9-3CV TiD for my wife. They're pretty reliable if you replace the timing belt, tensioners and the water pump every 100 000 kms 👍
When you check 9-3 befor buying . Make sure there is no power stearing leak to engine part , its very common like author tell it in video. When you check engine oil - on oil stick must be no visual micro drops of any other liquid ( if engine get some power stearing liquid its game over). Nevery buy this sample. You find good Aero 9-3 : 1) Rebuild power stearing on fresh sealing and O rings. Use original parts. 2) Get protection on your ECU 3) Keep rust under control 4) Grab Stage1 from Maptune or Nordic Tuning (you gen more torque and better fuel economy ) 5) Enjoy with one of the best car money/joy on market. Keep SAABs on road , they are very special cars.
I owned a 2006 9-3 and a 2007 9-3 60th anniversary edition. Loved both of them. The 2006 was totaled in an accident due to glare ice and although the damage wasn’t extensive, it wasn’t worth repairing. Due to an arthritic hip, getting in and out of my 2007 was becoming increasingly difficult. I loved the car however. It did have the soft intake valve issue taken care of by the top SAAB indie shop here in Wisconsin, The Auto Shop. It also had the ECU riser installed, the balance shaft chain guide replaced (and replaced all guides and chains anyway), front struts replaced, outer tie rods replaced, new coil packs and front brakes and rotors replaced. I sold it to my youngest son a month ago (184,000 miles on the odometer) and bought a 2021 Mazda CX-5. If it weren’t for my hip, it would have kept the 2007 until it literally fell apart or I couldn’t drive any more. I didn’t think any of the work I had done on the SAAB was unreasonable for a 17 year old car, particularly one that I thoroughly enjoyed driving.
One of my timing chain guides was broken at around 180000 miles so you may want to check that if you hear a clicking sound from the engine when checking out one. I have the B207R engine (2.0T). I fixed it and it's all good now.
I'm a UK 9-3 Aero (vert) owner, and my go to garage is around 20 miles away, Saab specialist, and I know breakers (at least two) specialising in Saabs, so I can get parts. Mine, is beautiful, and passed the last MOT (road safety check) with no advisories, so nothing to worry about for the next year. Mine is a Limey. There are only around 210 - 215 left on the road in the UK right now, so I'm highly privileged to be driving such a desirable car right now (and it still beats equivalent spec brand new Audi, BMW and Mercedes on performance). When the weather is good, top down and off I go with a smile on my face. Petrol engine 210Bhp from factory, but mapped to much more. This is a good, nice looking, and fast car.
I bought a 2003 Arc yesterday, and already looking forward to driving it more (just needs insurance lol) but it was barely ever driven by the previous owner, so there’s some stuff that needs to be cleared out. Should be getting a tech 2 with my next paycheck, after I get tires. The dealer didn’t realize it had 2013 tires on it, so I got a pretty good discount. Apart from a faulty door sensor and the expected misfire or two- it’s great!
Had my 06 Aero for about 9 years now, bought it as 2nd owner with just 35k miles on the clock and currently sitting at 60k miles. Only persistent issue I had was coolant leaking due to a slightly warped head from a one-off overheat. Currently just finished with the engineering work as went with a full rebuild :) Upgraded everything relative to the motor as well as a lot of brake/ suspension and exhaust upgrades. Was sitting at 390bhp before the rebuild so looking forward to when everything is assembled again in about 2 weeks :) I LOVE this car!
Was just offered to buy a 2006 Saab 9-3 6 speed manual with 90k miles and has been garage kept its whole life. Only 3500$, your videos are convincing me that this is the best bang for my buck fun daily driveable vehicle in todays economy. I think I’ll be picking it up
I bought my daughter's 2005 9-3 Linear for $1 with 222k miles. She bought it 5 years ago for $1600 with 180 miles on it. Love the car. Will be doing the ecu isolation to it soon. Would love a video on how to convert from a t to a T.
One more, if you can feel vibrations in the steering wheel on idle the cam tensioner in plastic is about to give up. I´ve been working for 20 years in a Saab/Gm work shop in Sweden and it has happend with a small number of cars with the B207. Tnx for sharing and i really love how enthusiastic you all are about Saab on the other side of the "pool" 👍
I have a Saab 9-3 turbo X if you have the 2.8 V6 and need a coolant tank pay the extra money and upgrade the coolant tank I had two of them fail back to back and the aluminum one seems to be a lot better
Kinda surprised to hear about some of these issues. My 05 9-3 I picked up in 2018 with 160k, now at 296k it still runs like a champ. 34 mpg on the highway at 75 mph. No major malfunctions other than the 3-4 shift solenoid acting janky and at 185k I cloned the ECM. Only use Wix oil filters with just O Reilly auto branded high mileage oil. Change it every 3,500 miles as turbos are hard on oil. Only use 91-93 octane fuel and an Optimia yellow top battery. Maybe I just got a good one. Saab on y'all!
I'm on my third Saab but I'm from the UK so the models are a little different. My first was an estate Saab 95 with the ford Taunus V4 engine and column shift ( that was my first ever car ), my second was many years later and an earlt Saab 9-3 with the 2.2 diesel engine ( good car but very agricultural engine ), my currant Saab I've had for three years, bought it with around 42k miles on the clock and it's a 2011 9-3 Aero 1.9 TTid Estate built by Spyker and it's has passed ever MOT with no advisories and all I've had to do it service it and change tires, now it's on 66K, had a maptun tune on it so it puts out around 220Bhp and it's ok even though it's an automatic ( the fist auto I've ever owned ). Nice cars, not as dynamic as an Alfa Romeo or BMW but they handle ok and they cost less to run than both.
Greetings from another AZ Saab enthusiast! I had a laser red 06 9-3 aero SportCombi. It was pretty neglected before I got it and so I ended up having transmission issues and eventually I sold the car instead of fixing it. I still miss that thing, it was really fun to drive. I think I need to get a manual 2.0T next lol.
I bought a SAAB 93 sport combi 2011, 1.8T Biopower, last year(2023) in Sweden, and it was only 100 000km on it, but the Service book was all filled in from the start, an old lady was the first owner, and she passed away, and her husband sold it too Me, it looks like brand new outside and inside. I have put a new instrument in it( so I got the Turbo meter in the instrument), I love that shit, and its not available in the 1.8 t. The funny part is that the 1.8t and the 2.0t is the same engine 1998cc And a paintbody sealing just done, and the most important: a full sandblaster underneath the car was done, and after its painted with 2 component Zink paint, to prevent it from any future rust, and I also got a Handsfree installed working with the original buttons on the steering wheel. Why all this spending? well this is the best car I ever owned, I earlier got Volvos, Mitsubishis,Saab 95, Alfa Romeos, Audi, but this 93 SAAB Sport combi, really took my heart away, so that's why, I have also tuned it up with 65 more horsepower, and planning to get a sportcat, with better airflow exhaust system and a sport filter. The question is, should I go for a stage 2 trim? I love the car as my baby, and its the best car ever owned, Im shut I got affected by the SAAB virus............... The guy who did the Handsfree work( been working earlier on the Saab factory) told me that this is probably one of the last )# sport combis who left the factory, due to som trim details inside is not correct, they took what was available to get the last cars made ready for sale. The production lines stopped in June 2011 in Trollhättan, and this car left the line in March 2011, and it was sold in September 2012, so its a funny history on the car as well. I have a friend who owned a rather new Cadillac STS, and he told me after a drive together, that he sit better in the SAAB 93, much more comfortable, he is 210 cm long, Im just 170, but it doesn't matter we both sit better that in a Mercedes, ha ha
The production of SAAB cars continued after June 2011. My SAAB 9-3 SC TTID Linear Griffin 2012 had Continental 215/55/16 tyres manufactured 11.11(November 2011) I bought this car from Kvarndammen auction, the cars weren't sold by dealers after the bankruptcy, mostly by Kvarndammen auctions in Sweden.
For the performance, they are a steal, but you have to put some thought into budgeting for preventative maintenance. Treat em like cheap performance cars and they will treat you like you bought a cheap performance car, and break on you. Keep up on maintenance like timing chain, oil changes, fluids, tstat, plugs, filters, etc...and they will keep you smiling for a long time. What other dead brand out there the best turbo tech on all their cars, has free factory parts&repair computer programs online and huge support among the fans? Not many.
Had my ECU go out. Should have listened to Jacob and installed the spacer sooner. It was a very difficult to locate and expensive part to replace. Shortly after the ECU, the throttle body failed. Easier part to locate, but still very expensive. In hindsight, I think I could have done both repairs myself for a fraction of the cost. I'll know better next time. I have always loved Saabs and hope I can hang on to my 2007 9-2 2.0 ragtop forever.
North Carolina Saab 9-3 Combi owner here. Bought mine new in '06. Except for three free dealer oil changes I've done all the maintenance myself. Have a spacer for the ECM and run it w/o the beauty cover for heat control. 96K miles and no leaks, burns no oil. Had a problem with the steering lock once when the battery went dead. Agree a Tech2 is important. New battery and the Saab stays on a tender when not used. Very reliable but the paint is a mess. GM must have sold Saab a boatlad of awful white paint. Don't worry Saab On!
‘08 2.0T 9-3 Aero owner here. Terrific car, nothing needed but maintenance but with only 61k miles on the clock I don’t expect anything different. I’d say the weakest part of the car is paint quality, a good finish but I’ve never owned a car so vulnerable to stone chips. However the looks, performance and increasing rarity make up for that.
Make it known on the 2.8Ts right now its very hard to find power steering pumps. Other than that you hit this video head on. I owned a 2.0T for a while went FBO with it and loved it. Was easy to work on myself and was super reliable. Recently just picked up a 2.8T aero and had to go through a few things. Easy to work on myself as well just a tighter compartment. Absolutely love my SAAB and will probably end up with a few more in my possession in the near future.
@@AutoAutopsy Yep! As far as new/reman on them goes I couldn't find a single one. I ended up picking one up off a part out. Only thing I have left to do on this 9-3 aero I picked up is Valve cover gaskets and eventually replace the rear sub frame as its starting to rust out. Other than that I just went through the rest of it. 203k Miles and still running strong!
This was unexpected, my sister just told me she is very interested in buy a (NG) 9-3. Edit: As someone coming from Volvo’s, being reminded that they put the ECM on the engine where it gets cooked is such an odd choice, I know some Volvo’s have control modules placed in questionable locations, but still.
AUTOAUTOPSY - have you had opportunity to review diesel engined Saab 93s? In Europe the 1.9 diesel, TID and TTID models, is probably the most common engine. The HP options offered range from 120hp to 200hp. I have a 2006 Saab 93 1.9cc 150hp TID Vector Sport. Owned it since new and have done 140,000 miles - no reliability issues. Only once in 18 years did 'David' let me down with a fuel injector problem which was covered by the Saab warranty in 2008.
Keep Going ! Thank You ! Just because of you I am still fighting our 3 Saabs ( 2000 93 hatchback 4 door,auto/2007 95 /2008 93) .Just turned 65 🤓! Your subscriber for quiet few years now.St.Catharines,Ontario, Canada
I just bought one of these, my locks are acting weird. Car don't wanna lock with key and when I lock it manually it unlocks the driver door over night o by itself. Really irritating, other than that I really enjoy the car
Real helpful video. I've recently been looking at a 2007 SAAB 9-3 2.0t. seeing as it's the last few in my country, the urge to get it is even stronger. It has over 190k miles, but with no service history. I'm fairly new to the GM era of SAAB, what do you reckon I should look out for? Really want it for a reliable daily driver.
Hmm. I think many of the common problems would be somewhat similar, given the drivetrains are somewhat similar. Body parts are gonna be tough to find on those
There is good information but lot of missing. Front subframe is problem, but rear subframe/axle beam is bigger problem. It also rust like hell and always top bumerang mounts will rust off from subframe or lower control arm mount sidewalls rust through. Rear wheel arches always rust and if not fixed fast, will rust throught fast. Timgin chain is big problem on both 2.0 and 2.8. 2.0turbo it will last max around 250 000Km (150 miles?) and 2.8 it always have been failing under 200 000Km, seen lot of them fail on littlebit over 100 000Km. LP9 or first year of 2.8 single-row chain is littlebit better but newer B248 dual-row chain is just joke, it is very fracile. Also lot of major engine failures or damages are caused by locking power steer pumps on B207, which are run directly by intake cam. Pump axle shaft seal fails and engine oil will be mixed on pump chf11s hydraulic oil and it will cause pumps lamels to fail and pump will lock up. Timing will jump and almost every case also the intake cam will snap in two pieces. Should be monitoring color of power steering oil. Very easy to fix, seal will cost around 1€/$ on basic seals selling hydraylic company. Seal measures is 17x30x7mm. Also both of motors are known to consume lot of oil.
For the sake of brevity, this wasn’t a complete comprehensive/detailed video, but more so a general overview with links to more in depth videos about specific topics. Thanks for the additions in the comments! The rust info is hugely helpful. You might be able to tell I’m not from an area where cars rust with the stuff I missed 🤣😅
It really depends on condition, mileage, spec/trim, etc. there’s a decent amount of Saabs in the North Carolina area - I believe they have a good sized Facebook group!
As a young ish bloke 30 I love my Saab I always love the look on people's face when they expect me to be a middle aged man just another example of how stereotypes can be wrong 😂😂😂
if you're talking new get 9-3, yes - it's on the same platform. it would require A LOT of work and it would be much easier to just buy a V6 car from the start!
Thanks it's because I have a 2003 93 2.0t but I think the head gasket blew because it has a rough idle and tons of white smoke coming out of the exhaust
@@Tayketchup Ahh okay i'm thinking of getting a 9-3 in a year's time and most of them in Ireland at my budget have around 100,000 miles or more so i'm just curious! Thanks :)
@@AutoAutopsyI was just thinking would this be a good long term car to own. They seem to be priced right just wondering in a worst case scenario 5 years from now will I be able to find an engine.
I had a 2007 60th anniversary edition convertible as my first car straight out of high school. I ran it a little too hard one day, and burnt up the ECU. No shop near me would even touch any engine components, i had no experience with them, so with no other option, being 18 and living on my own, i eventually scrapped it to get a 2014 Ford focus. I miss that old convertible 😅 Edit: God the old plastics. I had to replace the coolant reservoir because the neck literally crumbled when I opened the cap 🤦♂️
2010 9-3X Sport Combi here. Bought the wagon with the key fobs not working for door functions. They both start the vehicle when inserted into the center stack. We tried the program method that is out on videos on YT. First try, one of the fobs worked for about three lock/unlock cycles, the stopped. The other fob has never worked for the doors. Any ideas? Do we need a Tech II and proper software to try to program the fobs? I find it odd that they will work for the ignition, but not the doors? Esp when again, one of the fobs worked for a few lock cycles. Thank you for any assistance.
I really enjoyed my Saab ownership experience. Great community and I miss my car dearly. I had an '06 9-3 Aero SportCombi 6AT (dark silver w/ cream interior). It was a peach and was extremely fun, reliable and capable. That car just ate up the highway miles like it was nothing. Got it from the original owner w/ 180k miles. It was the coolest and rarest car I've ever owned. I hope she's doing ok out there!
Sounds like you need to get another!
Why did you part ways?
My mom was selling her Honda Pilot and I wanted to keep that car in the family@@snwdn
3:29 Just after watching this video, I spoke w/another Saaber in my town (w/a blue Viggen himself) who happened to mention that Orio is manufacturing new subframes for the NG 9-3 like you said here. Maybe a Swede can weigh in on this, but it’s a good sign overall that our Saabs will continue to receive ongoing parts and support.🇸🇪
100%. It’s really reassuring for us owners to know they’re committed to helping keep our cars on the road
I live in Europe, but I really enjoy your videos. I jumped the ship and got a 2004 Saab 9-3 with the 1.8i engine, which is basically an Opel Ecotec unit. (Z18XE)
I realized that being an Opel engine it is very easy to get parts and also all the tutorials for the Opel version apply to the Saab as well.
I really love my car and will start upgrading a few things in the future. 😃
That's the most reliable gasoline engine you could get to NG9-3 if you remember to replace the timing belt, water pump and tensioners within suggested intervals.
We have NG9-5 TTiD and NG9-3CV TiD. I used to drive with bioethanol but it became too expensive. The service guy of our SAABs suggested diesels so first I bought NG9-5 TTiD and then NG9-3CV TiD for my wife.
They're pretty reliable if you replace the timing belt, tensioners and the water pump every 100 000 kms 👍
Awesome! Enjoy it 👊🏼🙌🏼
@@tomitoikka367please don’t forget about the oil pickup o-ring
When you check 9-3 befor buying . Make sure there is no power stearing leak to engine part , its very common like author tell it in video. When you check engine oil - on oil stick must be no visual micro drops of any other liquid ( if engine get some power stearing liquid its game over). Nevery buy this sample.
You find good Aero 9-3 :
1) Rebuild power stearing on fresh sealing and O rings. Use original parts.
2) Get protection on your ECU
3) Keep rust under control
4) Grab Stage1 from Maptune or Nordic Tuning (you gen more torque and better fuel economy )
5) Enjoy with one of the best car money/joy on market.
Keep SAABs on road , they are very special cars.
Thanks for the information mate:)👍
Great info here!
I owned a 2006 9-3 and a 2007 9-3 60th anniversary edition. Loved both of them. The 2006 was totaled in an accident due to glare ice and although the damage wasn’t extensive, it wasn’t worth repairing. Due to an arthritic hip, getting in and out of my 2007 was becoming increasingly difficult. I loved the car however. It did have the soft intake valve issue taken care of by the top SAAB indie shop here in Wisconsin, The Auto Shop. It also had the ECU riser installed, the balance shaft chain guide replaced (and replaced all guides and chains anyway), front struts replaced, outer tie rods replaced, new coil packs and front brakes and rotors replaced. I sold it to my youngest son a month ago (184,000 miles on the odometer) and bought a 2021 Mazda CX-5. If it weren’t for my hip, it would have kept the 2007 until it literally fell apart or I couldn’t drive any more. I didn’t think any of the work I had done on the SAAB was unreasonable for a 17 year old car, particularly one that I thoroughly enjoyed driving.
Well said, sorry to hear. I should have mentioned the soft valves on 07+. Thanks for the addition
my son just bought a 2011 9-3 XWD with 48k miles and we like you videos, good info for new Saab owners
thank you both for the support. that's low mileage!
One of my timing chain guides was broken at around 180000 miles so you may want to check that if you hear a clicking sound from the engine when checking out one. I have the B207R engine (2.0T). I fixed it and it's all good now.
Just did that on my 2005 with the B207R. It has 194k miles
I’m at 175k 😬🤞🏼
Yeah a common issue on the B207
All virgins lol. My 05 has 296k and still gets 34 mpg highway. My 95 900se went 297k so let's hope we can cross the 300k mark!
@@SaabJitsu What maintenance did you do to ensure such big numbers?
I'm a UK 9-3 Aero (vert) owner, and my go to garage is around 20 miles away, Saab specialist, and I know breakers (at least two) specialising in Saabs, so I can get parts. Mine, is beautiful, and passed the last MOT (road safety check) with no advisories, so nothing to worry about for the next year. Mine is a Limey. There are only around 210 - 215 left on the road in the UK right now, so I'm highly privileged to be driving such a desirable car right now (and it still beats equivalent spec brand new Audi, BMW and Mercedes on performance). When the weather is good, top down and off I go with a smile on my face. Petrol engine 210Bhp from factory, but mapped to much more. This is a good, nice looking, and fast car.
I bought a 2003 Arc yesterday, and already looking forward to driving it more (just needs insurance lol) but it was barely ever driven by the previous owner, so there’s some stuff that needs to be cleared out. Should be getting a tech 2 with my next paycheck, after I get tires. The dealer didn’t realize it had 2013 tires on it, so I got a pretty good discount. Apart from a faulty door sensor and the expected misfire or two- it’s great!
Awesome! Enjoy your repairs and ownership 🇸🇪
Had my 06 Aero for about 9 years now, bought it as 2nd owner with just 35k miles on the clock and currently sitting at 60k miles. Only persistent issue I had was coolant leaking due to a slightly warped head from a one-off overheat. Currently just finished with the engineering work as went with a full rebuild :) Upgraded everything relative to the motor as well as a lot of brake/ suspension and exhaust upgrades. Was sitting at 390bhp before the rebuild so looking forward to when everything is assembled again in about 2 weeks :) I LOVE this car!
Awesome! 👊🏼😁
Was just offered to buy a 2006 Saab 9-3 6 speed manual with 90k miles and has been garage kept its whole life. Only 3500$, your videos are convincing me that this is the best bang for my buck fun daily driveable vehicle in todays economy. I think I’ll be picking it up
B207 or B284?
That sounds like a solid deal, assuming it’s in good shape! I’ll be jealous that it’s a manual!
I bought my daughter's 2005 9-3 Linear for $1 with 222k miles. She bought it 5 years ago for $1600 with 180 miles on it. Love the car. Will be doing the ecu isolation to it soon. Would love a video on how to convert from a t to a T.
Awesome! Good idea. I don’t have a linear to do that on, unfortunately. But it’s really just injectors, turbo, and tune. Pretty simple!
One more, if you can feel vibrations in the steering wheel on idle the cam tensioner in plastic is about to give up. I´ve been working for 20 years in a Saab/Gm work shop in Sweden and it has happend with a small number of cars with the B207. Tnx for sharing and i really love how enthusiastic you all are about Saab on the other side of the "pool" 👍
Thanks! Good advice 👊🏼
I have a Saab 9-3 turbo X if you have the 2.8 V6 and need a coolant tank pay the extra money and upgrade the coolant tank I had two of them fail back to back and the aluminum one seems to be a lot better
Good upgrade for sure!
Kinda surprised to hear about some of these issues. My 05 9-3 I picked up in 2018 with 160k, now at 296k it still runs like a champ. 34 mpg on the highway at 75 mph. No major malfunctions other than the 3-4 shift solenoid acting janky and at 185k I cloned the ECM. Only use Wix oil filters with just O Reilly auto branded high mileage oil. Change it every 3,500 miles as turbos are hard on oil. Only use 91-93 octane fuel and an Optimia yellow top battery. Maybe I just got a good one. Saab on y'all!
Awesome! Again, they *are* reliable cars when taken care of. Yours is definitely proof of that 👍🏼😄
I'm on my third Saab but I'm from the UK so the models are a little different. My first was an estate Saab 95 with the ford Taunus V4 engine and column shift ( that was my first ever car ), my second was many years later and an earlt Saab 9-3 with the 2.2 diesel engine ( good car but very agricultural engine ), my currant Saab I've had for three years, bought it with around 42k miles on the clock and it's a 2011 9-3 Aero 1.9 TTid Estate built by Spyker and it's has passed ever MOT with no advisories and all I've had to do it service it and change tires, now it's on 66K, had a maptun tune on it so it puts out around 220Bhp and it's ok even though it's an automatic ( the fist auto I've ever owned ). Nice cars, not as dynamic as an Alfa Romeo or BMW but they handle ok and they cost less to run than both.
Awesome! 👏🏼
Greetings from another AZ Saab enthusiast! I had a laser red 06 9-3 aero SportCombi. It was pretty neglected before I got it and so I ended up having transmission issues and eventually I sold the car instead of fixing it. I still miss that thing, it was really fun to drive. I think I need to get a manual 2.0T next lol.
hello! they're great cars! its a shame it sounds like you got a poor example due to previous owners :(
Great commentary and insight! Thank you for the post!
I bought a SAAB 93 sport combi 2011, 1.8T Biopower, last year(2023) in Sweden, and it was only 100 000km on it, but the Service book was all filled in from the start, an old lady was the first owner, and she passed away, and her husband sold it too Me, it looks like brand new outside and inside.
I have put a new instrument in it( so I got the Turbo meter in the instrument), I love that shit, and its not available in the 1.8 t.
The funny part is that the 1.8t and the 2.0t is the same engine 1998cc
And a paintbody sealing just done, and the most important: a full sandblaster underneath the car was done, and after its painted with 2 component Zink paint, to prevent it from any future rust, and I also got a Handsfree installed working with the original buttons on the steering wheel.
Why all this spending? well this is the best car I ever owned, I earlier got Volvos, Mitsubishis,Saab 95, Alfa Romeos, Audi, but this 93 SAAB Sport combi, really took my heart away, so that's why, I have also tuned it up with 65 more horsepower, and planning to get a sportcat, with better airflow exhaust system and a sport filter.
The question is, should I go for a stage 2 trim?
I love the car as my baby, and its the best car ever owned, Im shut I got affected by the SAAB virus...............
The guy who did the Handsfree work( been working earlier on the Saab factory) told me that this is probably one of the last )# sport combis who left the factory, due to som trim details inside is not correct, they took what was available to get the last cars made ready for sale.
The production lines stopped in June 2011 in Trollhättan, and this car left the line in March 2011, and it was sold in September 2012, so its a funny history on the car as well.
I have a friend who owned a rather new Cadillac STS, and he told me after a drive together, that he sit better in the SAAB 93, much more comfortable, he is 210 cm long, Im just 170, but it doesn't matter we both sit better that in a Mercedes, ha ha
Do you have a TD04 and bigger injectors on there, or still the smaller injectors and turbo? I’d start with that if not
The production of SAAB cars continued after June 2011. My SAAB 9-3 SC TTID Linear Griffin 2012 had Continental 215/55/16 tyres manufactured 11.11(November 2011) I bought this car from Kvarndammen auction, the cars weren't sold by dealers after the bankruptcy, mostly by Kvarndammen auctions in Sweden.
For the performance, they are a steal, but you have to put some thought into budgeting for preventative maintenance. Treat em like cheap performance cars and they will treat you like you bought a cheap performance car, and break on you. Keep up on maintenance like timing chain, oil changes, fluids, tstat, plugs, filters, etc...and they will keep you smiling for a long time. What other dead brand out there the best turbo tech on all their cars, has free factory parts&repair computer programs online and huge support among the fans? Not many.
Definitely!
Had my ECU go out. Should have listened to Jacob and installed the spacer sooner. It was a very difficult to locate and expensive part to replace. Shortly after the ECU, the throttle body failed. Easier part to locate, but still very expensive. In hindsight, I think I could have done both repairs myself for a fraction of the cost. I'll know better next time. I have always loved Saabs and hope I can hang on to my 2007 9-2 2.0 ragtop forever.
Sorry to hear - I’m sure they’ll last you for awhile. You can also remove the plastic engine cover to help with ecu cooling
North Carolina Saab 9-3 Combi owner here. Bought mine new in '06. Except for three free dealer oil changes I've done all the maintenance myself. Have a spacer for the ECM and run it w/o the beauty cover for heat control. 96K miles and no leaks, burns no oil. Had a problem with the steering lock once when the battery went dead. Agree a Tech2 is important. New battery and the Saab stays on a tender when not used. Very reliable but the paint is a mess. GM must have sold Saab a boatlad of awful white paint.
Don't worry Saab On!
‘08 2.0T 9-3 Aero owner here. Terrific car, nothing needed but maintenance but with only 61k miles on the clock I don’t expect anything different. I’d say the weakest part of the car is paint quality, a good finish but I’ve never owned a car so vulnerable to stone chips. However the looks, performance and increasing rarity make up for that.
Make it known on the 2.8Ts right now its very hard to find power steering pumps. Other than that you hit this video head on. I owned a 2.0T for a while went FBO with it and loved it. Was easy to work on myself and was super reliable. Recently just picked up a 2.8T aero and had to go through a few things. Easy to work on myself as well just a tighter compartment. Absolutely love my SAAB and will probably end up with a few more in my possession in the near future.
Well said! Good addition and FYI - I did not know that
@@AutoAutopsy Yep! As far as new/reman on them goes I couldn't find a single one. I ended up picking one up off a part out.
Only thing I have left to do on this 9-3 aero I picked up is Valve cover gaskets and eventually replace the rear sub frame as its starting to rust out. Other than that I just went through the rest of it. 203k Miles and still running strong!
This was unexpected, my sister just told me she is very interested in buy a (NG) 9-3.
Edit: As someone coming from Volvo’s, being reminded that they put the ECM on the engine where it gets cooked is such an odd choice, I know some Volvo’s have control modules placed in questionable locations, but still.
It was a dumb idea for sure lol
my 1.8T tuned to 210hp has been a dead reliable daily for 30.000km already
🙌🏼🔥
Hows it holding up?
AUTOAUTOPSY - have you had opportunity to review diesel engined Saab 93s?
In Europe the 1.9 diesel, TID and TTID models, is probably the most common engine. The HP options offered range from 120hp to 200hp.
I have a 2006 Saab 93 1.9cc 150hp TID Vector Sport. Owned it since new and have done 140,000 miles - no reliability issues. Only once in 18 years did 'David' let me down with a fuel injector problem which was covered by the Saab warranty in 2008.
I have not unfortunately, since they were never sold in the US :( I would love to though, just to experience it!
Keep Going ! Thank You ! Just because of you I am still fighting our 3 Saabs ( 2000 93 hatchback 4 door,auto/2007 95 /2008 93) .Just turned 65 🤓! Your subscriber for quiet few years now.St.Catharines,Ontario, Canada
Happy birthday! Thanks for all of the support
I just bought one of these, my locks are acting weird. Car don't wanna lock with key and when I lock it manually it unlocks the driver door over night o by itself. Really irritating, other than that I really enjoy the car
Nov 2024 will be my 20th anniversary with my NG 9-3. Still remember when I took delivery vividly.
Wow, that’s awesome. There aren’t many original owners out there anymore!
what about the 1.9TTid engine ?
So where do you take a Saab for service/ maintenance now that Saab’s defunct? Volvo dealership?
Saab independent shops. There’s still a surprising amount around. If not, DIY, someone third party who’s willing to work on them, or a friend
Real helpful video. I've recently been looking at a 2007 SAAB 9-3 2.0t. seeing as it's the last few in my country, the urge to get it is even stronger. It has over 190k miles, but with no service history. I'm fairly new to the GM era of SAAB, what do you reckon I should look out for? Really want it for a reliable daily driver.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏼 Everything mentioned here and in the videos I linked are what you’ll want to check on!
do a same style video with a 9-5 facelift
Hmm. I think many of the common problems would be somewhat similar, given the drivetrains are somewhat similar. Body parts are gonna be tough to find on those
There is good information but lot of missing. Front subframe is problem, but rear subframe/axle beam is bigger problem. It also rust like hell and always top bumerang mounts will rust off from subframe or lower control arm mount sidewalls rust through. Rear wheel arches always rust and if not fixed fast, will rust throught fast. Timgin chain is big problem on both 2.0 and 2.8. 2.0turbo it will last max around 250 000Km (150 miles?) and 2.8 it always have been failing under 200 000Km, seen lot of them fail on littlebit over 100 000Km. LP9 or first year of 2.8 single-row chain is littlebit better but newer B248 dual-row chain is just joke, it is very fracile. Also lot of major engine failures or damages are caused by locking power steer pumps on B207, which are run directly by intake cam. Pump axle shaft seal fails and engine oil will be mixed on pump chf11s hydraulic oil and it will cause pumps lamels to fail and pump will lock up. Timing will jump and almost every case also the intake cam will snap in two pieces. Should be monitoring color of power steering oil. Very easy to fix, seal will cost around 1€/$ on basic seals selling hydraylic company. Seal measures is 17x30x7mm. Also both of motors are known to consume lot of oil.
For the sake of brevity, this wasn’t a complete comprehensive/detailed video, but more so a general overview with links to more in depth videos about specific topics. Thanks for the additions in the comments! The rust info is hugely helpful. You might be able to tell I’m not from an area where cars rust with the stuff I missed 🤣😅
How did you get that polish plate on the left? And it is from my county! Greeting from Poland! 😁
It was sent to me from one of your countrymen/women!
My dad has this one literally might be the only one left in nc with this car I’m wondering the value of it in the future
It really depends on condition, mileage, spec/trim, etc. there’s a decent amount of Saabs in the North Carolina area - I believe they have a good sized Facebook group!
@@AutoAutopsy he just got it repainted basically car looks brand new engine sounds great
i live in poland and i think bout getting 2008+ saab 93 but i dont know if i should take b207 engine or the 1.9 tid
I don't know anything about the diesel's unfortunately. the 2.0 (B207) is a great motor
What was third source for parts you mentioned? I know esaabparts and eeuroparts but didn't get the other.
rockauto is pretty good. here's a video with a bunch more: th-cam.com/video/ARVbmaQ7Dn8/w-d-xo.html
As a young ish bloke 30 I love my Saab I always love the look on people's face when they expect me to be a middle aged man just another example of how stereotypes can be wrong 😂😂😂
🤣👍🏼
Where can I get an open intake heat shield for a 2008 9-3 2.0t?
Do88 has them
if you don't mind, what was the mod that got your car backfiring
Do you mean exhaust burbles? If so, a decent exhaust system can provide that!
I was wondering if a 2.8L v6 fit in a 2003 saab 93 engine bay
if you're talking new get 9-3, yes - it's on the same platform. it would require A LOT of work and it would be much easier to just buy a V6 car from the start!
Thanks it's because I have a 2003 93 2.0t but I think the head gasket blew because it has a rough idle and tons of white smoke coming out of the exhaust
Do the timing chains on these cars have a specific lifespan or are they built to last as long as the car has been serviced when it needs it?
They're known to have issues at around 150,000 miles
@@Tayketchup the tensioner guide is the problem, not the chain itself
@@Tayketchup Ahh okay i'm thinking of getting a 9-3 in a year's time and most of them in Ireland at my budget have around 100,000 miles or more so i'm just curious! Thanks :)
@@thackerybrown2860 So when chains typically start to act up, it's the tensioner that needs replacing not the chain itself?
Good addition to the list!
Is it easy to enough to get new engine abd transmission on these if needed?
It depends on what you mean by "easy." They are definitely out there!
@@AutoAutopsyI was just thinking would this be a good long term car to own. They seem to be priced right just wondering in a worst case scenario 5 years from now will I be able to find an engine.
How Much is it
Should I buy 2003 saab 9-3 that has over 300 000 kilometer?
maintenance history is critical. if it's been well maintained, it can be a good buy
I had a 2007 60th anniversary edition convertible as my first car straight out of high school. I ran it a little too hard one day, and burnt up the ECU. No shop near me would even touch any engine components, i had no experience with them, so with no other option, being 18 and living on my own, i eventually scrapped it to get a 2014 Ford focus. I miss that old convertible 😅
Edit: God the old plastics. I had to replace the coolant reservoir because the neck literally crumbled when I opened the cap 🤦♂️
2010 9-3X Sport Combi here. Bought the wagon with the key fobs not working for door functions. They both start the vehicle when inserted into the center stack. We tried the program method that is out on videos on YT. First try, one of the fobs worked for about three lock/unlock cycles, the stopped. The other fob has never worked for the doors. Any ideas? Do we need a Tech II and proper software to try to program the fobs? I find it odd that they will work for the ignition, but not the doors? Esp when again, one of the fobs worked for a few lock cycles.
Thank you for any assistance.
Try the battery. If you bought a non-OEM fob, they oftentimes come with incorrect and weak batteries
The cars were made in Sweden, city Trollhättan not in the US , just saying 😏
I didnt said they were! 😅 they’re still Swedish at heart 😁👊🏼