nOOb here..

[TRIsaab]

Hey guys. Just bought a saab 9-3turbo. Just have a few quetions for MODDING. Im sure theres lots of threads on it, but i really donrt feel like looking. So, the question is intake. What would recommend or not recommend doing?? Also suspension. Whats some good springs out there.. Im glad to go from import to EURO and look forward to meeting some of u guys in person..

thanks!

[netnet]

http://members.cox.net/netnets/vwwelcome.gif

to the site!

[bugzy]

I recommend a simple drop in K&N filter. The european stock airbox design is plenty enough

i'm running a GTRS big turbo with stock airbox on my Audi =)

Welcome!!

[Greenwing]

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/4.gif

[huitzi]

welcome

[TRIsaab]

Hey guys!! Cool thanks, i was thinkin of doing that anyways. K&N drop filter will do..

Thanks for the welcomes.. :)

[Aero]

Hey man! Welcome to the site! You should check out www.saablink.net as well as www.saabcentral.com , a TON of great info to be found there.

As for intake, a drop-in will do fine for higher power levels.. but even the stock airfilter has been used with out any airflow problems up to 300bhp. If you want to hear the turbo spool and the dump, fit the open-air intake from www.genuinesaab.com You can also find ECU upgrades, exhaust and the like there. Its basically the only place to buy performance stuff for our Saabs in the US, and the owner Nick Taliaferro is a Saab maniac always willing to answer questions and help people out.

[jayDUB]

welcome:tup: :smokem: :smokem:

[stevehayes01]

Welcome to the site!! Great to have another Swede lover here!! Let us know when you are looking at other mods and we would be happy to steer you in the right direction.

[RavinJetta]

Welcome to the site

[scsponger31]

Welcome to the site!! Great to have another Swede lover here!! Let us know when you are looking at other mods and we would be happy to steer you in the right direction.
are there any bolt on turbo upragdes for the 9-3?

[stevehayes01]

That is a very tough question to answer as it depends on the 9-3 year and model you have.

I will try to break it down....

1994-2000 (non SE or HOT)-- Stock is a GT17 or T25 -- Bolt on TD04-15T (SE, HOT and AERO Turbo)

2000-2003 SE & HOT --- GT28 and GT30 but both with some mods to the clocking and oil & water lines.

2003-Present 9-3 --- The only one I know of is from Abbot Racing and is a TD4 H-18T . For roughly 1500 dollars for the swap.

Now having said all that there are allot of people using 16G Volvo turbos and GT3x's that require an A/C removal to fit them properly in the OG 9-3 (1999-2002).

The Stock TD04 in a 9-3 is good for roughly 350HP max at peak flow (pushed to the very end of its efficiency range) so the GT series becomes a nice option. You can however keep your A/C if you use an adaptor plate to space the GT turbo lower in the engine bay.

[TRIsaab]

will springs void any warranties i have..?

also fog light kits..are they easy to install??

[bugzy]

springs maybe used to void any suspension issues you may have ... but most likely not, any how often does your suspension really go bad

chip on your car, will be used anyway the dealership can against you

[TRIsaab]

Cool.. cause i was thinking of H&R springs..

as for the fog lights i was going to do it on my own, so i guess i should call the delarship and see if its just a plug-in type deal.?

[stevehayes01]

Ok on the SAAB here is the way to get around the CHIP...... Look at BSR (http://partsforsaabs.com) for solution called a PPC. This will allow you to stock the car back when it goes in for service and to put it up to your staged upgrade when you are out in life!!

The springs will not void the warranty but you will get crap from the dealer on them when they service your car just a warning.

[TRIsaab]

ok so i dont want the chip. Not interested yet.. Right now just keeping it basic.
Springs i might wait also..also what kind of crap will i get?

do u no where i can find a pic of a 9-3 03-05' dropped on H&R springs?

[stevehayes01]

I will find you more than this.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y245/camry2nv/c88e121f.jpg

[DarkstaR]

Welcome!

[TRIsaab]

cool thanks....... yeh i was thinkin about just getting some stock 17" rims like the ones in the pic. No where i can pick some up at for cheap??

[stevehayes01]

I would check craigslist for them or try Elite Foreign Auto in LA.

[Aero]

Even though you're not interested in the chip, I want to point something out. Apparantly even with the BSR PPC, when you reset it back to factory settings it only changes the maps. It doesn't change the data that has been logged. So the most common way of Tech's checking for it is they read the Peak Boost value. Using the PPC will up your boost, and that data will still be stored. So if a Tech really wants to find out, they still can. This is just what I have read, so I'm not positive.. but it makes sense.

That being said, when I eventually get my chip I plan on having a seperate ECU all together. Get the replacement one flashed from Nordic, then keep my stock one for any warranty issues and for smog if Stage3+ won't pass(which, with our Saabs, it very well might still pass).

I wish we could get ECU's with multiple maps built in, like they have for STi's and such. That would be awesome.

[stevehayes01]

That being said, when I eventually get my chip I plan on having a seperate ECU all together. Get the replacement one flashed from Nordic, then keep my stock one for any warranty issues and for smog if Stage3+ won't pass(which, with our Saabs, it very well might still pass).

Thats a good call on the spare ECU... it will only run $300 or so more to keep the core so not too bad.

As for the maps I would contact BSR about it as I am not sure on that either. I know that it gets used allot for people who deal with the stealers on warranty issues. But like I said not sure how exactly it works.

[TRIsaab]

yeh i tried cragslist..nothing. i guess i will try that other company.

[Aero]

Found these (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/17-Saab-9-3-9-5-900-Wheels-Rims-Brand-New-5x110_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43957QQihZ009QQit emZ190029107347QQrdZ1) on Ebay. Elite usually doesn't have anything from 02+ cars. At least, last time I was there they didn't have a single facelift model. $549 for the set seems to be the going rate.

[TRIsaab]

Cool i will check it out..

Also i found this pic.. i like his drop and rims. Simple and clean. What springs or suspension do u think he's got. Also are those factory rims??

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b10/mattonmyspace/mattttttttttttttttttttttttttt.jpg

[Aero]

I think those rims are BBS RF's, and that is likely the H&R 45mm drop. As for shocks, if I were you I would get the Koni FSD's. You have the luxury of being the only Saab who can use them right now, and from what I hear they kick ass. Variable rate dampening, basically nice and comfy when your cruising and stiff as a board when you are powering through a turn. Best of both worlds. You can get the springs and shocks, as well as many other nifty things for your car, here. (http://www.genuinesaab.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=44_46&osCsid=82b661578a72debec0a9bb678a54dfc0)

You can read about Koni FSD at their site, www.koni.com

[TRIsaab]

Those are BBS CH.

[stevehayes01]

If you goto saablink.net or forums.socalsaab.net and PM DASAABGUY I believe he has a set of BBS RKII's for sale... 17 or 18's cant remember.

[TRIsaab]

ok cool let me find him and PM him!

[TRIsaab]

ok so i PM'ed him.. Alos wit a K&N dropin filter will there be a noise difference(like turbo dump) campared to a drop in OEM(Fram) type filter??

[MrFast4Ward]

Hey Matt! ha haaa another socal3g member turned euro!

[stevehayes01]

ok so i PM'ed him.. Alos wit a K&N dropin filter will there be a noise difference(like turbo dump) campared to a drop in OEM(Fram) type filter??


NOt really..... you want to look at intake options from Genuinesaab.com for your car to add some sound.

Also look at adding a forge or hyperboost tpe valve to the car as well.

[TRIsaab]

Hey another nOOb question.. whats the bolt pattern for my car??

[stevehayes01]

5 x 110 ----- Same wheels as the Saturn ION Redline and Cobalt SS

[TRIsaab]

thanks

[TRIsaab]

What about fog lights? I know i can get them for 100bucks the kit. but is it simple. just pops in and plugs in??

[stevehayes01]

Yes it will be simple to install.

[TRIsaab]

Cool so ur down to help me w/ the install :)

[stevehayes01]

If I could do it from Florida sure!! :D

[TRIsaab]

Damn Flordia? Ur not in the OC anymore??

[stevehayes01]

Unfortunatly not...... :( :( :(

If you need install help check the http://forums.socalsaab.net sight and one of the guys would be glad to assist I am sure.

[SuperchargeVdub]

buy that plate u puss

[TRIsaab]

Well i did me research and saw that there a couple options as far as intake.. I think im just going to stick with the K&N Box filter. I dont feel like install some open are intakes. Also on saablink.net, they said the difference between to the two is with the open u can here the turbo more. But i can here it just fine without it. Also some say that the check engin light can on after they installed it. So i will keep it easy and simple. SoME say u get the sam HP out of the in boX filter then the open air.. So today im going to pep boys to get it!

[Aero]

It may be different for the SS, but I know for the 9-5 there is really no difference at all between the stock filter and the K&N performance wise. Even with the open air the only difference, as you stated, is a less muffled air induction noise(its not actually the turbo you are hearing). Personally, I stuck with the newer version OEM filter from 06. It has been proven to work in applications up to 350HP without causing any air restrictions.

Again though, I don't know much about the SS so this may not be the case.. but I would check it out before running out and spending $50+ for a K&N that might just end up dirtying the MAF.

[TRIsaab]

It may be different for the SS, but I know for the 9-5 there is really no difference at all between the stock filter and the K&N performance wise. Even with the open air the only difference, as you stated, is a less muffled air induction noise(its not actually the turbo you are hearing). Personally, I stuck with the newer version OEM filter from 06. It has been proven to work in applications up to 350HP without causing any air restrictions.

Again though, I don't know much about the SS so this may not be the case.. but I would check it out before running out and spending $50+ for a K&N that might just end up dirtying the MAF.

So u recommend me getting just a newer OEM from an 06' model?? Also i went to two palces today and they dont having any in stock(no surprise) and will take 1week to get...

[Aero]

Ahh, you know what nevermind. Sorry about that. I just checked and the SS has a completely different setup. I thought they were the same, or at least similar, but I guess not. Disregard what I said! Listen to the SS people lol

[roninvolvo]

I almost got 9-3 but my broker got my R for $32,000. It stickered 45,000 and it lowed. 9-3 look hot. rims and lowered looks sick

[stevehayes01]

The R is a great car and looks great factory stock... Complete different category from a 9-3.... sad to say.

[TRIsaab]

Everywhere i go i need to special order it. So i will just order it today and get it monday. :)

[Aero]

Yeah.. you learn not to expect anyone to have ANYTHING for your car in stock quickly. eCommerce is your friend when you're a Saab owner.

[TRIsaab]

Yeh i kinda figured that.. no hurry..

[TRIsaab]

Do u guys no where i can get some stock Factory 17" rims. Used.?

[Aero]

Ebay is pretty much the only place.. just gotta watch out for replicas(unless thats what you want). There is a set of factory ones up there now. Other than that, check the SaabCentral, saablink, saabnet and saabswap classifieds and some pop up every now and again.

[stevehayes01]

http://www.wheelcollision.com/


This place has all sorts of wheels for all models saabs! USed and for good prices.

[Aero]

Woah, that site is awesome. I've been wanting a set of RK's sooo bad. I think I need stage3+ first though. Sooo close.

[TRIsaab]

Hell yeh the site is great! But i wish they had something like that in Socal..or even cali. THe BBS are nice and is what im looking for.. 190 per wheel..not to bad. But i tryed every saab site and put up WTB in the classifieds. So i hope something comes up. I think adding 17" wheel will add and huge difference on looks.