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| Saab 9-3 SS, Combi & Convertible Performance, Mods & Tuning Covers Tuning & Performance modifications for the Saab 9-3 Sports Saloon/Sedan, Combi & Convertible |
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#1
15-01-07, 04:18 AM
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HELP! here's what I want to do to my car... Need some newbie advice!
Well guys, long time reader, first time poster.
I've been eyeing a saab for a while, and i finally got the chance to get one. its the lower end model, i forget whether its the arc or the linear, an '04 9-3 2.0t. I have since put a kickin' stereo in it, and its awesome. So... A few things: Its an auto with the tiptronic/sentronic/whatever you call it...  the manual one i wanted was just not the right price, and wasnt certified preowned, which brings me to the next point..this car currently has 36,000 miles on it. its good for another 3 or 4 years up to 100k miles, bumper to bumper. the only thing that isn't covered is audio (which conveniently crapped out right after the warranty period!) I'd like to modify the car to increase performance, and also make it sound awesome, but I DO NOT want to void the warranty! That's the reason why I BOUGHT the car-because of the awesome waranty! So... Here are a few things i want to do... • Disable Daytime running lights!!! these things drive me CRAZY, not to mention using valuable battery power that COULD be driving my JL 250/1 amp and the 2 12" MTX subs in the back... • I NEED paddle shifters.... this is the next best thing to a manual. they are ungodly sexy. this is the thing i want most at this point. • I want a fat exhaust/muffler system... i want the car to sound as powerful amazing as the ride really is, not to mention a small HP boost. I've heard great things about Magnaflow and Borla... • I want a Cold Air Intake system or an Intercooler...or both... Not sure which would be more helpful. This is my first car, and I keep hearing conflicting advice on which is better. • DOOR LOCKS. F'ing DOOR LOCKS. Those things HAVE to retract INTO the friggin door when I hit lock! THEY HURT MY ARM WHEN I STICK IT OUT THE WINDOW! • I had WANTED an ECU upgrade, but everyone said it was a waste of money, that the ECU auto adjusts. I also heard the common one out there (BSR?) makes the saab not really take off from a stoplight like it does now... now--the hard part: BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND NOT VOIDING THE WARRANTY! I'd like to keep this all under $1000 or $1500 at the most, INSTALLED. the lower the better... I'm not good at working on cars, and I could certainly do more damage than is needed in order of importance: Paddle shifters Exhaust Cold Air Intake/Intercooler Daytime Running Lights Door Locks ECU? I am looking forward to your great advice on this forum! |
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#2
15-01-07, 04:26 AM
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Not to be a wise guy, but I don't think you've been reading that long or you would know the answers to all of the questions you've asked are all here.
You don't know wether your car is an Arc or Linear? You don't know what the Transmission is called? You "think" the warranty is good for three or four years! And you want to do all that stuff you listed for 1k/1.5k and not void the warranty.... What are you smokin??? |
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#3
15-01-07, 04:29 AM
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I dont search. i am a forum junkie, but too lazy to search. i meant i've been reading around about reviews. nothing in terms of modding. i never thought i'd get into the modding scene.
no, i dont know whether my car is an arc or a linear. frankly, it was GIVEN to me as a gift. i didnt expect it, it was a pipe dream. 18th birthday presents rock. i had looked into it, decided what i wanted, was told that wasn't going to happen, and boom. surprise. all i know is the car drives amazingly. ill go get the manual and check what model it is. i know i could never do all that **** and not void the warranty for 1.5k thats why i said i would only expect to get the exhaust and the paddleshifters done. the daytime running ligths after some serious googling it looks like i can do myself |
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#5
15-01-07, 04:32 AM
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I've written hundreds of thousands of words -- probably millions -- in my time on this earth and I can't even begin to describe how ludicrous this thread is.
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#6
15-01-07, 04:39 AM
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Well for Starters, you can't do the DRL's yourself...it has to be done via Tech II, by a Dealer or Specialist with the equipment. The directions are in the forum FAQ.
A PPC upgrade is gonna cost you a grand, a Catback in the area of 600. Not even talking about an Intercooler or CAI. Learn to use Search and the FAQ, everyone here is always willing to help, but we don't do windows...we're not Mom. Happy Birthday Kid...Don't crash it. |
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#7
15-01-07, 04:41 AM
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Quote:
Last edited by JonV; 15-01-07 at 04:48 AM. |
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#8
15-01-07, 04:48 AM
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Quote:
Hey Saabfiend, you've set a tough financial barrier for yourself, especially since you won't be doing any of the work. Converting your car to paddle shifters is likely beyond your capabilities, and will almost certainly clear out your bank account in labor costs. In fact, nearly everything that you're looking to do, outside of the PPC, the lights and exhaust, will probably void your warranty. |
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#9
15-01-07, 04:53 AM
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yep. im noobin it up. bad.
first off let me apologize for such a ****ty first post..  i've been under the weather for the past few days, running on 2 hours of sleep. I figured the catback would be around 500-700. ppc upgrade seems outrageously expensive for just a system upgrade, but again, i'm a computer guy, not a car guy, so i wouldn't know been searchin now, still cant find paddle shifters... i found a few people askin for them tho! http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/sh...addle+shifters as for the DRL's, is this wrong for the 9-3? snipped from.. http://www.lightsout.org/disable.html Saab Saab 92-X Remove the glovebox. If you can't figure out how to do it you probably don't have the skill required to complete this installation. It's just a bunch of phillips head screws. Looking at the gaping hole your glovebox used to occupy, you want to focus on the far-right. There is a small, vertically oriented black box with a white and yellow connector plugged into the bottom of it. Unplug it and screw your glovebox back in. Done. |
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#11
15-01-07, 04:56 AM
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Quote:
why is the paddle shifting thing so hard? |
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#12
15-01-07, 04:57 AM
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by the way, forgive my horrible lack of knowledge relating to cars.... seriously, i appreciate the n00b helpage here
if you ever need help with a computer/cellphone, i am the go-to guy sell cellphones for a livin, so yeah... hit me up ill hook it up. ask me a car question, i'm clueless. barely know how to change a tire 
Last edited by saabfiend; 15-01-07 at 05:05 AM. |
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#13
15-01-07, 04:58 AM
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re: post 9
No it will not work to disable the drl's ...look in the FAQ, there is a link to the Tech II instructions under DRL
use sesarch for- DRL Disable Tech II Last edited by JonV; 15-01-07 at 05:09 AM. |
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#14
15-01-07, 05:11 AM
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found the DRL thread already, thanks for the point in the right direction though!
I think i'm going to like it here the sass and sarcasm are the best part  so guys, what do you recommend in terms of exhaust, and would my saab dealer do the install for me? |
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#17
15-01-07, 09:33 AM
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Quote:
I don't think things are as black as they've been painted. Lets start at the cheap end and work up: Door locks - these are a relatively easy mod to do for FREE. You remove the door trim (instructions are on here - it takes two minutes per side when you know how) and then unscrew the knob. If before you remove the door trim you measure how much sticks up above the door cap (about 15 mm I guess) then shorten the button accordingly. Not many people bother to do this but I remember a thread (possibly with pictures) from a few years ago. DRL - potentially a free modification if you get on well with the dealer. If you bought the car at the dealer then I would look through the Tech II options (listed on here) and pick what you do and don't want then try and persuade the dealer to help you out. If you're on good terms you may get it as a goodwill gesture, otherwise you may have to pay for an hours labour. CAI - If you want more induction noise / turbo suck then go this rouyte. It does little for power and a panel filter would be a cheaper route to the same HP increase (if any). BSR Optiflow has been a popular option for many. This is available for around $200 new and is a DIY install, alternatively check the classifieds here, occasionally they appear because they are too loud for some. Another route might be eBay. Exhaust - If you want the full system (race cats through to tail pipe) you will be spending all your budget. If you just want th ecar to sound meatier then I've heard several sound clips of Magnaflow on here that certainly sound louder. I guess you'd be looking at another $200 or so for just a magnaflow back box - no real power increase but will sound sportier. Depends what you want. For power, the full system would be the best route, however without some serious chip tuning you won't get much in the way of benefits. Intercooler - again, its been done and is pretty much exclusively a DIY project or a local garage option. There is a post on here with pictures of one installed. The parts for this will run you $200 to $400 I guess but there is an amount of fiddling to get it fitted. Again the benefits will be minor without an ECU upgrade and even then you may not release much power. Paddle shifters - Dealer fit only. If you find a car at a salvage yard with these fitted you could buy the wheel cheap (cheaper than at the dealer) - just be warned that there are two airbag uni sizes depending on the vintage of your car. Try and get a steering wheel from the same age as your car. I expect that a dealer would charge an hours labour to sitch the wheels over so it will be that plus the cost of a wheel. A new wheel at dealer prices will likely by $700 or so. ECU - BSR PPC is about your only option. I have only ever read great stuff about this unit. It is certainly the most effective (maybe only) way for you to release more power. I know it is expensive for some electronics, but it will boost power significantly and really make the car fly. If you have $1000 to spend and want power - do this. Technically it may invalidate bits of your warranty but others on here don't seem to have had any problems. You can always reload the original software before dealer visits. That is the beauty of it. My advice would be decide if you want the looks and sounds of a fast car or a fast car. If you want the car to look modded then go ahead and fit the exhaust, CAI and intercooler and spend $1000 that way. If you want performance then go down the ECU route. The door locks and DRLs should be relatively cheap and very possible. Just get on good terms with your local dealer technician. Good luck. |
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#18
15-01-07, 11:20 AM
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Aero sure has a lot of Faith in this guy that admits he's clueless about cars...and just a note, The BSR Optiflow will be about 300 with shipping, it's 187 Euro's plus. IMO he's better off with the Drop-in and BSR Stage 1...the Paddle Shifters bite it anyway..not at all convenient if you need to downshift in a turn....duh..hit the shifter. That should keep him at about a Grand and he'll have 500 left over for the new Brakes he's gonna need.
Last edited by JonV; 15-01-07 at 11:22 AM. |
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#19
15-01-07, 12:59 PM
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I have faith in most people - benefit of the doubt and all. If you are clueless about cars then modifying one really shouldn't be your hobby - especially if money is tight.
My closing comments to what became a mammoth post stand - get the BSR PPC for power and be happy. I agree with you regarding the paddle shifts - may look cool but really more trouble than they are worth. We had them on an Alfa Romeo 147 Selespeed and it was rubbish. |
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#20
15-01-07, 02:57 PM
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Quote:
Any problems resulting from ECU tuning/tampering would not be covered under your warranty if the dealer were to figure out that's what caused the failure. Your dealer should be able to reprogram the DRLs for you using the tech-II. This will cost anywhere from $40...$??? depending how badly they want to ream you. Door locks? That sounds like a DIY project. |
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