BSR Stage 3 Review

[Vision i.T Services]

I've installed BSR's stage 3 today... and bloody hell, what a difference! I questioned if the difference between stage 1 and stage 3 would be noticable, and it's pretty obvious the answer is yes.

It's like a different car! It really is.

I don't know about anyone else, but 1st gear always seemed a bit gutless, but that's gone. I get 3/4 boost in 1st and oddly enough, very little wheel spin. 2nd and 3rd are awesome, but 4th is like getting slammed up the **** by a big rig.

It cost me £129 to upgrade from stage 1 (not including the 3" DP) and it's worth every single penny.

MPG... not great at the moment but it's still adapting. I had 16 on the way home (90% town driving, 10% blast on a dual carriageway.)

I'm off to burn up what's left

[ADouglas]

Thanks for posting your review. I have been on the fence as for what tune to go with (got 3" DP and 3" exhaust installed a few weeks ago) I think stage 3 BSR is the route I will go.

If you noticed a big difference between a stage 1 and stage 3 tune I am sure I will be blown away going right into a stage 3.

[Vision i.T Services]

I don't think you'll be disappointed!

My MPG has leveled out at 22.1 now. I went up the A38 this afternoon and the way it pulls from 60MPH just boggles the mind.

I had to move from lane 1 to lane 2 at around 65MPH in 4th... and it lit up the tyres. It could only just spin the tyres (when moving) in 3rd at stage 1, now it scrambles for grib in 4th.

[the.hatter]

Thanks for the review!

I still can't scrounge together the money for this

I'd have the cost of downpipe, cat-back exhaust, labor to install, and software upgrade, which I guesstimate at $1,500.

I'd be afraid of clutch issues too, so that could add another $2,000 for an upgraded clutch, flywheel, and labor.

There is certainly a ceiling at stage 1 where the $/hp to get more power from the 4-cyl jumps way up

[alexdrops]

Originally Posted by Vision i.T Services

I don't think you'll be disappointed!

My MPG has leveled out at 22.1 now. I went up the A38 this afternoon and the way it pulls from 60MPH just boggles the mind.

I had to move from lane 1 to lane 2 at around 65MPH in 4th... and it lit up the tyres. It could only just spin the tyres (when moving) in 3rd at stage 1, now it scrambles for grib in 4th.

It was good reading your review ...quick quiestion ...what was the total cost of the upgrade?

thx
Alex

[Vision i.T Services]

£553 for the PPC Stage 1
£129 to upgrade the existing PPC to Stage 3
£419 for the DP (plus extra £50 odd quid to customs)
£94 for the Magnaflow 14816
£130 for the Quikshift Stainless Steel air filter
£50 to fit the DP
£199 for uprated pressure plate
£209 for the clutch kit (which includes a second pressure plate which I'm selling, so knock around £100 off the total)
£190 for the DM flywheel
£100 to fit the clutch, pressure plate and flywheel
£19 for an o2 sensor which nearly always break when you remove them from the old downpipe.

Total: £2092 or $3240.

Is it still worth it... yup!

[Ambisaab]

Sounds great and is the way I'd like to go with mine eventually ! I take it that you have shelved the idea of selling it for now ? Have you got your key issues sorted out ?.. I know that was getting on your nerves ! and what about those recirculating valves on your ACC ... did they get done ?

Maybe you could PM me who did your clutch labour for £100.... I need a rear crankshaft seal putting in and will have the clutch done while the box is out !

[iGOTaSAABstory4u]

Could you post any vids of your stage 3?

[Vision i.T Services]

Originally Posted by Ambisaab

Sounds great and is the way I'd like to go with mine eventually ! I take it that you have shelved the idea of selling it for now ? Have you got your key issues sorted out ?.. I know that was getting on your nerves ! and what about those recirculating valves on your ACC ... did they get done ?

Maybe you could PM me who did your clutch labour for £100.... I need a rear crankshaft seal putting in and will have the clutch done while the box is out !

I tried to sell it but nobody was really interested. I'm tempting fate here, but the keys have worked perfectly for months and the recirc motor hasn't put a foot wrong either.

I'll PM you now m8.

I'll upload a couple of videos when the weather picks up... I'm not sure there's much point at the moment.

[Ambisaab]

You have a very tidy 93 and I'll look forward to the video's.... glad to hear that it's behaving itself !


Thanks for the PM.. !

[dsanders16]

Where did you get the clutch kit? I know genuine saab has a kit for the Stage 3.

[Vision i.T Services]

It was all purchased from Abbotts Racing (spoke to Giles)

There's nothing special about the clutch kit... it's OEM as far as I'm aware. The OEM clutch is more than capable of 270BHP and 420Nm, but the stock pressure plate is not. I'm using an uprated version from a Bristol track car.

It's not listed on their web site... so you will have to call them for more info.

GenuineSAAB only do SPEC clutch kits and from what I've heard, they're hopeless. PFS are listed on SPEC's site as accredited dealers but when I spoke to PFS, they said they haven't stocked SPEC for a long time because of quality concerns. Do youself a favour, stick to an OEM clutch (which you know works) and get yourself this Bristol pressure plate.