Tuning the 3.0

[stuttgarts996]

Ok guys since I am new to the saab world I wanted to ask your advice. I am pretty familiar wih modding turbo cars and n/a's as having owned a few 996's and 930's in the past. I recently picked up an 00 9-5se 3.0 and as far as i can tell my options are limited to a remapped ecu, exhaust and higher flow intake and the 4cyls get all the goodies.. For the money/performance gains would you consider it worth it? I am not expecting this to be an autocrosss or de car but would like a little more step in it. also i am looking into a set of side skirts and an aero lip but can it be fitted to an se bumper or do i need to swap out the bumper all together? Thanks Nate

[ivanwakeup]

Originally Posted by stuttgarts996

Ok guys since I am new to the saab world I wanted to ask your advice. I am pretty familiar wih modding turbo cars and n/a's as having owned a few 996's and 930's in the past. I recently picked up an 00 9-5se 3.0 and as far as i can tell my options are limited to a remapped ecu, exhaust and higher flow intake and the 4cyls get all the goodies.. For the money/performance gains would you consider it worth it? I am not expecting this to be an autocrosss or de car but would like a little more step in it. also i am looking into a set of side skirts and an aero lip but can it be fitted to an se bumper or do i need to swap out the bumper all together? Thanks Nate

hard for me to say because i havent driven the 6 cyl, but i would say not worth it. you really dont get much punch with the tune thats availiable for it anyway. that turbo is SO small it cant handle more than its already given.

the nice thing about the 6 is that the powerband is fairly linear, you get the extra 2 cylinders to help you way down low and the turbo will pick up the extra slack.

as far as tuning to make it a fast car, i dont know about that...

[stuttgarts996]

From what i could tell 1200 bucks will buy you apx 30hp give or take? not sure that engine is designed to handle any big hp gains anyways.

[ivanwakeup]

sounds about right. maybe even a bit more. if youve got the cash, why not right? but this turbo has issues after (and often before) 100k miles without extra horsepower (much like the gt17 in the LPT 4 cyl). so it might not be the way to go. when you start souping up a car, expect other things to fail. when you factor in that cost of things like a new turbo, which is $$$ for the v6, may as well buy the 4 cyl

the v6 has ample get up and go already. Of course, if you like to go fast, it won't be enough . (my 230bhp aero is not enough anymore..). Even in the v6 though youll keep up with 80 percent of cars on the road, its definitely not something i would call "slow".

it would just make me nervous tuning it because youd be one of only a handful of people maybe. not much to do with the v6. Suspension is the way to go if you wanna upgrade anything.

[stuttgarts996]

I have been having my porsche tech do the work on the car... have to say i kind of chuckled when i saw the tiny turbo on this thing for the first time. not quite what i am use too. love the car though. its a much more relaxed car to drive then the porsches. but god know i cant seem to leave things stock so i am sure it will get the best of me and my paycheck over time.

[raquettelaker2]

Not worth it. If you want to tune, buy an Aero with the TD-04. Otherwise, just enjoy the smoothness and pretty sounds the V6 gives you.

[zachc]

if your gonna keep it just make it super sexy looking. haha.

drop it, get some killer wheels, clear the corners, maybe some tint, nice exhaust and bam you got an awesome looking car.

[stuttgarts996]

prob have to pass on the clear corners. lol. but still curious about the aero lip.

[raquettelaker2]

Originally Posted by stuttgarts996

prob have to pass on the clear corners. lol. but still curious about the aero lip.

Oh. The Aero front lip from a 2000-2001 Aero will bolt right on. The rest of the bumper is the same.

[stuttgarts996]

Good to know.. Thanks. I would imagine the same is with the side skirts.

[stuttgarts996]

Thanks. I would imagine the same applies to the side skirts...

[zachc]

no clear corners! that orange reflector is so ugly. lol. maybe its just me thou. ha. i was kinda throwing random ideas out there.

[stuttgarts996]

ever seen one with the black belt line painted body color? its heading to the autobody shop next week to get a few bumper blemishes addressed and i was considering it. just not sure how it will look.

[stuttgarts996]

btw the car is silver.

[zachc]

personally, i think clear corners look better on any car regardless of color. ha. i just hate how the headlights are a nice white and then you have that ugly orange reflector. i love having the whole headlight housing pure white. its the first mod i did on my car. made a big difference, to me anyway.

[raquettelaker2]

Originally Posted by stuttgarts996

ever seen one with the black belt line painted body color? its heading to the autobody shop next week to get a few bumper blemishes addressed and i was considering it. just not sure how it will look.

I hate painted body molding strips. Yuck yuck yuck. But different people have different tastes I suppose.

[raquettelaker2]

Originally Posted by zachc

personally, i think clear corners look better on any car regardless of color. ha. i just hate how the headlights are a nice white and then you have that ugly orange reflector. i love having the whole headlight housing pure white. its the first mod i did on my car. made a big difference, to me anyway.

I prefer the orange, haha. You have to have fresh bulbs though with a nice deep amber. When the color starts peeling off and they're more yellowy they look doofy.

[zachc]

Originally Posted by raquettelaker2

I prefer the orange, haha. You have to have fresh bulbs though with a nice deep amber. When the color starts peeling off and they're more yellowy they look doofy.

like i said, all opinions man. haha. your car does look pretty sweeet in that pic thou man. aint gonna lie.

this is off topic buttt you going to carlisle in may dude?
i'll be there! ha.

[raquettelaker2]

Originally Posted by zachc

like i said, all opinions man. haha. your car does look pretty sweeet in that pic thou man. aint gonna lie.

this is off topic buttt you going to carlisle in may dude?
i'll be there! ha.

Not sure. I'd like to, but it's decent drive from CT. Depends on my job/money situation I suppose.

[zachc]

Originally Posted by raquettelaker2

Not sure. I'd like to, but it's decent drive from CT. Depends on my job/money situation I suppose.

ah, gotcha. whatchu need money for? my only expense will be gas. or does it cost to get in? lol. im gonna just raid the pantry for food in my house before i leave haha.