Saab 9-3 SS - Easter Eggs/cool functions

[BlackSaab]

Thanks to Viscouse, Miami 9-3 and moz and the Posting "Saab Oddity" I thought why
not make a 9-3 "easter egg" list. So, if you know other easter eggs in the 9-3 SS
then post them here. Show the world how beautiful and with love this car was
designed.


In the Middle-Armrest in the front:
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- There is a small coin holder; a 1 inch square rectangle with wavy lines that
looks like it might be a vent but no air comes out of it

- The small rectangular cut out that is covered by a plastic cap is the AUX-IN
hole, wherethe jack is located in the non-US cars with build in AUX-IN.

- There is a pen-holder in the glovebox on the left side of the "glovebox-door".


Steering-Wheel / Drving controls / car functions:
-------------------------------------------------

- It normaly is possible to control every function of the control arms on the
steering wheel (turnsignal, cruise-control, highbeam, radio, whipers, etc.)
without removing the hands from the steering-wheel. Mostly they are just a
fingertip away. (depends on the finger lenght ofcourse)

- Not really an easter egg but maybe informativ: When you press the "window"
buttons in the door down you have 2 settings. The first one lowers the window
as long as you keep the button pushed. When you push the button down a bit more
you pass a "click" in the button (like reaching a second stage or like a kick-down).
After that you can release the button, the window will continue to lower by it
self until it's open or you stop it by pulling the button shortly.

- Nightpanel - Speed Setting 140 km/h: You can set the light of the odometer in the
nightpanel mode to light only up to 140 km/h or full. (can be done via the
SID / Customize functions). Maybe you ask why to 140 km/h - easy: Saab says that
the head up lights are ok for lightening up the way ahead of you in a distance that
140 km/h is the maximum speed to keep the security and response times for breaking
and avoding of crashes ectc. Going over 140 km/h and you are driving faster than
your light can light up the way in front of you. So another security feature.


Navi-System:
------------

- If you use the navi system at night with the nightpanel function, than the arrow in
the SID will also be switched off if there is no change of the direction for a longer
time. When reaching the next change of direction the arrow will be switched on again when
you get the first info about the direction change.


Other Stuff:
------------

- There is a small compartment/box in the arm-rest of the backseats. If you put
the armrest down you can lift the upper part of it. Maybe this is the so called
hidden compartment Saab mentioned in one of their prospects. You can't see that
there is a compartment when the armrest is in it's upright position.



No real easter-eggs but still some functions that are stated in the manual but
not everyone knows about it:
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- Lead-Me-To-The-Car function: Pressing the lower left button on your remote control
of the car, let's the lights light up so that you can find your car easy on a big
car park at night. Also cool to scare some kids.

- Follow-Me-Home: When leaving the car, just flick the highbeam lights. Then close
the door and lock the car. The lights of the car will stay on for about 30 seconds
to light up the way for you to your door etc.

- Leaving the car open without the key in the ingnition/keyhole in the center, the car
locks up after 3 minutes for security reason in case you forgot to lock the doors when
leaving the car. The TLS functions and the alarm system won't be activated but the
doors and the trunk are locked.

- The control of the climate/cool-Down function of the glovebox are in the glovebox
itself (only with ACC). At the top of the glove box on the right side is a small
air vent that has to be opened to let the cool air of the ACC flow into the glovebox.
If the vent is open the glove box will be cooled down to approx. 8 to 10 degree celsius.



Do you know more "easter eggs" or other fine stuff in the 9-3 SS ? Than post it and share
your knowledge.

[JNGold]

I would say this is definately "sticky" material. Thanks for the start BlackSaab!

[cswerin]

- Leaving the car open without the key in the ingnition/keyhole in the center, the car
locks up after 3 minutes for security reason in case you forgot to lock the doors when
leaving the car. The TLS functions and the alarm system won't be activated but the
doors and the trunk are locked.

The alarm system goes on after 3 minutes on mine, my girlfriend had to experience that first hand when I left her in the car for 5 minutes.

Another feature I found last weekend is that you can control the volume on the guy/girl speaking with the normal volume button. This can only be done while the nav 'speaks' to you and only then but it's a nice feature as the normal way via the screen is kind of tricky while driving 235km/h on the Autobahn. :wink:

[Saba]

The cap that fits over the external key lock can be found in the glove box. Don't open your glove box and look at it and say "huh, what THF?" Don't throw it away!

[mopo]

saba, DOH!!!!

i remember seeing it on the floor maybe i chucked it back in the glovebox

[Miami 9-3]

My dealer installed this for me before I even picked up my car.

[mopo]

I found it!
yay, i can now cover up that unsightly key hole

[AirTreesWaterAnimals]

I love the sliding armrest.

And on a side note, all my friends are completely amazed at the pop-out cupholder in the dash. I think a couple would buy the car just for that feature.

[Viscouse]

Here's a couple more:

-When you shut the car off after a drive, but to not remove the ignition, certian things stay lit that you can activate. When you open the door, your options change. Your car is telling you what you can do when. That's pretty complex for an electrical system. Details here.

-You can turn on the stereo/CD player/(navi?) while the car is off. The key doesn't even need to be in the ignition.

-There's a light for the hood release. Why? I dunno, but it's there.

-You can start your car with your thumb. Details...