The 9-3 already puts up a fuss when you install aftermarket HIDs...I can't even imagine the amount of headache/dash errors/issues you'd get with LED headlights. You can't even put LEDs in the license plate area without getting barked at.

 

So after exchanging emails with that local seller, which I posted a link to his craigslist ad, he has assured me that these bulbs work well in newer cars, including ones with canbus system. He claims to have sold them to owners of these vehicles: 2010 gmc truck, 2013 dodge ram, 2011 Subaru, 2012 maxima, 2011 mazda 3... all without bulb error codes. He claims that the bulbs have a built-in driver that keeps the current draw constant and proper as to not set off bulb errors.

I think I may take the risk and just give them a try.

Anyone ever actually tried something like this? Or will I be the first here to go for it?

 

Unfortunately, that seller doesn't have the first clue when it comes to the extremely complex and quirky nature of SAAB electronics. I can almost guarantee these won't work in your car. Every "canbus" or "error-free" LED that several board members, including myself, have tried have failed to work properly in our cars.

But, if you're feeling brave, go for it. I would stay away from Craigslist, surely these sell from reputable online sellers with solid return policies.

 

Is the main concern due to hyper flashing and/or the error codes?? Could the issue be eliminated by adding a relay of sorts just as you would for say, the license plate area?? I'm just asking due to my not knowing, as well as to assist the OP with more specifics.

 

If you guys want to try the LED headlight option, I personally wouldn't buy anything but this from The Retrofit Source:

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/led-lighting/morimoto-xb-led-headlight-bulbs.html#.VQEP6vx4pcR

I believe the 2003-2007 9-3 uses H7 type bulbs. 2008 and newer halogens use H11.

Who knows, it may actually work. Pretty bright, too, at 3000 lumens.

 

If you guys want to try the LED headlight option, I personally wouldn't buy anything but this from The Retrofit Source:

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/led-lighting/morimoto-xb-led-headlight-bulbs.html#.VQEP6vx4pcR

I believe the 2003-2007 9-3 uses H7 type bulbs. 2008 and newer halogens use H11.

Who knows, it may actually work. Pretty bright, too, at 3000 lumens.

Did you notice?:

Compatibility

• Lamp Fitments:H7, H11, 9006, 9005LocationsRL, High Beam, Fog Lights (NOT FOR LOW BEAM USE)

the NOT FOR LOW BEAM USE might be in conflict with OP wanted unless I understand his issue

 

Well, the reason I like the idea of LED is because the installation seems a lot less complicated than HID. I started off looking at HID, and reading the "ultimate HID" thread in this forum, but got lost in the millions of posts there. Can anyone tell me what a sure-bet option for my car would be?

 

Yes, the link below. Look no further, this stuff is the best. For your car, you'll want to select:

- Morimoto XB35 (35W)
- H7 (then choose your color, I would recommend 5500K)
- You don't need the Anti-Flick Capacitor
- Under harness, select "Canbus: H7"

http://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid-systems/morimoto-elite-hid-system-h7.html#.VQG4f3zF98E

That's it! Plug and play ;ol;

 

Alright, I guess I should just play it safe and go for that.

Thanks!

 

Another thing: I just installed the Morimotos with CANBUS on my sister's 2011 9-3 with halogen housings without having to Tech2 anything.

 

So instead of creating another thread, I'm going to be posting in this one.

The kit you linked is literally plug and play? I don't need the xenon housing that came stock on the 9-3s? Is it okay that I don't have auto-leveling headlights?

I literally buy the part, follow its directions, and profit? Is it actually that easy!? lol

Thanks everyone

 

Is it possible to replace the high beams as well? I have the xenon low beams stock, but high beams are halogen. I'd be concerned if it would be possible to flash the HID the same way as halogens (in this regard LED should be able to start immediately).

 

Yes you can replace high beams with the LED kit mentioned above.

 

hid housing didn't come stock atall,either hid or halogen..

 

So the hid housing is the same as the halogens?

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

 

Hello,

When i had HIDs installed (like 5 times) i put the balasts as follows: one on the air filter housing, i put double sided tape and stick it to the side. The other one from the drivers side i just placed it inside tha housing where the battery is. In front of it there was enough space to drop it in, or stick it with double sided as well.

To bad all HIDs failed sooner or later. Bought LEDs also plug and play, but not enough light.

 

That's exactly where I'm thinking of placing them too. Just wanted other input.

And what do you mean all hids failed? Like the bulb or something else? Did you get them from the website mentioned?

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

 

I have used several different ones, purchased from ebay. Under failed i meant, everytime winter came by they would start not turning on, or one will shut off while driving. Sometimes after warm up i would turn off the car then on and they will come both on. But i got tired of doing that.

Otherwise bulbs rearly failed, sometimes maybe balast. Price range they were always between 20-50$ for the kit, (maybe they were doing that due to being cheaper).

When i put the LEDS they cost around $70 for the pair, the output was low i couldnt see a white horse if it came out. So back to stock. I dont know why but these Saab lights seem very dim.

 

I checked out theretrofitsource.com and what caught my eye was the H7 LED bulb which they offer - but I noticed they don't recommend it for low beams. So I got curious and emailed them why, this is the response I got:

Thanks for your email! We don't recommend the use of LED bulbs in low beam applications, and especially not in projectors. In our opinion the LED technology is still a bit premature and the beam pattern isn't quite sufficient for a low beam application. While we have a H7 LED bulb option, we don't recommend it for your vehicle. Our LED bulbs are designed for use in a DRL/high beam, or a fog light application.
However VLEDs has some bulbs that they claim are bright enough: http://www.vleds.com/shop-bulb-numbers/h-series/h7/h7-lmz-2816.html

Looking at vleds.com, it does seem these guys have actually decent LEDs - the system they have seems to work with universal bulb on which an adapter ring is screwed, turning it into H4, H7, etc...

I see two weak points:

1.) cooling fan - durability - it's a moving part
2.) there is a notice that it cannot be used in lights with dust covers - I am not sure if this applies to 9-3 SS, but if I remember correctly on halogen high beams, there are rubber dust caps.

There is a comparison in the video comparing the LEDs they have with Morimoto HIDs, albeit briefly.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/xBnpLt8djI8?autoplay=1&rel=0&showinfo=0

 

HIDs still rule over LEDs for headlights. My opinion only.

 

After much research on both types, I have to confirm that statement. I am mainly getting HIDs cause I can't seem to let myself buy 12-20 dollar halogen bulbs a year.

 

A friend installed LED headlights on his car but he had to take them out due to errors issues and malfunctions. And yes the LED kit was advertised as CANBUS ready.

 

what was the brand of the kit? I just installed mine two weeks ago from the Retrofit source & no issues with errors. ONLY issue I have, which I'm surprised no one mentioned, these were NOT plug and play for me. I had to mangle the retaining clip to get the bulb to clip into the housing. This was the hardest part of the install.

 

Just to clarify.

The H7 LED's talked about previously come in two flavors, Standard H7 which is suitable for high and low beam use and fog light (which is NOT suitable for high/low beam use due to the LED type/pattern). The wording was confusing, but it is only the fog bulb that you should NOT use in place of regular headlights.

As for the CANBUS error issues with LEDs. I have been running CANBUS enabled LEDs in the front parking light position and in the license plate with zero errors for 6 months now.

I keep burning out H7 lows (stupid DRLs) so I'm going to try these in the next month or so. I'm a big CREE fan and these seem to get good reviews.

Amazon.com: OPT7 LED Headlight Bulbs w/ Clear Arc-Beam Kit - H11 (H8, H9) - 60w 7,000Lm 6K Cool White CREE - 2 Yr Warranty: Automotive

 

Just to clarify.

The H7 LED's talked about previously come in two flavors, Standard H7 which is suitable for high and low beam use and fog light (which is NOT suitable for high/low beam use due to the LED type/pattern). The wording was confusing, but it is only the fog bulb that you should use in place of regular headlights.

As for the CANBUS error issues with LEDs. I have been running CANBUS enabled LEDs in the front parking light position and in the license plate with zero errors for 6 months now.

I keep burning out H7 lows (stupid DRLs) so I'm going to try these in the next month or so. I'm a big CREE fan and these seem to get good reviews.

Amazon.com: OPT7 LED Headlight Bulbs w/ Clear Arc-Beam Kit - H11 (H8, H9) - 60w 7,000Lm 6K Cool White CREE - 2 Yr Warranty: Automotive

So with your existing LEDs, the strobing doesn't bother you?

 

Why would it? I think it looks kind of cool. It only does it for a few minutes and does no harm.

 

Anytime the car is on or running and the lights are off, they will strobe constantly. For example, if you put LEDs in the low beams, they will constantly strobe when the low beams are set to off. You may not notice it in bright sunlight, but in any other condition (cloudy, dusk, etc), you'll notice the strobing and so will other drivers and potentially cops.

Now, if you keep the lights in question on at all times anyway, they'll never have a chance to strobe while car is running, which is a great solution (i.e. never turning your headlights off).

This is also why, for example, putting LEDs in the turn signal positions is a bad idea unless you get rid of the strobing, because your turn signals would be constantly strobing and I'm sure you can imagine the confusion that would cause.

Just some additional info, not saying you shouldn't try the LEDs in the low beams.

 

Ah, interesting. I drive with the HL switch set to ON all the time. So it shouldn't be an issue. And yeah, the turn signals would be a no-no. Everyone would be thinking you are making random lane changes!

I'm just tired of spending $40-50 on halogens every 5-6 months! I'd go HID possibly as well, but every 6 months or so LED's seem to make decent leaps in technology. And well, the lifetime of LEDs is very compelling.

 

Anyone found good and bright enough LED's yet ? Seems like the same ones are on the market.

 

I'm running the OPT7 LED's in place of my low beams.

So far I'm very impressed. Light output is decent, certainly as good as a standard halogen. Zero issues.

Amazon.com: OPT7 LED Headlight Bulbs w/ Clear Arc-Beam Kit - H11 (H8, H9) - 60w 7,000Lm 6K Cool White CREE - 2 Yr Warranty: Automotive

 

I'm running the OPT7 LED's in place of my low beams.

So far I'm very impressed. Light output is decent, certainly as good as a standard halogen. Zero issues.

Amazon.com: OPT7 LED Headlight Bulbs w/ Clear Arc-Beam Kit - H11 (H8, H9) - 60w 7,000Lm 6K Cool White CREE - 2 Yr Warranty: Automotive

How did you get by the "strobing" error checking with them?

Or do you not have your DRL's disabled?

I bought the OPT7 Fluxbeam and the output was amazing but they strobe when off, can't deal with that and I am not making a relay setup for them.

Then having to cut the bulb holders to work was a pain too.

 

Yeah, if DRL's are a no-go, then you have to go the relay route, unfortunately.

DRL's never bothered me (other than the appetite for bulbs), I always have driven with my lights on full-time, luckily with SAAB's you can always leave the lights on and they go out when the ignition is off. That's bitten me more than once on other cars.

 

I hear ya, I just like being able to have control of them, or if I choose to drive with my fogs on and no high beams I can.

I should have realized I was going to have that issue before I bought the LED lights but my brain failed me, well until I hooked it up and facepalmed lol

 

New LED headlight release from TRS, may be worth trying for halogen housing folks. No D1s size available yet for xenon guys.

H11 - https://www.theretrofitsource.com/led-lighting/led-bulbs/2stroke-h11-led.html#.V3cfMPkrLs0

H7 - https://www.theretrofitsource.com/led-lighting/led-bulbs/2stroke-h7-led.html#.V3cfk_krLs0

 

New LED headlight release from TRS, may be worth trying for halogen housing folks. No D1s size available yet for xenon guys.

H11 - https://www.theretrofitsource.com/led-lighting/led-bulbs/2stroke-h11-led.html#.V3cfMPkrLs0

H7 - https://www.theretrofitsource.com/led-lighting/led-bulbs/2stroke-h7-led.html#.V3cfk_krLs0

these look good. are these plug and play?

 

But only if you are a DRL user, otherwise they will wig wag strobe when off .

 

has anyone tried the Moriomoto's yet? my buddy has a NG9-5 and wants to do them instead of HID's.

 

Any LED headlight bulb is going to flicker when off if you have DRL disabled, but if you are just asking if anyone has tried their bulb in general, ignore my reply lol

 

So, I know this thread is kind of old by now but I've seen a resurgence of interest in installing LEDs into Saabs. I checked for myself and no company really has an adapter for them that fits the 3 prong locking system of the OEM headlight assemblies buuuuuuuuuuut.............. I happen to have a normal metal bar locking system in my aftermarket headlight assemblies from AM Auto Parts. I just ordered some cheap LED's from eBay that say they're CAN bus approved and don't throw any error codes and don't flicker. I'm going to test them out and I'll post pictures and maybe a video if they work out and see if LEDs in these projector housings are any good or not. Give me a week or two for shipping and install/ working out any problems that may arise. I will be showing pics of the Cree LEDs vs. some Sylvania Silverstar Ultra halogens (some of the best white light halogens on the market).

 

That is some led project that is worth trying ...

 

That is some led project that is worth trying ..

Wow, @Borntoroll! That is the exact result I'm interested in. I have a 9-3 restyle (2008+) with turning HID bixenon lights. Please advise how is it possible to fix them like your's?