[amartya]

Fantastic thread and I love the videos as well. I'll be keeping a close eye on this. Thanks!

 

[bob3000]

With all the built up leaves and crap in the hood area you might want to replace the cabin filter if you haven't already.

 

[skwon]

With all the built up leaves and crap in the hood area you might want to replace the cabin filter if you haven't already.

Thanks for the advice, i am dreading it because I know it's a PITA haha

 

[bob3000]

Thanks for the advice, i am dreading it because I know it's a PITA haha

It's not that bad, electric screw driver and knee pads is all you need, I can do one in an hour and two beers.

 

[skwon]

Finally replaced my cup holder today. I never use it but it always bothered that it was broken!

I didn't know you had to open up the entire dash panel. It was fun but tedious. Broke tabs and cracked the dash a little. oops

I found the culprit! 1 ball was broken. I guess this is why most cup holders fail.

The other culprit. This gear was too free and it was causing the cup holder to come out too fast.

New one is in!

It's a very small thing but I feel good knowing that onemore thing is restored to its former glory. AND I got to learn how it all works inside. I had a very good time with this one. Video link below!

 

[Finesse58]

Finally replaced my cup holder today. I never use it but it always bothered that it was broken!
View attachment 287731

I didn't know you had to open up the entire dash panel. It was fun but tedious. Broke tabs and cracked the dash a little. oops
View attachment 287732

I found the culprit! 1 ball was broken. I guess this is why most cup holders fail.
View attachment 287733

The other culprit. This gear was too free and it was causing the cup holder to come out too fast.
View attachment 287734

New one is in!
View attachment 287735

It's a very small thing but I feel good knowing that onemore thing is restored to its former glory. AND I got to learn how it all works inside. I had a very good time with this one. Video link below!

I just really really wish they had steel components and steel ball joints etc. Could be an amazing design but it's just too flimsy!

 

[skwon]

I just really really wish they had steel components and steel ball joints etc. Could be an amazing design but it's just too flimsy!

I have a 3d printer and I was thinking of replicating that ball part but it would probably break again. I was thinking the same thing! I wish someone made steel versions!

 

[bob3000]

It's just a fun piece.

I rarely use it, only with something with a screw top or a stable straw set up, I would never put a cup of coffee in it.

 

[skwon]

It's just a fun piece.

I rarely use it, only with something with a screw top or a stable straw set up, I would never put a cup of coffee in it.

exactly, I never use it either but it just feels so good knowing it works haha

 

[skwon]

I acquired some goodies. Sharktooth front bumper and projector headlights. The bumper is in pretty rough shape. I am not worried about the paint chips and scratches because those are easy to fix, but I am scratching my head over the upper grill portion where it is completely detached. Any advice, previous experience, horror stories would be greatly appreciated!

I can think of a few options:
1. Use heat to mould it as best as I can and use strong epoxy, metal mesh back to bond it back.
2. Cut up my base bumper's upper part and merge it with the sharktooth bottom. Cut would be at the black plastic trim line for the best possible match.
3. Just color match it and put the sucker on, YOLO.

As for the projectors, I saw conflicting opinions online whether they would work on a base model. Some said they are plug and play (I doubt it), some say it will work but with errors on the SID, some say it is impossible and you need level sensors and wiring. Instead of reading about it and giving up, I decided to actually try it for myself. My ideal situation would be to just remove the xenons alltogether and put high quality LED bulbs in as a replacement. We shall see...!

 

[bob3000]

Without seeing it in person I would guess fiberglass and epoxy for the repair.

Regarding headlights I decided to go with replacement halogen headlights (eBay purchase) and quality bulbs in order to pass a safety inspection and get the car licensed, I will eventually clean up the foggy plastic lenses on the xenons and fine tune on the levelers etc over time.

 

[ivanrf1]

The xenon lights are plug and play on the older non-xenon cars. They just require some work to get angled correctly. You can cut power to the leveling motor at the highest setting and then manually adjust the rest of the way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[skwon]

Today, I installed the xenons. mostly plug and play as you guys have said

Look at the difference!

Cutoff line comparison

Did a quick polish before leveling them.

My best friend WIS

leveled according to WIS.

on the road comparison

Video summary:

overall, 1000% happy with the conversion!!!

next up is restoring this rough looking sharktooth bumper. Stay tuned!

 

[skwon]

For passing 500 subs on my channel, I am giving away three 3d printed cup holders for the NG9-3! Very easy to enter, no scammer bs! I really just want to give back to the viewers, including the saabcentral people. See video for details.

 

[skwon]

Made a small improvement today.

Side marker lights have seen better days.

Instead of replacing them with stock ones, I took a risk on some sequential ones from China. These are made for similar year Opel Astras. They are not a direct fit. The inner housing is much smaller than the stock one, so I used outdoor rated double sided tape to stick it on. Also helps prevent water getting into the hole. Theres been several heavy rain days and they are holding up just fine!

Video summary:

 

[Mimmi]

You do not have bottom seal in original, that's why it leaks.
Do not be surprised if new stops working in near future.

 

[skwon]

You do not have bottom seal in original, that's why it leaks.
Do not be surprised if new stops working in near future.

I made sure to tape all around the mating point. If it fails it would fail due to the lack of quality. I think it is safe from water

 

[Mimmi]

Tape is not watertight seal.

 

[Bob12312357]

The right tape (ex: butyl tape) will be watertight. That damn flex seal guy always comes to mind when I think of butyl tape.

 

[Mimmi]

Butyl tape is watertight seal, but normal PVC tape wrapping is not.