First time Saab 9-3D buyer
Discussion
Hi All,
going to see a few 9-3's this weekend.. All around the £3k-3.6k mark and all have 110k+ miles on them.
Have done some research on here and have some points to look out for but what should i be looking out for on the high mileage cars? All the cars but one im seeing have the 1.9 turbo diesel engine which i think im right in saying is the Fiat / Vauxhall JTD unit?? Anything in particular to bear in mind / worry about with these units?
cheers!
Jez
going to see a few 9-3's this weekend.. All around the £3k-3.6k mark and all have 110k+ miles on them.
Have done some research on here and have some points to look out for but what should i be looking out for on the high mileage cars? All the cars but one im seeing have the 1.9 turbo diesel engine which i think im right in saying is the Fiat / Vauxhall JTD unit?? Anything in particular to bear in mind / worry about with these units?
cheers!
Jez
Not really a Diesel guy but I'd check for smoke on start up and on full throttle. I'd also take them on a bit of a bumpy road to hear if anything is loose or banging chasis wise.
I'm not sure it is still an issue on these but the early 9-3's suffered the dreaded cracked bulk head so when stopped and the engine off, turn the wheel from side to side and watch the peddels. they will always move a fractiton but if they are moving considerably be aware the bulkhead may need a fix. This normally is circa £300 ish for the work to drop everything and re weld.
Hope it helps and hope more will be over soon to either help or correct me.
All the best
Olly
I'm not sure it is still an issue on these but the early 9-3's suffered the dreaded cracked bulk head so when stopped and the engine off, turn the wheel from side to side and watch the peddels. they will always move a fractiton but if they are moving considerably be aware the bulkhead may need a fix. This normally is circa £300 ish for the work to drop everything and re weld.
Hope it helps and hope more will be over soon to either help or correct me.
All the best
Olly
Woah! Hadn't read anything about the bulkhead problem! Will definitely be checking that out.. cheers for that.
Ive never had a Diesel before either so its new to me... Obviously blue smoke bad but black smoke on full throttle seems to be normal on diesels?
One other question was regarding the stereo... I have read that the 4 speaker one is dire. The cars im looking at are 'Vector' spec so am i right in asuming they should have a better set-up?
Cheers!
Ive never had a Diesel before either so its new to me... Obviously blue smoke bad but black smoke on full throttle seems to be normal on diesels?
One other question was regarding the stereo... I have read that the 4 speaker one is dire. The cars im looking at are 'Vector' spec so am i right in asuming they should have a better set-up?
Cheers!
Yeah should be a better set up, but depends on the original owners. I.e what they ticked on the order sheet etc and if someone has upgraded/changed it over the life of the car. To be totally honest upgrading a stereo is very simple and these days unless your aiming for a competition the headunits and speakers are cheap and easy replacements. With this in mind a stereo should not be a basis on choosing a car lol.
Yeah give me 10 min to search and I'll find the old thread of the bulk head issues etc. Bere this in mind but I have a feeling that the newer ones are ok and don't suffer on this level.
Now the bulk head cracking sounds horriffic but in actual fact its 2 mountings welded to the main firewall that hold the steering (hence wiggle the wheel) and if they crack away from the firewall you have to drop a fair bit of stuff to get access for re welding them. Best to do both sides. A body shop is a good choice as they do this more routinely.
Any way its not a great problem.
ETA - here is the link
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... cracks?
Yeah give me 10 min to search and I'll find the old thread of the bulk head issues etc. Bere this in mind but I have a feeling that the newer ones are ok and don't suffer on this level.
Now the bulk head cracking sounds horriffic but in actual fact its 2 mountings welded to the main firewall that hold the steering (hence wiggle the wheel) and if they crack away from the firewall you have to drop a fair bit of stuff to get access for re welding them. Best to do both sides. A body shop is a good choice as they do this more routinely.
Any way its not a great problem.
ETA - here is the link
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... cracks?
Edited by Ollyc on Friday 20th August 15:51
I planned on a double din Kenwood sat nav and dvd player. is it a ball ache of a job? I have had the unit out and all looks ok to me?
Hardest I ever had was my MR2 as I did a real piss take in it and had two single din head units (1 minidisc and the top one a slide out tv) ontop of each other in the center console, with a dvd headunit in the glove box. ps2 by the passanger seat, 6 disc changer behind the passanger seat. JBL 1000w amp mounted to the bulkheadbehind the passanger seat. JBL 12" sub in custom box behind driver seat (yes this did really fit just) and the a mini fridge in the rear center console, this was built in to the existing housing. And yes in true PH style it had Red Bull!
Lol
I still stand by it should not make a difference if the car is sound the stereo is a minor detail.
Hardest I ever had was my MR2 as I did a real piss take in it and had two single din head units (1 minidisc and the top one a slide out tv) ontop of each other in the center console, with a dvd headunit in the glove box. ps2 by the passanger seat, 6 disc changer behind the passanger seat. JBL 1000w amp mounted to the bulkheadbehind the passanger seat. JBL 12" sub in custom box behind driver seat (yes this did really fit just) and the a mini fridge in the rear center console, this was built in to the existing housing. And yes in true PH style it had Red Bull!
Lol
I still stand by it should not make a difference if the car is sound the stereo is a minor detail.
There are much better cars than a Saab for that knid of money.
(an Ex Saab Aftersales Manager)
Turbos,
A history of diesel leaking into the sump with catasrophic results
The interior is badly designed with actually very little room for a car of its size
Water leaks from missed welds in the Servo area
SID displays faulty
Suspension bushes work.
Saabs will do hugh mileage but only if you have deep pockets, in my experiance.
HTH
(an Ex Saab Aftersales Manager)
Turbos,
A history of diesel leaking into the sump with catasrophic results
The interior is badly designed with actually very little room for a car of its size
Water leaks from missed welds in the Servo area
SID displays faulty
Suspension bushes work.
Saabs will do hugh mileage but only if you have deep pockets, in my experiance.
HTH
anonymous said:
[redacted]
You have to use the Saab Tech2 diagnostic machine to "unmarry" the Radio from the rest of the car.Once done properly you can drive the car but I have never known anyone fit a non standard ICE back in the car.
If you just unplug the radio without the Tech2 it assumes thatthe radio has been stolen and you could have problems.
Right, thanks for the tips and advice guys.
Just come back from looking at this car:
SAAB 9-3 VECTOR SPORT 150HP TID 4 DOOR SALOON 2004(54) REGISTERED. 139750 MILES FULL SERVICE HISTORY .JUST BEEN SERVICED AND MOTD. DARK BLUE PEARL METALIC WITH LEATHER AND CLOTH INTERIOR. 6 SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX ALLOY WHEELS CLIMATE CONTROL CRUISE CONTROL RADIO CD ETC. 2 KEYS AND HANDBOOK PACK. THIS CAR IS IN SUPERB CONDITION HAVING COVERED MOST OF ITS MILES SITTING ON MOTORWAYS. THERE WERE NO ADVISORIES ON THE NEW mot AND THE ONLY THING EXTRA DONE ON THE SERVICE WAS FRONT BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT. THERE ARE NO KNOWN FAULTS WITH THE CAR
Had a good look round and a drive. Engine pulls very well and is very quiet and refined!.. Compared to the 2.2 Saab unit which sounded like a 20 year old truck motor!
Noticed alot of tyre noise but then he had just fitted brand new Maragonis(?) or something which looked and felt budget. Exterior the car looked fine, under the bonnet you would never have thought it had done 140k miles! The Saab service history is documented but there is no record of a belt change.. must have been done though to get to 140k.
Interior was a bit of a shock if im honest. Coming straight from my 02 Golf into the 04 Saab felt like going back 15 years in terms of quality. Still, everything seemed to work fine and it had the 13 speaker system. Air conditioning was nice and cold although when you turned it on or off it made a funny rattling noise from behind the dash for a few seconds.. any ideas? Only other fault was the seatbelt on drivers side wasnt recoiling properly. Clutch pedal felt very light but worked fine.
In 2 minds whether to go for it or not.. Good thing is i can get it cheap at 2.5k.
hmmm.
Just come back from looking at this car:
SAAB 9-3 VECTOR SPORT 150HP TID 4 DOOR SALOON 2004(54) REGISTERED. 139750 MILES FULL SERVICE HISTORY .JUST BEEN SERVICED AND MOTD. DARK BLUE PEARL METALIC WITH LEATHER AND CLOTH INTERIOR. 6 SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX ALLOY WHEELS CLIMATE CONTROL CRUISE CONTROL RADIO CD ETC. 2 KEYS AND HANDBOOK PACK. THIS CAR IS IN SUPERB CONDITION HAVING COVERED MOST OF ITS MILES SITTING ON MOTORWAYS. THERE WERE NO ADVISORIES ON THE NEW mot AND THE ONLY THING EXTRA DONE ON THE SERVICE WAS FRONT BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT. THERE ARE NO KNOWN FAULTS WITH THE CAR
Had a good look round and a drive. Engine pulls very well and is very quiet and refined!.. Compared to the 2.2 Saab unit which sounded like a 20 year old truck motor!
Noticed alot of tyre noise but then he had just fitted brand new Maragonis(?) or something which looked and felt budget. Exterior the car looked fine, under the bonnet you would never have thought it had done 140k miles! The Saab service history is documented but there is no record of a belt change.. must have been done though to get to 140k.
Interior was a bit of a shock if im honest. Coming straight from my 02 Golf into the 04 Saab felt like going back 15 years in terms of quality. Still, everything seemed to work fine and it had the 13 speaker system. Air conditioning was nice and cold although when you turned it on or off it made a funny rattling noise from behind the dash for a few seconds.. any ideas? Only other fault was the seatbelt on drivers side wasnt recoiling properly. Clutch pedal felt very light but worked fine.
In 2 minds whether to go for it or not.. Good thing is i can get it cheap at 2.5k.
hmmm.
ah right.. that explains the noise. I guess its something that you could just live with. Personally i never turn off the aircon anyway.
Drivers seat bolster quite worn, was broken a bit i think as it was sagging but leather was in tact and no splits or cuts. Rubber glovebox button intact!
The guy selling it was a small MOT garage owner and he serviced it too so the above text about it needing nothing is perhaps slightly biased!
Drivers seat bolster quite worn, was broken a bit i think as it was sagging but leather was in tact and no splits or cuts. Rubber glovebox button intact!
The guy selling it was a small MOT garage owner and he serviced it too so the above text about it needing nothing is perhaps slightly biased!
Isn't the cambelt at 72K then 144K, in which case it is due one at thge next service, and as Tonker says, the water pump and tensioner are replaced at the same time if it is done properly.
Regarding price, I would certainly haggle down based on mileage and the fact that it needs a major service next. I know that tonker sold an 05 for £4750, but six months ago I bought a late 55 reg 9-3 TiD (150) Linear Sport Automatic with full leather etc, so pretty much equivalent in cost to a Vector Sport (just a different style of trim) for £4500 with 77K on the clock. This car came from a Saab Independent.
Regarding price, I would certainly haggle down based on mileage and the fact that it needs a major service next. I know that tonker sold an 05 for £4750, but six months ago I bought a late 55 reg 9-3 TiD (150) Linear Sport Automatic with full leather etc, so pretty much equivalent in cost to a Vector Sport (just a different style of trim) for £4500 with 77K on the clock. This car came from a Saab Independent.
He is after 2.5k for it so on the plus side its cheap! Especially if it does need the work doing....
Its on ebay and he has said he wants to let the auction run to the end to see what he gets but has had 3 firm offers of 2.5. Which is exactly what i've put a reserve at. If it goes over then im not fussed. Will prob just keep looking for one that (maybe) more expensive but i know has had the major work done.
Edited by Jez200 on Monday 23 August 10:01
Have a look on Saabscene's forum about them. There are many internet horror stories. My experience wasn't good on a '05 with ~115k on it. Lots of Engine management lights and assorted faults. I wouldn't recommend one to a friend. Shame really as they are lovely cars to drive and for what they are. Consider a petrol alternative?
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