Saab 9-5 Estate - Old Man Sleeper

[nev_jr]

You have bought a sofa, I am jealous.

[Hertz]

Nice!

 

[SmokinWaffle]

4 hours ago, grogee said:

Welcome to the club @SmokinWaffle. Most of us have been balls deep in these fixerating them so always ask and we'll have helpful tips. 

I did the DICk and various vac tubes on mine, plus sorted out the HVAC and changed AC compressor. Plus other bits and pieces. Mine needed ATF lines but yours won't have that problem. 

Noob tuned these GLF and are the best way to travel. Yours is an estate which is making me weak at the knees. Check for rust inner rear wheel arches. 

Enjoy

The engine light did come on shortly before I drove off. He scanned it and it said about ignition misfire on start up, but I think low battery voltage might have contributed. Cleared fine. 

Mare getting home a little. 

They'd SORN'd it a few days ago - but the DVLA system needs you to wait 5 working days before you can retax it again because reasons. 

Phoned them, said the same. Didn't want a fine or to risk it given I was driving 160/200 miles, didn't want the hassle of a fine or being pulled on the off chance. 

Only way to do it in this situation was the post office. Fine, I'll do that but I'll nip to tesco first to get a drink. 

Goto tesco. Food. Drink. 

Go to start it up again, battery dead. Fml. 

Got a jump from helpful Tesco staff - and winged over to Euro car parts and got another. £100. Bleugh. 

Fitted it, off to the post office. Went to Cambridge to get it which is busy, and warm today. 

Couldn't find the post office, wandered for 15 mins. Finally found it. Did all the needed, went to pay and then he said that the post office card machines have a £80 limit or something contact less. He was right. Can't split the payment either. 

I didn't have my wallet stupidly, so no physical card. They couldn't take the details and put them into the machine like a phone payment. 

They can take cash. 

Jesus Christ, okay. Now I'll use the get cash feature of NatWest. 

That's a max of £130. Fuck. 

Drove into town. Parked in a pokey multi story (and its a long fucking car to be stressed reversing it into a space in a busy multi story town centre with 4 people waiting to go past). 

Walked 10 minutes to NatWest branch. 

They can't help, without ID or Card max they can give us £50. 

Explained the situation and probably gave the vibe I was about to go and drown myself in the nearest public toilet (which I was considering), and they made an exception with some security questions and signing some stuff. Golden. Great service. 

Pay for parking. 

Get the cash, drive back to the post office. 

Oh wait, we need the VIN for the V62. 

Fucking nora. Walk back to the car. Get it from paperwork. Walk back. 

Fill in paperwork. 

Suddenley 5 people in front of me as its rush time. 

15 minutes later, finally hand over my money and its taxed. 

Then I gtf home. 3 hours later than intended. But still, drive was fine and no traffic. 

Initial thoughts - it really does go like shit off a shovel. Coming from the berlingo its like being put into trunk starship enterprise. It just keeps pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling. 

Was going to get it Noob'd enroute back but decided I'll see if it proves itself before flinging more power at it. 

Things go into the rear view very quickly. 

Very very comfy. Rides like a 78k saab should do, drive was not fatiguing at all. Very smooth. No crashing or rattling. 

Quiet cabin. 

Leather is comfy. 

Washer fluid is grim and smells like stale bog water. 

Aircon needs a regas m9

Electric mirrors don't work. Maybe a fuse. 

Satnav is prehistoric. 

Rear box really is quite rusty and blows at certain RPMs. Mostly fine though. 

Did I mention its quick? Motorway power is effortless but I got it into the higher rev ranges on the roads on the last part of the journey and hells bells it really doesn't hang about for its size. 

Small things like the double sun visor so you can block the side and front I just love. It all feels so well made. 

Heated rear seats too which is an odd addition. 

Some more pictures now it's home. Private plate is funky too. Never had one before. 

Supposedly the "ugly" 95 but its grown on me on the way down and I kind of love it. Love how its old man spec paint and interior wise. It says it's silver on the V5. Debatable. 

[SmokinWaffle]

Seller feels awful about the battery too and has offered to pay £50 towards it. We both knew it was low but he didn't realise how low. Quids in. 

[Sunny Jim]

Congrats, joy of new chod to you. You certainly threw me off the scent with the configuration clue* as I assumed you were referring to cylinders. Your Saab looks like the winning combination of seats you could easily fall asleep in and a drive so exciting there's no chance of you nodding off! Well bought.

[Surface Rust]

That's lovely! 

Where did you see it up for sale (so I know where to look in future!)?

I dithered over a mint looking pre-edna estate a few months ago and regretted it since.

[gadgetgricey]

Do the folding mirrors work?
Have you got the small button just above the wing mirror controls. Took me years before I knew what that was.

Mines been in the garage for too long. Need to get it out of mothballs as they are great cars.

[SmokinWaffle]

12 minutes ago, Sunny Jim said:

Congrats, joy of new chod to you. You certainly threw me off the scent with the configuration clue* as I assumed you were referring to cylinders. Your Saab looks like the winning combination of seats you could easily fall asleep in and a drive so exciting there's no chance of you nodding off! Well bought.

This is my first turbo petrol car, that was what I was going for! 

Cheers

10 minutes ago, Surface Rust said:

That's lovely! 

Where did you see it up for sale (so I know where to look in future!)?

I dithered over a mint looking pre-edna estate a few months ago and regretted it since.

Thank you! 

Facebook of all places. I was first in line and three people behind me who were viewing over the weekend are now probably a little dissapointed. 

1 minute ago, gadgetgricey said:

Do the folding mirrors work?
Have you got the small button just above the wing mirror controls. Took me years before I knew what that was.

Mines been in the garage for too long. Need to get it out of mothballs as they are great cars.

They don't, I've got a big button on the RHS of the wheel that's meant to fold them I believe. 

[gadgetgricey]

Correct re the big button. Small button on the actual mirror switch is to drop them when reversing for kerbs etc,
Quite useful if you have it and get the mirrors working.

Is the boot spare wheel cover one of the fancy slidy out loading platforms? Might be from the pictures,.

If you have not already, would recommend joining UK Saabs forum as a lot of knowledge over there and a good bunch.

[grogee]

1 hour ago, SmokinWaffle said:

It says it's silver on the V5. Debatable. 

Yeah that's AS racing colours. Well bought. 

They GLF but (I found) were reluctant to slow down or go round corners quite so quickly. Fine if you're not a spotty teen and can actually drive with some forethought, as I'm sure you can. 

[Jerzy Woking]

1 hour ago, grogee said:

Yeah that's AS racing colours. Well bought. 

They GLF but (I found) were reluctant to slow down or go round corners quite so quickly. Fine if you're not a spotty teen and can actually drive with some forethought, as I'm sure you can. 

Mine 95 was putting out over 300 bhp, and I was most definitely pleased that the previous owner had fitted Maptun discs and 6 pot calipers, as it needed them. 

I hope you enjoy your 95 SM as much as I liked mine. Gutted that I had to sell it.

[SmokinWaffle]

Going to try to take a look at the fuses today but got a busy one. Might be tomorrow. Need to get the Berlingo from the station really. 

Berlingo will likely be for sale in the coming weeks so if you're keen, feel free to drop me a message in the meantime. 

[SmokinWaffle]

On 03/05/2025 at 10:49, SmokinWaffle said:

Going to try to take a look at the fuses today but got a busy one. Might be tomorrow. Need to get the Berlingo from the station really. 

Berlingo will likely be for sale in the coming weeks so if you're keen, feel free to drop me a message in the meantime. 

Wasn't a fuse, but seems its common issue with the time elapse fuses. 

The same people that do the awesome BT module that plugs into the 6CD changer and gives you blue tooth and hands free all integrated into the SID / steering wheel control's also do this 

https://bt-changer.com/saab-extra-mfu-9-5-mirror-folding-unit/

So ill add that to the list! 

On 02/05/2025 at 18:29, gadgetgricey said:

Correct re the big button. Small button on the actual mirror switch is to drop them when reversing for kerbs etc,
Quite useful if you have it and get the mirrors working.

Is the boot spare wheel cover one of the fancy slidy out loading platforms? Might be from the pictures,.

If you have not already, would recommend joining UK Saabs forum as a lot of knowledge over there and a good bunch.

Its not, it has the rails it seems which perplexed me at first but now makes sense when you say that! 

I joined UKSaab a while ago I think, I'll take a look! 

Getting more confident in it now. The slow turning over makes me feel sketchy but I can see its very very common especially on the 2.3's. New battery so should be fine. 

I realised I keep driving it like a diesel and shifting early. Trying to change that, take it a bit more through the rev range. Did a full kind of "launch" going from standing through the gears up to the top of 3rd on a private* road near me. Goes like stink. 

Found a Saab specialist in Sheffield too so when I sell the berlingo I'll use that money to give it to them and say "service, exhaust, oil leak and check over pls"I think. 

The sheer length of the thing is the only new consideration. Got to go to a multi story later and wondering if I should take the E-up! As its got some tight turns in it! 

Its a very handsome car through, especially from the side. My sister says from the front it looks like a big nose or snoopy the dog. 

 

[rainagain]

That's a lovely looking Saab. If I remember correctly there's a tiny fuse built into the mirrors that tends to blow as they age and the mech gets sticky. There's a how to on one of the Saab forums showing how to sort it.

I've designed a wee tray to sit in the gap in front of the gear level as I was sick of stuff constantly falling out of it whilst driving.

This wee space here.

This is the tray

And it fits like so, it actually fits better than that photo suggests, I didn't realise it was slightly squint when I took the pic. I stuck some double sided tape under it to hold it in place. 

If its of any interest let me know and I'll share the stl file with you.

[SmokinWaffle]

On 05/05/2025 at 14:35, rainagain said:

That's a lovely looking Saab. If I remember correctly there's a tiny fuse built into the mirrors that tends to blow as they age and the mech gets sticky. There's a how to on one of the Saab forums showing how to sort it.

I've designed a wee tray to sit in the gap in front of the gear level as I was sick of stuff constantly falling out of it whilst driving.

This wee space here.

 

This is the tray

 

And it fits like so, it actually fits better than that photo suggests, I didn't realise it was slightly squint when I took the pic. I stuck some double sided tape under it to hold it in place. 

 

If its of any interest let me know and I'll share the stl file with you.

Shame I sold my 3D printer! My hole is only single height so it's not much use anyway, appreciate it though. Might get a rubber pad in there or something! 

Yeah I saw the post on Saab forums I think, need to have a better look. Its strange as I am so used to no features on the berlingo that the lack of electric mirrors working doesn't even phase me - but they do have auto dimming and parking so the luxury would be nice! 

Shopping test passed. What it lacks in height it makes up for in length (oh-eer!) 

One thing that is making me nervous, hilariously, is how well it rides and how quiet it is at speed. Coming from the berlingo which is much more agricultural and utilitarian it just feels....so quiet it must be broken.

 

[GrumpiusMaximus]

The SAAB wraparound dash in the 95 gives me the horn.  What a beast.

[Timewaster]

Just found this thread.

As the unofficial AS Ely correspondent I was scrolling down to see if it was any of the crap in my current watch list.

It wasn't.

 

Hope you enjoyed your brief visit. (for those unaware, Tesco is right nextdoor to the station).

[Urko]

I love these - brill.

[SmokinWaffle]

"Okay, I've put £20 in, 15/20 minutes home, reset the trip, if I drive back sensibly I can see the MPG on a run"

Unfortunately it was 11PM and the roads were empty. So it wasn't quite as sensible as planned. 

Still, when I got it I don't think the trip had been reset in a long while and it read 33.8MPG which was a pleasant surprise. 

I put in £10 of super unleaded the other day and I think that's cleared out some of the cobwebs (along with some proper use) as it easily feels 15% faster now. The mid range pick up is obscene.

Might treat it to a tank of Shells finest and some forte fuel system cleaner which I've seen people rate as it has done <1000 miles in the last nearly 2 years. 

Staring to get used to the slow starter and building trust with it which is nice. 

 

[mercedade]

The remap definitely makes the most of Super-unleaded - I wouldn't recommend using anything else it's such a stark difference

[SmokinWaffle]

On 09/05/2025 at 15:30, mercedade said:

The remap definitely makes the most of Super-unleaded - I wouldn't recommend using anything else it's such a stark difference

I assume there is no downside (apart from less oomph) to normal unleaded with the first level of Noobtune? Don't particularly want to have to use it every time. Not about that £1.43+ a litre for every tank... 

Had a 100ish mile round trip today to Matlock Bath for a day out. Nice mix of motorway, some country and fast roads. Mix of all driving styles with some spirited bits and came out at 32MPG. Pleased with that. 

[loserone]

I'd assume worse fuel economy too, if it's tuned for super it'll likely be cheaper to run on super (lead foot aside)

[stuboy]

i like to do 32mpg.. 

[dome]

34 minutes ago, loserone said:

I'd assume worse fuel economy too, if it's tuned for super it'll likely be cheaper to run on super (lead foot aside)

Yeah you should find better economy so the overall cost difference won't be that much. My fleet all gets Tesco 99, it's usually cheaper than normal Shell 95.

@SmokinWaffle give it a try over a tank or two and see how it works for you 

[Split_Pin]

Replace the starter motor sooner rather than later, slow turning means it's on its way out. It'll also kill your battery. Happened to me.

If you've got small hands and thin arms then the starter is a fiddly but straightforward job.

I'll admit now that part of the reason I sold the forum bike Aero was because I was definitely going to either lose my licence or accrue points meaning I'd no longer be able to insure 4 cars. It was insanely fast. Thankfully it's in the hands of someone a bit more sensible now.

Enjoy!

[SmokinWaffle]

Okay - need a bit of a a sense check here...

The rocker cover gasket has had a slow seep for a while it seems meaning the engine was a bit oily, meaning it was a bit smelly. No big deal - it's going to be done when I service it. It had spread over time as it's been sitting and only moved periodically.

Recently noticed a bit of oil on the bottom of the downpipe which was really smelling every time I was idle for a minute or so - was bugging the hell out of me. 

I have a 2HR drive tomorrow so thought I'd give the block and exhaust a bit of a degrease and clean to save the smell. Got some degreaser and brake cleaner - got underneath it and gave the elbow of the exhaust a clean and scrub as well as the sump, side of the block, top of the transmission, generally just a bit of a cleanup with brake/parts cleaner and degreaser, some brushes and some blue roll. Nothing major. Did it, cleaned up, should be a bit better.

Then noticed that this pipe was very, very degraded that comes off of the turbo bypass control valve:

So figured I'd replace that while I'm here to prevent any mishaps. Went to halfords and overpaid for some 3.2mm ID vacuum hose and fitted it, all good.

Took it out for a hoon up and down a local private* road (this is probably 40 minutes or so after I finished cleaning it) and it seemed to have a bit more pep, happy days. 

Pulling up outside my house I thought "That smells a bit....warm....wait.....that's burning"

Opened the bonnet and there was a small amount of smoke coming from below the exhaust manifold area (couldn't really spot where) and something was certainly smelling like it was burning. It was not steam. Panicked a little and went and grabbed a measuring jug of water and chucked it down the front of the engine - not my most technical moment - but that seemed to stop it.

Let it cool down a bit, watched it like a hawk. Nothing amiss. Can't spot anything amiss or leaking....it did occur to me that the pipe diameter might have been wrong - online suggests 3mm - 4mm ID, I went with 3.2 as that was what they had. It was a little snug but not overly. Old vs new - but not a great comparison given the likely 20 year old state of the original:

I imagine the original gets narrower as it goes in past where it went on the nipple. The nipple on the other end was pretty much the same size as the 3.2ID so I didn't worry.

 

So - this has made me a little worried for the drive tomorrow.

The logical part of me says I didn't wait enough for the degreaser to totally dry and it might have made a little pool somewhere or dislodged some crap which was burning off.

The worrying part of me tells me that by replacing the vacuum hose I broke something but I also know, logically, that is highly unlikely. If it was having any trouble releasing pressure it'd throw a code as the T7 system is well known for being a bit of a nazi when it comes to the correct pressures and such.

Started it again for about 30 seconds and didn't spot anything.

I'm leaving at 3-4PM tomorrow - my plan is to start it up and run it up to temp (doesn't take long!) and see if it happens again? Hose at the standby? Don't really want my car to catch fire outside my own house....

Opinions please.

 

Also took it to a local Saab specialist who gave it the once over and said it's about as good as it gets and said it was rare to find one with such a high interior/feature spec and predicted I paid about 2-3k for it. That's a win at least. And got the aircon regassed this morning which seems to have done the trick there. 

[DSdriver]

On 02/05/2025 at 20:42, Jerzy Woking said:

Mine 95 was putting out over 300 bhp, and I was most definitely pleased that the previous owner had fitted Maptun discs and 6 pot calipers, as it needed them. 

I hope you enjoy your 95 SM as much as I liked mine. Gutted that I had to sell it.

Tell me more about the discs and calipers please (like where to get them as I only see Maptun discs on google) because I keep saying to my mechanic that the brakes are rubbish and nearly killed me hooning across Exmoor but he says they are fine.

[Brigsy]

Slight diameter difference in the vac hose wont cause issues on the recirc valve.

At a guess id be looking at the turbo oil return for leaks.

[SmokinWaffle]

15 hours ago, Brigsy said:

Slight diameter difference in the vac hose wont cause issues on the recirc valve.

At a guess id be looking at the turbo oil return for leaks.

Appreciate that. Checked - no issues with the oil return thankfully.

On closer inspection (and dropping the exhaust manifold shield nut somewhere in the front of the radiator...) - I think it's just the fact that it has had an oil seep for a while - been sitting, I've then pressed it into use after it being mostly idle for 1.5~Y and it's just spread and is probably leaking a little worse due as the various gaskets/seals are perished.

Started it up and, although better, certainly still a hot oil / burn smell very shortly after starting from the bay. I can see the the distributor plug has a fairly not ignorable leak:

(the side of the block was coated yesterday before I gave it a clean) - and that's caused it to cover the rest over time:

Either way - I'm not happy driving it 2H up the country. Annoying - and I now have to book a last minute train but I'd rather that than risk something getting onto the manifold/exhaust/turbo and starting a fire, no matter how small of a chance.

I'm pretty sure it was me disloging the grease/buildup that has caused it to surface but I'm almost glad it did - it's smelt of oil since I got it and I've been putting it off.

I'll book in with the Saab specialist near me over the next few weeks to get a full service, rocker cover gasket, distrubutor plug/seal, and for him to get it on the ramp and degrease and clean up the various hot bits so I can drive anxiety free.

[Vantman]

This is what you need to stop the oil leak--

https://www.saabits.com/all/saab-900-9000-9-3-9-5-cam-cover-plug