Saab 9-5 Estate - Old Man Sleeper

[Jerzy Woking]

These are the brakes that were on my 9-5 when I purchased it:

I also.purchased a set of standard wheels to run in the winter, rather than use the lightweight Revolution wheels. Spent a week rubbing the Saab wheels down to repaint them, only to find they would not fit over the Maptun discs and calipers.

Think from memory that the discs were 320mm, and had been purchased from either Maptunparts.com, Abbott Racing or Neo Brothers.

They were excellent, and didn't ever feel the need ho do anything with the rear brakes. Even the pads were standard Saab pads

[Shandylegs]

Looks to be a good buy.

Is the specialist the one in Attercliffe?

[SmokinWaffle]

On 08/06/2025 at 20:31, Vantman said:

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

Thanks! I got it from there using the link.

On 12/06/2025 at 01:02, Shandylegs said:

Looks to be a good buy.

Is the specialist the one in Attercliffe?

Smiths Saab - the one in Sheffield.

Was serviced a couple weeks ago now - can't rate the guy highly enough. Kept all the old stuff to show me the issues with it/what he'd done, just a bang on transaction.

He said that it the interior of the engine was almost like brand new which is nice to hear!

It had:

• Engine oil & filter
• Spark plugs (Iridium) 
• Air filter
• Pollen filter (which was gross)
• Coolant
• Brake fluid
• Seized Handbrake shoe
• Rocker cover gasket
• Distributer plug
• All vacuum hoses replaced
• Engine/exhaust/transmission all totally cleaned of oil

He also swapped out the air box housing as it'd been duck tape repaired with one he had from a breaker, same with another bit that I can't remember.

Very reasonable price too. Almost stupidly reasonable...

Since then it drives nicer, sounds happier, and no leaks whatsoever. I've just been enjoying it since, really! Need to get it booked in for a Stage 1 Noobtune....it does have an intermittent engine light for a misfire on startup but it did that a few times already - still drives fine and clears itself. Probably needs a new DI Cassette in the coming months.

Air con is still cold too after the regas. The only thing that I wish it had is the vented seat option but I'm aware that's super duper rare.

Thanks to the very kind @The Moog for the 3D printing of a cupholder so my other half doesn't have to hold her drink when I'm using the cupholder, great quality print:

 

I've also ordered one of these as I thought for what it provides and how it looks - that's a very reasonable OEM+ style modification to have.

What else....I need to change the window wipers and actually look at unblocking the rear wiper hose already. I also want to clean the washer tank but that involves bumper off to take it out so I'm building up to it as it's a faff!

I'd like some new centre caps for it as they are long worn off.

The back box is rusting like a good-un, the chap I took it to get serviced with said there isn't much point replacing it as it'll just be like it again in 8 months. Might look to replace it with a stainless one when it properly goes and starts sounding like a tractor.

But it continues to be a fun, comfortable, fast, estate sleeper which is basically my ideal car. Thirsty (21 - 25MPG average) but that doesn't really matter to me in my current situation. Smiles per gallon! 

Got it cleaned too.

Need to take some proper pictures. Maybe even get the drone out and do something fancy. Oh, I picked up a massive ikea cabinet and ripped a bit of the headliner because I was looking elsewhere, it is what it is. Nice to have the length for taller furniture, that's what the Berlingo lacked!

Insurance renewal came through at something like £680 through my current provider and they weren't interested in budging. Did some shopping and got it for £300~ + £45 cashback (eventually, hopefully). One of the benefits of getting older at least!

Liking it. Dare I say loving it.

[MAF260]

Let me know the size of your current centre caps - I have a brand new set I ordered in error which may fit. Yours for the postage.

[SmokinWaffle]

On 15/07/2025 at 21:05, MAF260 said:

Let me know the size of your current centre caps - I have a brand new set I ordered in error which may fit. Yours for the postage.

PM'd!

Got the USB thing today. Easy as pie, came with all the bits, 5 minute job.

Then when looking at that picture - I realised I'd mounted it the wrong way and it looked a bit crappy and was pushing the plastic housing a bit.

Went to swap it around and then also realised that because I'd jammed it in the wrong way it was now stuck as the release tabs wouldn't go in because it was too snug. Which led to me cutting a notch in the cubby...

I then realised that because I'd jammed it in the wrong way I'd bent the securing catches so it wouldn't hold itself in place. Fucks sake, the simplest thing.

So I did the logical thing of spacing them out with whatever I had around (which was some washers) to get them where they should be and epoxying the clips in place.

We'll let that set and when it's all together I'll take out the washers and it should be fine. 

What an absolute hash of a nicely made little thing. Still, all is well that ends well (hopefully). I could have just left it as it was but it would have bugged me a lot...and once it's installed nobody will see the crap behind it!

In other news - I only have one key. Only came with one. Has two programmed, but one was lost by the other guy.

Looking around and getting confused, thinking I'd have to pay eleventy billion £ for a key then someone to come and breathe Tech2 magic on it - I thankfully found this PDF

So all I need is to get a used key of the Remote Key 2 style which on eBay (I'm looking at a few) is £20 - 35 each, and then a blank key and new housing for 20 euros~ from here, swap the internals from the used key into the new housing, get the key blade itself cut wherever, then I can pay someone with Tech2 to program them in. Thinking of getting two so I have 3 keys total as the TWICE system it uses for security is like a fortress if you loose all the keys. When it's done in Tech2 you have to program them all at the same time, you can't just "add one on" so it makes sense.

Onwards and upwards. Ooh I need to get the chap down the road with a Tech2 to re-active the alarm now there is no battery warning issues also.

Edit: I've actually just found this which is basically all the bits I'm piecing together for the key just....already together and less faff, and cheaper, so I'll just get a couple of those!