Just bought a 2003 SAAB 9-5

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needsducktape

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Ok So I sold my car two weeks ago to buy an 2000 BMW 323i w/100K only at the last minute the guy selling backed out.
He didn't tell me until AFTER I sold my car.

Leaving me with a rental Dodge Caliber for the week (oh joy...)

Anyway, I was getting desperate, and I saw a 2003 9-5 pop up on Craigslist.

Stats:
2003 9-5
Black on Gray Leather (both interior and ext are near perfect)
5spd manual 2.3Turbo
107,000 miles
2nd set of 2007 AERO rims
Had the PCV updated (saab did this in response to sludge)

These are sludgers but the guy had EVERY service record from day one. I browsed and saw documented Full Synthetic oil changes (Not to mention his garage was filled with Mobil 1 5w30)

I am NOT a Saab fan at all but the car was clearly cared for so I thought it was a good buy at $4000

Any thoughts?

On a side note, I would rather have RWD so I will continue to look for an older BMW.
 
I had an '86 9000 which is the predecessor to that car. It is still the favorite car I've owned. It was pretty easy to work on and a joy to drive. Good luck with your new car and give it a good change before you go running off to BMW. Think you'll be happy with it.
 
Seems like a decent deal, spend the money on a pre purchase inspection to see what it needs. Timing belt and major service come to mind, as well as some sort of suspension component. Saabs are a little tougher to repair, so find someone who knows. Could be a decent appliance, we get the same one that has about 165k on it, I think the valve cover gaskets are an expensive fix. Now that you have your sensible sedan, look for a toy! My shop partners mother picked up a clean BMW Z3 2.8 6 spd with 100k for about 8500. Ended up being an Individual, so it was a nice find at a wholesaler.
 
Since 65,000 miles the car has had Mobil 1 5w30 every 5K

Should I still do a sludge preventive? Maybe MMO or Gunk Engine Flush for a few hundred miles?

Apparently sludge blocks the oil pick up screen and starves the motor of oil pretty easily.

No pun, but I've heard many sob, SAAB stories...
 
Originally Posted By: bodeh6
Well I would run either Mobil 1 0W-40 or German Castrol 0w30 in it.


+1.

I bought my 9-3 because I felt like the 9-5 was more of an old-timer's car. I like my 9-3 and Ill bet the 9-5 is a nice car to drive, FWD or not.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: bodeh6
Well I would run either Mobil 1 0W-40 or German Castrol 0w30 in it.


+1.

I bought my 9-3 because I felt like the 9-5 was more of an old-timer's car. I like my 9-3 and Ill bet the 9-5 is a nice car to drive, FWD or not.


I agree, however the previous owner bought the factory AERO sport suspension and has the new 9-3's wheels its slightly less old man ish -plus its black. That helps.

I think I just miss my old E46 and E36 BMWS...
 
the 9-3 Aero corners very well. should be fun. in fact... in my county there might be a sheriff still looking for me.... dont worry - it was an empty road
 
I have a 2003 9-5 Aero with 160k which I bought new. It's been a great car, pretty reliable, nice to drive, very practical. Hoping to get another few years out of it.

You say this one has the Aero suspension and wheels - is it in fact the Aero (250 hp) or the base model (185 I think)? Oddly enough the Aero engine, or specifically the Mitsubishi turbo vs. the Garret on the base, appears to be the more reliable version.

I use Mobil 1 5W-40 "turbo diesel truck". The 0W-40 was the factory fill. The 5w30 is probably fine but I've chosen to go with the heavier weight and 5k intervals which appear to do well per some used oil analysis.

The 2.3 has a timing chain, so no belt to change. Contrary to one of the other posters, this is by no means a difficult car to work on. It's certainly easier than either of the two Hondas I've owned in recent years. Add that there are some excellent Saab enthusiast sites (I frequent Saabnet) and several Saab/euro parts sites with diagrams, how-tos, etc, and this is a pretty good car for the DIYer.

There are some common failure items on the car - thermostat and/or coolant temperature sensor, heater bypass valve, window rollers, direct ignition cassette, and a few other things. I've had a bunch of them and mostly have diagnosed and fixed myself. I do have a great Saab specialist mechanic I take it to for a few things but generally it's once every year to 18 months that I see him.

There's also some stuff that has been very durable. The car is on it's original exhaust, the whole thing. No engine work of any kind, still produces great power and gets excellent mileage. Rear brake pads and rotors are original, only on the 3rd set of front pads and 2nd front rotors.

As for sludge, it sounds like that car has been well taken care of. If you want to do something maybe do an AutoRX treatment with a couple 3k OCIs of a 10W-40 conventional.

jeff
 
Since it was on sale at AAP, I bought the Mobil 1 0w40 and an Mobil 1 filter (bought the factory size because I forgot the compatible oversize)

I'm not big on engine flushes but after reading some SAAB forums, I am surprised at how many people seem to run solvent type flushes.

Personally I might just buy some 10-40 High Mileage and a touch of MMO for then start the Mobil 1 0w40

The only leak I have seen is a touch of the valve cover gasket-by the circle plug, very minor.

Oh and by the Way, its the Base model 2.3t The original owner just upgraded the suspension, wheels and had the turbo CPU stage 1 tuned up to 230HP (as opposed to 180 stock)

The turbo tune is not noticeable at all until you step on it. Its actually a snore -until you hit upper RPM then the turbo will launch you like a WRX.
 
The most important thing about buying a used car is the previous owner. It sounds like you did good there.

Those can be handsome cars.
 
Sounds like a really, really nice car. Having had regular syn oil changes, I wouldn't worry about sludge.

Good call on the Mobil 1 0W-40 in it - with those older 'Euro' turbo engines, I would not run less than an A3-rated oil. Member 'Eiron' got awesome used oil analysis on a non-turbo Saab using a blend of Mobil 1 0W-40 and 15W-50 years ago - used oil analysis are on here.
 
Might be a good idea, but using the regular size ones isn't a bad idea. They're all I've ever used, running strong at 161k. I think oversized filters are more placebo than anything. Whatever you pick, 5k OCI tops.

jeff
 
Most parts are readily available, though there are a handful of unique parts that are on back order. The Saab Parts business was already spun off and is back in operation. The bankruptcy is actually helping supply somewhat because it's freeing suppliers from exclusive contracts.

jeff
 
Many SAAB parts don't have to come from SAAB anyway. Whenever I had to work on a SAAB 9-5, a call to Autopart International was all that was needed to get such parts. Unfortunately, SAAB parts (And most other European car parts) take more time and more money to buy when compared to parts for most American or Japanese cars.
 
As I'm probably again on the market for another Saab - probably a 2000...2002 9-3, I was googling around the net as all these have the oil sludge problem.

What I learned from some Saab forums was that:
- they prefer to use 40 weight (0W-40, 5W-40) oils because of need for higher oil pressure. Their words, not mine.
- fully synthetic ACEA A3 recommended because of the notorious sludge problem
- 5000 mile OCI recommended + latest crankcase ventilation version

On a general note, I would buy the ignition cassette/module ready as that goes sooner or later. Last time I checked that was available only as Saab part ie. no other source.

EDIT: Strike that: at least Rockauto seems to have the cassette ie. ignition coils available.
 
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