Saab 9-3 turbos

I'm interested in this as I was thinking of doing the same thing. Buy the Saab then use and abuse it and make sure it works while I look for a Manta or something similar. I really want a rally style Manta but with big power and tuning a red top is bloody expensive so bring on the boost.

I have a b204r in my Astra. The folks in Scandinavia have been doing the conversions since the 90s, they go straight into Vauxhalls (all of them).
B204R only came in the 99 plate SE's, I was lucky to get one without realising. It's a different ECU but that's it I think. Mine has been upgraded using the Saab CANUSB over a laptop with a bigger down pipe and larger intercooler. All very cheaply and easily (ECU is completely remapable).
The 93 I had was awesome, very fast and felt solid inside and stuck to the road, you can't go wrong with them at all and the prices are right at the bottom now, I would get another one when I sell my starion.

B204's (Red DI) are found in the first 9-3's upto 2000/01 and b205's are found from 01-04 (Black DI's).

B204's are good for well over 400bhp on stock internals and remaps can be done at home on your laptop, there's not much out there that can be as easily tuned as one for the outlay and not many Stock EM's match up to this program regarding tuneability tbh.

B205's have weaker pistons and rods with sludging issues due to poorly designed sump pick up and PCV system and shouldn't be tuned past 280-300bhp.

As said both are easily tuneable with the b204 using T5 and B205 using T7 EM. A downpipe and a few generic upgrades with remap sees either at around 280bhp with a shed load of torque.

There's no difference performance wise between the 2 except the T7(B205 Black DI)head flows slightly better than a B204 IIRC.

The only difference between an Aero and base model LPT apart from trim is the map and turbo. LPT's have T25's(sometimes a GT17/Something like that it's been a while) whilst Aero's come with Mitsy TD04's.

T7 Aero's also came with a better FMIC that was twin pass.

If you're looking at buying a 9-3 for modding/perforance, the chassis is abit curse word to put it bluntly. It's based on a Vauxhall Cav so you'll need to do a fair bit of suspension/chassis mods to get it to anywhere near the level of a well set up hatch, it's never going to be an Integra or 205GTi let's put it that way.

Steering's poor and will seem vague if standard, the rack is mounted on the bulk head and can lead to cracking, although this can be prevented by using a rack brace and clamp it still leads a lot to be desired, although a subframe brace does certainly help with body roll and stiffening up.

If I was buying another Saab it would be a pre-GM era (better made) "real Saab" 9000 with either the b204 or b234 (2.5) engines. They were Sweden's answer to the cossy and still look curse word hot slammed on nice rims, they can be picked up cheap and are as reliable as they come, they do rust though. They do weigh more obviously so again it would depend on what you want it for tbh.

The main weak link with 9-3's and other Saab models are the boxes -because they put out MASSIVE torque- although they can handle the power they'll curse word themselves with an aggressive map in first and struggle with traction so only really come into their own from 60mph onwards. Don't get me wrong they're not "slow" from stage 3 onwards and can get to that power with very little effort/outlay, they'll keep up with most things on the motorway but buy one thinking it's going to be a traffic light monster or compare it to a J turbo with similar power because you'll get smoked.

At the end of the day a b204/b234 is one of the best 4 pot's you'll find regarding ease of modifying and reliability, for the price I'm struggling to think of one that comes close apart from a Rover T16 turbo but they didn't have the tuneability or reliability (at big power regarding internals) of the B204/B234.

As long as you service it regularly and have a spare DI (Direct ignition cassette/pack) they'll never let you down and will run forever, literally..

If you only want it for the engine get a GM900(not an early b202/Classic one), it's the model that looks similar to a 9-3, the turbo model of these only came with a b204 and they're usually cheaper and easier to find (b204 wise) than a 9-3 also.

If you're not looking for massive power (well anymore than 280bhp) don't be put off buying a b205 either 9-3 or 9-5, as long as their PCV system is upgraded and you drop the sump to check it over, run it on fully synth and service it regularly, they can still be reliable cars, the big bumpered 9-3 Aero and Viggen models also look much nicer than the earlier 9-3's in my opinion.

Worth noting that various people on the UKSaabs forum will remap them for under £100. If you start with an lpt you will need to plumb in an APC valve. T5 (red top) valves are expensive, T7 black top ones cheap as chips. T5 ecus can be converted to run the later one. The immobiliser on a red top can be disabled by your remapper too.

My ng900 has a red top and about 220bhp and is great for surprising tailgating bmws and audis on the motorway. The chassis is, as stated above, rubbish. I doubt it could have kept up with my old Alfa 156 through the turns despite a bit power advantage.

Yeah good point, you'll need to get an APC valve (boost solenoid) if you get an LPT and want to remap. As said the T7 APC valve is cheaper and easier to source, you will need to convert your connections to fit though.

I know someone who does remaps for the t5 and t7 if anybody's interested, although as above you'll be looking at around £50 wherever you go.

To put it into perspective; If you've got an LPT at 150bhp, for £50 you'll gain circa 60/70bhp on an Aero map...