Replacement radio suggestions?

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Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/26/2008 10:49:05 AM    jdsturm   Posts: 3 Joined: 8/26/2008 Status: offline I''ve got a 2000 Saab 9-3 vert.  Radio is starting to give me problems; SID going bad (heard enough to know this is inevitible)...over time-much worse now, CD intermittently not working...and well.....I just want one with a Nav screen, etc. Anyone found something that works well with a 9-3?  Also...I''ve read enough about problems with replacing things on the Saab (radios in particular), so I don''t want to trust it to someone who really doesn''t have experience with a Saab.  Any suggestions?  I''m in Southern California...LA to be exact.  Lastly...do I need to get rid of the notion that I just won''t have some of the features, gas mileage, miles til empty, temperature..etc.? Thanks Post #: 1

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/26/2008 11:18:03 AM    Roto Posts: 1245 Joined: 12/18/2006 Status: offline You do not want to get rid of the SID, you will loose a bunch more than the temp and mpg readouts...  http://bba-reman.com/ - call them.  Many people had their SID repaired by them and they offer a lifetime warranty.   As far headunits go, we''ll have to see how cp_kirkley''s double din unit will look.  Hopefully he''ll install it soon for everyone to see it:) _____________________________ 1999 Saab 9-3 5-door. She's back and better than ever Philly Region Autocross (in reply to jdsturm) Post #: 2

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/26/2008 1:40:35 PM    jdsturm   Posts: 3 Joined: 8/26/2008 Status: offline Thanks for the info.  Forgive my ignorance...but what exactly is the headunit you are referring to?  The actual stereo unit?  I do get that I need to leave the SID alone...other than repairing it, of course. (in reply to Roto) Post #: 3

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/26/2008 1:59:06 PM    Roto Posts: 1245 Joined: 12/18/2006 Status: offline yeah, the stereo is sometimes referred to as a headunit.  _____________________________ 1999 Saab 9-3 5-door. She's back and better than ever Philly Region Autocross (in reply to jdsturm) Post #: 4

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/26/2008 2:07:03 PM    cp_kirkley   Posts: 31 Joined: 8/19/2008 Status: offline Yeah, the head unit is the actual radio unit. Leave the SID alone, but know you will lose the radio/cd display on the SID, everything will will work. Update on radio, I''ve connected the radio, powered it on, it works fine, but I''m going to have to remove the middle bar in between the SID and radio, for some of you its the cupholder. There does not seem to be a non-violent way of doing this...I''ll be working on this through the rest of the night, so hopefully I''ll have some good looking night shots at 3:30 am. Also Ive solved the phone power problem, my phone can plug into usb ports to both sync and charge. So im running the cable to the side panel and dremeling (is that a word?) a small hole for the usb plug from the radio. I will then epoxy the end of the plug to the panel. That way I can plug other usb powered devices (motorola cell phones, blackberries, GPS devices) as I see fit. Still want the cigarette lighter working (its a principal thing, lol) but I think this is a much more interesting and unique way to fix it. Wish me luck! _____________________________ 99 Saab 9-3 SE Restoration Project Finished in 2 months or less, I swear! (in reply to jdsturm) Post #: 5

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/26/2008 2:29:53 PM    Roto Posts: 1245 Joined: 12/18/2006 Status: offline Take pictures.  And the non-violent way of removing the thing is undoing the whole cage from the SID...no difficult at all. _____________________________ 1999 Saab 9-3 5-door. She's back and better than ever Philly Region Autocross (in reply to cp_kirkley) Post #: 6

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/26/2008 6:31:17 PM    cp_kirkley   Posts: 31 Joined: 8/19/2008 Status: offline Update. Yeah, so I went ahead and got the radio in - and did so in a way that you lucky blokes with cupholders can keep them. I''m going for a joyride to celebrate, after that I will post the pictures. I had to use a saw, a dremel, some sandpaper, some sweat, and a healthy, healthy set of walnuts. _____________________________ 99 Saab 9-3 SE Restoration Project Finished in 2 months or less, I swear! (in reply to Roto) Post #: 7

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/26/2008 6:46:06 PM    Roto Posts: 1245 Joined: 12/18/2006 Status: offline you can buy the cupholder for 29 dollars now:) _____________________________ 1999 Saab 9-3 5-door. She's back and better than ever Philly Region Autocross (in reply to cp_kirkley) Post #: 8

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/27/2008 9:17:51 AM    cp_kirkley   Posts: 31 Joined: 8/19/2008 Status: offline Put that in your pipe and smoke it! _____________________________ 99 Saab 9-3 SE Restoration Project Finished in 2 months or less, I swear! (in reply to Roto) Post #: 9

RE: Replacement radio suggestions? - 8/27/2008 9:37:26 AM    cp_kirkley   Posts: 31 Joined: 8/19/2008 Status: offline That was the end result. I think maybe I''''ll start a new topic with the pics that showed what I did to make it fit. Its not the sid bracket that make is not fit.. theres a plastic bar underneath, then the plastic shelf that the sid tray rests on that blocks Double din units from fitting. I Cut them out using a common handsaw, sucked out the debris, dremeled off the sharp remains, than sanded them. I left a small ledge for the SID try to be able to "rest" on, and then installed the radio. after the radio was in, I put in the SID tray, and because the little ledges are still there, I still snaps into place. then just replace your SID and your golden. ***Note that there will be NO room in between the Head Unit and the SID tray. I will drive around for a few days and see what the heat transfer from the radio does to my SID. Only then will I consider it a true victory, lol.*** _____________________________ 99 Saab 9-3 SE Restoration Project Finished in 2 months or less, I swear! (in reply to cp_kirkley) Post #: 10

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