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Call this one a case of practicing what you preach. Or another case of the wheels maketh the car.
When I bought the Monte Carlo, I knew that it would need new tyres prior to the car being inspected for registration here in Tasmania. I was umming an erring about what to do. On one hand, I needed to get tyres, but on the other hand, I was hesitant to spend on new tyres when I didn’t like the wheels on the car.
I knew that I wanted to replace the wheels eventually so I could have bought tyres to fit the current rims and restrict myself to a choice of 16 inch wheels offered by Saab (or aftermarket).
OR…..I could do as I advised back in May 07:
Here’s a wheel tip for you, and another reason why it’d be a good idea to make good friends with your local Saab dealer.
If someone buys a Saab and opts for a wheel upgrade, the car still ships with the original wheels, which the dealer then swaps for the upgraded wheels. The dealer can then sell the original wheels, making a little more on the car.
If you’ve got an older Saab with a set of 15″ or 16″ wheels, it may well look better with some more modern wheels. Even my Viggen looked OK with a set of 16s from a new 9-3 while I was getting my wheels painted.
Get to know your dealer well and maybe a set of these wheels might come your way. You may not get them for nothing, but you could get a decent discount on buying them new. They’ll still be Saab originals, and you get an updated look.
Grins all round.
I’m grinning 
This is the car as it looked when I bought it last week. As you can see it’s got the 16-inch 5-spoke wheel that used to be standard on the Saab 9-5. They look better in person than they do in this picture, but the wheels were scuffed and I don’t think they suited the sporting intentions of the car.
Those wheels are now gone and in their place……
According to EduSaab’s list, these are ALU45’s.
They’re 17-inch wheels, which I believe were fitted as standard to the 9-3 Vector here in Australia at some point.
As you can see, they look a whole lot better than the 9-5 wheels that were on there. They fill out the arches a lot more and just suit the car and my image of it a whole lot better.
The wheels are brand new, having been removed from a delivered vehicle as per my story at the start of this post. They’d been sitting in a storage area at the dealership, probably for around two years.
What about the tyres? I hear you say.
They came as part of the deal . They’re the same Continental SportContact2 tyres that would have been delivered on the 9-3.
If I were to get new tyres to fit on my old 16-inch rims, I could have quite reasonably expected to pay around A$800 or so. I got these brand new 17-inch rims plus the four Contis for the princely sum of $1,000.
Yep.
1 grand. 1 gorilla.
The wheels are no longer gathering dust in a holding pen. The dealer’s got some extra cashflow this month and I solved my wheel and tyre problems in one fell swoop.
Like I said back in 2007 – smiles all round!
Now I’ve just got to look for bigger brakes……
Anyone want a set of slightly used 16-inch Saab 9-5 wheels?
–
38 responses so far ↓
1 sab
// Jan 7, 2009 at 6:27 pm
looks sweet swadey! Good choice of tyre too!
2 alaero
// Jan 7, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Woo looks ace!!
can u get them in 18’s?
a.
3 Robin M
// Jan 7, 2009 at 6:33 pm
They look fab Swade, full marks all round.
4 swade
// Jan 7, 2009 at 6:33 pm
The tyres were already on the wheels, Steve. No choice involved, but I’m happy about that as the Conti’s are brilliant.
Alex, I don’t think so. The post from the other day seems to indicate that with Saab it’s one size per design only.
5 Hawkeye
// Jan 7, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Swade, they look so good, excellent choice. You have got this so right. Good taste.
Has he got another set? These would also look great on my wife’s white 93. They are the old Vector wheels or what you get on the 08 Linear Sport here in Aus.
6 swade
// Jan 7, 2009 at 6:49 pm
No more here in Tassie, Ferd. I got the only set. Sorry.
7 Hawkeye
// Jan 7, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I’m ringing my dealer first thing!
8 ctm
// Jan 7, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Wow, congrats on a great deal!
9 Joe Lobo
// Jan 7, 2009 at 7:39 pm
I was going to suggest the 18″ like in my old 9-3 however the 17″ will fit better and look quite similar. Hawkeye, don’t waist your time/money ringing the dealer. Go to Elkparts or PFS and get the same from them a lot cheaper. Swade, this looks tops, just do the suspension work and go about 25 mm down and the car will be superb. As for the tyres, the Contis are the best choice, you’ve done very well.
10 Mark_Belfast
// Jan 7, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Sweet, what a difference they make!
11 PT
// Jan 7, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Nice work. A good match & a great deal too.
12 ctm
// Jan 7, 2009 at 7:48 pm
BTW, Swade, I thought it was summer down your way but every pic you post shows cloudy skies…
13 Paul Humpage
// Jan 7, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Regarding Joe Lobo’s post and Elkparts i bought my 17 inch 5 spoke Aero wheels from them. The wheels, shipping from the UK to Oz and customs duty i had to pay this end still ended up costing less than 2/3rds of what i’d have to have paid the dealer here.
Talking of which. The bonnet badge on the 9-5 has started to fall apart after 4 years so i went to the dealer today to get a new one. They wanted AU$75 for a badge. Elkparts sell a genuine one for AU$24.91, postage would be no more than a couple of quid so i’d be looking at $30. Less than half price. Madness.
14 aeroo
// Jan 7, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Paul , the dealer should change your bonnet badge at no cost as it is Saab no charge due to faulty manufacturing… l have mine already swapped over , no cost
15 ctm
// Jan 7, 2009 at 9:03 pm
aeroo,
I have tried that with some dealers in Sweden. No way they would do it for free…
16 Richo
// Jan 7, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Swade you sonofamotherlessgoat, who did you have to sleep with to get those wheels?
17 Tompa
// Jan 7, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Looks great Swade!
A hood emblem here in Good ol´ Suede is 161 Sek. Ca 15 Euros.
18 AEROPILOT
// Jan 7, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Hey !
Isn’t it a hatch ??
What do a dirty wheel do in the cabin ?
-And with no belt for fastening at all.
I don’t hope you drowe with that configuration.
Think of the consequense of a sharp left turn !
Serious accident is preprogrammed.
Safety First. -You drive SAAB now.
19 saabyurk
// Jan 7, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Same wheels and tires as my 04 9-3 Arc! Great choice, great look.
The tires are great except for increased tramlining and/or torque steer, and noise on some roads. They are whisper quiet on smooth blacktop, but hit a new concrete road and you’ll be looking for the non-existent fire truck. Great traction, except for some wheelspin in the wet. However, they really hold the line on wet curves.
Oh, and NEVER NEVER NEVER try to drive on snow with them!
20 Wulf
// Jan 7, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Amazing what a set of nice wheels can do for the overall appearance of car. What a beautiful car, maybe someday we’ll see a new 3-door hatch again.
21 Saabboy1
// Jan 7, 2009 at 11:34 pm
The seats in this car look different than any other 9-3 I have seen, or is it me? It looks like those are the 9000 aero seats by the picture, is that correct?
22 brian griffin
// Jan 8, 2009 at 12:28 am
aeroo, not so on the badge, tho some dealers swap them out as a courtesy. All enamel badges do that if nicked by a rock or an aggressive buffer (bmw’s suffer the same fate). one chip on the edge and the rest peels fairly quickly.
amazing how good those wheels make the car look.
23 Nate 9-3
// Jan 8, 2009 at 12:47 am
The wheels do maketh the car. Those are some nice rollers!
24 David N.
// Jan 8, 2009 at 1:13 am
Looks good on the bumble-bee!
25 PGAero
// Jan 8, 2009 at 3:17 am
Saabboy1,
The seats are different than standard 9-3 seats,but they’re not 9000 Aero seats. The diagonal stitching does give them that look, but 9000 Aero seats are much wider at the shoulder, and deeper in the bolsters all around.
Nice wheels Swade. The car looks the mutts’ butts.
~Peter, ‘93 9000 Aero
26 Andy Rupert
// Jan 8, 2009 at 4:22 am
very nice look
And from what you said about the price of new tires, this was a nice way to accomplish two goals. Nice job.
27 J
// Jan 8, 2009 at 4:26 am
NICE upgrade, Swade! ALL newish Saabs should be fitted with nothing less than 17″ wheels (IMO). Your MC is 2x hotter now (looks-wise)!
Going to paint the brake calipers? If so, what color? Yellow or red might be too much….black with white “Saab” text would look mighty nice!
28 J
// Jan 8, 2009 at 4:29 am
So – what’s next on the mod list? Engine/exhaust/interior?
29 ctm
// Jan 8, 2009 at 6:09 am
My I suggest replacing the orange indicator light on the side with a clear one (if it is allowed in Oz).
30 Dippen
// Jan 8, 2009 at 6:11 am
awesome wheels i must say:)
31 ChrisCam84
// Jan 8, 2009 at 6:58 am
Looking good!
32 Anthony
// Jan 8, 2009 at 8:02 am
Looks fantastic Swade. I’m very envious!
33 Richo
// Jan 8, 2009 at 8:24 am
BTW Swade, pump the tyres to 38-42, it’ll make them last a whole lot longer.
34 Lance Cole (author)
// Jan 8, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Swade- serious upgrade that looks fantastic. Adds massively to the car’s stance and character.
Congrats mate.
35 Alex
// Jan 8, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Awesome choice, those have to be some of my favorite Saab wheels as of late. They really make a tremendous difference to the look of the car.
36 J
// Jan 8, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Second that opinion to “de-pumpkinize” the Saab (clear blinkers, please)!
37 Markac
// Jan 8, 2009 at 4:28 pm
The wheels certainly add more than a $1000 to the value. I replaced the side indicator repeaters for the smoke grey variety on my Monte. They make quite a noticeable visual improvement for not much outlay.
If you’re going to paint the brake calipers may I suggest blue? That’s what I’m planning for mine. Sort of matches the Swedish flag then.
38 J
// Jan 9, 2009 at 12:21 am
Good point, Markac, about the Swedish flag colors…blue calipers would look apprapo! Engine bay should be a smattering of yellow caps and blue silicone hoses, too!