Hey all. I have a 2006 Saab 9-3, and I want to install an aftermarket head unit. I know Saab is very strange when it comes to doing any kind of work to it and I'm unsure on what to get.

If anyone owns a Saab or has installed an aftermarket head unit in one that can recommend me a head unit, I'd appreciate it. I also have Subs to hook up as well, and was wondering if it's going to be a huge project to do all this.

If you need a budget on the head unit, IDK what the budget is as of right now, I'm looking for a nice head unit really, one to play my iPod and all that stuff.

Thanks.

best bet is to check some saab forums, theyll know much more than anyone here probably.

gl

what exactly are you wanting the head unit to do? single din or double? just like music or do you want a touchscreen dvd with navigation/bluetooth/hd radio etc?

installing amplifier/subs is easy the only real work involved is hiding the wires. if you want to just run the wires under your seat/floor mats for example it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to have it wired once the head unit is out.

as for the head unit itself...from what i can tell you'll be wiring everything from scratch...which is still fairly normal with aftermarket installs.

it seems saab used fiber optic stuff for the stock setup which isn't to be messed with lol.

this is going to be somewhat of an ordeal for a beginner so decide if you really wanna do stuff like removing door panels and running new wires to all the speaker and running new wires for the head unit power and stuff.

Yeah everything is actually an ordeal from my experiences with what I had done with this car so far haha. I basically just want a head unit for music, so I can hook my iPod up to it. My brother and some of his friends have hooked up numerous head units, I just don't know which one to get. Any recommendations?

so no touch screen or anything? because i think you have to buy a double din for that car unless you wanna fabricate a single din mounting kit.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_63981_Pioneer-AVH-X1500DVD.html
http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=TCA10C-100

to do this you'll need to run new power/ground/switch 12 volt wires for the head unit.

then you'll need to run new speaker wires to all of your speakers(i think). i don't know exactly where the fiber optic parts stop but if they used normal speaker wire for the speakers then just reuse it.

Just wondering what do you mean by din? I'm really unfamiliar with the terms lol.

its the size standards

Ah ok thank you for clearing that up lol, I guess 1 DIN is what I would use.

I own a 9-5, the problem with the new gen 9-3 is some of them have an integrated radio into the dash and they have fiber optic cables that you can not splice. Im not to sure on the 06 but all you normally need is a universal wiring harness, radio antenna adapter and a headunit. If you want the steering wheel buttons to work you need another unit that's around 80 dollars.

If your stock head unit looks like this one then you are screwed and you need to add another head unit like this guy did just under the ACC unit..




This is the only upgrade you can get for stock shitty radio as far as i know, its an OEM unit and costs A LOT

Yeah I went down to the shop today, and they told me what you said. Fuck. I love my car but it's just ass backwards when it comes to anything... god damn it.

The thought of selling it has been on my mind a lot lately... I don't know what I'm going to do though.