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Posted by Mark Anderson (more from Mark Anderson) on Mon, 22 Jul 2002 13:04:58 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Saab 9-3 replacement CD player, WC, Mon, 22 Jul 2002 11:30:34
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First, make sure who made the head unit/tape deck in your 9-3. When Saab came out with the 9-3 in 1999 they switched to head units manufactured for them by Pioneer. Prior to that they were made by Clarion. The Pioneer ones integrate with the 9-3 electronics in a different way than the Clarion head unit. You can purchase an aftermarket Clarion CD changer for between $150-$200 that will work with a Clarion head unit (search the NG-900 board for model numbers...I think it is the 635 or something like that), but if you have the Pioneer head unit, your only integrated option is the Saab CD changer (also made by Pioneer) which is only available through your Saab dealer or other Saab OEM part supplier. If you remove the head unit from the dash and check the label(s) on the back, a Clarion unit will have the word "Clarion" somewhere on the label(s). If you do not see that, then you have the Pioneer unit.

If you have the Pioneer head unit, and want to go with the integrated Saab changer, you have only a couple of options.

1) Buy a new one from your dealer (overpriced and very expensive)
2) Buy a used one from someone whose 9-3 is coming off lease and wants to sell it (e.g., on e-Bay, the Saabnet classifieds here, etc.).

If you get a used one THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is that the previous owner MUST remove it at a Saab dealer or independent repair shop that has the Saab Tech II diagnostic tool. The service tech MUST use the Tech II to "divorce" the changer from that vehicle, otherwise the changer will be unusable on any other 9-3. (When installed and "married" to the original car, it is set up to recognize the VIN of the car it is installed on. If this is not cleared with the Tech II, the changer will not work with any 9-3 with a different VIN.) This is part of the theft deterrant design of the 9-3 which makes our cars unlikely targets for break-ins. Make sure you get confirmation on this from anyone trying to sell you a changer from a 9-3. You then have to take your car to a Saab service tech who will then marry your 9-3 to the changer.

I thought about trying the "junkyard" route that you mention, but you would first have to convince a Saab technician with a Tech II to go with you to the junkyard to divorce the changer and then you would have to find out if the changer was still functional. If you could work all that out, that might be the least expensive way to go.

I went the 2nd route and paid about $300 for the changer instead of the $495 price listed in the Saab catalog.

If you are not as concerned about an integrated solution, you can buy an aftermarket CD changer with FM transmission that will broadcast the signal to a particular frequency on the FM receiver portion of the head unit. This will work with any 9-3, but you won't have the advantage of the integrated changer controls on the steering wheel or head unit.

Mark

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