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Project Saab-otage: The €1900 Bayern-Express

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Project Saab-otage: The €1900 Bayern-Express

Swedish gold or Bavarian trap? The story of our €1,900 Saab 9-3 1.8t Kombi LPG. 🇸🇪 We refuse to let this beautiful sportwagon die.

Welcome to Project Saab-otage! 🇸🇪🔥

This is the completely honest, uncensored story of our 2007 Saab 9-3 Kombi 1.8T hirsch with a LPG system. It started as an epic adventure: driving 1,200 km round trip from Maastricht (Netherlands) to Hof (Germany) to buy our dream Swedish cruiser for just €1,900. The drive back was smooth, but the honeymoon phase ended the moment we pulled the dipstick. What we

found underneath the hood was a nightmare: massive oil overfill that soaked the engine block, lots of unmentioned rust on or in the subframe and suspension, and a dealer who secretly altered our sales contract to try to write off his warranty obligations. Follow our page for:
🛠️ Mechanical updates as we diagnose the oil leaks, turbo, clutch, and subframe.
⚖️ The legal battle against a fraudulent dealership under German consumer law.
📈 Real-world LPG fuel logs, road trips, and the ultimate restoration of this Swedish classic. Hit that FOLLOW button and join us on the road from Hof to justice! 👇

21/07/2026

UPDATE: The Autopsy Results – Autobahn Roulette & DIY Defiance! 🚗💥

Remember that massive oil overfill the ANWB drained into a bottle last week? Well, we got the official, independent diagnostic report back from our local Saab specialist... and let’s just say we should probably buy a lottery ticket immediately! 🎟️💸

The specialist did a full "Aankoopkeuring" (€75,- of cold, hard truths) and uncovered what German dealer "Uli" somehow missed": 🕵️‍♂️🔍

💥 VERDICT #1: Right Front Coil Spring Broken! 💔🛞
Let that sink in. We drove over 2,700 kilometers, hitting up to 230 km/h on the GPS on the German Autobahn... with a completely snapped front suspension spring! 😱 "Swedish Gold" or Bavarian deathtrap? Honestly, it’s a small miracle the front end didn't collapse at high speed. Saab engineers and our guardian angels, we salute you! 🇸🇪👼🙏

💦 VERDICT #2: Oil leak at brake booster vacuum pump! 🛢️⚠️
At least that is the leak they could 100% verify at this moment, because the entire engine block is absolutely soaked in oil. 🌊 Talk about massive crankcase pressure! 😤💨

🔧 The Repair Quote vs. DIY Defiance 💪⚙
The specialist handed us an official repair quote of €591.69 including shock absorbers, pump, and labor). But we aren't just going to pay and roll over. We are Project Saab-otage! 🛠️🔥

On Saturday evening, we sent an elaborate, no-nonsense email to salesman 'Uli', officially claiming €844,- in damages (the repair quote + previous inspection & parts bills). So far... radio silence. 🔇 He has until this Thursday to reply, or we’ll be taking some serious next steps. We are not letting this slide, Uli! ⚖️⏳

🛠️🇸🇪 Today, we officially launched Operation DIY Restoration!
We are fixing this ourselves, documenting every single grease-stained step, and making sure she passes her Dutch RDW import check with flying colors! 🇳🇱📋

The first order of hardware is officially on its way:
🛞 2x KYB Excel-G shocks (no budget for Koni FSD, but these will do the job beautifully!)
🌀 2x LESJÖFORS coil springs (sports suspension specs)
🛡️ KYB 910069 Shock Absorber Dust Cover Kit
🔗 2x MEYLE HD Anti-roll bar links (heavy duty!)
⚙️ 2x KYB SM1311 Suspension Strut repair kits
🔩 2x OEM Shock absorber bolts
🔩 2x M12 nuts
🛡️ 2x Protective sleeves + rubbers for the front suspension

🛠️🇸🇪 Time to get our hands dirty!

14/07/2026

Project Saab-otage: The €1900 Bayern-Express

PART 5: Draining the Evidence – The 1.4-Liter "Oil Bomb" it's Real! 🇸🇪🧪

Yesterday when German dealer "Uli" emailed us back (after we reported the oil leaks and high oil level) and he casually claimed that our drowning dipstick was "completely unproblematic".

(i will upload the conversations later)

Well, today the ANWB (Dutch Roadside Assistance) arrived at our place. The mechanic pulled the dipstick, shook his head, and got to work.

What we found wasn't just a minor mistake. It was a mechanical crime scene.

The mechanic grabbed an empty 1.5-liter "Saskia" mineral water bottle and began draining the excess oil. He drained, and drained, and kept draining... until the bottle was almost entirely full of motor oil.

The official, legally binding verdict logged right into the ANWB system: 👉 "Klant had 1,4 liter motorolie te veel er in zitten." (Customer had 1.4 LITERS of excess motor oil in the engine.)

Let that sink in for a moment. A standard Saab 9-3 1.8t engine only holds about 4 to 4.5 liters of oil. This means the dealer's workshop in Hof overfilled our engine by (AT LEAST) more than 30%! 🤯

Driving 2,700 kilometers with 1.4 liters of excess oil (or probably even more since it's been leaking), I don't even want to know what was going on in the block when i drove 230km/h + in Germany on the Autobahn.. This creates massive crankcase over pressure, turning the engine into a ticking time bomb. It has been actively forcing oil out of seals, gaskets, dripping straight onto our hot exhaust pipe.

This official ANWB log is absolute GOLD for our legal claim of "Arglistige Täuschung" (Fraudulent Misrepresentation).

Uli, you’ve got some serious explaining to do. ⚖️🇩🇪

I'm off now to the local Saab specialist. Now, the real autopsy begins to see what kind of internal damage this 1.4+ lite oil bomb has caused to our clutch, turbo, and seals and what not.

Take a look at that bottle...

How on earth did this Saab survive a 2,700+ km Autobahn run without blowing the engine to pieces, hirsch tuned on LPG even?! Saab engineers, we salute you! 🫡✈️

14/07/2026

Project Saab-otage: The €1900 Bayern-Express

PART 4: Towing to Truth – The Inspection Day! 🇸🇪🛠️

Well, the honeymoon phase didn't just end; it's officially being towed away.

Today’s schedule was supposed to be a nice, sunny cruise, but instead, our "new" 2007 Saab 9-3 SportCombi is waiting for a lift.

The ANWB (Dutch roadside assistance) is scheduled to arrive between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to rescue our stranded wagon. From there, she’s taking a flatbed ride straight to a local Saab specialist.

We spoke with the specialist yesterday, and he has set aside some time this afternoon to help us dissect exactly what we’ve brought home. The mission for today is critical: systematically document every single (severe and not mentioned) defect to build an ironclad legal case against the German dealer.

Here is our official battle checklist for this afternoon:

1️⃣ The Overfilled Oil & Consequential Damage: We’ve driven roughly 2,700 km since picking the car up, and the oil level remains dangerously high. We will officially note this overfill and inspect for subsequent damage to the clutch, turbocharger, gaskets, and crankcase ventilation.

2️⃣ Drain & Measure: We are going to drain the excess motor oil, measure exactly how much too much was put in, and locate all active oil leaks to determine their cause and how long they have been leaking.

3️⃣ The Hidden Rust: Perform a full assessment of the chassis, subframe, and suspension rust—especially the structural corrosion that magically didn't make it onto our purchase contract.

4️⃣ Full Vehicle Scan: Run a complete diagnostic scan to uncover any other hidden gremlins.

5️⃣ The Paperwork & pictures: Compile an official damage report and get two separate repair quotes from the specialist:
Quote A: For the unmentioned/hidden defects (like the structural rust).
Quote B: For the consequential damage caused by the extreme oil overfill. (like the sudden oil leak that wasn't there during the test drive)

With German consumer law on our side under "Arglistige Täuschung" (Fraudulent Misrepresentation), we need this independent diagnosis and these split quotes to back up our legal case.

The tow truck is on its way, and the fight for justice continues. Wish us luck! 🤞

13/07/2026

Some random pics of the surrounding area like 20 minutes from Hof.. Since i didn't decide to buy the car right after the testdrive - which was right after driving for ~10hours from Maastricht to Hof - we needed to rest. We set up a tent that we bought at the local Action to spend the night, weren't willing to spend money on a hotel.

All tho the 3rd night we changed our minds and went for some luxury.. 🥳

13/07/2026

engine sound check after first test drive, what do you hear?

13/07/2026

⚠️ PART 3: The sneaky contract trick and the unexpected rust! ⚠️

Grab your popcorn, guys, because this has officially turned into a proper thriller! 🍿

When we first bought the Saab on July 1st, we noticed two typos in the paperwork: a wrong VIN and the power was listed as 154 kW instead of 110 kW.
We asked Uli to correct this He printed the new contract on July 2nd Since we were in a rush to get our export plates, we trusted him and signed the new set of documents rather quickly.

But now, looking at the two contracts side-by-side... our jaws dropped.

Contract 1 (July 1st): Lists rust on fenders, repainted rear panels. Zero mention of oil issues.

Contract 2 (July 2nd): Suddenly, a fourth line has been added to the list of defects: "Ölverlust am Motor" (Oil loss on engine)!

He secretly slipped this defect into the new contract without telling us, hoping to legally dodge his warranty obligations! Absolutely devious.

We wrote an email to him asking about among other things the rust that wasn't mentioned to us at all. How Uli emailed us today saying: "There are no rust-throughs on the undercarriage"?

Well, Uli... care to explain these photos? That's not just "light corrosion" - which you also failed to mention to us - before we drove 600+km, during our conversation next to the car and even in the contract itself!

We are heading to a local Saab specialist tomorrow for an official, independent diagnosis and repair quote. We are not letting this slide. Under German law, this is a textbook case of "Arglistige Täuschung" (Fraudulent Misrepresentation).

The fight for justice for our Swedish kombi has officially begun! 🇸🇪⚖️

13/07/2026

📉 PART 2: When "complimentary dealer service" might kill your engine... 😭

There is nothing worse than the dreaded 'click, click' of a dead battery when you're excited to go for a drive. Our "new" 2007 Saab refused to start. Frustrating, but hey, it's a 19-year-old car, batteries die.

But since the hood was open anyway, we decided to pull the oil dipstick. What we found made our hearts sink.
Remember that "fresh oil change" the dealer promised? Well, the mechanics in Hof apparently decided: "the more oil, the merrier!"

The oil isn't just slightly overfilled; the entire plastic indicator is completely drowned, with fresh oil sticking almost up the metal spiral wire. And when we looked underneath? The entire bottom of the engine block and gearbox is absolutely soaked in fresh, liquid motor oil.

There are literal drops hanging from the bolts, dripping right onto the hot exhaust pipe! 🚨

What happened? The garage clearly massively overfilled the engine. When running, this creates massive crankcase pressure, blowing out seals and gaskets. Is our clutch oil-soaked? Is our turbo ruined? We are absolutely terrified.

We politely emailed the seller with some photos, asking if this was normal. His response today?
"The oil level is unproblematic. Depending on the operating condition, the oil level is slightly higher or lower." 🤦‍♂️

Right. A dipstick drowned to the metal wire is "normal". Who is he trying to fool?

Up next in Part 3: How we discovered the dealer secretly altered our contract to cover up the leak, and the rust that "doesn't exist"...

13/07/2026

🇸🇪 THE BAVARIAN EXPRESS: Roadtripping 1,200 km for "Swedish Gold"! 🇸🇪

They say petrol runs through our veins, but in our case, it's LPG! We wanted a very specific cruiser: a Saab 9-3 Kombi 1.8T on LPG.

After weeks of hunting, we found the one.

The only catch? It was waiting for us at a dealership in Hof, deep in Bavaria, Germany - a solid 600km+ from our home in Maastricht, the Netherlands!

But hey, what's a ~1,200km round trip when Swedish beauty is calling, right? 😍

After a great weekend in Germany, we picked up our new pride and joy on July 2nd for €1,900.

The salesman, "Herr Uli", was even kind enough to give us a fresh oil and filter change right before our departure. Excellent German service, we thought!

The drive back? Pure heaven. The car floated on the Autobahn, the 60-liter gas tank worked flawlessly, and we easily put the first 2,700 km on the clock while not even maxing out at 235km/h. We soon after found the hirsch logo hidden somewhere. 😍

Little did we know, we weren't just driving a Saab. We were driving a ticking time bomb. 💣

Stay tuned for Part 2, where a "free oil change" turns into a mechanical horror story, and we discover why you should NEVER sign a contract in a hurry...

13/07/2026

Welcome to Project Saab-otage! 🇸🇪🔥

This is the completely honest, uncensored story of our 2007 Saab 9-3 Kombi 1.8T hirsch with LPG system.

It started as an epic adventure: driving 1,200km+ round trip from Maastricht (Netherlands) to Hof (Germany) to buy our dream Swedish cruiser for just €1,900.

The drive back was smooth, but the honeymoon phase ended the moment we pulled the dipstick after +/- 2700km.

What we found underneath the hood was a nightmare:
- massive oil overfill that soaked the engine block
- seemingly structural rust in the subframe and suspension
- a dealer who secretly altered our sales contract to try to write off his warranty obligations.

We refuse to let this beautiful sportwagon die.

Follow our page for:

🛠️ Mechanical updates as we diagnose the oil leaks, turbo, clutch, and subframe.

⚖️ The legal battle against a fraudulent dealership under German consumer law.

📈 Real-world LPG fuel logs, road trips, and the ultimate restoration of this Swedish classic.

Hit that FOLLOW button and join us on the road from Hof to justice! 👇

Adres

Maastricht
6211DW

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