2008 Saab 9-3 Radio Upgrade - Xtrons Android - Steering Controls - Waze - Spotify - Bluetooth 

Many thanks, Richard, this is really useful as I have just purchased a new Double DIN kit from Xtrons and I have the newer Connects2 loom with the blue and white wire and transparent plug. So please excuse my ignorance, dare I say naivety, are you able to confirm where this needs to connect in order to achieve the 12V connection? Is it this wire that needs to be connected to the cigarette lighter wiring and if so, which one? Or does it connect to the blue AMP-CON wire on the other Xtrons harness? I'm struggling to find the illumination wire, too, or what the ANT and BACK wires are for on the ISO... Many thanks in advance.

@@carouserhi there, I know it is a year on but I now have the same issue. Did you find clarity on it?

Hi there. I'd be interested to hear how you got on? I want to fit one to mine.

If you find them cheaper elsewhere, let me know and I'll update the links

@@SaabUnleashed will do. thank for the video BTW! its very helpful. :)

Is double din unit and harness the same for 2010 9-3

I did a quick video here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TIKn2AJ2-hY.html

O

I have automatic also. Someone please help us!!

I think only works Incartec

Mine was made in EU and I've got the same question. The car audio is factory with the original amplifier in the boot, and with 6 speakers all together. Is this "AMP High to Low" a must to have and fit? How does that connect? You did not mention it in the video. Thank you very much!

Yes, you can set the buttons to do whatever you want

@@SaabUnleashed Ok I saw the links provided. You said the harness for the steering wheel is for manual cars only. Mines auto. How is this gonna work then?

Hi Craig, You only need to connect the ignition live (the red wire on the harness) along with the amp and illumination wires to the cigarette lighter

Stuart Bell now why does that sound complicated to me.

@@craigwilliams5092 look at the diagram at 7:05. It shows the wires that need to go to the cigarette lighter (but I missed out the main red wire)

That’s great Stuart. Did you use a block connector or is there a better alternative

@@craigwilliams5092 the correct way would be to solder and shrink wrap. I'm lazy though, so I twisted the wires together and wrapped them in insulation tape :)

Steering control wiring harness doesnt work with automatic gearboxes. Why? Something about signals with gearbox

@@gsppower Damn. Maybe it's because it has paddle shifters?

You need a gain controler so you Can lower the gain

Yes, many. Check out my channel because I review lots

Robert Stratford yeah you should get a rca adapter and probably ground loop isolators as well

@@zobbetheone You may not need ground loop isolators, but the BOSE system will be fine with a harness with phonos

The links for the kit are in the video description

It should have come with your canbus decoder. If it didn't, I'd be complaining! It's very cheap part www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Connects2-CTMULTILEAD-2-Universal-Steering-Stalk-Control-Adaptor-Patch-Lead-/293649336956?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m2548.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I have the exact same problem. I am using a different screen but the issue should remain the same for you nevertheless. My theory is that the static sound is noise comming from the amplifier in the android unit, that noise gets amplified to the point of you hearing it in the amp hidden under the driver seat. We can't lower the output noise from the andriod unit as far as I know. Hopefully there is a gain control on the other amplifier however, I will look into that.

The blue and white wire is on the harness that goes between the Saab and the Xtrons, that is what needs to be connected to your ciggerette lighter

No Tech 2 needed as it's not a stock Saab radio. No soldering required either (although you can solder the wire connections if you want, I just twisted them together and added insulating tape) No complaints, it's quick and does exactly what it says on the tin!

Yes of course. There is no difference in requirements for head units in 9-3 models. But check my channel for better options as this is an older video

Kevin I have no idea to what you're referring. Feel free to either email me or find me on Facebook so we can have a chat

You having a Bose system in your 9-3 is irrelevant, wiring is all the same, it just sounds better. Follow the guide here ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IjkJhUJt1Ug.html

It goes to the red ignition live wire on the radio loom, plus the amp wire and the illumination wire. There's a diagram on the video

I don't think I did it with this install although the newer videos show it

Sure, I removed the glove box and passenger sun visor. The plastic trim around the inside of the upper windscreen came away enough for me to pop the microphone through the hole at the rear view mirror. Then I ran the cable around the windscreen and back to the radio. Removing the glove box makes it easy to access the back of the radio and hide the wires

They may have changed it... Are you on Facebook Steve?

If you can find me (Facebook shows me as living in Australia) I can help you directly

@@SaabUnleashed I am, will see if I can find you. Steve

You can choose your car make from a list once fitted, SAAB is included.

You can have a look in the settings in case they have changed anything on the design since I had mine, but it should be plug and play unless your mic is not compatible

It's part of the actual wire harness

Yes it needs to be grounded if you have an amplified antenna like I do. I removed some paint behind the plastic trim

Sorry, just to reiterate, the copper strip does not need to be grounded, it just sits on the window. But there is a seperate wire that comes out of the antenna for grounding

The install kit is in the video description

Alan, reach out to me on Facebook and I can give you a hand in real time

Could you possibly help me on this blue wire to the amp? I have a working unit with no sound as well

The radio has nothing to do with the alarm

Check the video description.

Sure, I have added the links to the video description

The sound is nothing to do with the canbus decoder. You haven't connected up the amp trigger wire, it is the blue and white wire on the main loom

Hello Stuart I did connect the blue and white to the cigarette lighter, followed the same diagram you have shown. It is driving crazy, as the unit powers and everything works except the sound

I figured it out and the Xtron unit sounds amazing. Once again thank you all the great videos and the amazing value you have added to the SAAB community. Much appreciated

I'm not sure about that, but I can tell you that the F7 won't work with the Saab steering controls anyway, I actually have a video installing it

The dash kit is in the video description

I got the exact same stereo 2 years ago from Corehan on Amazon. I used a different harness and dash kit from a different supplier (spiral audio). I installed a rear backup camera and a front dash cam. The only difference I can see is that my head unit has a DVD player and maybe the wiring was a bit different.

Good question, I did this because I was too lazy to run the illumination cable to the headlight switch. I drive my Saab with the lights always on anyway, so this doesn't make any difference to me. The ignition cable simply means that the head unit lights will come on only when the ignition is on. You can't see them in the day anyway

@@AP-ph7hf Yeah this has a reverse camera attached too. I didn't go with the DVD player because I haven't owned a DVD in like 8 years. Has anyone? :)

Ahh i understand! I went for another wheel learning box(incartec). Learned that if you have the 7-speaker set up that is the only way to go!

Yes, that radio will fit straight in as long as you buy the Saab 9-3 kit. And the fact you have Bose makes no difference, you can replace the head unit

@@SaabUnleashed Thanks you very much! Does the kit you linked include everything I need except for the head unit itself?

Loss of chimes is something that happens if you incorrectly install a radio in the pre-facelift 9-3 (2003-2006). 2007+ doesn't have this issue. The canbus decoder is for the steering controls. And no, the speakers won't cause damage to the radio, they can only draw what the radio has to offer power wise

@@SaabUnleashed Okay good to know, thanks for the quick response!!!

That will be because you haven't powered the stock amplifier. You need to make sure that is powered or you will get no sound

Hi mate I'm having that problem with mine is that what the wire from the cigarette lighter is for coz I've dun everything els apart from that an the people that sent the kit are doing me head in know 😳 😀

Yep, all good. They don't slow down

@@SaabUnleashed hey do you know what kinda speakers Saab uses ?

@@parilondi5221 Bose or Harman kardon

Sorry I missed this question. Yes, it sounds fine with the stock system. These Android units by default have equalisers which I have found can get the best sound out of stock systems. That being said, my 9-3 has a pretty poor sound system (when compared to that of my 9-5) and as such, I will be replacing the speakers soon

The ariel is the metal part, it should just pull out. If you break it, it's not the end of the world as they're only two wires and you need an adaptor anyway

No, the canbus decoder comes with the wire harness

That means you haven't powered the amp. It's the blue wire on the harness

One blue one says back on it and the other says ant on it. Is it one of them

@@craigwilliams5092 it might be unmarked without a label. Maybe blue and white, and on the other side of the harness, on the side (Car side not the radio side)

With a push on adaptor with a transparent rubber shroud

Don't worry about them if they arnt there. You only need the one wire

@@SaabUnleashed Thank you for your advice!

No sound means you didn't connect the amp trigger wire to a 12v source, the blue and white wire

Hey Andrew - No, this won't work in your car without significant dashboard and electrical modification. Any 9-3 made between 2003-2006 uses a custom system. The thing that looks like a radio on your dashboard is actually an important computer for the car and your car won't start without it. Check this video where I try to explain why it's difficult and how to install an aftermarket radio in a car similar to yours ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PmJHbgXNpOs.html

Don't put it in the pillar, put it inside the top of the dash

Yes with a lot of work. I have a video on my channel which shows what you need to do to install an aftermarket head unit in that car

Yes, if it's a face lift with a manual gearbox

Your car is made before 2007. I have other videos for that. You are very limited in what you can do

Hi Peter, it's in the video description

If it has the updated interior then yes

@@alimontana5867 ik got the exact same radio etc in my 2007, so it should work?

Robbin Drenth yes, if you have the updated interior this will work 2007 onwards

Xtrons is fine, hasn't missed a beat. That Sony is very expensive for what it is. Are you looking for something that has the physical CD player and carplay/ android auto?

@@SaabUnleashed Thanks very much, basically looking for something that will have both android auto and carplay and preferably a knob, or buttons at the very least. Also looking for longevity, ie the software/os on the android unit doesn't slow down in a couple of years.

@@warhog93 Well the fact that you're looking for Android Auto and Carplay would suggest that an Android head unit is the wrong decision for you. Android Auto and Carplay basically supercede the main head unit built in operating system, effectively giving you remote access to your phone and the compatible apps installed on it. This has the added benefit of being just as quick as your phone, as all the apps are still running from the phone, not from installations on the actual head unit. That means you won't actually be using the built in Android OS, which renders it pointless. As a result of the above, these head units don't have to have high spec hardware. And that means that they should be cheaper - but they're not. If you're interested, I'm going to be releasing a video very soon on an ATOTO unit (Non-Android) which has the physical buttons, Android Auto and Apple Carplay and is a fraction of the cost of that Sony. This one - amzn.to/2SBN9Jt . I'll be comparing it to a high end Kenwood unit of equal specification to your Sony. I don't know how that will turn out yet as it's getting delivered tomorrow, but I'm hoping it's a winner :)

@@SaabUnleashed this would be amazing, quite keen to get it solved soon so will have a look myself as well and will keep an eye on your video Thanks for the in depth explanation above, greatly appreciated! in case I do find a cheap 2nd hand sony, or get the atoto, would I be able to set it all up in line with you setup video above? (buying the fitting kit that you suggested too).

@@SaabUnleashed and one more question, if you don't mind, with something like the atoto or sony, will I be able to use the steering controls on the saab for volume and switching tracks?

Double sided tape

I ran the wire. This wire represents the ignition live so it tells the head unit when you've turned the car on. It needs to be connected to the red wire coming from the head unit. Also, as Saabs have amps, the blue and white wire needs to be connected so it turns on with the head unit. I also connected the illumination wire so the unit buttons light up when it's on too

@@SaabUnleashed How did you have enough room to run the wire through?

@@adrianleon1731 The air conditioning panel just pushes out from the back, as does the cigarette lighter panel

@@SaabUnleashed I hate to be a pain in the ass here, but don't you think it would've been a good idea if you showed how you plugged the black wire to your cigarette lighter, and how you connected it to the amp and illumination wire in the video?

Yes it's a standard

But will any universal double din cage and facia kit work for saab 9-3 2008? For example this one : www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IP7MV3I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&psc=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=kylepancis-20&linkId=4e604e43f4a8152ed10a2f7c89aa2017&language=en_US

Yes, hence the universal standard of double din. The double din cage and facia will need the Saab specific dash adaptor which screws in place

So basically the one that u used would be easier because it already has everything for mounting, plus any double din radio would fit there. Am I correct?

@@daniilsvoronins9053 that is correct

Yeah

I just used some spare cable from the rear of the cigarette lighter. If you have a look at this video, I show how to remove the cigarette lighter so you can access the back of it. I've added the link for the DAB USB adaptor, it's the Xtrons official one as I know it's compatible

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TNuw9TyXrwk.html

Perfect. Thank you. I must of missed that part. Fingers crossed i can do it 🤞🏻

@@bigboi163 You didn't miss it, I just added it in :) You'll be fine, it's an easy job. Give me a shout on FB if you need a hand.

Again thank you 👍🏻

Depends where you are Connor :)

@@SaabUnleashed Liverpool in the uk

Yes, plus any other function you want to want program for the buttons. Several steering wheel buttons are fully customisable.

11:30

what microphone did you buy with this please?

Yeah

It wasn't already fitted, but they can be bought together from ebay

@@SaabUnleashed do you have the link for it please ?

@@nunoisidromatos Added the link to the video description

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333451256777

Did you install the connects 2 amp through lead to reduce the volume as my saab aftermarket stereo is so so loud due to my amp..... Might buy your unit instead... How many USB sockets is there for music playback... Thanks