I made some pictures and guide for the complete installation process. Find it here:

http://wulfers.net/auto/mods95/avic-f700bt/index.html

wow nice install, looks stock. and wat an odd placement for the ignition

wat an odd placement for the ignition

I was thinking the same thing. Saabs are really nice cars... but man, are they odd. Sometimes it's like they were engineered by escapees from a psychiatric ward.

The main reason is safety-related. If you get into a head-on collision, your knee won't bash into the keys. Other explanations are ergonomics. The idea is you put your seatbelt on with your right hand, start the car, release handbrake (if needed) and engage gear all in the same spot.

You get used to it quickly and it really feels odd when you have to drive a car with keys and fob dangling from the steering column. It's not odd, just different and better.

Wulf,

That is a great write-up. I have a 2002 9-5 Aero which I installed an AVIC-D3 in a couple of years ago. I've reinstalled twice, changing the mounting bezel/sleeve each time to improve appearance. Most recently I used the Pioneer ADT-VA133 but I wish I would have known about the Clarion sleeve you used. It looks terrific. Cheaper too.

Also, I didn't need to install a resistor to program the SWI-PS.

Great job.

Take care,

Charlie

Thanks for the feedback on the write-up. I was wondering why PAC didn't include the resistor instructions with their product so it looks like something changed for the later model 9-5s.

Hello! Now, I know that this thread is somewhat old. But I am a newly registered member of the Avic Forums, and I came across this thread

There's only one thing to say: Saab - you love it or you hate it! I own an 9-5 Estate Aero, and I am perfectly happy with it... and I got my F700bt installed yesterday. So my car almost looks like pic above

I can't say anything about the F700 at the moment, but it seems to be a nice piece (with minor bugs...)

That's all

Bye

Yves

Hello! Now, I know that this thread is somewhat old. But I am a newly registered member of the Avic Forums, and I came across this thread

 

There's only one thing to say: Saab - you love it or you hate it! I own an 9-5 Estate Aero, and I am perfectly happy with it... and I got my F700bt installed yesterday. So my car almost looks like pic above

 

I can't say anything about the F700 at the moment, but it seems to be a nice piece (with minor bugs...)

 

That's all

Bye

Yves

Hi niefnief, I'm also a new user. I wrote a post with some questions about Saab - F700B, can you give it a read to see if you can solve me any of them?

http://avic411.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19368

Tons of thanks!!!

I made some pictures and guide for the complete installation process. Find it here:

 

http://wulfers.net/auto/mods95/avic-f700bt/index.html

 

My brother used to work at a saab dealership...its to prevent theft...busting the steering column wont get u anywhere in this car

My brother used to work at a saab dealership...its to prevent theft...busting the steering column wont get u anywhere in this car

but breaking into the center console will

from what i understand you have the 9 speaker system in your saab...i have a 2003 saab 9-5 with the same stereo set up but i was told only 4 of my speakers would work when this was installed...were you able to get all of your speakers to work?

Nice Install! I used to have a 9-3, great car... when it would run on its own power...

BTW, Saab originally designed jet airplanes and that is where the ignition switch is on the jets

My brother used to work at a saab dealership...its to prevent theft...busting the steering column wont get u anywhere in this car

 

but breaking into the center console will

No it won't... the ignition goes directly in to the starter. no wiring. Also if for some reason you are able to start it... you will only be able to go in reverse. The ignition locks in reverse... no key no drive forward.

I owned a 900SPG turbo for a few years... amazing engineering from the same company that designed jet fighters.

Weren't these engineered by rocket scientists or jet fighter pilots or circus freaks or something?

Saab makes aeroplanes, jetfighters, cars, and trucks (Scania)

The jetfighter seems to be a more competitive alternative for the US J.S.F..

The cars section is now build by Opel, which belongs to General Motors... at least untill the end of this month it does

The cardesign CLAIMS to have their plane heritage in them

- doorhandles are the same shape as a wing

- the dashboard looks like a cockpit

- the position of the ignition

- even the *ding* of the board computer is like the one on a plane, as is the overhead red light saying to buckle up.

- the overhead map reading light is similar to the ones found on commercial jets

- the parking heater sounds as a jet engine

- and the indicator handles are positioned as wings (of some kind of flyer)

- they have 'air'bags

Some find SAABs boring, others say they are timeless

But SAABs are driven by nice people

little offtopic but still a saab 9-5 with F900BT

Where did you get those glossy bezels?

...can someone please tell me if they got all 9 speakers to work

It's not 9 speakers. SAAB is calling a three way speaker independent...It is a marketing gimmick. It is like me saying that my car has a 13 speaker surround sound system. rather than calling it a 5 speaker system.

Saab makes aeroplanes, jetfighters, cars, and trucks (Scania)

 

The jetfighter seems to be a more competitive alternative for the US J.S.F..

The cars section is now build by Opel, which belongs to General Motors... at least untill the end of this month it does

 

Some find SAABs boring, others say they are timeless

But SAABs are driven by nice people

Not quite right ...

50% of Saab was purchased by GM in 1990 and the remaining 50% in 2000.

Saabs are built by Saab ... a GM company.

Opel has never built a Saab.

They do share some parts, but that is it.

Saab, the aviation company, now has nothing at all to do with Saab ... other than to provide the basis in which marketing uses the phrase "Born from Jets.

Sure, the car company was started by 16 aircraft engineers, but that was a long time ago.

You are bang on that Saabs are driven (for the most part) by nice people.

...can someone please tell me if they got all 9 speakers to work

Yes, all speakers work just fine (I bought Wulf's car, AVIC system included).

The head unit plugs into the existing amps in the car and they continue to drive the speakers.

the current saabs are built in Germany, no?

the current saabs are built in Germany, no?

The 9-3 and 9-5 are built in Sweden and the 9-3 convertible in Austria.

It's not 9 speakers. SAAB is calling a three way speaker independent...It is a marketing gimmick. It is like me saying that my car has a 13 speaker surround sound system. rather than calling it a 5 speaker system.

Well, lets see,

I have three speakers in my dash (left, center, right, one on each door, and two sub woofers in the hat shelf.

That adds up to 9, as far as I'm concerned, but there are not 9 independent channels, there are four. Front left, front right, rear left and rear right.

The amp creatively mixes these together to make something that actually (IMHO) sounds pretty decent.

Yes, with this AVIC install, all 9 of the speakers work. This is because in this install the AVIC unit uses pre-amp inputs outputs to feed the stock amplifier. The amplifier takes care of anything that communicates with the speakers.

I followed Wulfs directions and they work great.

Regarding Reverse Signal and VSS, see this thread.

from what i understand you have the 9 speaker system in your saab...i have a 2003 saab 9-5 with the same stereo set up but i was told only 4 of my speakers would work when this was installed...were you able to get all of your speakers to work?

The F Series have two sets of outputs. One set is amplified and one set is line level line level.

If you use the amplified outputs and wire them right to the speaker wires, not only will only 4 speakers work, but due to the odd impedances of Saab speakers it will not sound right. You will also have no bass as your sub woofers will not be installed.

If you use the line level outputs and feed them into the stock amplifier, the stock amplifier will power all 9 speakers, including the sub woofers. Additionally you will have line level outputs for a sub woofer you can route to an amplified kicker, if scaring small children and waking the dead while you drive by is your thing.