SAAB Tuning

Can SAAB diesel exhaust sound tuned like gasoline?

Saab Sportcombi Sport Exhaust

Truth be told, the diesel engine wasn’t very loved by the majority of petrolheads; partly because it was heavy, low-revving, noisy and not that refined, and partly due to its lack of pleasant exhaust notes – among other key differences.

Modern cars with diesel engines generate more noise from the engine itself than from the tail pipe. Engines are also getting smaller as manufacturers try to cut fuel consumption without sacrificing power, a trick they pull off by using exhaust gases to help drive the engine through turbochargers. That can give three- and four-cylinder engines the sort of oomph but not the noise once associated with bigger engines.

Saab 9-3 1.9 TTiD

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In general, the exhaust system includes the following components:

  • Aftertreatment devices (catalytic converters, particulate filters) to reduce emissions of pollutants,
  • Mufflers, which provide noise attenuation,
  • Decoupling elements, which connect the exhaust manifold with the rest of the exhaust system.
  • Piping and hangers.

In general, today’s diesel  the exhaust systems are almost inaudible, even in high-performance engines, such as the diesel twintubo BorgWarner Saab TTID (180hp). Today, there are various systems for improving car sound, but they are generally more expensive and require additional investment.

Custom Pirke Sport Exhaust for Saab

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However, there is a cheaper option… In this case, the owners removed “unnecessary” parts, such as DPF, EGR, silencers, etc. This parts are not really functionally necessary (also increase the cost of vehicles) but they must be built in the car because of the legal provisions (Air Pollution, Noise…)

So, some owners like this Saab 9-3 TTiD Owner who decided to remove unneeded components. This is 2008 Saab 9-3 Aero Sportcombi 1.9TTiD 180bhp, with DPF and EGR delete with software update, deletion of twin rear silencers for straight pipes with 4.5″ slash cut tailpipes, K&N drop in panel filter also added… In the factory version, this exhaust system is almost totally silent:

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Goran Aničić
the authorGoran Aničić
For over 15 years, Goran Aničić has been passionately focused on Saab automobiles and everything related to them. His initial encounter with Saab cars took place back in 2003 when the first Saab 9-3 and sedan version were introduced. At that moment, he was captivated by the car's Scandinavian design logic and top-notch engineering, and everything that followed stemmed from that first encounter. Later on, through his work at the editorial team of the Serbian automotive magazines "Autostart" and later "AutoBild," he had the opportunity to engage more closely with Saab vehicles. In 2008, he tested the latest Saab cars of that time, such as the Saab 9-3 TTiD Aero and Saab 9-3 Turbo X. In 2010, as the sole blogger from the region, he participated in the Saab 9-5ng presentation in Trollhättan, Sweden. Alongside journalists from around the world, he got a firsthand experience of the pinnacle of technological offerings from Saab at that time. Currently, Goran owns two Saabs: a 2008 Saab 9-3 Vector Sportcombi with a manual transmission, and a Saab 9-3 Aero Griffin Sport Sedan from the last generation, which rolled off the production line in Trollhättan in December 2011.

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