Well as some of you know, I recently visited Sweden for 2 weeks. Had a lot of fun and saw lots of good stuff. While there, I visited ANA in Trollhattan and made a few purchases from their parts department including the Hirsch Performance 3-piece front grille and a set of the 18" 'Double Blade' wheels. The grille took about 10 minutes to install when I got home, but the wheels have only just arrived and I still need to order tires (going with Conti ExtremeContacts DWs in 235/40/18s per ANAs recommendations.) Anyways, here's a few shots of the goodies, hope to have the nw wheels on in the next couple weeks.

Very nice! Post pictures of the car when you have wheels and grill installed!

Before and after shots of the grille installed, can be found in my Garage pictures of the '04. I'm not smart enough to figure out how to transfer transfer them over to this thread and I'm on my work computer so I can't upload them.

Those wheels are amazing. I have seen them before but never in the US. Shipping must have been quite expensive, I imagine.

Originally Posted by Brad Lauzze

Before and after shots of the grille installed, can be found in my Garage pictures of the '04. I'm not smart enough to figure out how to transfer transfer them over to this thread and I'm on my work computer so I can't upload them.

From the SaabWorld FAQs: Garage

Images - Links
Click the link under an image (Saab Image/Modification Image etc). The next page shows the image URL or you can right-click on the image and copy the image location.

Click the Insert Image icon when composing a post and paste the image URL.

On that note, and a bit out of topic, Frank, when we click on someone's screen name on the left side, we get links for profile, links, etc. Can we get a link to one's garage there too?

I had to do some digging to find his garage, here it is: http://saabworld.net/garage-view-vehicle-218/

Here is his grille before:


And after:

Originally Posted by rpiereck

On that note, and a bit out of topic, Frank, when we click on someone's screen name on the left side, we get links for profile, links, etc. Can we get a link to one's garage there too?

I haven't seen that as a setting in the software. You can see someone's Saabs in the Garage by clicking on the Saabs link on the left under the feedback score in each post. There also is a My Saabs tab in each user profile.

Thanks for adding the pictures!

Shipping on the wheels wasn't too terrible, roughly $200 for all four, and with my Saab employee discount, the wheels were considerably cheaper than retail price. The 18" wheels that Saab offered never really caught on here in the US, the only ones to make it over in any real numbers were the 5-spoke wheels made by BBS that were an add-on for the 9-3 Sport Sedan.

Wow, nice grill inserts and rims, can't wait to see the rims on your car. Are the rims painted steel or painted aluminum?

Rims are painted aluminum, tires are actually being mounted/balanced right now. Went with Bridgestone Potenza RE050s in a 225 45 18 instead of the 235 40 18s. I did the calculations and my speedo wont be as far off with the 225s and overall they're just about a half inch different in width and diameter from the 235s which I can live with.

Installed!

Damn that's pretty! I want those rims!

I'll get pictures this evening with some better angles and upload them tomorrow. I think my garage portfolio might need a revamp.

Better shot from last night.