Which engine does my 9-5 have ?

[Michel M]

According to http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=27622 there are two different engines for the 2001 9-5 2.3t.
One with 168hp and one with 182hp. Since it's listed as the same B235E engine... how to determine whether it has 168 or 182hp ?

[geoff 9-3]

Search on google for Saab vin decoder and enter your vin number and it should give you the full specifications of your car.

[Michel M]

Thanks for your precious hint.

http://www.saabsportugal.com/en/vin.php revealed what I was looking for.

[geoff 9-3]

Your welcome.

[Michel M]

Well... that was close, but ...

According to a thread on a German Saab Forum and further sources the VIN decodes like this:

Digits 1-3: Country in which the car was made
YS3: Sweden
YK1: Finland

Digit 4: Model
A=901 B=99 C=9000 D=900 II or 9-3 I E=9-5

Digit 5: Model series - no detailed info found

Digit 6: Number of doors or 6="CS" 7=Convertible

Digit 7: Number of gears or 6=3-gear-autom. 8=4-gear-autom.

Digit 8: Engine:
1=B20C 2=B20T 3=B20i 4=B20S
A=B206i B=B234i C=B201C (until 1997)
C=B205(1998 and later) D=B202i E=B212i
G=B235R I=B204i J=B201i
L=B202Turbo(until 1997) L=B235L(1998 and later)
M=B234L/T N=B204L/T P=B204S
R=B234R S=B202TurboLLK T=B204E
U=B234E V=B258i Z=B308i

Digit 9: check digit

Digit 10: model year:
A=80 B=81 C=82 D=83 E=84
F=85 G=86 H=87 J=88 K=89
L=90 M=91 N=92 P=93 R=94
S=95 T=96 V=97 W=98 X=99
Y=00 1=2001 2=2001 etc

Digit 11: Production site
1=Trollhättan line A
2=Trollhättan line B
3=Arlöv/Sweden
7=Nystad/Finland
9=Trollhättan line C

Digits 12-17:
Consecutive (serial) number

Now I'm as smart as before.

The online VIN decoder says motor is B235E, 185HP
The above list gives B212i which I don't know how much HP it has.

Anyway, the VIN does not seem to provide any information on the power since it just tells the engine type, but not it's power.
Since http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=27622 mentions two different engines, one with 168 and one with 182hp with the same number (B235E) for 2001 I still don't know which engine it is in my 9-5

[geoff 9-3]

Do you know what type of turbo is fitted?

https://www.trionictuning.com/forum/index.php

Is a good website for engine tuning.

[Michel M]

No idea what turbo it is.
I'm sure the trionic forum is a valuable source for various information in this area (thanks for the link) - but it won't let me in w/o registering ...

How can I find out what turbo it is without leaving my footprints everywhere ?
Hint: I should be able to open the bonnet and identify the turbo (if provided with related directions ;-)

[geoff 9-3]

If it’s not the aero it will have lower hp.

[Michel M]

Thanks for the "decoder" :-)
According to the info provided by the pix my 9-5 has a LPT (probably means 'low pressure turbo' ?).

But what is this piece of information worth given the table at http://saabworld.net/showthread.php?t=27622 lists two engines of the same type code (B235E which probably means 2.3t LPT) for 2001. One with 168hp and one with 182hp.
I suspect both will show up as "E" in the VIN's 8th digit.

Still unclear now whether I have the 168 or 182 hp engine - or did I misunderstand something here ?

[geoff 9-3]

Yes lpt low pressure turbo.

Yours is probably the
B235E: 2.3t I4 - 185hp / 280Nm

t=low pressure turbo.
T=high pressure turbo.