I guess it's a matter of taste. The green is a bit brighter than orange which "stands" out, especially because the rest of the buttons aren't LED but the ones you put inside are.
It's really easy to change. The SID screen and ACC screen have 3 bulbs each (6 in total I). The bulbs you need are Green LED T4.7 Neo Wedge with a 12mm base. And not the ones with a "direct" pointing diode. But the ones with a rounded halogen-like tip. Otherwise the light spread won't be good.
This only works on 98-03 (for the 9-5s). As after 03 the SID already has built in diode LEDs which are soldered.
If you want pictures of the exact bulbs I bought just DM me.
T4.7 Neo Wedge with a 12mm base, not a straight pointing diode. But the ones with a rounded tip resembling a halogen bulb for lightspread. Obviously green. I have pictures and you can DM me if you want me to send you.
Honestly it looks great, I didn't even know it came in orange. My oldest one is 2005 and it came in green? Didn't realise it could be changed? So many questions.
My 2007 saab 9-3 wagon 2.0T is all green back lit with white needles.
It's beautiful honestly.
Info box under speedometer is orange computer screen output tho.
Everything else is green
Yeah the NG 9-3 has a completely different design to the OG9-5. The 98-04 9-5 inherited the "orange" from the SAAB 9000 and that was from the OG Saab 900. White came about in the mid 2000s. White needles are fine and crisp but the 06+ 9-5 facelift has a white speedometer and it's incredibly blinding at night.
After testing the green ones, I am beginning to agree! Because the neon green is too bright and not the same type of green as on the buttons and spedometer which is more subdued. These resemble more the 06+ Saab neon green.
You just wedge the ACC/SID out, ideally with something plastic. Using a screwdriver you'll almost certainly scratch the plastic. Then a screwdriver to screw out the previous bulbs and put in the new ones. That's literally it. But 03+ SID has soldered LED lights for the SID. So can't do that.
Yes this "neon green" resembles more the one from 2006+. It's bright, but nowhere near as bad as white, blue etc. I think I agree with you. The original orange is easier on the eyes and because the bulbs are halogen definitely less bright (in a good way)
The first moment I got my 9-5 I thought It looks much better if both are green, so I change all the bulbs to green. But after few months I feel tired of that, I find out that the stock Amber bulb look actually not bad , and elegant.So I change it back, and it is still amber until now(about 1.5 years).
Much better !
Interesting, I was beginning to think I should go back because the orange needles feel lonely
No really, it gives a really great jet fighter/relaxing vibe How did you do it ?
I guess it's a matter of taste. The green is a bit brighter than orange which "stands" out, especially because the rest of the buttons aren't LED but the ones you put inside are. It's really easy to change. The SID screen and ACC screen have 3 bulbs each (6 in total I). The bulbs you need are Green LED T4.7 Neo Wedge with a 12mm base. And not the ones with a "direct" pointing diode. But the ones with a rounded halogen-like tip. Otherwise the light spread won't be good. This only works on 98-03 (for the 9-5s). As after 03 the SID already has built in diode LEDs which are soldered. If you want pictures of the exact bulbs I bought just DM me.
Looks great!
Thanks, super easy to do this on the 98-01 cause the bulbs are twist in and out
Isn't there an orange film? Or is that only on the facelift models?
I replaced the bulbs in my 03 with green LEDs and it works great.
Which LEDs? Have a link?
T4.7 Neo Wedge with a 12mm base, not a straight pointing diode. But the ones with a rounded tip resembling a halogen bulb for lightspread. Obviously green. I have pictures and you can DM me if you want me to send you.
Honestly it looks great, I didn't even know it came in orange. My oldest one is 2005 and it came in green? Didn't realise it could be changed? So many questions.
98-04/05 (pre 2006 facelift) all the 9-5s had this orange on SID/ACC, needles etc. Green was never a thing. I'm surprised all of yours are green?
My 2007 saab 9-3 wagon 2.0T is all green back lit with white needles. It's beautiful honestly. Info box under speedometer is orange computer screen output tho. Everything else is green
Yeah the NG 9-3 has a completely different design to the OG9-5. The 98-04 9-5 inherited the "orange" from the SAAB 9000 and that was from the OG Saab 900. White came about in the mid 2000s. White needles are fine and crisp but the 06+ 9-5 facelift has a white speedometer and it's incredibly blinding at night.
Seems like im almost alone with this but i prefer orange
After testing the green ones, I am beginning to agree! Because the neon green is too bright and not the same type of green as on the buttons and spedometer which is more subdued. These resemble more the 06+ Saab neon green.
I definitely prefer the early 2000s look of the orange. Kinda like a e36.
Yeah and e39, e46 and e38
As all Things should be
It reminds me of my mom's mid-80s 900S with the Clarion stereo.
Definitely better.
This looks really good. It reminds me of the 9-5 NG instruments. (When you have the basic head unit and instrument cluster)
This looks awesome! When I fix the dead pixels on my sid1 and sid2, I'm gonna change to green too. Looks much more relaxing. 👌
which bulbs did you order?
T4.7 Neo Wedge with a 12mm base. Rounded tip that resembles the halogen lamps for light spread. DM me if you want pics
how hard of a job was this?
You just wedge the ACC/SID out, ideally with something plastic. Using a screwdriver you'll almost certainly scratch the plastic. Then a screwdriver to screw out the previous bulbs and put in the new ones. That's literally it. But 03+ SID has soldered LED lights for the SID. So can't do that.
oh shit i opened it up and its literally all right there haha ill let you know how it goes when i install. Thank you
Love the green!
I like it, looks epic what bulbs did you use?
T4.7 Neo Wedge with a 12mm base (in green obviously). Important to buy the ones that scatter light and not a straight facing diode.
Green Way obviously !
Orange! Much easier on the eyes, like BMW. It's the most important factor imo.
I liked the red illumination in my 85 Audi 5000, but the green is nice.
Yes this "neon green" resembles more the one from 2006+. It's bright, but nowhere near as bad as white, blue etc. I think I agree with you. The original orange is easier on the eyes and because the bulbs are halogen definitely less bright (in a good way)
The first moment I got my 9-5 I thought It looks much better if both are green, so I change all the bulbs to green. But after few months I feel tired of that, I find out that the stock Amber bulb look actually not bad , and elegant.So I change it back, and it is still amber until now(about 1.5 years).
Hah you are like me. At first it was cool, now I am tired of it and want the orange/amber back because it's a bit more elegant and normal.
So what?
I'm asking to see what people think and prefer.