Buying parts?

[rots]

Hi,

I just bought a 2008 9-3 estate, and want to fit a towbar.

Varaosahaku has only one, and the guy wants €250 for a removable towbar that he doesn't have keys for (which I guess makes it nonremovable). Nor does he have the plastic cap for the bumper, so I guess the missing key isn't a disaster, but €250 for a used bar seems pretty expensive...

I've previously had good experience with varaosahaku (wiper motors, etc) but it's very empty on the towbar front. Anyone have any suggestions on where else they can be found?

Thanks!

E-

[tturku]

put a purchase annoncement here:
http://foorumi.saabclub.fi/viewforum.php?f=52
(ostetaan saabin osat = want to buy saab parts)

[rots]

put a purchase annoncement here:
http://foorumi.saabclub.fi/viewforum.php?f=52
(ostetaan saabin osat = want to buy saab parts)

Will do - I did that earlier for a set of roof bars, but it seems that saab parts isn't a buyer's market

[AZP]

If the towbar is a Bosal removable towbar, you can get a new set of keys from Örum, which is the importer of Bosal in Finland. As far as I've understood the key code is the number stamped on the lock on the hitch.

Another option top open a locked Bosal is to detach the round lever where the lock is located. It's held only by one screw in the center, the screw is covered by the red Bosal sticker. Once you have opened the part, you can turn the lock to "open" position using a screw driver, and put the assembly back together. This way you're not able to lock the towbar, but who has ever heard of a stolen towbar after all?

The cover for the bumper should be available from spare part shops or Koukkupaja.

The price is a bit high in my opinion, too. Would also ask for a price for a brand new if I were you. The towbars get rusty etc. so paying 100-150 € extra for a new one would not be a bad choice either.

[rots]

If the towbar is a Bosal removable towbar, you can get a new set of keys from Örum, which is the importer of Bosal in Finland. As far as I've understood the key code is the number stamped on the lock on the hitch.
...
The price is a bit high in my opinion, too. Would also ask for a price for a brand new if I were you. The towbars get rusty etc. so paying 100-150 € extra for a new one would not be a bad choice either.

Ah - good tip on Bosal. Their HQ said I could order keys from a reseller, but then claimed they don't have any resellers in Finland (???).

I'm not too bothered about rust - there's enough steel there that it'll last forever before it rusts away, and new bars are pricey - the cheapest I've seen is about €300 for a nonremovable and €450 for a removable one. Nice removables that you can't see (Bosal AK6) are even higher.

Prices on the second hand Saab bars seem to be going up - I paid €100 for my '05 sedan's in 2010, but even in Sweden they don't seem to be selling for less than about €150 now... Still, I've emailed the seller that I'll pay €175 for his nonremovable removable

[AZP]

Bosal's customer care is crappy. They also have spare parts for these towbars, but won't deliver them to other than authorized resellers, which, again, they officially don't have in Finland.

I have a Bosal AK4 towbar with lost keys, but the key is not the biggest problem. Also the axle that unlocks the towbar is broken (http://foorumi.saabclub.fi/viewtopic.ph ... lit=+bosal). Bosal has spare parts, but won't sell them to me or any shop in Finland. Hence, I have a fixed towbar at the moment. It can be removed by crawling under the car and striking the locking slide back in. Will do that annually in the future in order to clean and grease the parts, so that the towbar doesn't get stuck forever.

Someone here on the forum told the folks that he had acquired a new key from Örum to a Bosal towbar, so it should be possible.

[rots]

Bosal's customer care is crappy. They also have spare parts for these towbars, but won't deliver them to other than authorized resellers, which, again, they officially don't have in Finland.

I drew that first conclusion also. Must be rough having too many happy customers...

I'm not that bothered about spares - I can get them via friends in the Netherlands or Sweden (do they do anything in Sweden?) - but first I need to get a towbar for a reasonable price...

[AZP]

If you can get me an axle for a reasobale price, I'm always interested in doing business

[Risto]

http://www.nettivaraosa.com/varaosa-ja- ... ot/1996569

[rots]

If you can get me an axle for a reasobale price, I'm always interested in doing business

If I order something from there, I'll PM you - no plans to start an import/export business

http://www.nettivaraosa.com/varaosa-ja- ... ot/1996569

Thanks, though I fear the man probably only wants to sell the whole car, which might be a little hard to explain to the wife I'll email him.

[Risto]

http://www.nettivaraosa.com/varaosa-ja- ... ot/1996569

Thanks, though I fear the man probably only wants to sell the whole car, which might be a little hard to explain to the wife I'll email him.

"Myydään osina varaosa- ja kolariautot" = "Sold as parts spare- and crash cars" http://www.nettivaraosa.com/en/varaosa- ... ot/1996569

[rots]

"Myydään osina varaosa- ja kolariautot" = "Sold as parts spare- and crash cars" http://www.nettivaraosa.com/en/varaosa- ... ot/1996569

Yes - that was clear, but my assumption was that they don't want to sell only the parts, but get rid of the whole car (at least on the Dutch market, that's the case - if you want the parts, wait until someone has stripped down the car and listed the parts). In any case, I've mailed them.

[SS]

I installed this set:
http://www.rameder.eu/towbar-detachable ... 923-1.html
http://www.rameder.eu/jaeger-automotive ... 923-5.html
Almost invisible when removed and the electric set contains trailer module which you are going to need.

[rots]

I installed this set:
http://www.rameder.eu/towbar-detachable ... 923-1.html
http://www.rameder.eu/jaeger-automotive ... 923-5.html
Almost invisible when removed and the electric set contains trailer module which you are going to need.

Thanks - that looks like a decent alternative

[rots]

So the tow hook is now under the car, the only thing left is to replace a couple of the bolts with galvanized bolts with the proper strength rating once I have a chance to pop out to Masala.

Örum is indeed the Bosal importer and they had the keys I needed (as well as a cover for when the hook is removed) in stock and got them same day when ordered from my local Autoasi shop (who was also very helpful, despite it being a sale of only €16). You could ask them about the spare shaft for the tow hook.

If they can't get one, I saw a youtube clip where some guy cut off the broken end, tapped a thread into it and fitted a bolt. He now uses a 13mm wrench to remove the tow hook (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT1MUyQXOBg). Seems a decent alternative.