For owners of the Saab 9-3 Convertible, ownership has always come with a particular mix of pleasure and frustration. The pleasure is obvious: open-top Saab motoring, a rigid body shell by convertible standards, and a roof mechanism that – when healthy – works with typical Saab logic and restraint. The frustration, however, has increasingly centered around a handful of age-related components that quietly slipped out of official supply chains.
Two of those components have caused disproportionate headaches worldwide: the third brake light lens and the roof switch assembly.
Both are small parts. Both are critical. And until recently, both were effectively unobtainable through official Saab channels.
That situation has now changed.
Thanks to the work of Mark van Kampen and his KM-Tronics operation, two newly developed replacement solutions are now ready – specifically engineered for the Saab 9-3 NG Convertible and aimed squarely at real-world owners who just want their cars usable again.
This is not about accessories or cosmetic upgrades. These are problem-solving parts, developed because the originals failed too often and disappeared too early.
The Problem Every 9-3 Convertible Owner Knows: Cracked Third Brake Light Glass
If you own a 9-3 NG Convertible, chances are high you’ve already noticed it – or will soon.
The third brake light lens mounted in the trunk lid is prone to cracking and crazing as the original plastic ages. Exposure to UV, temperature swings, and internal stress eventually takes their toll. What starts as a hairline fracture becomes a visible crack, and in some markets, that alone is enough to fail a roadworthiness inspection.
The worst part? The original Saab part, 12770169, has long been unavailable through official channels.
Until now, owners had three bad options:
- live with a cracked lens,
- hunt for used parts in equally poor condition,
- or attempt questionable DIY repairs that rarely last.
KM-Tronics’ new solution directly targets this issue.
New Third Brake Light Lens: A Practical Repair Solution, Finally Available
KM-Tronics has completed a new aftermarket repair lens for the Saab 9-3 NG Convertible third brake light. It is not marketed as a perfect OEM replica – at least not yet – and that honesty matters.
What this new lens is
- A clear replacement lens, designed as a repair item for cracked or damaged originals
- Intended specifically for the 9-3 NG Convertible, not sedan or SportCombi
- Designed to restore structural integrity and visual correctness when installed properly
What it is not (yet)
- A 100% paint-identical OEM reproduction
- A full housing + LED unit (that version is still in development)
KM-Tronics is transparent about the remaining challenge: long-term paint stability. While versions with painted top and bottom edges are now available and closer than before, achieving OEM-level durability under UV exposure remains the final hurdle before a truly identical replica is released.
In the meantime, this solution buys owners time – and in many cases, saves cars from inspection failure.
Available variants
- Clear (as shown in product images)
- Smoked (on request)
- Red (on request)
What’s included in the DIY kit
- 1× replacement lens
- 1× butyl sealing strip (sufficient for one installation)
An installation video is planned, as correct mounting is key to achieving an OEM-like appearance.
Warranty and availability
- 1-year warranty against fading or material deterioration
- Warranty excludes damage caused by improper installation
- Shipping scheduled from March 1, 2026
For many owners, that timeline alone is welcome news.
The Other Silent Failure: Roof Switches That Simply Disintegrate
If cracked brake light lenses are a visible problem, the roof switch issue is a tactile one.
On 2007–2012 Saab 9-3 NG Convertibles (facelift interior), the roof control switches are notorious for breaking internally, usually at the small tabs that interact with the PCB beneath. Once broken, the switch may stick, lose smooth operation, or stop functioning entirely.
Attempts to glue broken switches almost always fail. Worse still, the entire roof control module is no longer available through official Saab/Hedin channels, leaving owners with a fully functional roof mechanism controlled by… nothing.
This is exactly the kind of problem that strands otherwise healthy convertibles.
A New Roof Switch, Reverse-Engineered with Microscopic Precision
KM-Tronics’ answer is a newly produced roof switch, developed through high-resolution 3D scanning of original parts – accurate to approximately 0.03 mm.
That level of precision matters because tolerances inside the switch are extremely tight. Even small deviations affect feel, return force, and reliability.
Key details
- Fits Saab 9-3 NG Convertible (2007–2012)
- Designed for facelift interior roof controls
- Very close OEM resemblance in shape and operation
- Available as:
- a loose DIY part, or
- via a mail-in repair service
A dedicated repair video is planned to support owners tackling the job themselves.
Lighting and finish
- Supplied unpainted
- Unpainted switches allow a subtle green backlight to pass through
- Painting is possible, but requires translucent paint if illumination is to be retained
This may sound like a small detail, but Saab owners know it isn’t. Interior lighting consistency is part of the brand’s DNA.
Why These Two Parts Matter More Than They Look
Neither a brake light lens nor a roof switch defines a car on paper. But in the real world, these are exactly the parts that determine whether a Saab 9-3 Convertible is:
- usable,
- inspectable,
- and worth keeping on the road.
These KM-Tronics releases address failure points Saab never had time to redesign before production ended – and they do so without pretending to be factory parts when they aren’t. That approach is precisely why these developments resonate with the Saab community.
What Comes Next from KM-Tronics
According to Mark, development isn’t stopping here:
- Initial LED brake light bars have already been sold
- A dual-strip LED version, visually echoing the Saab 9-5 NG, is imminent
- Focus then returns to achieving a fully OEM-identical clear lens, once paint durability is fully resolved
- A future full kit including housing (excluding LED strip) is also planned
Each step follows the same pattern: identify a real-world Saab failure, solve it properly, then refine until it’s right.
A Small Win That Keeps Convertibles Alive
The Saab 9-3 Convertible has aged better than many expected – but only if its weakest links are addressed. With these two new products, KM-Tronics has removed two of the most common roadblocks owners face today.
They may be small parts. They may not grab headlines. But for Saab convertible owners around the world, they make the difference between a parked car and a driven one. And that, ultimately, is what keeping Saabs alive has always been about.
