Ahmad Abu Maizer and eSID creator Henrik Glad have teamed up on a new plug-and-play solution for 2007–2014 Saab 9-3 models, relocating the SID display to the top of the dashboard and opening the door to a fully functional NG9-5 cluster retrofit.
Over the past months, Ahmad Abu Maizer has become one of the most active Saab enthusiasts developing meaningful interior and electronics upgrades for the Saab 9-3. SaabPlanet recently covered his original ICM4 CarPlay/Android Auto upgrade for 2003–2006 Saab 9-3 models, followed by the later OEM-style physical knob add-on that restored tactile audio controls to that system.
Read more here:
- Saab 9-3 ICM4 CarPlay/Android Auto OEM Upgrade
- Saab 9-3 “ICM4” Evolves: Ahmad Adds OEM-Style Physical Knobs
Now Ahmad is back with a different type of project-this time in official collaboration with Henrik Glad, the developer behind eSID, one of the best-known electronic upgrade projects in the Saab world.
Their new product is called the SID Relocation Kit for facelift Saab 9-3 models (2007+), and its purpose is both simple and surprisingly important: move the SID display from the instrument cluster back to the top of the dashboard, where it is easier to read and more in line with Saab’s earlier ergonomic thinking.
Why this matters on facelift Saab 9-3 models
When the Saab 9-3 received its facelift for the 2007 model year, the information display was no longer positioned at the top center of the dashboard, as it had been on 2003–2006 cars. Instead, it became integrated into the instrument cluster.
That layout worked, but it also came with a drawback: the driver had to drop their eyes into the steering wheel opening to read key information. In everyday use, that is simply not as intuitive as the earlier top-dash arrangement.
Ahmad’s new kit brings that logic back. It places the SID display above the center speaker grille, effectively restoring the iconic top-dash SID layout long associated with earlier second-generation 9-3 models.
Developed with eSID – and designed around the NG9-5 cluster
This project is more than a cosmetic relocation.
According to Ahmad’s description, this is the first fully plug-and-play solution that allows a fully functional NG9-5 cluster to be installed in a facelift Saab 9-3 interior, provided it is used together with the necessary eSID hardware and gateway support.
That is where Henrik Glad’s involvement becomes crucial. Through eSID, Henrik has spent years expanding the functionality of Saab instrument and display systems, giving owners access to far more live data and system integration than Saab originally exposed.
Official site: www.esid.se
The new relocation kit is therefore not just a display mount. It is part of a broader solution that helps solve one of the long-standing issues with NG9-5 cluster retrofits in the 9-3-how to preserve information display functionality in a clean, driver-friendly, and Saab-correct way.
Two installation paths
One of the stronger points of the project is that it supports two different installation routes.
The first is the more advanced path: using the kit together with the eSID kit and a 9-5 SID/cluster setup, as shown in Ahmad’s demonstration images. This is the route intended for owners pursuing the broader NG9-5 cluster conversion while retaining proper display functionality.
The second path is more flexible. Owners can install the SID Relocation Kit by itself, either temporarily or permanently, without immediately upgrading to the 9-5 cluster. In that case, the original 9-3 cluster is partially disassembled, its LCD is removed, a click-in block-off plate is installed in its place, and the original display is connected to the new top-dash housing via the supplied flex cable extension.
That makes the kit relevant not only to owners doing a full cluster conversion, but also to those who simply want a better-positioned SID display in their facelift 9-3.
Designed for an OEM-style result
Visually, the kit is clearly meant to look like it belongs in the car.
The housing follows the curvature of the original center speaker cover, and Ahmad notes that its height has been chosen to give drivers of all statures a clear line of sight without blocking the road ahead. The opening for the screen mirrors the original cluster display shape, effectively flipped 180 degrees for its new dashboard location.
The housing itself is 3D printed from UV-resistant material, designed to withstand hot summers and cold winters, while the NG9-5 dash trim is cut to size to achieve the most OEM-looking finish possible.
The kit also includes a cutting template and two pilot-hole guides for the screws that secure the unit in place, turning what could have been a vague custom fabrication job into a more repeatable installation.
Compatibility and retained functions
Ahmad states that the kit is fully compatible with every 2007+ Saab 9-3 and that it works with all eSID versions – eSID1, eSID2, and eSID3.
Just as importantly, OEM steering wheel controls remain functional.
He also shared an updated functionality sheet for NG9-5 cluster retrofitting into any 2003+ Saab 9-3, and that comparison chart highlights why this relocation kit matters. In short, the relocated SID restores full eSID support and retains the information display functionality that would otherwise be compromised in some retrofit configurations.
That includes the broader return of Saab information display functions, better support for vehicle settings, and continued access to key SID-style data in a position much closer to the driver’s natural field of view.
What comes in the kit
The complete package includes more than just the visible upper housing. Ahmad lists the kit contents as including the housing, block-off plate, lower retaining piece, pilot-hole/cut guide, mounting screws, control box and wire harness, remote for mode 2, flex cable extension, and backlight PCB.
He also notes that a green alarm LED replacement is available as an option, allowing the unit to blend more naturally into the standard green-illuminated Saab interior.
Owners who are not yet ready to install a 9-5 cluster can still use the block-off plate in the original cluster location, and Ahmad says he is also offering custom texts and colors for that insert. The same applies to custom screen backlight colors, which can be ordered for an additional charge.
Two operating modes
The supplied control box supports two different operating modes.
In Position 1, the display is integrated with the factory lighting system. Brightness is controlled through the stock + / – buttons, and the system reacts to night mode and the driver-side light switch.
In Position 2, the relocated display is ignition-switched and controlled by the included remote, allowing a fixed brightness setting and manual on/off operation.
That added flexibility should appeal to owners who want to fine-tune how the relocated screen behaves in different lighting conditions.
Known drawbacks
Ahmad is also straightforward about the limitations.
The first is that the relocated screen only comes on when the ignition is on. It does not wake up as soon as the driver opens the door. His argument is reasonable: the cluster itself does not do that either, so this is not really a major functional regression.
The second drawback is that the left LCD section remains green instead of changing to yellow for warnings. Ahmad says this is necessary to keep the kit truly plug-and-play, although he also notes that restoring yellow warning behavior is possible with minor soldering for those who consider it essential.
Neither issue looks like a deal-breaker, especially compared to the functional compromises enthusiasts have historically accepted when retrofitting newer Saab electronics into older cars.
Installation support is part of the rollout
Ahmad says that two private installation videos are available on request. One covers the full SID Relocation Kit installation from A to Z without a 9-5 cluster, while the second explains the differences involved when fitting the 9-5 cluster.
He also mentions that a more polished installation video from Javin Sheperd is expected shortly and will cover the relocation kit itself, after which Ahmad plans to make his own Part 2 material public as well.
That matters, because while the system is presented as plug-and-play, the physical installation still involves cutting, pilot-hole drilling, and careful routing of the display connection.
A meaningful next step in Saab interior upgrades
This new SID Relocation Kit shows that Ahmad Abu Maizer is not simply building isolated gadgets. Together with Henrik Glad, he is now contributing to a more coherent ecosystem of upgrades that address real usability issues in Saab interiors.
His earlier work modernized the pre-facelift 9-3 with touchscreen and physical-control solutions. This new collaboration focuses on the facelift cars, solving a different ergonomic problem while also making NG9-5 cluster retrofits more practical and more complete.
For facelift Saab 9-3 owners, that is a meaningful development. The car gains a better-placed information display, stronger eSID integration, and a path toward a fully functional 9-5 cluster conversion – all while keeping the result visually close to Saab’s original design language.
For pricing, availability, and further updates, Ahmad directs owners to his Instagram account:
@Saab.Airlines or Facebook.
For technical information about eSID and supported versions, visit: eSID.se
So this works on 2012 9-3 with A20NFT? I was told some time ago that it did not work. Would be great if it did. And with the color screen?
Where and how to order?